144 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
There can be little doubt that the Laurel of Chaucer also was 
the Bay, the 
‘‘Fresh grene Laurer tree 
That gave so passing a delicious smelle 
According to the Eglantere ful welle.” 
He also spoke of it as the emblem of enduring freshness— 
“ Myn herte and al my lymes be as grene 
As Laurer, through the yeer is for to seene. ” 
The Marchaimdes Tale . 
The Laurel in Lyte’s “ Herbal* (the Lauriel or Lourye) 
seems to be the Daphne Lanreola. But unconsciously Chaucer 
and Shakespeare spoke with more botanical accuracy than we 
do, the Bay being a true Laurel, while the Laurel is a Cherry 
(see Bay). 
Xavenber. 
Here’s flowers for you ; 
Hot Lavender, Mints, Savory, Marjoram. 
Winter’s Tale , iv. 4, 103. 
The mention of Lavender always recalls Walton’s pleasant 
picture of “ an honest ale-house, where we shall find a cleanly 
room, Lavender in the windows, and twenty ballads stuck against 
the wall, and my hostess, I may tell you, is both cleanly and 
handsome and civil.” Whether it is from this familiar, old- 
fashioned picture, or from some inherent charm in the plant, it 
is hard to say, but it is certain that the smell of Lavender is 
always associated with cleanliness and freshness. 1 
It is not a British plant, but is a native of the South of 
1 The very name suggests this association. Lavender is the English form 
of the Latin name, Lavendula; “ lavendula autem dicta quoniam magnum 
vectigal Genevensibus mercatoribus praebet quotannis in Africam earn feren- 
tibus, ubi lavandis fovendisque corporibus Lybes ea utuntur, nec nisi 
decocto ejus abluti, mane domo egrediuntur .”—Stephani Libellus de re 
Hortensi, 1536, p. 54. The old form of our “laundress” was “a Lavendre.” 
