VERVAIN. 15 7 



their sacred rites, sweeping their temples and 

 cleansing their altars with it, and sprinkling holy 

 water with the branches. They also hallowed or 

 purified their houses with it, to keep off evil spirits. 

 Their ambassadors, or heralds at arms, wore crowns 

 of Vervain when they went to denounce war or 

 give defiance to their enemies ; which is thus no- 

 ticed by Drayton, 



A wreath of Vervain heralds wear, 



Amongst our garlands named, 

 Being sent that dreadful news to bear. 



Offensive war proclaimed. 



The Druids, both in Gaul and in Britain, re- 

 garded the Vervain with the same veneration which 

 they bestowed on the Misletoe, and like the magi 

 of the east, they offered sacrifices to the earth be- 

 fore they cut this plant in the spring, which was a 

 ceremony of great pomp. Pliny tells us that the 

 Druids made use of it in casting lots, and in draw- 

 ing omens, and in other pretended magical arts. 



Dark superstition's whisper dread 



Debarr'd the spot to vulgar tread ; 



" For there," she said, " did fays resort, 



And satyrs h(dd their sylvan court, 



By moonlight tread their mystic maze, 



And blast the rash beholder's gaze." 



Walter Scott. 

 The Druids held their power through the super- 

 stition of the people, and as they were great pre- 

 tenders to magic and divination, they excited the 

 admiration, and took advan-tage of the ignorance 



