OAK. 
217 
intimations. As the oak was an object of such 
reverence, it is no wonder that the gods, who 
were entertained by Philemon, (see the Linden 
Tree,) conceived that they could not confer on 
him a more suitable recompence than to trans¬ 
form him into an Oak-tree, that was to over¬ 
shadow the temple of Jupiter, into which his 
hut was changed. Hence this tree became the 
emblem of hospitality. 
Among the Romans, various kinds of crowns 
were given as rewards of military achievements. 
The most honourable of these, a wreath of green 
Oak, called the civic crown, was allotted to him 
who had saved the life of a Roman citizen in 
battle. It was also decreed to Cicero for detect¬ 
ing Catiline’s conspiracy. Scipio Africanus re¬ 
fused the civic crown for saving the life of his 
father at the battle of Trebia, on the ground 
that the act carried with it its own reward. The 
possessor of such a crown had a right to wear 
it constantly: when he entered an assembly, 
all present, senators themselves not excepted, 
were obliged to rise; and he was exempt from 
every kind of civil burdens and imposts. 
Divine honours were paid to the Oak by the 
