FABLES OF FLORA. 49 
‘ But, by a thousand nameless acts 
Of kindness and good-will, 
Endeavors, without pride or pomp, 
Its duties to fulfil.’ 
THE LAUREL. 
The fabled origin of the laurel is this. ‘ Daph¬ 
ne, daughter of the river Peneus, offended by the 
persecutions of Apollo, implored succor of the 
gods, who changed her into a laurel-tree. Apollo 
crowned his head with the leaves, and ordered 
that forever after the tree should be sacred to 
him.’ 
It was the custom of the Romans, to crown 
their victorious generals with laurel-leaves. 
Laurel was worn by the sacred priestesses of 
Delphi, who chewed its fragrant leaves, and 
threw them into the consecrated fire. 
‘From the custom which prevailed in some 
places, of crowning the young doctors in physic 
with laurel in berry, (Dacca Lauri,) the stu¬ 
dents were called bacca laureats, bay laureats, 
or bachelors.’ Flora Domestica. 
The poet’s crown was always formed of laurel. 
Petrarch worshipped it for Laura’s sake, and was 
publicly crowned with it at the capitol. 
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