OAK TREK. 289 



" Oak of Guernica J Tree of holier power 

 Than that which in Dodona did enshrine, 

 (So faith too fondly deemed) a voice divine, 

 Heard from the depths of its aerial bower, 

 How canst thou flourish at this blighting hour ? 

 What hope, what joy can sunshine bring to thee, 

 Or the soft breezes from the Atlantic sea, 

 The dews of morn, or April's tender shower ? 

 Stroke merciful and welcome would that be 

 Which would extend thy branches on the ground, 

 If never more within their shady round 

 Those lofty-minded lawgivers shall meet, 

 Peasant, and lord, in their appointed seat ; 

 Guardians of Biscay's ancient liberty." 



In Ford's play of the Sun's Darling, Winter thus re- 

 proves the clowns : 



" Yet you, wild fools, possessed with giant rage, 

 Dare, in your lawless fury, think to wage 

 War against heaven ; and from his shining throne 

 Pull Jove himself, for you to tread upon ; 

 Were your heads circled with his own green oak, 

 Yet they are subject to his thunder-stroke." 



It is well known that in the early ages, acorns were an 

 important species of food : the substitution of corn, in 

 ancient Rome, was attributed to the bounty of Ceres, 

 who, by means of Triptolemus, taught them its use and 

 cultivation : 



" Liber, et alma Ceres ; vestro si munere tellus 

 Chaoniam pingui glandem mutavit arista, 

 Poculaque inventis Achelo'ia miscuit uvis." 



VIRGIL, Georgic i. 



" Hacchus, and fostering Ceres, powers divine, 

 Who gave us corn for mast, for water wine." 



DRYDEN'S Virgil. 

 U 



