CHAPTER XI 



Poetical allusions, etc., to the yew in ancient and modern times. 



IN the poetical writings of ancient, mediaeval, and 

 modern authors there are many allusions to the 

 yew and the bow, mostly having reference to their 

 deadly character and to the gloomy, funereal aspect 

 of the tree. Thus, Homer speaks of the Cretans 

 as being 'dreadful with the bended bow.' He 

 makes the Greeks appear as having wonderful 

 accuracy of aim, surpassing even that of our famous 

 Robin Hood. In the games which succeeded the 

 funeral of Patroclus, Teucer and Meriones contest 

 for the prize with bow and arrow. The mark is a 

 dove tied to the mast of a ship. Teucer cuts with 

 an arrow the string by which the dove is tied, and 

 Meriones afterwards kills the bird on the wing. 



' The dove in airy circles as she wheels 

 Amid the cloud, the piercing arrow feels.' l 



And again : 



' Raging with grief, great Menelaus burns, 

 And, fraught with vengeance, to the victor turns 

 That shook the ponderous lance, in act to throw 

 And this stood adverse with the bended bow. 



xxiii. 1013 (Pope's translation). 



