172 LANGUAGE AND 
coeval with the earth’s. No faith hut appears 
to have associated its rites with this symbol of 
majesty and strength. Biblical lore abounds with 
allusions to this “ tower of strength.” It was 
“ under the oak which was by Shechem,” that 
Jacob buried the strange gods and ornaments 
of his household. Under the “ oak of weeping” 
Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse, was interred. The 
Lord’s messenger that appeared to Gideon “ sat 
under an oak;” and it was by the branches of 
one of these trees that Absalom, David’s beloved 
but rebellious son, was caught, and met with 
death. “The oaks of Bashan,” that mystic 
land Avhere dwelt the mighty king Og and his 
gigantic followers, are called to mind, together 
with numerous other allusions to the hospitable 
tree—to that tree which many ancient races be¬ 
lieved to have afforded shelter to the first human 
beings. 
Oak leaves were worn in marriage ceremonies, 
at the festivals’held in honor of Ceres, and also 
by husbandmen at the beginning of the harvest. 
To the Roman soldier who saved the life of 
another in battle a chaplet of oak-leaves was 
awarded. Shakspeare makes Cominius say of 
Coriolanus: 
“At sixteen years, 
When Tarquin made a head from Rome, he fought 
Beyond the mark of others. 
He proved best man i’ the field, and for his meed 
Was brow-hound with the oak.” 
