The garden of Duke Isope, as described in the Tale of Beryn (Supp. Canterbury Tales: Ch. Soc., p. 84), had a similar tree:
“In mydward of this garden stant a feire tre,
Of alle maner levis that under sky [there] be,
I-forgit and i-fourmyd, eche in his degre,
Of sylvir, and of goldè fyne, that lusty ben to see.”
As the treasures coveted by the Arimaspians were guarded by griffins, and the golden apples of the Hesperides by a dragon, so this garden of Duke Isope was kept by eight “tregetours,” or magicians, who looked like “abominabill wormys,” enough to frighten the bravest man on earth.
The Italian poet Boiardo, in the 12th canto of his Orlando Innamorato, represents the virtuous Tisbina as promising her love to Iroldo, who is madly enamoured of her, on condition that he perform a certain task for her: “Beyond the forest of Barbary,” says she, “is a fair garden, which has an iron wall. Herein entrance can be obtained by four gates: one Life keeps, Death, another, Poverty, another, and Riches, another. Whoso goes therein must depart by the opposite gate. In the midst is a tree of vast height, far as an arrow may mount aloft; that tree is of marvellous price, for whenever it blossoms it puts forth pearls, and it is called the Treasure-Tree, for it has apples of emerald and boughs of gold. A branch of this tree,” adds the fair Tisbina, “I must have, otherwise I am in heavy case.”
[70] A species of inferior jinni, or genie.
[71] It is a general practice of Muslim men to shave their heads, leaving in front a kakull, or tuft of hair, in order, according to some writers, that an enemy, in the day of battle, after cutting off the head of any of the faithful whom he had slain, should have wherewithal to carry it, and not require to pollute it by thrusting his fingers into the mouth. This bears some resemblance to the tuft which North American Indians wear, as a defiance to their foes—to scalp them if they can! The tuft on the Muslim’s head, however, serves another purpose, in being allowed to grow for some time before he sets out on the pilgrimage to Makka, so that, arrived there, he can twist it round his head like a turban, as a guard against the fierce Arabian sun. The Bráhmans also shave their heads, leaving a similar tuft, which, like the “pig-tail” of a Chinaman, is a mark of respectability, and its removal is a very great disgrace.
[72] Iskandar, or Sikandar: Alexander the Great, of whom Muslim writers relate many wonderful stories—especially the Persian poet Nizamí, in his famous Sikandar-Náma, or Alexander-Book.—Jamshíd was the fourth of the first (or Píshdádí) dynasty of ancient Persian kings. He is said to have founded Persepolis, and introduced the solar year, and ordered the first day of it, when the sun entered Aries, to be celebrated by a magnificent festival, which is still observed in Persia, and is called the Nú Rúz, or the New Day. Of his goblet, above referred to, Jam-i-Jamshíd, or the Cup of Jamshíd, marvellous things are related: it mirrored the whole world, foreshadowed future events, and so forth. It is said that such was its lustre that it dazzled all beholders, and hence poets have found it a convenient simile for the brilliant eyes of a pretty girl.