400 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



Harte very appropriately places the yew and cypress 

 in the same avenue, leading to the palace of death : 



" Dark cypresses the skirting sides adorned. 



And gloomy yew-trees, which for ever mourned." 



Vision of Death. 



Sir Walter Scott describes the melancholy appearance 

 of the yew tree : — 



But here 'twixt rock and river grew 

 A dismal grove of sable yew, 

 With whose sad tints were mingled seen 

 The blighted fir's sepulchral green ■. 

 Seemed that the trees their shadows cast 

 The earth that nourished them to blast, 

 For never knew that swarthy grove 

 The verdant hue that fairies love : 

 Nor mlding green nor woodland flower, 

 Arose within its baleful bower : 

 The dank and sable earth receives 

 Its only carpet from the leaves 

 That, from the -withering branches cast. 

 Bestrewed the ground with every blast." 



Rokeby, canto ii. 



Clorin^ in the Faithful Shepherdess, having retired 

 from the world upon the loss of her lover, says . 



" ■ Yon same dell 



O'ertopped with mourning cypress and sad yew. 

 Shall be my cabin ; where I'll early rue. 

 Before the sun has kissed this dew away. 

 The hard uncertain chance which fate doth lay 

 Upon this head." 



The uncommon pKancy of the Yew, together with its 

 toughness, made it particularly proper for bows; and 



