The myrtle has played[2083] its part, also, in the successes of war. Posthumius Tubertus, who gained a victory over the Sabines in his consulship,[2084] was the first person who entered the City enjoying the honour of an ovation,[2085] for having achieved this success with ease and without bloodshed: upon which occasion he made his entry crowned with the myrtle of Venus Victrix, and thereby rendered her tree an object of regard[2086] to our enemies even. Ever since this occasion, the wreath of those who have enjoyed an ovation has been made of myrtle, with the exception of M. Crassus,[2087] who, on his victory over the fugitive slaves and Spartacus, made his entry crowned with laurels. Massurius informs us, also, that some generals, on the occasion of a triumph even, have worn a wreath of myrtle in the triumphal car. L. Piso states that Papirius Maso, who was the first to enjoy a triumph for a victory over the Marsi—it was on the Alban Mount[2088]—was in the habit of attending at the games of the Circus, wearing a wreath of myrtle: he was the maternal grandfather of the second Scipio Africanus. Marcus Valerius[2089] wore two wreaths, one of laurel, the other of myrtle; it was in consequence of a vow which he had made to that effect. CHAP. 39. (30.)—THE LAUREL; THIRTEEN VARIETIES OF IT. The laurel is especially consecrated to triumphs, is remarkably ornamental to houses, and guards the portals of our emperors[2090] and our pontiffs: there suspended alone, it graces the palace, and is ever on guard before the threshold. Cato[2091] speaks of two varieties of this tree, the Delphic[2092] 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”.[2093] 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[2094] 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[2095] edge, and crisped.