402 



SYLVAN SKETCHES. 



In Harte's Statius, the extraordinary celerity of two 

 youths in the race is expressed by a comparison with the 

 flight of an arrow from a bow of yew : 



^' Each, like an arrow from the Parthian yew. 

 Sent with full force, along the circus flew." 



Spenser tells us that when St. George fought with the 

 dragon, the monster pounced upon, snatched him and his 

 horse from the ground, and 



" Long he them bore above the subject plain. 

 So far as yewen bow a shaft may send ; 

 Till struggling strong, did him at last constrain 

 To let them down before bis flightesend." 



W. Browne describes it as 



The warlike yewgh by which, m.ore than the lance. 

 The strong-armed English spirits conquer'd France." 



Fairfax poetically designates the tree as 

 The shooter yew." 



Chaucer uses the same epithet. 



The Yew has the reputation of being poisonous. 

 Authors differ as to the degree ; and so, probably, do 

 the trees themselves. Evelyn endeavours to persuade 

 himself that there is no foundation for this ill opinion of 

 the tree ; but he relates some instances recorded of its 

 sins in this way. 



Mr. White, in his History of Selbourne, gives several 

 instances in which it has proved fatal to animals ; and 

 Dr. Hunter mentions others, equally fatal, of its effects 

 upon the human species. Many others have been told 

 by various writers, ancient and modern. Csesar, in his 

 Gallic War, relates that Cativulcus, king of the Ebu- 

 rones, killed himself by drinking a draught of Yew. 



