CHAPTER III. 



THE LEAF. 



1. IN the first of the poems of which the English Gov- 

 ernment has appointed a portion to be sung every day for 

 the instruction and pleasure of the people, there occurs 

 this curious statement respecting any person who will 

 behave himself rightly: "lie shall be like a tree planted 

 by the river side, that bears its fruit in its season. His 

 leaf also shall not wither ; and you will see that whatever 

 he does will prosper." 



I call it a curious statement, because the conduct to 

 which this prosperity is promised is not that which the 

 English, as a nation, at present think conducive to pros- 

 perity : but whether the statement be true or not, it will 

 be easy for you to recollect the two eastern figures under 

 which the happiness of the man is represented, that he 

 is like a tree bearing fruit " in its season ; " (not so hastily 

 as that the frost pinch it, nor so late that no sun ripens 

 it ;) and that " his leaf shall not fade." I should like you 

 to recollect this phrase in the Vulgate "folium ejus non 

 defluet " shall not fall away, that is to say, shall not 

 fall so as to leave any visible bareness in winter time, but 



