46 gilpin's forest scenbhy. 



think, signify the Beech; and Pliny's authority,* 

 may he decisive in favour of its being the Oak. 

 But were it not so, "Virgil's description is so 

 strongly marked with the character of the Oak, 

 that it seems to put the matter out of dispute ; 

 and I introduce the quotation merely to bring 

 together, in few words, the most obvious qualities 

 of this most noble plant, in one point of view. 



The first characteristic which Yirgil mentions 

 is its firmness, or the power and strength with 

 which it takes hold of the ground, driving its 



* Pliny, speaking of the different kinds of trees -which were 

 dedicated to different deities, tells us, ' Jovi esculus, Apolloni 

 lanrus,' &c. Lib. xii. c. 1. Now we know that the Oak was 

 Jupiter's tree. On this point I need only quote Phtedrus. 



' Olim quas vellent esse in tutela sua 

 Divi legerunt arbores ; quercus Joviy 

 Et myrtus Veneri placuit.' 



Pliny also in another place. Lib. xvi. c. G, plainly distinguishes 

 between the fagus and the esculus. ' Pagi glans triangula cute 

 includitur. Folium tenue, populo simile, celerrime flavescens,' 

 &c. ' Glandem, quse proprie intelligitur, ferunt robur, quercus, 

 esculus. Continetur hispido calyce. Folia, sinuosa lateribus ; 

 nee, cum cadunt, flavesoentia, tit fagi. Glans optima in querou, 

 et grandissima; mox esculo.' From this quotation it is plain 

 that Pliny considers the esculus as a variety of the Oalc. 



