Magicaf pfaat/-. 107 



The Druids, besides being priests, prophets, and legislators, 

 were also physicians; they were acquainted, too, with the means of 

 producing trances and ecstacies, and as one of their chief medical 

 appliances they made use of the Mistletoe, which they gathered at 

 appointed times with certain solenm ceremonies, and considered it 

 as a special gift of heaven. This plant grew on the Oak, the sacred 

 tree of the Celts and Druids ; it was held in the highest reverence, 

 and both priests and people then regarded it as divine. To this 

 day the Welsh call Pren-awr — the celestial tree — 



"The mystic Mistletoe, 

 \\ hich has no root, and cannot grow 

 Or prosper but by that same tree 

 It clings to.' 



The sacred Oak itself was thought to possess certain magical 

 properties in evoking the spirit of prophecy : hence we find the 

 altars of the Druids were often erected beneath some venerated 

 Oak-tree in the sombre recesses of the sacred grove ; and it was 

 under the shadow of such trees that the ancient Germans offered 

 up their holy sacrifices, and their inspired bards made their pro- 

 phetic utterances. The Greeks had their prophetic Oaks that 

 delivered the oracles of Jupiter in the sacred grove of Dodona — 



" Such honours famed Dodona's grove acquired, 



As justly due to trees by heaven inspired; 



When once her Oaks did fate's decrees reveal, 



And taught wise men truths future to foretel." — Rapin. 



The Arcadians attributed another magical power to the Oak, 

 for they believed that by stirring water w^ith an Oaken bough rain 

 could be brought from the clouds. 



The Russians are acquainted with a certain herb which they 

 call Son-tyava, or Dream Herb, which has been identified with the 

 Pulsatilla patens. This plant is said to blossom in the month of 

 April, and to put forth an azure-coloured flow^er ; if this is placed 

 under the pillow, it will induce dreams, and these dreams are said 

 to be fulfilled. In England, a four-leaved Clover similarly treated 

 will produce a like result. 



Like the Grecian sorceresses, Medea and Circe, the Vedic 

 magicians were acquainted wdth numerous plants which would 

 produce love-philtres of the most powerful character, if not 

 altogether irresistible. The favourite fiowers among the Indians 

 for their composition are the Mango, Champak, Jasmine, Lotus, 

 and Asoka. According to Albertus Magnus, the most powerful 

 flower for producing love is that which he calls Provtnsa. The 

 secret of this plant had been transmitted by the Chaldeans. The 

 Greeks knew it as Vorax, the Latins as Proventalis or Provinsa ; and 

 it is probably the same plant now known to the Sicilians as the 

 Pizzu ngiirdii, to which they attribute most subtle properties. Thus 

 the chastest of women will become the victim of the most burning 



