86 DEOPS FROM FLORA’S CUP. 
THE LAUREL. 
The ancients consecrated the latjrbl-wreath to glory. The crown 
of laurel alike adorned the brow of poet, orator, philosopher, and war¬ 
rior. The beautiful Apollo consecrated the laurel to himself, and is 
represented with a crown of laurel leaves encircling his brow. He bo- 
came enamored of Daphne, the virgin daughter of Peneus, of Thessaly ; 
but she, rejecting his suit, fled from him. Apollo pursued her; and 
Daphne, invoking the assistance of her father, was transformed into a 
laurel. 
The god of beauty immediately gathered the leaves to adorn his brow, 
and the laurel became the reward of poesy. Those who attended the 
Roman games and Thebean festivals, celebrated in honor of Apollo, 
were orowncd with laurels; and bore laurel branches in their processions. 
A branch of laurel placed near the entrance of a house signified sickness. 
The Cesars are often represented with crowns of laurel. The ill-fated 
Julius, however, was the first to be thus honored, and the laurel was worn 
till the time of Justinian, who changed it to the bonnet-crown. 
In 1340, Plutarch received invitations from Rome and Paris to accept 
the laurel-wreath. In 1341, one of the Roman senators placed the crown 
of glory upon the poet’s brow, saying, ‘ tbi3 crown is the meed of virtue.’ 
Tasso thus addresses a laurel which his lady wore in her hair: — 
0, glad, triumphal hough, 
That now adornest conquering chiefs, and now 
Clippest the brows of overruling kings; 
From victory to victory 
Thus climbing on, through all the heights of story, 
From worth to worth, and glory unto glory; 
To finish all, 0 gentle and glorious tree, 
Thou reignest now upon the flourishing head, 
At whose triumphant eyes, love and our souls are 
led. 
