pfant "bore, Isegc^/, cm^ "bijplcy. 559 



(Ficus Sycomovus), which is very indestrucflible, the coffins of the 



Egyptian mummies were made. By a mistake of Ruellius the 



name Sycamore became transferred to the Great Maple {Acer 

 pseudoplatamis), which is the tree commonly known in England as 

 the Sycamore or Mock-Plane. This mistake, Dr. Prior considers, 

 may perhaps have arisen from the Great Maple having been, on 

 account of the density of its foliage, used in the sacred dramas 

 of the Middle Ages to represent the Fig-tree into which Zaccheus 

 climbed on the day of our Saviour's triumphal entry into Jerusalem 

 — the Ficus Sycomonis mentioned above. 



" Here a sure shade 

 Of barren Sycamores, which the all-seeing sun 

 Could not pierce through. — Alassinger. 



In Scotland, the most remarkable Sycamores are those called 

 Dool-trees or Grief-trees. They were used by the powerful barons 

 in the west of Scotland for hanging their enemies and refractory 



vassals on. The Great Maple is called in F"rance, as with us, 



Sycamore or Faux Platane (Mock-Plane) ; the Italians call the same 

 tree Acero Fico (Fig-Maple) ; but in both these countries there grows 

 the Melia Azadirachta, or False Sycamore, which is called the Sacred 

 Tree in France, and the Tree of Our Father in Italy. In Sicily, 

 it is known as the Tree of Patience, and is regarded as emblematic 



of a wife's infidelity and a husband's patience. To dream of the 



Sycamore-tree portends jealousy to the married ; but to the virgin 

 it prognosticates a speedy marriage. (See also Maple). 



SYRINGA. — The Arcadian nymph Syrinx pursued by Pan, 

 who was enamoured of her, fled to the banks of the river Ladon. 

 Her flight being there stopped, she implored relief from the water- 

 nymphs, and was changed into a Reed, just as Pan was on the 

 point of catching her. Ovid thus describes her transformation : — 



" Now while the lustful god, with speedy pace, 

 Just thought to strain her in a strict embrace, 

 He filled his arms with Reeds, new rising on the place; 

 And while he sighs his ill success to find, 

 The tender canes were shaken by the wind, 

 And breathed a mournful air, unheard before ; 

 That much surprising Pan, yet pleased him more. 

 Admiring this new music, ' Thou,' he said, 

 'Who can'st not be the partner of my bed, 

 At least shall be the consort of my mind ; 

 And often, often to my lips be jomed.' 

 He formed the Reeds, proportioned as they are. 

 Unequal in their length, and waxed with care, 

 They still retain the name of his ungrateful fair." — Dryden. 



The Philadelphiis corotmrius is the shrub into which, according to 

 Ovid, the nymph Syrinx was metamorphosed. The stems of this 

 shrub are used in Turkey for making pipe-sticks. Evelyn applied 

 the name Syringa also to the Lilac, which for the same reason was 

 called " Pipe-tree." 



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