I lO pPant "bore, Tssge^^^y, and. "bqr'cr. 



he shows sadness and no sign of joy, that is held to be a certain 

 sign of approaching death. 



In England, the withering of Bay-leaves has long been con- 

 sidered ominous of death : thus Shakspeare writes — 



'* 'Tis thought the King is dead ; we will not stay. 

 The Bay-trees in our country are all withered." 



The smoke of the green branches of the Juniper was the 

 incense offered by the ancients to the infernal deities, whilst its 

 berries were burnt at funerals to keep off evil spirits. 



The Peony drives away tempests and dispels enchantments. 

 The St. John's Wort (called of old Fuga damonuvi) is a preservative 

 against tempests, thunder, and evil spirits, and possesses other 

 magical properties which are duly enumerated in another place. 



The Rowan-tree of all others is gifted with the powers of 

 magic, and is held to be a charm against the Evil Eye, witchcraft, 

 and unholy spells. The Elder, the Thorn, the Hazel, and the 

 Holly, in a similar manner, possess certain properties which entitle 

 them to be classed as magical plants. Garlic is employed by the 

 Greeks, Turks, Chinese, and Japanese, as a safeguard against the 

 dire influences of the Evil Eye. 



The extraordinary attributes of the Fern-seed are duly 

 enumerated in Part H., under the head of Fern, and can be there 

 studied by all who are desirous of investigating its magic powers. 



The Clover, if it has four leaves, is a magical plant, enabling 

 him who carries it on his person to be successful at play, and have 

 the power of detecting the approach of malignant spirits. If placed 

 in the shoe of a lover, the fourdeaved Clover will ensure his safe 

 return to the arms and embraces of his sweetheart. 



The Mandrake is one of the most celebrated of magical plants, 

 but for an enumeration of its manifold mystic powers readers must 

 be referred to the description given in Part II., under the head of 

 Mandrake. This plant was formerly called Circeium, a name 

 derived from Circe, the celebrated enchantress. The Germans 

 call it Zauhenvurzel (Sorcerer's root), and the young peasant girls 

 of the Fatherland often wear bits of the plant as love charms. 



The marshes of China are said to produce a certain fruit which 

 the natives call Peci. If any one puts with this fruit a copper coin 

 into his mouth, he can diminish it with no less certainty than the 

 fruit itself, and reduce it to an eatable pulp. 



In France, Piedmont, and Switzerland, the country-people tell 

 of a certain Herb of Oblivion which produces loss of memory in 

 anyone putting his foot upon it. This herb also causes wayfarers 

 to lose their way, through the unfortunates forgetting the aspects 

 of the country, even although they were quite familiar to them 

 before treading on the Herb of Forgetfulness. Of a somewhat 

 similar nature must have been the fruit of the Lotos-tree, which 

 caused the heroes of the Odyssey to forget their native country. 



