a
Europea, and with good reason, as in his account of the Olive in the
"Herbal" he gives Oleaster as one of the synonyms of Olea sylvestris,
the wild Olive tree. But I think its introduction is of a still earlier
date. In the Anglo-Saxon "Leech Book," of the tenth century, published
under the direction of the Master of the Rolls, I find this
prescription: "Pound Lovage and Elder rind and Oleaster, that is, wild
Olive tree, mix them with some clear ale and give to drink" (book i. c.
37, Cockayne's translation). As I have never heard that the bark of the
Olive tree was imported, it is only reasonable to suppose that the
leeches of the day had access to the living tree. If this be so, the
tree was probably imported by the Romans, which they are very likely to
have done. But it seems very certain that it was in cultivation in
England in Shakespeare's time and he may have seen it growing.

But in most of the eight passages in which he names the Olive, the
reference to it is mainly as the recognized emblem of peace; and it is
in that aspect, and with thoughts of its touching Biblical associations
that we must always think of the Olive. It is _the_ special plant of
honour in the Bible, by "whose fatness they honour God and man," linked
with the rescue of the one family in the ark, and with the rescue of the
whole family of man in the Mount of Olives. Every passage in which it is
named in the Bible tells the uniform tale of its usefulness, and the
emblematical lessons it was employed to teach; but I must not dwell on
them. Nor need I say how it was equally honoured by Greeks and Romans.
As a plant which produced an abundant and necessary crop of fruit with
little or no labour (+phyteum' acheiroton autopoion+, Sophocles; "non
ulla est oleis cultura," Virgil), it was looked upon with special pride,
as one of the most blessed gifts of the gods, and under the constant
protection of Minerva, to whom it was thankfully dedicated.[186:1]

We seldom see the Olive in English gardens, yet it is a good evergreen
tree to cover a south wall, and having grown it for many years, I can
say that there is no plant--except, perhaps, the Christ's Thorn--which
gives such universal interest to all who see it. It is quite hardy,
though the winter will often destroy the young shoots; but not even the
winter of 1860 did any serious mischief, and fine old trees may
occasionally be seen which attest its hardiness. There is one at Hanham
Hall, near Bristo