592 



pPant "bore, T^ege^/, and. Tsijrio/'. 



highest reverence ; no one ever plucked a leaf from its sombre 

 boughs, and even the birds refrained from pecking the scarlet 

 berries. A band of pirates, however, happening to visit the locality, 

 two of them spied the tree, and forthwith climbed into its venerable 

 boughs and proceeded to cut bow-staves for themselves : their 

 audacity speedily brought about its own punishment, for they both 



fell and were killed on the spot. Both in old Celtic and in 



Anglo-Saxon the Yew-tree was called Iw. By early English authors 

 its name was variously spelt Yew, Yeugh, Ewgh, Ugh, and Ewe. 



In Switzerland, it is known as William Tell's Tree. Dream 



oracles state that there is but one signification to dreams concern- 

 ing the Yew, viz., that it is the certain forerunner of the demise of 

 an aged person, through which the dreamer will derive substantial 

 benefits. 



YGGDRASILL.— The mythical Scandinavian World-tree, 

 or Mundane Ash, is the greatest and best of all trees : beneath it 

 the gods assemble in counsel ; its branches spread over the whole 

 world and reach above heaven ; and its roots penetrate to the 

 infernal regions. On its summit is perched an all-seeing eagle, 

 with a hawk between his eyes. A squirrel continually carries news 

 to him, while serpents coiled round the vast trunk endeavour to 

 destroy him. Serpents, also, constantly gnaw the roots, from 

 which come the fountains of wisdom and futurity. The Norns 

 always keep a watch upon the Yggdrasill : they fix the lifetime of 

 all men, and dispense destinies. Under the tree is hidden the 

 horn which shall be sounded and rouse the world at the last great 

 conflicft. 



