AirONON^ETTE. \r>7 



the former country, but it might have been acci- 

 dentally scattered there, or have escaped from 

 the gardens of the Moors. 



This genus of plants, of v^hich v^e have twelve 

 species, was named Reseda by the ancients, from 

 resedare to assuage, because some of the species 

 were esteemed good for mitigating pains ; and 

 we learn from Pliny, that the Reseda was con- 

 sidered to possess even the power of charming 

 away many disorders. He tells us, that it grew 

 near the city of Ariminum, now Rimini in Italy, 

 and that when it was used to resolve swellings, 

 or to assuage inflammations, it was the custom 

 to repeat the following words, thrice spitting on 

 the ground at each repetition : 



" Reseda, morhos Reseda, scisne, seine, quis hie pullos c(jerit ? 

 Radices nee caput nee pedes haljeant." 



" Rescd.i, cause these maladies to cease: kiioAvest tliou, kiiowe?.t 

 tlioii, who liath (h-iven tliese pullets here? Let tlic roots liavc 

 neiliicr head uor foot." 



We notice these absurd superstitions of the 

 ancients, which arc scarcely yet extinct in many 

 country villages of this and other countries, to 

 show how much the minds of the ignorant have 



