（十二）誰賦予了你無以倫比的榮耀
老普林尼（Pliny, the elder, 23年－79年）的《自然史》(Natural History)共37卷，分為2500章，以巨大的篇幅極為詳盡地記述了作者所生活時代的幾乎所有方麵的知識，被認為是百科全書的起源。裏麵有兩個章節比較詳細地介紹了月桂。
第15卷第39章：
“月桂是特別奉獻給凱旋的，對房屋有著很好的裝飾作用，守護著皇帝和高級祭司的正大門；它單獨懸吊在那裏，為宮殿增光添彩，而且一直守衛在門檻前。卡托談到了這種樹的兩個變種，德爾斐月桂和塞浦路斯月桂。龐培·萊納烏斯又添了另一種，因其被放置在一種叫"mustaceum"的蛋糕下麵，故而得名“ mustax”。他說，這個品種的月桂葉子大且鬆軟，葉麵略帶灰白。 德爾斐月桂是純正的綠色，顏色深過其他品種，漿果很大，綠中透紅。據說，德爾斐的獲勝者佩戴著的正是這種桂冠，羅馬勇士們享此殊榮。據說，塞浦路斯月桂的葉子短，是暗色的，邊緣具鋸齒，葉質酥脆”。
（注：mustaceum是一種流傳至今的意大利傳統糕點，由優質小麥、芥末、茴香籽、小茴香籽、羊脂，奶酪和月桂葉小樹枝製成的。烘烤時將月桂樹的葉子放在下麵。是一種有益於腸胃的清淡糕點）。
（The laurel is especially consecrated to triumphs, is remarkably ornamental to houses, and guards the portals of our emperors and our pontiffs: there suspended alone, it graces the palace, and is ever on guard before the threshold. Cato speaks of two varieties of this tree, the Delphic and the Cyprian. Pompeius Lenæus has added another, to which he has given the name of "mustax," from the circumstance of its being used for putting under the cake known by the name of "mustaceum." He says that this variety has a very large leaf, flaccid, and of a whitish hue; that the Delphic laurel is of one uniform colour, greener than the other, with berries of very large size, and of a red tint approaching to green. He says, too, that it is with this laurel that the victors at Delphi are crowned, and warriors who enjoy the honours of a triumph at Rome. The Cyprian laurel, he says, has a short leaf, is of a blackish colour, with an imbricated edge, and crisped.)
緊接著的第40章是與月桂樹有關的曆史事件，（CHAP. 40.—Historical Anecdotes Connected With The Laurel），翻譯如下：
“這棵樹象征著和平，伸出一根月桂枝，表示兩軍休戰。對於羅馬人而言，它更是喜訊和勝利的信使：它跟隨將軍的調遣，裝飾著士兵們的長矛、標槍以及擺在首領前麵的束棒。正是這棵樹的枝條被擺放在萬能之神朱庇特的大腿上，時不時一些新的勝利給全民帶來了喜悅。究其根由，不是因為它是常綠的，也不是因為它是和平的象征（這兩方麵橄欖樹更有優勢），而是因為它是帕納蘇斯山上最美麗的樹，優雅的姿態甚至讓阿波羅感到愉悅；正如我們從盧修斯·布魯圖斯的故事中學到的，早期的羅馬國王供奉阿波羅神。也許，這棵樹被特別賦予了‘榮譽’的含義，因為布魯圖斯在神諭的指點下，親吻了生長著月桂樹的土地，並在那裏因斷言祖國的自由而贏得了榮譽。另一個原因，也可能是事實，我們在房屋四周種植的所有灌木中，月桂是唯一從未被雷擊倒的。我認為，正是出於這些原因，月桂被特別視為勝利的象征，而不是像馬修裏斯所說的，人們用月桂熏蒸和去除敵人的血汙，故而此樹象征著勝利”。
（注：帕納蘇斯山（Mount Parnassus）是希臘中部的石灰岩山，高聳於科林斯灣北部的德爾斐之上）
（This tree is emblematical of peace: when a branch of it is extended, it is to denote a truce between enemies in arms. For the Romans more particularly it is the messenger of joyful tidings, and of victory: it accompanies the despatches of the general, and it decorates the lances and javelins of the soldiers and the fasces which precede their chief. It is of this tree that branches are deposited on the lap of Jupiter All-good and All-great, so often as some new victory has imparted uni- versal gladness. This is done, not because it is always green, nor yet because it is an emblem of peace—for in both of those respects the olive would take the precedence of it—but because it is the most beauteous tree on Mount Parnassus, and was pleasing for its gracefulness to Apollo even; a deity to whom the kings of Rome