240 



THE WILLOW. 



sociated with the most pleasurable feelings ; and 

 even when the Israelites were settled in a land 

 which was the joy of all lands," this tree still 

 continued to be emblematical of joyful prosperity. 

 The prophet Isaiah, foretelling the glorious resto- 

 ration of Israel, says, They shall spring up as 

 among the grass, as Willows by the water- 

 courses."* But while the Jews were in captivity 

 in a strange land, an incident occurred which, 

 to that nation at least, made the Willow an 

 emblem of the deepest of sorrows, namely, sorrow 

 for sin found out and visited with its due punish- 

 ment. By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat 

 down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. 

 We hanged our harps upon the Willows in the 

 midst thereof. For there they that carried us 

 away captive required of us a song ; and they that 

 wasted us required of us mirth." 



From that time the Willow appears never again 

 to have been associated vdth feelings of gladness. 

 Even among heathen nations, for what reason we 

 know not, it was a tree of evil omen, and was em- 

 ployed to make the torches carried at funerals. 

 Our own poets have made the Willow the symbol 

 of despairing woe ; Spenser makes it the fitting 

 garb of the forlorn ; Shakspeare represents the 

 doomed Queen of Carthage standing — 



" With a Willow in her hand 

 Upon the wild sea banks 



and Herrick says, 



^' As beasts unto the altars go, 

 With garlands dressed, so I 

 Will, with my Willow wreath, also 

 Come forth and sweetly die." 



* Isaiah xliv. 4. 



