24 
and moreover describes the gods as sitting in council 
under its shade. Its inner bark served as a tablet for 
the scholar: its wood furnished spears for the soldier: — 
“ From Pelion’s cloudy top, an ash entire 
Old Chiron foil'd, and shaped it for his sire.” 
Nay, it has been averred that it formed the missiles in 
the armoury of Cupid, till, for reasons not stated, it 
was superseded by the cypress. 
It is probably owing to this abundance of traditionary 
lore, that the ash is still regarded by the vulgar with 
much superstitious reverence. Many strange and 
senseless customs, founded in the belief of some inherent 
virtue it possesses, are still observed in various parts of 
the kingdom; such as passing a sickly child through a 
young ash, cleft for the purpose; with others equally 
absurd. A strange and unaccountable notion of earlier 
date is recorded by Pliny, that serpents always avoided 
its shade, “ and would rather creep into the fire than 
over a twig of it.” 
But, whatever may be the imaginary virtues of this 
wondrous tree, its real usefulness is universally acknow¬ 
ledged. Its timber ranks next in value to that of the 
oak itself, and almost serves as many purposes: — 
