CHAP, v S Y L V A 79 



it, so as to render it like ebony, and with a mixture 

 of soot and urine, imitate the wall-nut ; but as the 

 colour does not last, so nor does the wood it self 

 (for I can hardly call it timber) soon after the worm 

 has seiz'd it, unless one spunge and imbibe it well 

 with the oyl of spike, where they have made holes. 

 Ricciolus indeed much commends it for oars ; and 

 some say, that the vast Argo was built of thejagus, 

 a good part of it at least, as we learn out of Apol- 

 lonius ; this will admit of interpretation ; thefagus 

 yet by Claudian is mentioned with the alder, 



1 So he that to export o're sea his wares 

 A vessel builds, and to expose prepares 

 His life to storms, first beech and elder cuts, 

 And measuring them, to various uses puts. 



But whilst we thus condemn the timber, we must 

 not omit to praise the mast, which fats our swine and 

 deer, and hath in some families even supported men 

 with bread : Chios indured a memorable siege by the 

 benefit of this mast ; and in some parts of France 

 they now grind the buck in mills : It affords a sweet 

 oyl, which the poor people eat most willingly : But 

 there is yet another benefit which this tree presents 

 us ; that its very leaves (which make a natural and 

 most agreeable canopy all the summer) being gathered 

 about the fall, and somewhat before they are much 

 frostbitten, afford the best and easiest mattrasses in 

 the world to lay under our quilts instead of straw ; 

 because, besides their tenderness and loose lying 



1 Sic qui vecturus longinqua per aequora merces 

 Molitur tellure ratem, vitamque procellis 

 Objectare parat, fagos metitur, & alnos, 

 Ad varium rudibus silvis accommodat usum, &c. 



