432 THE UNIVERSE. 



CHAPTER VIIT. 



VEGETABLE SENSIBILITY. 



What mysterious forces preside over the life of plants ? 

 These forms so graceful and imposing, adorned with daz- 

 zling colors, perfuming the air with the sweetest odors, have 

 they been deprived of all the faculties accorded to the most 

 ignoble animals ? 



There are two schools which have, on this subject, put 

 forward equally exaggerated statements : the one has found 

 pleasure in over-estimating the vital essence of plants, the 

 other in degrading it. 



The ancients clearly erred on the side of the first of these 

 two excesses. Empedocles did not hesitate to accord high 

 endowments to plants, and some of the followers of the 

 philosopher of Agrigentum have surpassed him in this re- 

 spect. 



The marvellous mandrake was considered by them to be 

 endowed with the most exquisite sensibility. The ancients 

 related that at the slightest wound this plant, with human 

 form, gave vent to mournful groans ; and those who were 

 daring enough to gather it were obliged to employ certain 

 precautions in order that they might not be alarmed at 

 these sounds, and might defy its evil influence. 



The most illustrious botanist of ancient Greece, Theo- 

 phrastus, goes so far as to describe the ceremonies which 

 were imperiously demanded for the conquest of this fune- 

 real plant. He says that in order to tear it out it was nee- 



