( '37 ) 



faces. Each corner was fupported by a hand- 

 fome ftone pillar; and in the middle of the 

 tree among the branches, was cut a noble 

 room ; which the vaft fpace contained within, 

 eafily fuffered, Avithout injuring the regularity 

 of any of the eight faces. To crown all, the 

 top was curioufly clipped into fome kind of 

 head, and adorned artificially; but in what 

 manner, whether with the head of a lion, or 

 a flag, a weather cock, or a fun dial, we 

 are not told. It was fomething however in 



the higheft ftile of Dutch tafte. This tree 



was long the admiration, and envy of all the 

 ftates of Holland ; and Mr. Evelin, from whom 

 we have the relation, feems to have thought 

 it a piece of excellent workmanmip : " I needed 

 not, fays he, have charged this paragraph 

 with half thefe trees, but to mew how much 

 more the lime-tree feems difpofed to be wrought 

 into thefe arborious wonders, than other trees 

 of flower growth*." 



The oaks of Chaucer are celebrated, in 

 the annals of poetry, as the trees, under which 



Sylva, p. 225. 



the 



