( 33 ) 



Perhaps the yew may be an exception. I men- 

 tion the circumftance of it's longevity as it is of 

 a nature iingularly picturefque. It is through 

 age, that the oak acquires it's greateft beauty ; 

 which often continues increafing even into de- 

 cay, if any proportion exift between the ftem, 

 and the branches. When the branches rot 

 away, and the forlorn trunk is left alone, the 

 tree is in it's decrepitude the laft ftage of life ; 

 and all beauty is gone. 



To fuch an oak, Lucan compares Pompey 

 in his declining ftate. 



Stat magni nominis umbra. 



Quails frugifero quercus fublimi in agro 

 Exuvias veteres populi, facrataque geftans 

 Dona ducum; nee jam validis radicibus haerens, 

 Pondere fixa fuo eft, nudofque per acra ramos 

 Effimdens, trunco, non frondibus efficit umbram. 



Spenfer hath given us the fame pi&ure ; but 

 with a few more circumftances. 



" A huge oak, dry and dead 



Still clad with reliques of it's trophies old, 

 Lifting to heaven it's aged, hoary head, 

 Whofe foot on earth hath got but feeble hold, 

 And half diibowelled ftands above the ground, 



With wreathed roots, and naked arms, 



And trunk all rotten, and unfound. 



VOL. i. D I have 



