THE OAK. 23 



son." The dimensions of this venerable remnant of 

 antiquity are, at one yard from the ground, eleven 

 yards one foot ; one foot above the ground, thirteen 

 yards one foot ; six feet from the ground, twelve 

 yards one foot ; broadest side, seven yards five 

 inches ; close to the ground, eighteen yards, one 

 foot, seven inches ; height of the trunk about four 

 yards one foot. 



The following lines, from Spenser, describe its 

 present condition so admirably, that they may well 

 be admitted as an adjunct to the pencil which has 

 endeavoured to delineate it : 



There grew an aged tree on the green, 

 A goodly Oak some time had it been, 

 With arms full long, and largely display'd. 

 But of their leaves they were disarray 'd ; 

 The body big, and mightily pight, 

 Thoroughly rooted, and of wondrous height : 

 Whilom had been the king of the field, 

 And mochel mast to the husband did yield ; 

 And with his nuts larded many swine. 

 But now the gray moss marred his rine ; 

 His bared boughs were beaten with storms. 

 His top was bald and wasted with worms ; 

 His honour decay 'd, his branches sere. 



Shepherd's Calendar. 



