WILLOW. 271 



undermines, with her companions, even the finest growing 

 trees, till they become utterly powerless to resist the gales 

 of winter. 



And yet, though suggestive of calm thoughts, much of 

 historic interest is associated with my name. Who, in 

 remembering the sanguinary purposes to which my pliant 

 branches were applied in Druidic times, does not feel 

 thankful that his lot is cast in far different days ? The 

 willow grew then, as now, beside clear streams, in glens 

 such as poetic fancy might delight to feign ; but instead of 

 being regarded as an object of especial interest to the 

 botanist and entomologist, savage men went forth to collect 

 the boughs and twigs, which having brought within the 

 precincts of gloomy and unhallowed woods, they constructed 

 with them huge images, for the immolation of prisoners 

 either taken in war, or about to be sacrificed. 



My tribe was, doubtless, more important to the ancient 

 Britons than any of their sylvan brethren. Those half- 

 civilized barbarians were so skilful in the art of weaving 



