84 FAMILIAR TREES 



Eostre, which the Christian Church was able to 

 sanctify and adopt, as it adopted also the winter use 

 of the Holly, which lent itself yet more readily to 

 Christian symbolism ; whilst it was unable to do the 

 same for the Mistletoe, which social progress has 

 gradually stripped of all its impropriety, and of nearly 

 all its significance. As the pagan nations of antiquity 

 in South Europe took the Cypress as a symbol of 

 immortality, so the Yew may well have been adopted 

 in the North ; and certain it is that while the Holly 

 lingers round ancient British earthworks, and has long 

 effected its entrance into our churches, it does not 

 occur in our churchyards. Even the additional argu- 

 ment that Yew twigs were used to sprinkle the holy 

 water in the " Asperges " before mass will hardly be a 

 sufficient answer to this objection. 



Herrick's verses for Candlemas Eve are, however, 

 worth reproduction in this connection : 



" Down with the Rosemary and Bayes ; 

 Down with the Mistleto ; 

 Instead of Holly, now upraise 

 The greener Box for show. 



" The Holly hitherto did sway, 

 Let Box now domineere 

 Until the dancing Easter Day, 

 Or Easter's Eve appeare. 



" Then youthful Box, which now hath grace 

 Your houses to renew, 

 Grown old, surrender must his place 

 Unto the crisped Yew. 



" When Yew is out, then Birch comes in, 

 And many flowers beside ; 

 Both of a fresh and fragrant kinne, 

 To honour Whitsontide." 



