pFant Isorc, Tsec^er^/, dnei "bijric/. 275 



ceeded in carrying it in triumph to Paris, where it flourished in the 

 Jardin des Plantcs, and grew until it reached one hundred years of 

 age, and eighty feet in height. In 1837 it was cut down, to make 



room for a railway. According to the ancient Chaldean magicians, 



the Cedar is a tree of good omen — protecfting the good and over- 

 throwing the machinations of evil spirits. M. Lenormant has 



published an Egyptian legend concerning the Cedar, which De 

 Gubernatis has quoted. This legend recites that Batou having con- 

 sented to incorporate his heart with the Cedar, if the tree were cut the 

 life of Batou would at the same time be jeopardised ; but if he died 

 his brother would seek his heart for seven years, and when he had 

 tound it, he would place it in a vase filled with divine essence, which 



was to impart to it animation, and so restore Batou to life 



Anpou, in a fit of rage, one day enters Batou's house, and slays 

 the shameless woman who had separated him from his brother. 

 Meanwhile Batou proceeds to the valley of Cedars, and places, as he 

 had announced, his heart in the fruit of the tree at the foot of which 

 he fixes his abode. The gods, not desiring to leave him solitary, 

 create a woman, endowed with extraordinary beauty, but carrying 

 evil with her. Falling madly in love with her, Batou reveals to 

 the woman the secret of his life being bound up with that of the 

 Cedar. Meantime the river becomes enamoured of Batou's wife; 

 the tree, to pacify it, gives it a lock of the beauty's hair. The river 

 continues its course, carrying on the surface of its waters the tress, 

 which diffuses a delicious odour. It reaches at last the king's 

 laundress, who carries it to his majesty. At the mere sight and 

 perfume of the tress, the king falls in love with the woman to 

 whom it belongs. He sends men to the vale of Cedars to carry 

 her off; but Batou kills them all. Then the king despatches an 

 army, who at last bring him the woman whom the gods themselves 

 had fashioned. But while Batou lives she cannot become the wife 

 of the king ; so she reveals to him the secret of her husband's 

 twofold life. Immediately workmen are despatched, who cut down 

 the Cedar. Batou expires diredtly. Soon Anpou, who had come to 

 visit his brother, finds him stretched out dead beside the felled 

 Cedar. Instantly he sets out to search for Batou's heart; but for 

 four years his search is fruitless. At the end of that period the 

 soul of Batou yearns to be resuscitated: the time has arrived 

 when, in its transmigrations, it should rejoin his body. Anpou 

 discovers the heart of his brother in one of the cones of the tree. 

 Taking the vase which contains the sacred fluid, he places the heart 

 in it ; and, during the day, it remains unaffeefted, but so soon as night 

 arrives, the heart becomes imbued with the elixir. Batou regains 

 all his members; but he is without vigour. Then Anpou gives to 

 him the sacred fluid in which he had steeped the heart of his 

 young brother, and bids him drink. The heart returns to its place, 

 and Batou becomes himself again. The two brothers set out to 

 punish the unfaithful one. Batou takes the form of a sacred bull. 



T — 2 



