oak. 225 
for the mastery over this monarch of the forest : at 
first he murmurs only, but soon a dull, deep, melan- 
choly sound issues from his sturdy branches. You 
listen and fancy that you hear an indistinct, myste- 
rious voice speaking from the tree ; which furnishes 
a clew to the ancient superstitions that prevailed 
respecting it. 
