SYLVA 257 



and so he did soon after, carrying ('tis thought) the 

 maledictions of the incensed Gauls to his funeral pile, 



1 For who 



The Gods thus injur'd unreveng'd does go ? 



1 8. But lest this be charged with superstition, 

 because the instances are heathen ; it was a more noble 

 and remarkable, as well as recent example, when at 

 the siege of Breda, the late famous general Spinola 

 commanded his army not to violate a tree of a cer- 

 tain wood belonging to the Prince of Orange there, 

 tho a reputed traytor, and in open defiance with his 

 master. In sum, we read that when Mithridates but 

 deliberated about the cutting down of some stately 

 trees which grew near Patara, a City of Lycia, tho 

 necessitated to it for the building of warlike engines 

 with them, being terrified in a vision, he desisted 

 from his purpose. It were to be wished these, or the 

 like examples, might have wrought some effects 

 upon the sacrilegious purchasers, and disloyal invaders 

 in this iron-age amongst us, who have lately made 

 so prodigious a spoil of those goodly forests, woods, 

 and trees (to gratifie an impious and unworthy 

 avarice) which being once the treasure and ornament 

 of this nation, were doubtless reserved by our more 

 prudent ancestors for the repairs of our floating 

 castles, the safeguard and boast of this renowned 

 island, when necessity, or some imminent peril should 

 threaten it, or call for their assistance ; and not to be 

 devoured by these improvident wretches, who, to 

 their eternal reproach, did (with the royal patrimony) 



1 Quis enim laesos impune putaret 



Esse deos ? 



