LA UREL. BA Y. 
197 
The laurel bears the classic appellation of Daphne , 
because of the ancient legend connecting it with the 
nymph of that name, who, according to Ovid, was 
daughter of the river-god Peneus. Apollo beheld her, 
and at once became enamoured of her beauty; but 
. Daphne fled from his importunities, and, fearful of 
being caught, called to Diana for assistance: she 
answered her prayers by transforming her into the laurel. 
Apollo, finding that he held nothing but a hard tree in 
his embrace, saluted its vivid green leaves with kisses, 
crowned his head with its leaves, and ordained that 
ever after that tree should be sacred to his godhead. 
Ovid thus recounts this fact: 
“ I espouse thee for my tree : 
Be thou the prize of honour and renown ; 
The deathless poet and the poem crown. 
Thou shalt the Roman festivals adorn, 
And, after poets, be by victors worn. ” 
Spenser resents the slight shown to the god of poetry, 
and thus vindictively speaks of the cold nymph: 
“Proud Daphne, scorning Phoebus’s lovely fire, 
On the Thessalian shore from him did flee; 
For which the gods, in their revengeful ire, 
Did her transform into a laurel-tree.” 
Chaucer bestows the laurel upon the Knights of the 
Round Table, the Paladins of Charlemagne, and some 
other heroes of antiquity : 
“That in their times did right worthily. 
***** 
For one lefe given of that noble tree 
To any wight that hath done worthily 
Is more honour than anything erthly.” 
