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the two large pillars of brass, made by Hiram 

 for the porch of Solomon's temple, were or- 

 namented with carvings of the pomegranate; 

 and by the writings of Solomon we may con- 

 clude, that a choice wine was made from it in 

 Judea : 



" I would cause thee to drink of spiced 

 wine of the juice of my pomegranates/' 



Again it is mentioned by the Prophet 

 Joel: 



" The vine is dried up, and the fig-tree 

 languisheth ; the pomegranate-tree, the palm- 

 tree also, and the apple-tree; even all the 

 trees of the field are withered/' 



The Grecians esteemed this fruit, and 

 mentioned it in their fabulous stories as 

 growing in the Elysian Fields. When Ceres 

 earnestly entreated Jupiter for the restitution 

 of her daughter Proserpine, who had been 

 carried off by Pluto, he promised to grant it 

 on condition that she had tasted no food in 

 the infernal regions. Unfortunately she had 

 gathered a pomegranate from a tree, and 

 eaten a few of the seeds, as she was walking 

 in the Elysian Fields. This was made known 

 by Ascalaphus, who alone had seen it; and 

 the enraged mother turned him into an owl 

 for his unseasonable information. 



The pomegranate-tree was first brought 



