614 



THE RUINED CITIES. 



[Part X. 



and the Story of its \icissitudes has been presened in a 

 series of continuous chronicles amongst the most authentic 

 that liave been lianded down by mankind.^ 



THE SACRED BO TREE. 



Compared \\ith it the Oak of EllersHe is but a saphng ; 

 and tlie Conqueror's Oak in Windsor F(3rest, barely num- 

 bers half its years. The yew-trees of Fountains Abbey are 



* A chronological series of liis- 

 torical passages in Avhich the pro- 

 lonffed existence of the sacred trt><> 



has been recorded, will be found in 

 a unto np]i(>nded to this chapter. 



