280 A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. SO hard, close, and ponderous as to sink, like lead, in water ; and therefore 

 '^''^^'^r^ of special use for the turner, engraver, carver, mathematical instrument- 

 maker, comb, and pipe-maker, fsi huocos injlarejuvat — Claud.) who give 

 great prices for it by weight, as well as measure ; and by the seasoning, 

 and divers manner of cutting, vigorous insolations, politure, and grinding, 

 the roots of this tree (as of even our common and neglected thorn) do 

 furnish the inlayer and cabinet-maker with pieces rarely undulated, and 

 full of variety : Also of Box are made wheels or shivers, as our ship- 

 carpenters call them, and pins for blocks and pulleys ; pegs for musical 

 instruments ; nut-crackers, weavers' shuttles, hollar- sticks, bump-sticks, 

 and dressers for the shoemaker, rulers, rolling-pins, pestles, mall-balls, 

 beetles, tops, tables, chess-men, screws, male and female, bobbins for 

 bone-lace, spoons, nay the stoutest axle-trees ; but above all, 



■I > - ■- » non ultima belli 



Arma Puellaris ; Laqueos heec nectit Amantum, 



Et venatricis disponit retia Formje. couleii. P], lib. vi. 



. Box combs bear no small part 



In the miilitia of the female art ; • 

 They tie the links which hold our gallants fast^ 

 And spread the nets to which fond lovers haste. 



The chemical oil of this wood has done the feats of the best guaiacum 

 (though in greater quantity) for the cure of venereal diseases, as one of 

 the most expert physicians in Europe has confessed. The oil assuages 

 the tooth-ache. But, says Khodoginus, the honey which is made at 

 Trebisond in Box-trees (I suppose he means gathered among them ; for 

 there are few, I believe, if any, so large and hollow as to lodge and hive 

 bees,) renders them distracted who eat of it. Lib. xxiii. cap. xxv. 



He that in winter should behold some of our highest hills in Surrey clad 

 with whole woods of these trees, for divers miles in circuit, (as in those 

 delicious groves of them belonging to the Honourable, my Noble Friend* 

 the late Sir Adam Brown, of Beach worth Castle,) mighty without the least 

 violence to his imagination, easily fancy himself transported into some 

 new or enchanted country ; for;, if in any spot of England;, 



Hie ver assiduum, atque alienis mensibus aestas. virg. 



' 'tis here 



Eternal spring and summer all the year. 



