pPant Isore, Iscge^/, anel Tsijric/". 



weed, Gold-flower, Goldilocks, Golden Stoechas, and Golden-flower 

 Gentle. One species has obtained the name of Ilerba Impia, because 

 the later flowers grow higher, and, as Gerarde says, " overtop those 

 that come first, as many wicked children do unto their parents." 



EYEBRIGHT.— The Eyebright or Euphrasy {Euphrasia 

 officinalis) was formerly called Euphrosyne, after one of the Graces. 

 This name became subsequently corrupted to Euphrasy. The 

 plant was also known as Ocularis and Ophthalmica, on account of 

 its use in the treatment of disorders of the eye. According to 

 Coles, it obtained the name of Eyebright from its being employed 

 by the linnet to clear its sight ; other old authors also say that 

 birds made use of it to repair their vision. Arnoldus affirms that 

 the plant restored sight to people who had been blind a long while ; 

 and Gerarde says that, taken either alone or in any other way, it 

 preserves the sight, and, " being feeble and lost, it restores the 

 same: it is given most fitly being beaten into ponder; oftentimes a 

 like quantitie of Fennell-seed is added thereto, and a little Mace, 

 to the which is put so much sugar as the weight of them all commeth 

 to." It was also believed to comfort the memory, and assist a 

 weak brain. Milton, Drayton, Shenstone, and other poets have 

 celebrated the powers of Euphrasy, and we find Spenser writing: — 



" Yet Euphrasie may not be left unsung, 

 That gives dim eyes to wander leagues around." 



Astrologers state that the Eyebright is under the sign of the Lion, 

 and the Sun claims dominion over it. 



FAIR MAIDS. — Fair Maids of February are Snowdrops, so 

 called from their delicate white blossoms opening about the second 

 of that month, when it was customary for maidens, dressed in white, 

 to walk in procession at the Feast of the Purification. P'air Maids 

 of France are double Crowfoots, or a particular variety, originally 

 introduced from France, viz.. Ranunculus aconitifolius. 



FELDWODE. — Medea, the enchantress, is said by Gower 

 to have employed a certain herb, Feldwode: — 



" The foke she Feldwode and Verveine, 

 Of herbes ben nought better tweine." 



This herb is generally supposed to have been the yellow Gentian, 

 or Baldmoney, Gentiana lutea. (See Gentian.) 



FENNEL. — Fenckle, or Fennel [Focniculum), was employed 

 by the ancients in the composition of wreaths, to be worn by viclors 

 after the games in the arena. The gladiators mixed this plant with 

 their food to increase their strength. The god Sylvanuswas some- 

 times crowned with Fennel. In later times. Fennel was strewn 



across the pathway of newly-married couples, and was generally liked 

 for its odour; thus Ophelia saj's: "There's Fennel for you, and 



Columbine." Pliny records that serpents are wonderfully fond 



of this plant, inasmuch as it restores them to youth by causing 



