BEECH FAMILY 



sending their heroes, seeking rest and recreation, to recline 

 under wide-spreading beeches. For example : — 



Beneath the sliade which beechen boughs diffuse, 

 You, TitNTus, entertain your s}]\an muse 



— Virgil. 



I ran to meet you as a traveller 



Gets lYoin tiie sun under a shady beecli, 



— Thkockitus. 



Under the brauL-lies of the beecli we flung 

 Our hnibs at ease and our bent bows unstrung. 



— From the Spanish. 



There at the foot of yonder nodding beech 

 That wreathes its old fantastic roots so high, 

 His listless length at noontide he would stretch 

 And pore upon the brook that bubbled by. 



—Gray. 



The following curious story is told by Pliny in his Natural 

 History. " There was a little hill called Corne, in the terri- 

 tory of Tusculuin, not far from the city of Rome, that was 

 clad and beautified with a grove and tufts of beech trees, 

 which weie as even and round in the head as if thev had been 

 curiously trimmed with garden siiears. This grove was, in 

 old times consecrated to Diana, by the coninion consent of 

 all the inhabitants of Latiuni who paid their devotions to that 

 goddess there. One of these trees was of such surpassing 

 beauty, that Passenius Crispus a celebrated orator who was 

 twice consul, and who afterwards married the Empress Agrip- 

 pina was so fond of it, that he not onlv delighted to repose 

 beneath its shade, but frequently poured wine on the roots, 

 and used often to embrace it." 



The ancients also knew that beech wood absorbed very 

 little water and for that reason made e.xcellent bowls. 



.\'o wars d'd men molest 

 When only beechen bowls were in request. 



— Virgil. 



In beechen goblets let their beverage shine, 

 Cool from the crystal spring dieir sober wine. 



— Milton. 

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