814 MONADELPHIA. POLYANDRIA. Pinus 
F. Calyx scales forming a cone, two flowers in each 
scale : Pistil one : Nut of one cell, without valves, 
bordered with a membrane. 
Are those fraternal four of Borrowdale, 
Joined in one solemn and capacious grove; 
Huge trunks! and each particular trunk a growth 
Of intertwisted fibres serpentine, 
Upcoiling, and inveterately convolved: 
Nor uninformed with phantasy, and looks 
That threaten the profane ; a pillared shade. 
Upon whose grassless floor of red-brown hue. 
By sheddings from the pining umbrage tinged 
Perennially ;—beneath whose sable roof 
Of boughs, as if for festal purpose, decked 
With unrejoicing berries, ghostly shapes 
May meet at noontide : Fear, and trembling hope. 
Silence, and foresight—death the skeleton, 
And time the shadow, there to celebrate, 
As in a natural temple, scatter’d o’er 
With altars undisturb’d of mossy stone, 
United w’orship ; or in mute repose 
To lie, and listen to the mountain-flood 
Murmuring from Glenamara’s inmost cave.” 
The cause of the general introduction of the Yew tree into cemeteries has been diffe¬ 
rently surmised. The following explanation seems sufficiently probable. The sacred, 
funeral Yew, well calculated to give solemnity to the village church-yard, and from its 
unchanging foliage and enduring nature, fit emblem of immortality, has ever been 
associated w'ith religious observances. When anciently it was the custom, as it still is in 
Catholic countries, to carry palms on Palm-Sunday, the Yew was substituted on such 
occasions for the palm. Two or three trees, the usual number growing in church-yards, 
were enough for such purposes. Of these, one at least was more especially consecrated, and 
was then estimated at tw^entytimes the value of less hallow'ed trees of its own kind, and double 
that of the finest oak, as appears from ancient record. An extract from Caxton’s directions for 
keeping Feasts all the year, printed in 1483, may be considered decisive on this subject. In the 
lecture for Palm-Sunday, the waiter, after giving the scripture account of our Saviour’s trium¬ 
phant entrance into Jerusalem, proceeds thus: “ Wherefore holy chirche this day makyth 
solemne processyon, in mynd of the processyon that Cryst made this day. But for 
encheson that we have non olyve that berith grene leef, algate therefore we take Ewe 
instede of palme and olyve, and beren about in processyon, and so is thys day called Palme 
Sunday.” In confirmation, we may add, that the Yew’s in the church-yards of East Kent are 
at this day called palms. Small branches were likewise w'ont to be borne at funeral solem¬ 
nities, and cast into the grave. It is remarkable that bodies interred beneath the shade of 
trees, return to their piistine dust in a very few years, perhaps one third less time than 
when deposited in the open ground. This rapid decay may be in some degree occasioned 
by the perpetual percolation of concentrated moisture, and the comparative absence of sun 
and air. That our mortal remains should be laid to rest beneath such natural canopy, 
seems almost an inherent propensity in human nature. 
iS This branch of Yew , this branch of Yew ! 
How many a fond and tearful eye 
Hath hither turned its pensive view, 
And through this dark leaf sought the sky. 
How many a light and beauteous form. 
Committed to its guardian trust. 
Safe housed from life’s tumultuous storm, 
Hath gently melted into dust; 
While mindful love, would long renew 
Its grief, beneath this branch of Yew* 
