154 
PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
is more probably the correct one, that the term “ Lily ” is 
generic, alluding to the many beautiful flowers, both of the 
Lily family and others, which abound in Palestine. The 
question, though deeply interesting, is not one for which we 
need to be over-curious as to the true answer. All of us, and 
gardeners especially, may be thankful for the words which 
have thrown a never-dying charm over our favourites, and 
have effectually stopped any foolish objections that may be 
brought against the deepest study of flowers, as a petty study, 
with no great results. To any such silly objections (and we 
often hear them) the answer is a very short and simple one— 
that we have been bidden by the very highest authority to 
“consider the Lilies.” 
Xime. 
(1) All prisoners, sir, 
In the Line-grove which weather-fends your cell. — Tempest , v. I, 9. 
(2) Come, hang them on this Line.— Ibid., iv. r, 193. 
(3) Mistress Line, is not this my jerkin?— Ibid. , iv. 1, 235. 
It is only in comparatively 
modern times that the old name 
of Line or Linden, or Lind, 1 
has given place to Lime. The 
tree is a doubtful native, but 
has been long introduced, per¬ 
haps by the Romans. It is a 
very handsome tree when allowed 
room, but it bears clipping well, 
and so is very often tortured 
into the most unnatural shapes. 
It was a very favourite tree 
with our forefathers to plant in 
avenues, not only for its rapid 
growth, but also for the delicious 
1 “Be ay of chier as light as lyf on Lynde. -Chaucer, The Clerkes 
Tale , I envoi. 
£< Wasnevere lef up on lynde lighter.”— Piers Plowman , Passus IT., 152* 
