POPLAR. 125 



The poplar was dedicated to Hercules, in 

 consequence of his destroying Cacus in a 

 cavern adjoining to the Aventine Mount, 

 where these trees formerly abounded. 



" From that blest hour th' Arcadian tribe bestow'd 

 Those solemn honours on their guardian god. 

 Potitius first, his gratitude to prove, 

 Adored Alcides in the shady grove ; 

 And with the old Pinarian sacred line 

 These altars raised, and paid the rites divine, 

 Rites, which our sons for ever shall maintain; 

 And ever sacred shall the grove remain. 

 Come, then, with us to great Alcides pray, 

 And crown your heads, and solemnize the day. 

 Invoke our common God with hymns divine, 

 And from the goblet pour the generous wine. 

 He said, and with the poplar's sacred boughs, 

 Like great Alcides, binds his hoary brows." 



Pitt's Virgil. 



All those who had gloriously conquered 

 their enemies in fight, wore a garland of the 

 branches of the white poplar,from the example 

 of Hercules. * 



It is related that Homer first recited his 

 matchless verses beneath a poplar. This king 

 of poets says, in the Iliad, that the buckler of 

 Ajax, son of Telamon, was made by a skilful 

 workman of Hyle, named Tychius ; and, it is 

 pretended, that it was through gratitude that 



* The altar of Hercules, Ara Maxima, was at Rome, be- 

 tween the Aventine and the Palatine mountains, in the 

 open place called Forum Boaritfm (the ox market). 



