pfanC T^orß, Tsegelji/, anä Hqricr.
he shows sadness and no sign of joy, that is held to be a certain
sign of approaching death. _
In England, the withering of Bay-leaves has long been considered
ominous of death ; thus Shakspeare writes—
“ ’Tis thought the King is dead ; we will not stay.
The Bay-trees in our country are all withered.”
The smoke of the green branches of the Juniper was the
incense offered by the ancients to the infernal deities, whilst its
berries were burnt at funerals to keep off evil spirits.
The Peony drives away tempests and dispels enchantments.
The St. John’s Wort (called of old Fuga dcBmonum) is a preservative
against tempests, thunder, and evil spirits, and possesses other
magical properties which are duly enumerated in another place.
The Rowan-tree of all others is gifted with the powers of
magic, and is held to be a charm against the E v il Eye, witchcraft,
and unholy spells. The Elder, the Thorn, the Hazel, and the
Holly, in a similar manner, possess certain properties which entitle
them to be classed as magical plants. Garlic is employed by the
Greeks, Turks, Chinese, and Japanese, as a safeguard against the
dire influences of the E v il Eye.
The extraordinar}' attributes of the Fern-seed are duly
enumerated in Part II., under the head of F e r n , and can be there
studied by all who are desirous of investigating its magic powers.
The Clover, if it has four leaves, is a magical plant, enabling
him who carries it on his person to be successful at play, and have
the power of detecting the approach of malignant spirits. If placed
in the shoe of a lover, the four-leaved Clover will ensure his safe
return to the arms and embraces of his sweetheart.
The Mandrake is one of the most celebrated of magical plants,
but for an enumeration of its manifold mystic powers readers must
be referred to the description given in Part II., under the head of
M a n d r a k e . This plant was formerly called Circeium, a name
derived from Circe, the celebrated enchantress. The Germans
call it Zauherwurzel (Sorcerer’s root), and the young peasant girls
of the Fatherland often wear bits of the plant as love charms.
The marshes of China are said to produce a certain fruit which
the natives call Peci. I f any one puts with this fruit a copper coin
into his mouth, he can diminish it with no less certainty than the
fruit itself, and reduce it to an eatable pulp.
In France, Piedmont, and Switzerland, the country-people tell
of a certain Herb of Oblivion which produces loss of memory in
anyone putting his foot upon it. This herb also causes wayfarers
to lose their way, through the unfortunates forgetting the aspects
of the country, even although they were quite familiar to them
before treading on the Herb of Forgetfulness. Of a somewhat
similar nature must have been the fruit of the Lotos-tree, which
caused the heroes of the Odyssey to forget their native country.
King Solomon, whose books on Magic King Hezekiah destroyed
lest their contents should do harm, ascribed great magical powers
to a root which he called Baharas (or Baara). Josephus, in his
History of the Jewish Wars, states that this wonderful root is to
be found in the region of Judaea. It is like a flame in colour, and
in the evening appears like a glittering light; but upon anyone
approaching it with the idea of pulling it up, it appears to fly or
dart away, and will avoid its pursuer until it be sprinkled either
with menstrual blood or lotium femininum.
“ The Mandrake’s charnel leaves at night ”
possess the same characteristic of shining through the gloom, and,
on that account, the Arabians call it the Devil’s Candle.
The ancients knew a certain herb called Nyctilopa, which had
the property of shining from afar at night: this same herb was also
known as Nyctegredum or Chenomychon, and geese were so averse to
it, that upon first spying it they would take to instant flight.
Perhaps this is the same plant as the Johanniswurzel or Springwort
[Euphorbia lathyris), which the peasants of Oberpfalz believe can
only be found among the Fern on St. John’s Night, and which is
stated to be of a yellow colour, and to shine at night as brightly as
a candle. Like the Will-o’-the-Wisp, the Johanniswurzel eludes the
grasp of man by darting and frisking about.
Several plants are credited with possessing the power of preservation
from thunder and lightning. Pliny mentions the Vihro,
which he calls Herba Britannica, as a plant which, if picked before
the first thunderblast of a storm was heard, was deemed a safeguard
against lightning. In the Netherlands, the St. John’s Wort,
gathered before sunrise, is credited with protective powers against
lightning. In Westphalia, the Donnerhraut (the English Orpine, or
Live-long) is kept in houses as a preservative from thunder. In
England, the B a y is considered a protection from lightning and
thunder ; the Beech was long thought to be a safeguard against
the effects of lightning; and Houseleek or Stonecrop, if grown upon
a roof, is still regarded as protecting the house from being struck
by lightning. The Gnaphalium, an Everlasting-flower, is gathered
on the Continent, on Ascension Day, and suspended over doorways,
to fulfil the same function. In Wales, the Stonecrop is
cultivated on the roof to keep off disease.
The Selago, or Golden Herb of the Druids, imparted to the
priestess who pressed it with her foot, the knowledge of the
language of animals and birds. I f she touched it with iron, the
sky grew dark, and a misfortune befell the world.
The old magicians were supposed to have been acquainted
with certain plants and herbs from which gold could be extractec.
or produced. One of these was the Sorb-tree, which was particularly
esteemed for its invaluable powers; another was a herb on
Mount Libanus, which was said to communicate a golden hue to the