ISLAND OF COS. 443 
regard to the age of trees *, and particularly of S^f/*' 
the Plane-tree, which is known to exist for '■ >- * 
centuries, perhaps the marvellous tree ofStanchio, 
alluded to upon a former occasion ^ if it be not 
a venerable remnant of this grove, may, as a 
spontaneous produce resulting from it, denote 
its actual situation. The conjecture seems to 
be warranted by the number of antient altars 
still remaining about the body of this tree. The 
AscLEPjEUM was filled with the most costly voivs; 
and, among the number, the most famous paint- 
ings of Apelles — his Antigouus, and his Fenia 
Anadijnviene. Augustus removed the last pic- 
ture to Rnme ; and there consecrated it, in the 
shrine of his father ^ 
The custom of suspending pictures in churches, ^"<""' 
Offerings. 
representing hair-breadth escapes from casual 
disaster or disorder, as I'otive offerings to patron 
Saints who are believed to have been propitious 
(5) Cou'per speak* of an o«k wliich bail flourii^hed from the time of 
the Conquest (See Hni/let/'s lAfe of Cowper, vol. III./?. 166. Chichest. 
1806.); and allu?^ion ha-; been alreaily made to the famous olive-tree la 
the Citadel at /ilheus, that existed from the foundation of the city. 
(6) See Vol. HI. p. 249. 
(7) Strabon. Geog. lib. xiv. p. 941. Oxnn. 1807. " Venerem exeun- 
tem e niari Divu^ Augustus diravit in delubro patris Cae-aris, qufe 
Anodyo-.ncne vocatur." Plin.Hist. Nat. lib.wxv.cnpAO. L.Bat.\6S5- 
The same circumstance is also related by Quintilian, 
