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ftem, we fuppofe, grows ftately and erect ; 

 but when the root meets with a rocky ftratum, 

 a hard and gravelly bed, or any other difficulty, 

 through which it is obliged, in a zigzag courfe 

 to pick it's way, and ilruggle for a paffage 5 

 the fympathetic ftem, feeling every motion, 

 purfues the fame indirect courfe above, which 

 the root does below : and thus the fturdy plant, 

 through the means of thefe fubterraneous in- 

 counters, and hardy conflicts, afliimes form and 

 character, and becomes, in a due courfe of 

 centuries, a picturefque tree, 



Virgil has given us the picture of an oak, 

 in which it's principal charade riftics are well 

 touched, 



Efculus imprimis, quae quantum vertice ad auras 



Whereas, tantum radice in Tartara tendit. 



Ergo non hiemes illam, non flabra, neque imbres 



Convellunt : immota manet, multofque per annos 



Multa virum volvens durandp fecula vincit. 



Turn fortes late ramos, et brachia tendens 



Hue illuc, media ipfa ingentem fuftinet umbram*. 



I mall not enter into a criticifm on the 

 word efculus, which cannot on any good 

 authority, I believe, fignify the beech ; and 



Georg. II, 290. 



Pliny's 



