74 THE GLORY OF THE GARDEN 



of these sacred groves. The trees here were proof 

 against the elements, and vessels built from their 

 timbers could withstand the winds and waves of 

 the sea, and even the wrath of Neptune was unable 

 to harm the mariners in these crafts. Virgil tells 

 us that ^neas was allowed to build his ships from 

 the pines of this forest, and that when the Latians 

 attempted to burn them before Italy, Venus changed 

 them to nymphs, and they sailed away into the air. 

 At the marriage of Jupiter and Juno, the most 

 noted gift to the bride was a tree from this grove, 

 laden with golden fruit. 



Since those days, through all the ages, this 

 reverential and tender regard for trees has been 

 implanted in the minds of all imaginative people, 

 ancient and modern, sacred and profane, and the 

 pure pleasure derived from their contemplation is 

 peculiarly a part of the poet's dower. 



The bards of Israel sing of the cedars of 

 Lebanon, and use them as symbols of strength, 

 beauty, grandeur, and grace. David was particularly 

 fond of the cedar, and history relates that his 

 dwelling was built entirely of this exquisite wood, 

 a present from Hiram, King of Tyre. 



Shakespeare's favourite tree seems to have been 

 the pine, that towered above other trees as did his 

 genius above that of other men; the wind playing 

 through its needles was not to him, as to most 

 people, a mournful melody, but an anthem of 

 inspiration. 



Coleridge is never tired of singing of the graceful 

 birch, whom he names most fittingly the " Lady 

 of the Woods." 



Whittier and Longfellow are true to their own 



