


94 ENVY, 
according to the learned, brought it from Rome 
with the Roman lettuce; if this had been the 
vase, he would probably have attached his name 
to those modest presents. Rabelais, like 
queen Claude, would then have been celebrated 
by the gourmands of every age. However this 
may be, the beautiful verdure of this plant 
forms an elegant garnishing to our dishes ; it 
is the luxury of the‘soup kettle ; it adds to the 
delight of the most splendid dinners, A branch 
of laurel and a crown of parsley are the attri- 
butes we admit as belonging to the god of ban- 
quets. These plants have served for nobler 
uses; but in the age of gastronomy, it is un- 
necessary to recal what was done in the age of 
heroism. 
rene 
ENVY. 
BRAMBLE. 
Tuer bramble is made the emblem of envy 
because it interferes so much with the growth 
of other plants. It produces suckers which 
spread rapidly, ripen, and drop their leaves one 
year, and resume their foliage, produce blossom, 
flower, and fruit, and die the next. Thus also, 
like envy, it is short-lived, as the envious are 
usually disappointed, and see the deserving 
receive their reward. 


