THE WHITE JASMINE. 
27 
disposing of them at a distance. This feat 
has been since celebrated by the daughters 
of Tuscany, who on their bridal day wear a 
wreath of Jasmine; to the amiability which 
usually characterizes the conduct of all parties 
on such days, some ascribe the sentiment con¬ 
ferred by the poets upon this plant. A more 
probable origin is not, however, so far fetched; 
we wind the facile Jasmine into all shapes, 
lead it into all positions; adorn pillars, bowers, 
and pilasters with its flexible tendrils; yet, 
however we distort its form, it ceases not to 
bestow upon us its clusters of star-like flowers, 
perfumed with its most exquisite aroma, which 
it imparts not in perfection when the eye is 
amused and the senses delighted by the 
qualities and hues of other flowers : but when 
night sheds its mantle over their beauties, 
as if to compensate for their absence, the 
“ amiable Jasmine” confers upon us its 
sweetest and most fragrant odours ; and these 
qualities well entitle it to the poet’s favour. 
