110 



SYLVA BRITANNICA. 



THE PLANE TREE. 



Virentis umbra sub platan i. 



Claudian. 



The Plane Tree is of comparatively modern intro- 

 duction into this country, which is said to be in- 

 debted for it to the great Lord Chancellor Bacon, 

 who probably procured the firstlings of the species 

 from Sicily, into which Island it was transplanted 

 from the Levant, and afterwards spread throughout 

 Italy, of which it has ever since formed the coolest 

 and most refreshing shades. It was held in the 

 highest estimation by the ancient Greeks and 

 Romans. We are told of Xerxes, that finding one 

 of extraordinary beauty and dimensions, he halted 

 his army to pitch his tent under its shade, bedecked 

 it with a golden chain in token of his admiration, 

 when he was compelled to proceed ; and afterwards 

 caused a golden medal to be struck, engraved with 

 the image of the tree, and which he wore ever after, 

 in remembrance of the pleasure he had felt in reposing 



