54 THOREAU. 



the apple-tree may be considered a symbol of peace 

 no less than the olive. 



The apple was early so important, and so generally 

 distributed, that its name traced to its root in many 

 languages signifies fruit in general. M^Xoj/ [Melon], 

 in Greek, means an apple, also the fruit of other 

 trees, also a sheep and any cattle, and finally riches 

 in general. 



The apple-tree has been celebrated by the Hebrews, 

 Greeks, Romans, and Scandinavians. Some have 

 thought that the first human pair were tempted by 

 its fruit. Goddesses are fabled to have contended 

 for it, dragons were set to watch it, and heroes were 

 employed to pluck it. 1 



The tree is mentioned in at least three places in the 

 Old Testament, and its fruit in two or three more. 

 Solomon sings, &quot; As the apple-tree among the trees 

 of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons.&quot; And 

 again, &quot;Stay me with flagons, comfort me with ap 

 ples.&quot; The noblest part of man s noblest feature is 

 named from this fruit, &quot; the apple of the eye.&quot; 



The apple-tree is also mentioned by Homer and 

 Herodotus. Ulysses saw in the glorious garden of 

 Alcinoiis &quot;pears and pomegranates and apple-trees 

 bearing beautiful fruit.&quot; And according to Homer, 

 apples were among the fruits which Tantalus could 

 not pluck, the wind ever blowing their boughs away 

 from him. Theophrastus knew and described the 

 apple-tree as a botanist. 



According to the Prose Edda, 2 &quot; Iduna keeps in a 

 box the apples which the gods, when they feel old 



1 The Greek myths especially referred to are The Choice of 

 Paris and The Apples of the Hesperides. 



2 The stories of the early Scandinavians. 



