9-2 
Wien found in such a habitat, wo may shrewdly 
suspect it has been planted there by the hand of super¬ 
stition ; for die simple mountaineers, both in Scodand and 
Wales, believe that in the neighbourhood of this tree 
-« No evil thing that walks by night 
In fog or fire, by lake or moorish fen, 
Blue meagre hag, or stubborn unlaid ghost 
That breaks his magic chains at curfew time, — 
No goblin, or swart fairy of the mine, 
Hath hurtful power.” 
This superstitious notion is thought, by Hunter, to 
throw light on that passage in Macbeth where, on the 
witch requesting some chesnuts, the sailor’s wife hastily 
answers. Aroint thee, witch: a ronm-tree, witch, he im¬ 
agines to be the true reading. In support of this 
opinion he quotes a stanza from a very old song, called 
“ the Laidley Worm of Spindleston Heughs: ” — 
“ Their spells were vain. The hags return’d 
To the queen in sorrowful mood, 
Crying that witches have no power 
"Where there is rown-tree wood.” 
Catde are supposed to be especially indebted to this 
tree for its protecting spells. Formerly it was no 
