260 FLORA HISTORICA. 



ted the room, which gave the latter an opportunity 

 to escape to his bed, where his disturbed mind pre- 

 sented such dreadful apprehensions to him that he 

 became fevered and delirious, and in this state left 

 his service, firmly believing in the power of magic : 

 his master to this day seems convinced that he 

 actually did raise a spirit, and to his want of know- 

 ledge how to appease the perturbed spirit he had 

 raised, he persists in attributing the broken piano- 

 forte, and the overthrow of some bronze figures. 



We shall conclude this digression by a transla- 

 tion from Ennius, who, in his early days, says, 



Augurs and soothsayers, astrologers, 



Diviners, and interpreters of dreams, 



I ne'er consult, and heartily despise : 



Vain their pretence to more than human skill : 



For gain, imaginary schemes they draw : 



Wand'rers themselves, they guide another's steps ; 



And for poor sixpence promise countless wealth : 



Let them, if they expect to be believed, 



Deduct the sixpence, and bestow the rest. 



The plant which led to these remarks was named 

 Lunar ia, from the circular shape of its silique or 

 pod, which is thought to resemble the moon, Luna, 

 not only in shape, but in its silvery brightness. 

 The title of Honesty appears to have been bestowed 

 on this plant from the transparent nature of the 

 silique, which discovers those seed vessels that con- 

 tain seed from such as are barren, or have shed 



