240 S Y L V A BOOK ii 



may be thought to be built of this material, and if 

 the poet mistake not, 



1 The ribs with deal they fit. 



There being no material more obedient and ready to 

 bend for such works. 



In Holland they receive their best mast out of 

 Norway, and even as far as Moscovy, which are best 

 esteemed, (as consisting of long fibers, without knots) 

 but deal-boards from the first ; and though fir rots 

 quickly in salt-water, it does not so soon perish in 

 fresh ; nor do they yet refuse it in merchant-ships, 

 especially the upper-parts of them, because of its 

 lightness : The true pine was ever highly commended 

 by the Ancients for naval architecture, as not so 

 easily decaying ; and we read that Trajan caused 

 vessels to be built both of the true, and spurious kind, 

 well pitch'd, and over-laid with lead, which perhaps 

 might hint our modern sheathing with that metal at 

 present. Fir is exceeding smooth to polish on, and 

 therefore does well under gilding-work, and takes 

 black equal with the pear-tree : Both fir, and especial- 

 ly pine, succeed well in carving, as for capitals, 

 festoons, nay, statues, especially being gilded, because 

 of the easiness of the grain, to work and take the 

 tool every way ; and he that shall examine it nearly, 

 will find that famous image of the B. Virgin at 

 Loretto, (reported to be carved by the hands of 

 St. Luke) to be made of fir, as the grain easily 

 discovers it : The torulus (as Vitruvius terms it) and 

 heart of deal, kept dry, rejecting the albumen and 

 white, is everlasting ; nor does there any wood so 



1 Sectaque intexunt abiete costas. /. 2. 



