DICECIA MONADELPHIA. 



digenous to Britain, and was in common use among the 

 Borderers before exotics were introduced, it seems not 

 unreasonable to conclude that the present trees are no 

 aliens, but lineal descendants of the native stock. It was 

 generally planted in churchyards, not, however, on ac- 

 count of the " melancholy*" of its shade, nor from its 

 " funereal hue," but w for the convenience and ready 

 use of the several parishioners," to whom it afforded the 

 favourite material for the long bow, a weapon in the use 

 of which our ancestors were famous. At a very early 

 period the Yew was considered pre-eminently of a " ve- 

 nomous qualitie, and against man's nature," and even to 

 exhale effluvia fatal to those who chanced to repose 

 under its shade; but this, though repeated by numerous 

 authors, is altogether untrue. The fresh leaves, however, 

 are poisonous. Dr PERCIVAL mentions an instance of 

 three children being killed by a spoonful of them admi- 

 nistered as a remedy against worms; and they prove 

 speedily fatal to cattle accidentally tasting them when 

 young and tender. The berries are harmless. 



' Now more I love thee, melancholy Yew, 



Whose still green leaves in solemn silence wave 

 Above the peasant's red unhonoured grave, 



Which oft thou moisteneth with the morning dew 



To thee the sad, to thee the weary fly ; 



They rest in peace beneath thy sacred gloom 

 Thou sole companion of the lowly tomb ! 



No leaves but thine in pity o'er them sigh. 



Lo ! now, to fancy's gaze, thou seem'st to spread 

 Thy shadowy boughs to shroud me with the dead 

 LEYDRN 





