THE MAPLE. 23 



mentioned by the poets as the material of 

 thefe utenfils in ruftic and fimple life. The 

 beautiful variegation of its knots, however, 

 has given it value in ornamental works ; 

 and the antient Romans, for their luxury 

 of curioufly-veined tables, prized the maple 

 next to their famous citron-wood. Mufical 

 inflruments are alfo frequently made of 

 maple. This tree grows very full of 

 branches, which, from the opportunity they 

 give of the lodgment of the rain water, is 

 probably the caufe of that difpofition to 

 internal decay of which Spenfer accufes it ; 



the maple, feldom inward found. 



Cowper defcribes it as 



glofly-leaved, and fhining in the fun. 



Its bark is furrowed and cork-like. 



. 



C 4 THE 



