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Shak

The Line-tree, Linden or Lime-tree, as it is now called, is the (Tilia europæa) European Lime, a handsome tree which grows to a large size, affording excellent shade, and was formerly planted in avenues. The branches are so tough that the wind seldom breaks them; therefore, nothing could be more appropriately selected to weather-fend Prospero's cell than a grove of lime-trees. It was cultivated in England before Shakspere's time. Gerarde says: 'It is a tree which yieldeth a most pleasant shadow, under and within whose boughes may be made brave summer houses and banqueting arbours; it groweth in my Lord Treasurer's garden in the Strand, and in sundry other places.'

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Mr.

is that

about the year 1800, King George III. informed
Lady Ely, who enquired about the tree, 'that when
a young man, it was represented to him that there
were a number of old oaks in the park, which had
become unsightly objects, and that it would be de-
sirable to take them down: he gave directions that
such trees as were of this description should be re-
moved; but he was afterwards sorry that he had
given such an order inadvertently, because he found
that among the rest the remains of HERNE'S OAK
had been destroyed.'
› *

The following beautiful description of an aged oak is in As you like it, Act iv. Scene 3. Oliver to Celia :

When last the young Orlando parted from you,
He left a promise to return again

Within an hour; and pacing thro' the forest,

Chewing the food of sweet and bitter fancy,

Lo, what befel! he threw his

eye aside,

* The shattered trunk of Herne's Oak was blown down on Monday morning last. A branch of the tree which fell from the trunk upwards of twenty years ago has been carefully preserved in the Royal stores at Windsor Castle. Since then this famous tree has been fenced in with park pales, and a plate has been attached to it upon which is engraved a quotation from The Merry Wives of Windsor. The identity of Herne's Oak has been disputed by many writers; but in a plan of the Castle and Tower of Windsor, published at Eton in 1742, the position of the oak is clearly defined. It is marked as Falstaff's Oak. The fairies' dell has been partially filled up, but the late Prince Consort had much of the earth removed, when the remains of large oaks in an upright position were discovered. Taken from the Times' of August 1863.

And mark, what object did present itself!

Under an old oak, whose boughs were moss'd with age,
And high top bald with dry antiquity,

A wretched ragged man, o'ergrown with hair,
Lay sleeping on his back.

Boughs of oak, used as garlands by the Roman victors, are noticed several times in Coriolanus; and in Act ii. Scene 2, Cominius, speaking of the exploits of Coriolanus at the age of sixteen, says :

When with his Amazonian chin he drove
The bristled lips before him. He bestrid
An o'er-pressed Roman, and i' the consul's view
Slew three opposers; Tarquin's self he met
And struck him on his knee in that day's feats

:

When he might act the woman in the scene,

He prov'd best man i' the field; and for his meed
Was brow-bound with the oak.

In Act v. Scene 2, the Second Watch says of Coriolanus:

The worthy fellow is our general: he is the rock, the oak not to be wind-shaken.

In Act v. Scene 5 (a part of Windsor park), Falstaff, waiting for the merry wives under Herne's oak, says :

Let the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of 'Green Sleeves ;' hail kissing-comfits and snow eringoes; let there come a tempest of provocation, I will shelter me here.

Potatoes. Gerarde, in his 'Herbal' (date 1597, nineteen years before Shakspere died), speaking of

in

Sisarum peruvianum, Batata hispaniorum, says :-This plant (which is called of some Sisarum peruvianum or Skyrrets of Peru), is generally of us called potatus or potatós. It has long, rough, flexible branches trailing upon the ground, like unto those of pompions, whereupon are set green three-cornered leaves, very like those of the wild cucumber. 'There is not any that have written of this plant have said anything of the flowers. They grow India, Barbary, and Spain, and other hot regions; of which I planted in my garden divers roots (which I bought at the Exchange in London), where they flourished until winter, at which time they perished and rotted. They are used to be eaten roasted in the ashes; some, when they be so roasted, infuse them and sop them with wine; and others, to give them the greater grace in eating, do boil them with prunes; others dress them (being first roasted) with oil, vinegar, and salt, every man according to his own taste and liking. Notwithstanding, howsoever they be dressed, they comfort, nourish, and strengthen the body,' &c. Gerarde also describes the common potato (Solanum tuberosum), and says it was good either roasted in the embers, or boiled and eaten with oil, vinegar, and pepper, or dressed some other way by the hand of a skilful cook.

Drayton, Heywood, Ben Jonson, Decker, Middleton, Greene, Sir John Harrington, and others,