

528 



PRODUCTION OF 



Sect. XVIII. 2. 16. 



th 



to be 



pa 



iuch kinds of wood, as experience has (hewn 



ble to fuflain, and which may be befl adapted to the conftrudllon of 



fliips. 



16. The following addrefs to Swilcar oak in Need wood fo reft, 



/ 



very 



tall 



and 



tree, which meafures thirteen 

 yards round at four feet from 



yards round at its bafe 



the ground 



and is be 



lieved to be fix hundred years old, was written at the end of Mr 

 Mundy's poem 



on leaving that forefl:,and may amufe the 



weary 



reader, aud coHclude this Se6l 



/ 



ADDRESS TO SWILCAR OAK 



4 



% ' 



Gigantic Oak ! whofe wrinkled form hath flood. 

 Age after age, the Patriarch of the wood ! 

 Thou, who haft feen a thoufand fprings unfold 

 Their ravel'd buds, and dip their flowers in gold j 

 Ten thoufand times yoh moon relight her horn. 

 And that bright ftar of evening gild the morn ! 



Erft, when the Druid-bards with filver hair 

 Pour'd round thy trunk the melody of prayer; 

 When chiefs and heroes join'd the kneeling throng, 

 And choral virgins trill'd the adoring fong j 

 While harps refponfive rung amid the glade. 

 And holy echoes thrill'd thy vaulted (hade ; ' 

 Say, did fuch dulcet notes arreft thy gales. 

 As MuNDY pours along the liftening vales ? 



Gigantic Oak ! — thy hoary head fublime 

 Erewhile mufl: perifh in the wrecks of time; 

 Should round thy brow innocuous lightnings Ihoot, 



And to fierce whirlwinds {hake thy fteadfaft root; 

 Yet (halt Thou fall ! — thy leafy treffes fade. 



And thofe bare fhatter'd antlers ftrew the glade; 



Arm- 



/ 



