170 FLORA HISTORICA. 



stition has been banished by the mild rays of 

 Christianity. 



The Vervain played a considerable part in the 

 impositions which were practised upon the cre- 

 dulous in ancient times, and hence it is so fre- 

 quently mentioned in profane history. The Magi 

 of the ancient Elamites or Persians made great 

 use of this plant in their worship or adoration of 

 the sun, always carrying branches of it in their 

 hands when they approached the altar. The 

 magicians also employed the Vervain in their 

 pretended divinations, and affirmed that by smear- 

 ing the body over with the juice of this plant, 

 the person would obtain whatever he set his heart 

 upon, and be enabled to reconcile the most in- 

 veterate enemies, make friends with whom he 

 pleased, gain the affections and cure the diseases 

 of whom he listed. When they cut this plant it 

 was always done when neither the sun or moon 

 was visible, and they poured honey and honey- 

 comb on the earth as an atonement for robbing it 

 of so precious an herb. 



The Greeks called it h^aSoravri, the Sacred 

 Herb, and it was with this plant only that they 

 cleansed the festival tabl6 of Jupiter before any 

 great solemnity took place, and hence, according 

 to Pliny, the name of Verbena is derived. It was 

 also one of the plants which was dedicated to the 



