188 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



our own times, for some lines which may tend to mislead 

 posterity as to the true poetical Ivy. And unless the mat- 

 ter be here explained, it were hard to say how many 

 quartos would be necessary to make this matter clear in 

 after times. 



It has been observed that the leaves of the Poet's Ivy 

 are egg-shaped ; yet here is one poet receives an Ivy 

 crown from another poet, and he remarks 



" ^ How they spread 



With their broad angles, like a nodding shed 

 Over both eyes !" 



NoAv this does not describe the poet's Ivy, yet he as- 

 sures us it was with that Ivy he was crowned, and from 

 its luxuriance we might well believe it ; probably the two 

 kinds were intertwined : 



It is a lofty feehng, yet a kind, 



Thus to be topped with leaves; — to have a sense 



Of honour-shaded thought, — an influence 



As from great Nature's fingers, and be twined 



With her old sacred verdurous ivy-bind. 



As though she hallowed with that sylvan fence 



A head that bows to her benevolence. 



Midst pomp of fancied trumpets in the wind." 



Leigh Hunt's Sonnets*. 



Let it then be made known to posterity in general, 

 that 



Pallid ivy, building his own bower," 



is but ambitiously striving after the title poetical, which 

 it does not attain until it has reached the top, and roofed 

 the bower. 



* See Foliage, cxxvi. 



