156 
TREES. 
The mass has been powerfully shaken, and the lower part of it is 
mingled with the choice portion—the middle of the vintage. No 
proof more convincing of this need be required nor adduced, than 
the difference that exists between the solid literary food daily pre¬ 
pared for the nourishment of the labouring classes; and that frothy 
trash which is tricked out, and dished up to tempt the jaded appe¬ 
tites of the “higher orders.” I need but instance such publications 
as Chambers's Journal , the Penny Magazine , fyc. for the use of the 
former;—and contrast them with the splendid—bound frippery that 
reposes on the magnificent furniture of aristocratic drawing-rooms. 
Fashionable tales always appear to me to be the joint productions 
of upholsterers, man-milliners, and ladies’ maids. 
But to the subject of this little paper. Flowers and poetry are 
intimately associated; indeed the very essence of poetry has been 
extracted from those lovely productions of nature. But these shall 
form the subject of a future paper, if you think well of my plan. At 
present, I would bring to the notice of those of your readers, who 
may not be familiar with our two earlier master poets, Chaucer and 
Spencer,—a passage from each, in which trees are concisely and 
beautifully described. Their quaintness of style and obsolete spel¬ 
ling are frequently given as a reason for not reading those glorious 
old authors; I have therefore modernized the extracts to the best of 
my ability; but by so doing, I destroy the metre of the poetry, and 
injure the “handling” of the subject. 
Chaucer is supposed to be conducted into a grove, where he be¬ 
held trees of goodly growth and beauty: and thus in two words he 
describes the character and uses of each species. I so much prefer 
the original— 
“ The gold dewe drops of speche and eloquence.” 
that I am tempted to place it by the side of the interpretation, for 
comparison :—it is so natural to suppose, all must partake of our 
own feelings, on a favourite subject! 
“ The bildin oke, and eke the hardie ashe, 
* The pillir elme—the cossin unto caraine, 
The boxe pipetre, the holme to whippis lassche, 
The sailing firre, the cypress, deth to plaine, 
The shotir ewe, the aspe for shef tis plaine, 
The olive of pece, and eke the droukin vine, 
The victor palme, the laurir to divine.’ 7 * 
* Chaucer’s Assemble of Foules, (Assembly of Birds.) 
