326 FLORA HISTORICA. 



. The fables of the ancients, which were originally 

 intended to instruct and to caution the ignorant, 

 were frequently so transformed in the songs of the 

 poets as to lose their intention, and they were still 

 more disguised by the crafty, who imposed upon 

 the credulous through some pretended miraculous 

 stories of antiquity. Thus we are told by old 

 medical impostors, that when the Mandrake was 

 taken from the earth it gave a dreadful shriek, and 

 struck the daring person with death who had the 

 presumption to drag the root from its bed ; and 

 therefore it was obtained by fastening the plant to 

 the tail of a dog, who thus drew the root from the 

 ground. 



Columella, in his directions for the site of gar- 

 dens, says, they may be formed where 



the Mandrakes flowers 



Produce, whose root shews half a man, whose juice 



With madness strikes. 



Book 10. 



The Romans appear to have been very supersti- 

 tious as to the manner of taking up this root. Pliny 

 tells us that those who undertook this office paid 

 particular attention to stand so that the wind was 

 at their back ; and before they began to dig, they 

 made three circles around the plant with the point 

 of the sword, and then turning to the west pro- 

 ceeded to take it up. We are disposed to think 

 that this ceremony was first observed to prevent the 



