376 SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



"Observe also when the walnut tree shall put on its bloom 

 plentifully in the woods, and bend down its strong smelling 

 branches : if it abounds in fruit, you will have a like quantity of 

 corn, and a great threshing, with much heat. But if it abounds 

 with a luxuriant shade of leaves, in vain shall your floor thresh 

 the corn, which abounds with nothing but chaff." (MARTYN'S 

 Translation.) 



Most of the translators have rendered mix the almond 

 tree ; but Martyn has very clearly made it out to be the 

 Walnut tree. If it might be allowed to change two 

 words of Dryden's version, it would remove the error : 



" Mark well the flowering Walnuts in the wood ; 

 If numerous blooms the bearing branches load 

 The glebe will answer to the sylvan reign, 

 Great heats will follow, and large crops of grain. 

 But if a wood of leaves o'ershade the tree, 

 Such, and so barren will thy harvest be ; 

 In vain the hind shall vex the threshing floor, 

 For empty chaff and straw will be thy store." 



Walnuts were commonly strewed at the Roman wed- 

 dings. " This ceremony,*" says Dr. Hunter, " was to 

 show that the bridegroom had left off all boyish amuse- 

 ments.'' 1 



Horace speaks of some game played with nuts by 

 the Roman boys, with nuts and little bones*. 



" Postquam te talos, Aule, nucesque 



Ferre sinu laxo, donare et ludere vidi." 



Satire iii. book 2. 



" You, Aulus, during your childhood, I have observed to carry 

 your bones and nuts carelessly in your bosom, to play them boldly, 

 and make presents of them to your companions." 



* A game is still played by schoolboys in France, which they 

 call ossekts, (little bones,) in which are used the ankle-bones of 

 sheep, ground square. 



