The Beech.

The Beech.
I.

I envy not the taste of those who see
No beauty in the Beech. In Spring, its green
Is of the finest hue; and I have been,
Like Virgil, glad to its cool shade to flee
From Summer’s scorching heat. And when “the sere, 5
The yellow leaf,” shows on each other tree,
The scarlet Beech gives fine variety
To our Autumnal landscape; helping to cheer
The year’s decline. And when keen Winter comes,
And strips our trees of verdure, then the Beech 10
Shows its bare branches bravely—us to teach
How, if we breast the storms of life, our homes
The true abodes of Happiness will be,
As sure as leaves and mast again adorn this tree.

II.
Virgil and Ovid sang how Romans writ 15
Their names in the kind Beech tree’s friendly bark,
Together to endure; this lasting mark
Made Shakspere’s lovers, with their rustic wit,
In Ardenne’s Forest. Well our fathers knew
The value of its timber. Many a draught 20
Of mead or nut-brown ale, I ween, they quaff’d
From Beechen Bowls, when Boreas furious blew
His stormhorn all unheeded; and they slept
Soundly on leaves dropp’d from the old Beech Tree:
And many a meal from trenchers ate, which we, 25
With appetites like theirs, had gladly leapt
From fireside stools, had we been seated their,
To join with relish in their homely fare.


III.
’T was ’neath a “broad Beech-tree” that Walton sat—
Izaak, that prince of anglers!—when he heard 30
“Friendly contention” echoed from each bird
“In the adjoining grove.” Oh! thanks for that
That fine pastoral picture, which will never fade
While love of rural life is dear to man.
The “primrose hill,” “the silver streams” than ran, 35
“Opposed by rugged roots,” endear the shade
Of Walton’s Beech-tree to the end of time.
For us his “harmless lambs” indulge their sport;
For us his “handsome milkmaid’s” voice is fraught
With sweetest melody; her pleasant rhyme 40
“Made by Kit Marlow.” Honest Izaak! each
Lover of Nature venerates thy Beech.

George Markham Tweddell
[Sonnets on Trees and Flowers, pp. 3-5.] Also published in Voice of
Masonry, Oct., 1882. Hull Miscellany, Aug. 9, 1884. The second Sonnet is
quoted in Modern Yorkshire Poets, by William Andrews, p. 51.