OAK TREE. 



^89 



" Oak of Guernica ! Tree of holier power 

 Than that which in Dodona did enshrine, 

 (So faith too fondly deemed) a voice divine. 

 Heard from the depths of its aerial bower. 

 How canst thou flourish at this blighting hour ? 

 WTiat hope, what joy can sunshine bring to thee. 

 Or the soft breezes from the Atlantic sea, 

 The dews of morn, or April's tender shower ? 



Stroke merciful and welcome would that be 

 Which would extend thy branches on the ground. 

 If never more within their shady round 

 Those lofty-minded lawgivers shall meet. 

 Peasant, and lord, in their appointed seat ; 

 Guardians of Biscay's ancient liberty/' 



In Ford's play of the Sun's Darling, Winter thus re- 

 proves the clowns : 



" Yet you, wild fools, possessed with giant rage. 

 Dare, in your lawless fury, think to wage 

 War against heaven ; and from his shining throne 

 Pull Jove himself, for you to tread upon ; 

 Were your heads circled with his own green oak. 

 Yet they are subject to his thunder-stroke." 



It is well kno^vn that in the early ages, acorns were an 

 important species of food : the substitution of corn, in 

 ancient Rome, was attributed to the bounty of Ceres, 

 who, by means of Triptolemus, taught them its use and 

 cultivation : 



" Liber, et alma Ceres ; vestro si munere tellus 

 Chaoniam pingui glandem mutavit arista, 

 Poculaque inventis Acheloia miscuit uvis." 



Virgil, Georgic i. 



Bacchus, and fostering Ceres, powers divine. 

 Who gave us corn for mast, for water wine." 



Dr YD en's Virgil, 

 u 



