THE OAK. 23 



in a season." The dimensions of this venerable 

 remnant of antiquity are, at one yard from the 

 ground, eleven yards one foot ; one foot above the 

 ground, thirteen yards one foot; six feet from the 

 ground, twelve yards one foot ; broadest side, seven 

 yards five inches ; close to the ground, eighteen 

 yards, one foot, seven inches ; height of the trunk 

 about four yards one foot. 



The following lines, from Spenser, describe its 

 present condition so admirably, that they may well 

 be admitted as an adjunct to the pencil which has 

 endeavoured to delineate it : 



There grew an aged tree on the green, 

 A goodly Oak some time had it been, 

 With arms full strong, and largely display'd, 

 But of their leaves they were disarray'd ; 

 The body big, and mightily pight, 

 Thoroughly rooted, and of wondrous height : 

 Whilom had been the king of the field, 

 And mochel mast to the husband did yield; 

 And with his nuts larded many swine, 

 But now the gray moss marred his rine ; 

 His bared boughs were beaten with storms, 

 His top was bald and wasted with worms ; 

 His honour decay'd, his branches sere. 



SHEPHERD'S CALENDAR. 



