Sfaat "ls)orc, Isz^evrOf, aasL Isijric/. 327 



the disk and the rays of the Sun), on one of the days of the 

 Apostles (June 29th and July 25th). A girl thus uprooting an 



Endive will be assured of the constancy of her lover. Endive, 



carried on the person, is supposed to enable a lover to inspire the 

 objecTt of his afTedlions with a belief that he possesses all the good 

 (]ualities she could wish for. Endive-root breaks all bonds, removes 



thorns from the flesh, and even renders the owner invisible. 



The herb is held to be under the rule of Venus. 



ERAGROSTIS. — Among the Hindus, the Evagrostis cyno- 

 sui'oidi's is considered a sacred Grass, and is employed by them for 

 strewing the floors of their temples. In England, it is known as 

 Love Grass. 



ERYSIMUM.— The Hedge Mustard, Bank Cress, or Jack- 

 by-the-Jledge {Erysimum Barbarea) is called by the French St. Bar- 

 bara's Hedge Mustard and the Singer's Plant {Jierbe an chantre), and 

 up to the time of Louis XIV. was considered an infallible remedy 

 in cases of loss of voice. Racine, writing to Boileau, recommended 

 the syrup of Erysimum to him when visiting the waters of Bour- 

 bonne, in order to be cured of loss of voice. Boileau replied that 

 he had heard the best accounts of the Erysimum, and that he 



meant to use it the following summer. The plant is held to be 



under Mercury. 



ERYNGO. — The Sea Eryngo [Evyngium maritimum) is, per- 

 haps, better known by the name of Sea Holly, which has been given 

 it on account of the striking resemblance of its foliage to the 

 Holly. According to Rapin, Eryngo possessed magical properties, 

 inasmuch as, if worn by young married women, it ensured the 

 fidelity of their husbands. On this account, Sappho employed it 

 to secure the love of Phaon, the hanilsome boatman of Mit3'lene, 

 for whom the poetess had conceived so violent a passion, that at 

 length, mortified at his coldness, she threw herself into the sea. 

 Rapin says : — 



" Grecian Eryngoes now commence their fame, 



Which, worn by brides, will fix their husband's flame, 

 And clieck the conciuests of a rival dame. 

 Thus Sapjiho charmed her Fhaon, and did prove 

 (If there be truth in verse) his faith in love." 



Plutarch records that, if one goat took the herb Sea Holly into her 

 mouth, " it caused her first to stand still, and afterwards the whole 

 flock, imtil such time as the shepherd took it from her mouth." 

 Eryngo-root was formerly much prized as a tonic, and in Queen 

 Elizabeth's time, when prepared with sugar, was called Kissing 

 Comfits. Lord Bacon, recommending the yolks of eggs as very 

 nourishing, when taken with Malmsey or sweet wine, says: "You 

 shall doe well to put in some few slices of Eringium-roots, and a 

 little Amber-grice, for by this meanes, besides the immediate facultie 

 of nourishment, such drinke will strengthen the back." 



