AND FLOWERS OF POETRY. 175 
nice for her family, threw some pounds of sugar and a handful 
of almond laurel leaves into a caldron of boiling milk. At the 
prospect of the approaching feast, an innocent joy sparkled in 
every eye. O surprise! Scarcely had they tasted the fatal 
dish, when every countenance changed, their hair became erect, 
their breathing quickened, a thousand confused noises issued 
from their chests, a horrible fury possessed, agitated, and disor¬ 
dered their senses. The desolate mother wished to call for 
succour; but, seized with the same disease, she partook of the 
insensible delirium, for which she could offer no remedy. Calm 
sleep at length relieved them from this sad inebriation. But 
what were the feelings of the poor mother, when informed on 
the morrow, that she had given to her children a poison like 
that of the viper ! This poison, concentrated in the distilled 
water or the essential oil of the almond laurel, is so violent, 
that it is sufficient, when it comes in contact with the slightest 
wound, to kill the most robust man. The sale of this deadly 
poison is strictly forbidden in Italy ; yet, notwithstanding, some 
greedy distillers have sold it under the name of extract of bit¬ 
ter almond. We should therefore caution all persons against 
its use. It was formerly much used to give a flavour to pud¬ 
dings, custards, &c.; but this practice is much less frequen* 
since it has been ascertained to be so poisonous in its effects. 
Though my many faults defaced me, 
Could no other arm be found, 
Than the one which once embraced me, 
To inflict a cureless wound ? 
Byron 
