Lastly, It was a Tree wholly constituted for Fruit, wherein if it faileth, it is in a manner useless, the Wood thereof being of so little use, that it affordeth proverbial expressions, _Homo Ficulneus, argumentum Ficulneum_, for things of no validity. [Sidenote: _The Palm Tree, in_ Cant. 7. 8.] 44. _I said I will go up into the Palm Tree, and take hold of the Boughs thereof._ This expression is more agreeable unto the Palm than is commonly apprehended, for that it is a tall bare Tree bearing its Boughs but at the top and upper part; so that it must be ascended before its Boughs or Fruit can be attained: And the going, getting or climbing up, may be Emphatical in this Tree; for the Trunk or Body thereof is naturally contrived for ascension, and made with advantage for getting up, as having many welts and eminencies, and so as it were a natural Ladder, and Staves, by which it may be climbed, as _Pliny_[241] observeth, _Palmæ teretes atque proceres, densis quadratisque pollicibus faciles se ad scandendum præbent_, by this way men are able to get up into it. And the Figures of Indians thus climbing the same are graphically described in the Travels of _Linschoten_. This Tree is often mentioned in Scripture, and was so remarkable in _Judæa_, that in after-times it became the Emblem of that Country, as may be seen in that Medal of the Emperour _Titus_, with a Captive Woman sitting under a Palm, and the Inscription of _Judæa Capta_. And _Pliny_ confirmeth the same when he saith, _Judæa Palmis inclyta_. [241] Plin. 13. _cap. 4_. [Sidenote: _Lilies, in_ Cant. 2. 1, 2, 16.] 45. Many things are mention'd in Scripture, which have an Emphasis from this or the neighbour Countries: For besides the Cedars, the Syrian Lilies are taken notice of by Writers. That expression in the _Canticles_,[242] _Thou art fair, thou art fair, thou hast Doves eyes_, receives a particular character, if we look not upon our common Pigeons, but the beauteous and fine ey'd Doves of Syria. [242] Cant. 4. 1. When the Rump is so strictly taken notice of in the Sacrifice of the Peace Offering, in these words,[243] _The whole Rump, it shall be taken off hard by the Back-bone_, it becomes the more considerable in reference to this Country, where Sheep had so large Tails; which, according to _Aristotle_,[244] were a Cubit broad; and so they are still, as _Bellonius_ hath delivered. [243] Levit. 3. 9. [244] Aristot. _Hist. Animal. lib. 8_.