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tree will begin to sprout out anew, and again be green, and the
country recover its ancient freedom. According to an old legend
current in Berlin, the youngest of three brothers fell in love with
the daughter of an Italian, who was the Elector’s chief kapellmeister.
The Italian refused the hand of his daughter, and forbade
any further intercourse. Some time afterwards the three brothers
met the kapellmeister on the occasion of a public execution;
when, suddenly, the assembled crowd were horrified at seeing
the Italian fall with a loud shriek, and pointing to a knife which
had been plunged into his bosom. The brothers were all three
arrested on suspicion of the murder; and the eldest, who had been
standing nearest the deceased, was speedily sentenced to death.
The two other brothers, to save him, however, each declared he
was the real murderer, whereupon the perplexed judge referred
the case to the Elecfior, who resolved upon a curious ordeal to
ascertain the truth. He ordered each of the three brothers to
carry a Linden-tree to a certain churchyard, and plant it with its
head downwards, adding, that the one whose tree did not grow
should be executed as the murderer. Accordingly, the brothers
proceeded to the churchyard, accompanied by the clergy, the
magistrates, and many citizens; and, after hymns had been sung,
they planted their trees; after which solemn aiil, they were allowed
to return home, and remained unguarded. In course of time,
the upper branches of the Lindens all struck root, and the original
roots were transformed into branches, which, instead of growing
upwards, spread horizontally, in rich luxuriance, and, in thirty
years, overshadowed the churchyard. They have since perished,
but the brothers were ennobled by the Elector as Lords of Linden,
and bore the effigy of the marvellous trees on their escutcheon.
The youngest afterwards married the Italian’s daughter.
L in g .—See Heather.
L IV E L O N G .—The name of Livelong, or Liblong, is supposed
to have been given to the Sedum Telephium from its remaining
alive when hung up in a room. Parkinson, in his ‘ Paradisus,' states
that the ladies of his time (1629) called the plant Life Everlasting ;
and remarks that “ they are also laid in chests and wardrobes, to
keep garments from moths, and are worne in the heads and arms
of gentiles and others, for their beautiful aspedt.” The plant is
much esteemed for divining purposes. (See O r p in e ).
LO N D O N P R ID E .—A speckled Sweet John had formerly
the honour of being called London Pride, and a red Sweet William,
London Tufts. Saxifraga umbrosa now bears the title of London
Pride, not, however, because, like the speckled Sweet John, it was
the pride and ornament of old London gardens, but because it was
introduced by Mr. London, a partner in the firm of London
and Wise, Royal Gardeners in the early part of the eighteenth
century. (See S a x ifr a g e .)
L ong P u r p l e s .—See Orchis.
L o r d s -a n d - L a d ie s .—See Arum.
L O O S E S T R I F E .—The word Loosestrife is a translation of
the plant’s Latin name Lysimachia (from the Greek lysis, dissolution,
and mache, strife). Gerarde, who calls the plant, also, Willow-herb,
says of i t :—“ Lysimachia, as Dioscorides and Pliny write, tooke his
name of a speciall vertue that it hath in appeasing the strife and un-
rulinesse which falleth out among oxen at the plough, if it be put
about their yokes ; but it rather retaineth and keepeth the name
Lysimachia, of King Lysimachus, the sonne of Agathocles, the first
finder-out of the nature and vertues of this herbe.” He adds that
the smoke of the herb when burnt will drive away gnats, flies, all
manner of venomous beasts, and serpents ; and says that Pliny
reports that snakes will crawl away at the smell of Loosestrife.
L O T O S - T R E E .—Lotis, the beauteous daughter of Neptune,
was unfortunate enough to attraifi the notice of Priapus,
who attempted to offer her violence. Flying terrified from the deformed
deity, the nymph invoked the assistance of the gods to save
herself from his odious importunities : her prayers were heard, and
she was transformed into the Lotos-tree. Dryope, the wife of
Andraemon, passing the tree one day, in company with her sister
I ole, stopped to pluck the fruit to please her infant son Amphisus,
whereupon she became suddenly changed into a Lotos-tree. lole
afterwards recounted her fate to Alcmena—
“ But, lo ! I saw (as near her side I stood)
The violated blossoms drop with blood ;
Upon the tree I cast a frightful look,
The trembling tree with sudden horror shook,
Lotis, the nymph (if rural tales be true)
As from Priapus’ lawless lust she flew,
Forsook her form ; and, fixing here, became
A flow’ry plant, which still preserves her name.
This change unknown, astonished at the sight,
My trembling sister strove to urge her flight;
Vet first the pardon of the nymph implored,
And those offended sylvan powers adored:
But when she backward would have fled, she found
Her stiffening feet were rooted to the ground.”— Ovid.
The tree into which the nymph Lotis was transformed must not be
confounded with the Lotus L ily, or Sacred Bean, a totally dis-
tiniil plant : it was the Rhamnus Lotus, the Lotos of the Lotophagi,
a people inhabiting the coast of Africa near the Syrtes. Pliny
states that not far from the lesser Syrtis is the island of Menynx,
surnamed Lotophagitis on account of its Lotos-trees ; but Strabo
affirms that the lesser Syrtis, in addition to the adjacent isle of
Menynx, was thought to be Lotophagitis, the land of the Lotos-
eaters. In this country, he says, there are certain monuments to be
seen, and an altar to IJlysses, besides a great abundance of Lotos-
trees, whose fruit is wonderfully sweet. According to Homer, the
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