YERBENACEM 59 



a remedy for the stings of serpents. De Gubernatis states 



mu 



F 



Romans as Kusa grass and the Tulasi plant among the Hindus. 

 It bore numerous synonyms, such as Tears of Isis, Tears of 

 Juno, Mercury's Blood, Demetria, Cerealis, &c. In the Middle 

 A "'es Verbena was held in high estimation by the Christian 

 priesthood. Piperno ( De Marjicis Affedibas, Napoli, 1635 ) 

 states, on the authority of Savonarola, that *^ Verbena manducata 

 non permittit per scptem dies coitum '^ It was considered 

 to be a purifying herb which enforced chastity. In Sicily 

 it is used as a charm to cure diseases at the present day along 

 with feuneL The following is the prayer used in curing 

 pol^'pus with it: 



Zitfu, Lncia, noii lacrimari, 



Scinui iti hi tne orta (come into tny Q:arde!i'\ 



Scippa painpiiii di brivina e fiiiocchiu 



(Gather the leaves of Verbena and fennel) 



Ceil U to mauo U chiauiasti (thou hast planted it), 



Ccnli to pe.ll la scarpisast (flioii liast trodden upon it); 



La testa <li hi purpu (poly|)iis) cci scacciasti, 



S'iddu e snngu sfissirA (will melt away) 

 S'iddu e purpu a nioii va. 



\ 



The exorciser then makes three sigus of the cross oa the 

 polypus with a elove of garlic. In some parts of Piedmont 

 the people believe that riibbiug the palm of the hand at sunset 

 with Verbena Avill ensure the goodwill of the first person whose 

 hand they grasp. 



In England Vervain (ferfaen) was used by the Druids in 

 their sacred rites, and was gathered by them with much the 



tletoe. In Egypt it was sacred to 

 Isis. In Europe it has been extolled as a remedy for most 

 diseases, but is now generally considered to have only slighc 

 febrifuge and astringent properties. Quite recently G. llicci 

 {Lo SpenmentaUy 1890, VoL LXVI., p. 483) has again drawn 

 attention to the plant, which he states has febrifuge properties* 



nu 



evil by the peasantry • 



as a necklace 



