Poetical allusions — Browne, Hai'le, Gisborne 167 



Gayton, Art of Longevity (1659), p. 53, has the 

 following line : — 



' The Ewe, sad box and cypress (solemn trees).' 



Prior says of the yew : — 



' The distinguish'd yew is ever seen 

 Unchanged his branch and permanent his green.' 



In The Maid's Tragedy'' we find the following : — 



' Lay a garland on my hearse, 

 Of the dismal yew ; 

 Maidens willow branches bear ; 

 Say I died true.' 



Browne (Sir Thomas) speaks of 



' The warlike yewgh, by which, more than the lance, 

 The strong-armed English spirits conquered France.' 



Harte '" has the following lines at the beginning 



of the eighteenth century : — 



"^ ' Dark Cypresses the skirting sides adorned. 



And gloomy yew-trees which for ever mourned.' 



Gisborne ^ writes of the yew, in the same melan- 

 choly strain : — 



' Nor shall the reverend yew, the sire who held 

 His sceptre verdant through the changeful years, 

 Unnoticed stand, he has beheld . . . 

 Thousands entombed within his shadows ; 

 For ages past the sobs, the far-fetched groans 

 Of parting anguish ere the grave was closed. 

 And drunk the mourner's tears.' 



^ Beaumont and Fletcher, 1619. 



- Walter Harte. ' Reflections. 



