26 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



Rather^ if chance should force, she through the fire 

 From its fallen leaves, so baneful, would retire." 



Cowley on Plants, Book vi. 



This passage is given rather for the allusion than for 

 any beauty that is to be found in the poetry. Cowley, 

 too, or his translator, gives a fling at Piiny : " For the 

 truth hereof, take Pliny's word.'" 



Sannazaro mentions the same notion : 



" Deir ombra di quesf albero sempre fuggono i serpi, 

 in modo che se dentro a un cerchio serrato da foglie di 

 frassino, sia posto il fuoco, ed un sei-pe ; il serpe per non 

 dar nel frassino piu tosto si getta nel fuoco*.'' 



" Serpents always avoid the shade of the Ash ; so that 

 if a fire and a serpent be placed within a circle of Ash- 

 leaves, the serpent, to avoid the Ash, wdll even run into 

 the midst of the fire.'' 



By the heroes of old, the Ash was used for spears, and 

 is still in use for pike staves. Pliny says it is preferable 

 for that purpose to either the cornel or the myrtle. San- 

 nazaro says, also, that it is better than the hazel, lighter 

 than the cornel, and more supple than the Service-tree. 



It is recorded that the lance with which Hector was 

 killed by Achilles, was of this wood. Sannazaro re- 

 marks that the Ash is ennobled by this circumstance : 



" Molto e nobilitato per la lancia d'Achille." 



Rapin also alludes to it : 



But on fair levels and a gentle soil 



The noble Ash rewards the planter's toil ; 



Noble, since great Achilles from her side 



Took the dire spear by which brave Hector died." 



Rapik on Trees. 



* L' Arcadia di M. G. Sannazaro. 



