INTRODUCTION. 
27 
snow, covers the ground around the foot of the 
tree, which seems blighted and withered during 
the day, while, however, it is invisibly and ac¬ 
tively preparing for its next nocturnal festival. 
If this tree is cut down close to the roots, a 
new plant shoots up and attains maturity in an 
almost incredibly short space of time: like the 
truly great man, who, though he may be for a 
while bowed down by the storms of fate, will 
soon recover and flourish in his wonted glory. In 
the vicinity of this singular tree, there usually 
grows another, which is probably a degenerate 
seion of the same species. In appearance it ex¬ 
actly resembles the Sorrowful Tree, though it is 
less beautiful. It blooms only in the day time, 
thus presenting an emblem of those persons who 
seem created only to enjoy the garish light of day, 
and who suffer the luminaries of night to dif¬ 
fuse their serener radiance unheeded and unseen. 
Though we dwell not on the luxuriant banks 
of the Tigris, where, in the spring, the whole 
country exhibits the appearance of a richly 
variegated and perfumed flower-bed; yet even 
in the less fertile regions of the North the gifts 
of Flora are sufficiently abundant and diversified 
