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Romance and Poetry: Paris

In the "Arraignement of Paris," a pastoral (1584), the three rival deities disclose their pretensions and promises to the shepherd, Paris. Juno says:-- "For thy meede, sythe I am Queen of Riches, Shepherde, I will reward thee with greate monarchies, Empires and kingdomes, heapes of massie golde, Scepters and diadems, curious to beholde, Riche robes of sumptuousness, workmanship, and cost, And thousand things whereof I make no boast... Shepherde, lo, this tree of golde I will bestowe on thee." (Hereuppon did rise a tree of gold, laden with diadems and crownes of golde.) "The ground whereon it growes, the grasse, the roote of golde, The body and the barke of golde, all glistnynge to beholde; The leaves of burnisht golde, the fruites that thereon growe. Are diadems set with pearle in golde in glorious glistringe showe, And if this tree of golde in lue may not suffice, Require a grove of golden trees, so Juno bears the prize." (The tree sinketh.) A wonderful tree is mentioned by Abulfeda (A.D. 917), among the magnificent decorations of the palace of the Caliph Almamon. It was of gold and silver, spreading into eighteen large branches, on which, and on the lesser boughs, sat a variety of birds, made of the same precious metals, as well as the leaves of the tree. While the machinery effected spontaneous motions, the several birds warbled their natural harmony.