Mueller, III. 17.)
The story as related by Firdusi keeps very near to the Greek as just
quoted, but does not use the term "Tree of the Sun." The chapter of the
Shah Nameh containing it is entitled Didan Sikandar dirakht-i-goyara,
"Alexander's interview with the Speaking Tree." (Livre des Rois, V.
229.) In the Chanson d'Alixandre of Lambert le Court and Alex. de
Bernay, these trees are introduced as follows: -
"'Signor,' fait Alixandre, 'je vus voel demander,
Se des merveilles d'Inde me saves rien conter.'
Cil li ont respondu: 'Se tu vius escouter
Ja te dirons merveilles, s'es poras esprover.
La sus en ces desers pues ii Arbres trover
Qui c pies ont de haut, et de grossor sunt per.
Li Solaus et La Lune les ont fait si serer
Que sevent tous langages et entendre et parler.'"
(Ed. 1861 (Dinan), p. 357.)
Maundevile informs us precisely where these trees are: "A 15 journeys in
lengthe, goynge be the Deserts of the tother side of the Ryvere Beumare,"
if one could only tell where that is![3] A mediaeval chronicler also tells
us that Ogerus the Dane (temp. Caroli Magni) conquered all the parts
beyond sea from Hierusalem to the Trees of the Sun. In the old Italian
romance also of Guerino detto il Meschino, still a chapbook in S. Italy,
the Hero (ch. lxiii.) visits the Trees of the Sun and Moon. But this is
mere imitation of the Alexandrian story, and has nothing of interest.
(Maundevile, pp.
