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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
139
"Cypresse
garlands
are
of
great
account
at
funerals
amongst
the
gentler
sort,
but
rosemary
and
bayes
are
used
by
the
commons
both
at
funerals
and
weddings.
They
are
all
plants
which
fade
not
a
good
while
after
they
are
gathered,
and
used
(as
I
conceive)
to
intimate
unto
us
that
the
remembrance
of
the
present
solemnity
might
not
die
presently
(at
once),
but
be
kept
in
mind
for
many
years."
The
yew
has
from
time
immemorial
been
planted
in
churchyards
besides
being
used
at
funerals.
Paris,
in
"Romeo
and
Juliet",
(Act
v.
sc.
3),
says:--
"Under
yon
yew
trees
lay
thee
all
along,
Holding
thine
ear
close
to
the
hollow
ground;
So
shall
no
foot
upon
the
churchyard
tread,
Being
loose,
unfirm,
with
digging
up
of
graves,
But
thou
shall
hear
it."
Shakespeare
also
refers
to
the
custom
of
sticking
yew
in
the
shroud
in
the
following
song
in
"Twelfth
Night"
(Act
ii.
sc.
4):--
"My
shroud
of
white,
stuck
all
with
yew,
Oh,
prepare
it;
My
part
of
death,
no
one
so
true
Did
share
it."
Unhappy
lovers
had
garlands
of
willow,
yew,
and
rosemary
laid
on
their
biers,
an
allusion
to
which
occurs
in
the
"Maid's
Tragedy":--
"Lay
a
garland
on
my
hearse
Of
the
dismal
yew;
Maidens,
willow
branches
bear--
Say
I
died
true.
My
love
was
false,
but
I
was
firm
From
my
hour
of
birth;
Upon
my
buried
body
lie
Lightly,
gentle
earth."
Among
further
funeral
customs
may
be
mentioned
that
of
carrying
a
garland
of
flowers
and
sweet
herbs
before
a
maiden's
coffin,
and
afterwards
suspending
it
in
the
church.
Nichols,
in
his
"History
of
Lancashire"
(vol.
ii.
pt.
i.
382),
speaking
of
Waltham
in
Framland
Hundred,
says:
"In
this
church
under
every
arch
a
garland
is
suspended,
one
of
which
is
customarily
placed
there
whenever
any
young
unmarried
woman
dies."
It
is
to
this
custom
Gay
feelingly
alludes:--
Marker
Marker
Fine marker
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Scalpel
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Purify
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