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a charafteriftic more peculiar to the oak, 

 than this. 



Another peculiarity, of which Virgil takes 

 notice in the oak, is it's expanfive fpread. 



Media ipfa ingentem fuftinet umbram. 



By ingentem umbram^ I do not fuppofe the 

 poet means a thick, compact, clofe-woven 

 foliage, like that of the beech, which the oak 

 ieldom exhibits. In general, except in very 

 luxuriant foils, the foliage of the oak is light, 

 and thin. I fhould therefore fuppofe, that 

 inftead of c/ofe-woven fhade, the poet means 

 an extended one, which indeed is implied in 

 the exprefTion, juft before ufed, ramos late 

 tendens. This indeed is a juft charafteriftic 

 of the oak ; for it's boughs, however twifted, 

 continually take a horizontal direction, and 

 Overfhadow a large fpace of ground. Indeed, 

 where it is fond of it's fituation, and has room 

 to fpread, it extends itfelf beyond any other 

 tree ; and like a monarch takes pofTeflion of 

 the foil. 



The laft Virgilian characteristic of the oak 

 is it's longevity j which extends, I fuppofe, 

 beyond that of any other tree. 



Multa virum volvens durando fecula vincit. 



Perhaps 



