260 
SORROW. 
thing to art, it is often seen at the four cor¬ 
ners of a perfect square. The Greeks, who 
had true conceptions of the beautiful in na¬ 
ture, were affected like ourselves by the sor¬ 
rowful aspect of this tree, and imagined that 
the unfortunate Smilax, when rejected by 
young Crocus, was changed into a yew. 
Nature presents us among plants with co¬ 
rals for our infancy, crowns for our youth, and 
valuable fruits for every age. Are we melan¬ 
choly ? The murmuring willow affords us 
sympathy. Do we love ? The myrtle offers 
up its flowers. Are we wealthy ? The ches- 
nut yields us its luxuriant and pompous shade. 
And if we are sorrowful the yew seems to ad¬ 
dress us thus: “ Fly, sorrow ! it cankers the 
heart as I exhaust the earth that affords me 
nourishment Sorrow is as dangerous to man 
as my shadow is to the traveller 1 ” 