sent offerings at an early period, as we learn from the case of L. Brutus. Perhaps, too, honour is more particularly paid to this tree because it was there that Brutus earned the glory of asserting his country's liberties, when, by the direction of the oracle, he kissed that laurel-bearing soil. Another reason, too, may be the fact, that of all the shrubs that are planted and received in our houses, this is the only one that is never struck by lightning. It is for these reasons, in my opinion, that the post of honour has been awarded to the laurel more particularly in triumphs, and not, as Massurius says, because it was used for the purposes of fumigation and purification from the blood of the enemy.）
“除了以上所述，禁止將月桂樹和橄欖樹用於猥褻用途，從而玷汙了它們的名聲；也不能為了討好神靈，把它們放在祭壇或神殿裏燃燒。很顯然的，月桂在火中發出啪啪響聲以示抗議，對這種做法極其厭惡。這種樹的木材可食，可以治療體內疾病和脛骨疼痛”。
（In addition to the above particulars, it is not permitted to defile the laurel and the olive by applying them to profane uses; so much so, indeed, that, not even for the propitiation of the divinities, should a fire be lighted with them at either altar or shrine. Indeed, it is very evident that the laurel protests against such usage by crackling as it does in the fire, thus, in a manner, giving expresssion to its abhorrence of such treatment. The wood of this tree when eaten is good as a specific for internal maladies and affections of the sinews. ）
“據說打雷時，提貝裏烏斯皇帝習慣戴上月桂花環，以減輕其對雷擊造成的災難性後果的焦慮。一些顯著的事實表明了月桂樹與已故的奧古斯都皇帝的聯係：有一次，還是奧古斯都的未婚妻的莉薇婭·杜路希拉（婚後改姓為奧古斯塔）就坐時，一隻雪白的母雞掙脫了鷹爪，從高空落到了她的大腿上，絲毫沒有受傷。莉薇婭盯著母雞看，母雞沒有任何驚慌的症狀，更奇的是，它的嘴裏銜著一根結著漿果的月桂枝。莉薇婭下令小心地看護母雞和她的後代，並以宗教禮儀栽種和伺候那根月桂枝。這些命令在距離城市八裏的愷撒的鄉間別墅得以執行，該別墅位於靠近台伯河兩岸的弗拉比尼亞路，這條路後來被命名為“家禽”路（注：Ad gallinas，拉丁語，意為The Poultry，家禽）。如今，當年種下的樹枝已蔚然成林，堪稱一絕。隨後，奧古斯都·愷撒慶祝勝利時，手握月桂枝，頭戴著桂冠。後繼的皇帝們都效仿他的樣子。因此，將皇帝們在這些場合親手握著的月桂枝種植在地上成為一種習俗，我們看到的不少月桂樹林就是這樣產生的。基於這些事實，月桂的勝利象征沒有發生很大的變化。月桂樹是拉丁語中唯一給予男性稱謂的樹，也是唯一一種葉子擁有獨特名稱“laurea”的樹。羅馬城裏的某個地方仍保留著這個名字，因為我們在阿文丁山上（注：古羅馬七座山峰之一。於公元前456年成為平民居住地）找到了一個仍以“ Loretum”為名的地點，這裏曾經有月桂林。月桂用於提純，我們在這裏順帶提一下，月桂樹可以靠栽子繁殖，盡管德謨克利特和提奧夫拉斯圖斯對此表示懷疑”。
（注：德謨克利特，公元前460年—公元前370年或前356年，古希臘自然派哲學家，“原子論”的創始者。提奧夫拉斯圖斯，公元前372年-公元前287年，古希臘植物學家，曾跟隨柏拉圖學習。植物學的奠基人。）
（It is said that when it thundered, the Emperor Tiberius was in the habit of putting on a wreath of laurel to allay his apprehensions of disastrous effects from the lightning. There are also some remarkable facts connected with the laurel in the history of the late Emperor Augustus: once while Livia Drusilla, who afterwards on her marriage with the Emperor assumed the name of Augusta, at the time that she was affianced to him, was seated, there fell into her lap a hen of remarkable whiteness, which an eagle let fall from aloft without its receiving the slightest injury: on Livia viewing it without any symptoms of alarm, it was discovered that miracle was added to miracle, and that it held in its beak a branch