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The cedar is said to possess the very peculiar property 
of “ raising its branches to support the load which may 
oppress them.” This property is mentioned by many 
writers, and, amongst others, it is incidentally alluded to 
bv Sir Walter Scott, as follows: “ Brave men as well as 
cowards are subject to nervous agitation; with this dif¬ 
ference, that the one sinks under it, like the vine under 
the hail-storm, and the other collects his energies to 
shake it off, as the cedar of Lebanon is said to elevate 
its boughs to disperse the snow which accumulates upon 
them.” 
“ Said’st thou the cedar in its mountain-hold 
Did meet with drooping boughs the glance of summer, 
But that when storms were rife, no longer then 
Unstrung and nerveless, with a quick rebound 
Recovering all at once its stately beauty. 
It rais’d itself to meet the falling snows ?” 
“ I did: but prithee what has that to do 
With this calm burial-place, or those low graves, 
