24: "Humiliavi lignum sublime et exaltavi lignum
humile; et siccavi lignum viride et frondescere feci lignum aridum."
Whether the Rue de l'Arbre Sec in Paris derives its name from the legend
I know not. [The name of the street is taken from an old sign-board; some
say it is derived from the gibbet placed in the vicinity, but this is more
than doubtful. - H. C.]
[Illustration: Commentles arbres du soleil et De la lune prophe tiserent
la mort alixandre.]
The actual tree to which Polo refers in the text was probably one of those
so frequent in Persia, to which age, position, or accident has attached a
character of sanctity, and which are styled Dirakht-i-Fazl, Trees of
Excellence or Grace, and often receive titles appropriate to Holy Persons.
Vows are made before them, and pieces torn from the clothes of the
votaries are hung upon the branches or nailed to the trunks. To a tree of
such a character, imposing in decay, Lucan compares Pompey:
"Stat magni nominis umbra.
Qualis frugifero quercus sublimis in agro,
Exuvias veteres populi sacrataque gestans
Dona ducum * * * * *
- Quamvis primo nutet casura sub Euro,
Tot circum silvae firmo se robore tollant,
Sola tamen colitur."
(Pharsalia, I. 135.)
The Tree of Mamre was evidently precisely one of this class; and those who
have crossed the Suez Desert before railway days will remember such a
Dirakht-i-Fazl, an aged mimosa, a veritable Arbre Seul (could we
accept that reading), that stood just half-way across the Desert,
streaming with the exuviae veteres of Mecca Pilgrims.