of laurel covered with berries. The aruspices gave orders that the hen and her progeny should be carefully preserved, and the branch planted and tended with religious care. This was accordingly done at the country-house belonging to the Cæsars, on the Flaminian Way, near the banks of the Tiber, eight miles from the City; from which circumstance that road has since received the title "Ad gallinas." From the branch there has now arisen, wondrous to relate, quite a grove: and Augustus Cæsar afterwards, when celebrating a triumph, held a branch of it in his hand and wore a wreath of this laurel on his head; since which time all the succeeding emperors have followed his example. Hence, too, has originated the custom of planting the branches which they have held on these occasions, and we thus see groves of laurel still existing which owe their respective names to this circumstance. It was on the above occasion, too, that not improbably a change was effected in the usual laurel of the triumph. The laurel is the only one among the trees that in the Latin language has given an appellation to a man, and it is the only one the leaf of which has a distinct name of its own,—it being known by the name of "laurea." The name of this tree is still retained by one place in the city of Rome, for we find a spot on the Aventine Mount still known by the name of "Loretum," where formerly a laurel-grove existed. The laurel is employed in purifications, and we may here mention, incidentally, that it will grow from slips—though Democritus and Theophrastus have expressed their doubts as to that fact.）
老普林尼在這兩個章節裏介紹了月桂的種類，食用和醫療價值，文化象征以及與月桂有關的曆史故事。他在第40章裏提到的盧修斯·布魯圖斯的故事是這樣的：盧修斯·布魯圖斯是羅馬共和國的建立者，傳統上被認為是其第一個執政官（公元前509年）。布魯圖斯的舅舅是是羅馬第七任國王盧基烏斯·塔奎尼烏斯·蘇培布斯（Lucius Tarquinius Superbus ），他對舅舅很不滿，因為舅舅殺了許多羅馬權貴，其中包括布魯圖斯的哥哥。布魯特斯假裝弱智，避免了國王對他的不信任。他陪著國王的兒子們去德爾斐求神諭。國王的兒子們問，他們當中的哪一個將成為羅馬的下一任國王。德爾斐的聖諭回應，他們當中第一個親吻母親的那個人“應該在羅馬擁有最高的統治權。” 布魯圖斯將“母親”解釋為大地母親蓋亞（Gaia），假裝被絆倒並親吻了地麵。
文中提到的月桂可以靠栽子（slips）繁殖，“栽子”是指在原有樹木上接枝繁殖。《自然史》第17卷第17章詳述了這個古老的農藝技術：“然而德謨克利特說，塔倫丁香桃木可用另一種方式繁殖。他們取最大的漿果，輕輕地搗爛，以免壓碎果仁，製成糊：用繩子覆蓋糊狀物，平鋪在地上，結果形成了一排與牆一樣厚的樹籬，上麵長著大量的便於移植的栽子。他們也以同樣的方式，把燈芯草繩覆蓋在樹莓糊上，然後長出樹莓樹籬。有需要的話，三年後可移植按此法繁殖的月桂和香桃木的吸盤”。
（Democritus, however, says that the Tarentine myrtle may be re-produced another way. They take the largest berries and pound them lightly so as not to crush the pips: with the paste that is thus made a rope is covered, and put lengthwise in the ground; the result of which is that a hedge is formed as thick as a wall, with plenty of slips for transplanting. In the same way, too, they plant brambles to make a hedge, by first covering a rope of rushes with a paste made of bramble-berries. In case of necessity, it is possible at the end of three years to transplant the suckers of the laurel and the myrtle that have been thus re-produced.）
這種古老的農藝迄今仍在使用。
