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122 GENIUS. 
century, it was a very fashionable tree in con- 
servatories, where few exotics of other sorts were 
at that time to be found. It has been likened 
to a generous friend, who is ever loading us with 
favours. 
wernnnrrra 
GENIUS. 
PLANE TREE. 
Tue plane tree has been appropriated as the 
symbol of genius, because the ancient Athe- 
nian philosophers generally held their discourses, 
or retired to study under the agreeable shade 
of its wide spreading branches, for which it was 
greatly esteemed at Athens. Xerxes is said to 
have been so attracted by the charms of a plane 
tree, that he caused hisarmy of 1,700,000 men 
to halt, while he adorned the tree with all his 
jewels, and with those of his concubines, and 
the principal lords of his court, until the 
branches were loaded with ornaments of every 
kind. He called it his mistress and his god- 
dess; and it was with difficulty that he was 
persuaded to leave the tree of which he had 
become so extraordinarily enamoured. He 
commanded its figure to be struck on a gold 
medal, which he constantly wore. Herodotus 
relates, that he raised a golden fence around it, 
and appointed one of his guards to protect it. 
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