224 S Y L V A BOOK iv 



ingenious poet, where his Dryad consigns that sacred 

 deposltum to this monarch of the forest, the oak; 

 than which nothing can be more sublime and rap- 

 turous, whilst we must never forget that wonderful 

 Providence which saved this forlorn and persecuted 

 Prince, after his defeat at Worcester, under the shelter 

 of this auspicious and hospitable tree alone ; When 



All the countries fill'd 



With enemies troops, in every house and grove, 

 His sacred head is at a value held, 



They seek, and near, now very near they move. 



What should they do ? They from the danger take 

 Rash, hasty counsel ; yet from heav'n inspired, 



A spacious oak he did his palace make, 

 And safely in its hollow womb retired. 



The loyal tree its willing boughs inclin'd 

 Well to receive the climbing royal guest, 



(In trees more pity than in men we find) 

 And its thick leaves into an arbor prest. 



A rugged seat of wood became a throne, 

 The obsequious boughs his canopy of state : 



With bowing tops the tree their King did own, 

 And silently ador'd him as he sate. 



But to return to the superstition we were speaking 

 of (since utterly abolish'd) till the reign of Claudius, 

 as appears by Suetonius ; yet by Tacitus they con- 

 tinued here in Britain under Nero, and in Gaule till 

 Vitellius, as is found by St. Gregory writing to Q. 

 Brunehant, about the prohibiting the sacrifices and 

 worship which they paid to trees : Which Sir John 

 Ware affirms continued in Ireland till Christianity 

 came in. 



