LUXURY. 185 
luxuriates at the Tuileries, where it rises around 
the great lake in masses otincornaneile beauty. 
At the Luxembourg it spreads its branches in 
accordant pomp and splendour, 
There avenues of chestnuts high 
With vaulted roofs conceal the sky. 
In the begining of spring, one rainy day is 
sufficient to cause i beautiful tree to cover 
itself with verdure. If it be planted alone, 
nothing surpasses the elegance of its pyramidal 
form, the beauty of its foliage, or the richness 
of its flowers, which sometimes make it appear 
as an immense lustre or chandelier, all covered 
with pearls. Fond of ostentation and richness, 
it covers with flowers the grass which it o’er- 
shadows, and yields to the idler a most delight- 
ful shade. To the poor man it is of little 
service, supplying him with nothing more than 
a light and porous timber, and a bitter fruit. 
Naturalists and physicians have attributed to 
this child of Asia a thousand good qualities 
which it does not possess. 














