ALDER TREE. 11 



" from out the caverned rock, 



In living rills, a gushing fountain broke : 



Around it and above, for ever green, 



The bushing alders formed a shady scene." 



ODYSSEY, bookix. 



they journey down 



The caverned way descending from the town, 

 Where from the rock, with liquid lapse, distils 

 A limpid fount, that, spread in parting rills, 

 Its current thence to serve the city brings : 

 A useful work, adorned by ancient kings, 

 Neritus, Ithacus, Polyctor, there 

 In sculptured stone immortalized their care: 

 In marble urns received it from above, 

 And shaded with a green surrounding grove, 

 AVTiere silver alders in high arches twined, 

 Drink the cool stream, and tremble to the wind." 



ODYSSEY, book xvii. 



In the second Georgic, the Roman poet again refers 

 to its use in boats : 



" Necnon et torrentem undam levis innatat alnus 



Missa Pado ;" 



" The light alder swims also on the rough flood, when it is 

 launched on the Po." 



MARTYN'S Translation. 



Fairfax, in his translation of Tasso, enlarging upon 

 the original in so inviting a passage, describes 

 " The Alder, owner of all waterish ground." 

 Lucan designates it as 



" The floating Alder by the current borne." 



PHARSALIA, book iii. 



Spenser, in his " Colin Clout's come home again, 11 

 speaks of the Alders on the banks of the Mulla, where 

 . it is probable lie may have reposed under their shade : 



