This is one of the plants which Shakespeare borrowed from the classical writers; it is not the Laurel of our day, which was not introduced till after his death,[136:1] but the Laurea Apollinis, the Laurea Delphica—
"The Laurel meed of mightie conquerors
And poet's sage,"—Spenser;
that is, the Bay. This is the tree mentioned by Gower—
"This Daphne into a Lorer tre
Was turned, whiche is ever grene,
In token, as yet it may be sene,
That she shalle dwelle a maiden stille."
Conf. Aman. lib. terc.
There can be little doubt that the Laurel of Chaucer also was the Bay, the—
"Fresh grene Laurer tree
That gave so passing a delicious smelle
According to the Eglantere ful welle."
He also spoke of it as the emblem of enduring freshness—
"Myn herte and al my lymes be as grene
As Laurer, through the yeer is for to seene."
The Marchaundes Tale.