330 FLORA HISTORICA. 



judgment, and fond of the marvellous, pretend that 

 these Mandrakes pay a tribute of a pistole a day ; 

 but this he assures them is not true, and that all 

 they can do is to make their masters lucky at play, 

 discover to them treasures, and foretel what is 

 to happen. 



Gerard observes, " in English we call it Man- 

 drake, Mandrage, and Mandragon." The French 

 name of Mandracjore is nearly the same as the 

 Latin. At what period this plant was first culti- 

 vated in our gardens is uncertain, but it appears, 

 from Dr. Turner, to have been common in 1564, 

 who writes sensibly on its medical properties ; and 

 it seems also to have been well known as an opiate 

 in the time of Shakspeare, who says, 



Not Poppy, nor Mandragora, 

 Nor all the drowsy syrops of the world, 

 Shall ever raed'eme thee to that sweet sleep. 



In the Hist. Plant, ascript. Boerhaave, it is 

 stated that this plant brought into a chamber, or 

 closed room, procures sleep to those that want it. 



The Mandrake is a species of deadly nightshade, 

 which grows with a long taper root like the par- 

 snip, running three or four feet deep ; these roots 

 are frequently forked, which assisted to enable the 

 old quacks to give it the shape of a monster. This 

 plant does not send up a stalk, but immediately 

 from the crown of the root arises a circle of leaves, 



