134 A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. both Theophrastus and Pausanias make it indeed a species of Oak, as 

 "^^^f^^ already we have noted in chap. iii. wholly differing in trunk, as well as 

 fruit and leaf ; to which he adds^ (what determines the controversy,) 

 ^vUv T^? yeya ia-x"okaiov v.ai aarjirei-ahy ; " that it is of a firmer timber and not 



Virgil feelingly describes the cooling shade of the Beech, in well-known verses. 

 Tityre, tu patulae recubans sub tegmine fagi, 



Sylvestrem tenui Musam meditaris avena. ecl. i. I.l. 



Tantum inter densas, umbrosa cacuniina, fagos 



Assidue veniebat. — — ecl. ii. 1.3. 



The ancient shepherds frequently carved their love verses upon the green bark of this tree, 

 which was no bad substitute for the Egyptian papyrus. 



Imtno hsec, in viridi nuper quae cortice fagi 

 Carmina descripsi, et modulans alterna notavi, 



Experiar. ecl. v. 1.13. 



They also wrote upon the bark of the living tree, and as the letters must have been of a 

 large size, and cut deep, we may reasonably suppose that they seldom went much farther 

 than the name of their mistress, with a few tender epithets : 



Certum est in Syivis, inter spelaea ferarum, 

 Malle pati, tenerisque meos incidere amores 



Arboribus : crescent iWx, crescetis amores. ecl. x. 1.52. 



The same beautiful thought is preserved in the epistle of CEnone to Paris : 



Incisa; servant a te mea nomina fagi : 



Et legor CEnone fake notata tua. 



Et quantum trunci, tantum mea nomina crescuiit: 



Crescite, et in titulos surgite recta meos. ovid. 



This custom of carving favourite names upon the bark of trees, seems to have derived 

 its origin from the simplicity of nature, and consequently must have been common to all 

 ages. Shakspeare says, " A man haunts the forest that abuses our young trees with carving 

 " Rosalind upon their bark." 



Beechen bowls, curiously carved, were much prized by the ancient shepherds. Menaltas, 

 in his dispute with Damaetas, speaks highly in praise of his two beechen bowls, considering 

 them as superior in value to Damsetas's young cow : 



-pocula ponam 



Fagina, ca;latum divini opus Alcimedontis. ecl. iii. 1. 36. 



Pliny relates that beechen vessels were employed in religious ceremonies ; but in general 

 they were considered as the furniture of the meanest people : 



Terra rubens crater, pocula fagus erant. ovid. 



