434 pFant Tsorc, Tscgcl^^/, anil Tsijric/', 



healing properties, which were duly appreciated by the old herbal- 

 ists. It was sometimes called Bismalva, being held to be twice as 

 good in medicinal properties as the ordinary Mallow. As an oint- 

 ment, it was celebrated for mollifying heat, and hence it became 

 invaluable as a protecflion to those who had to undergo the ordeal 

 of holding red-hot iron in their hands. This ordeal was pracftised 

 by the ancient Greeks; for we read in the ' Antigone' of Sophocles, 

 that the guards placed over the body of Polynices — which had been 

 carried away surreptitiously — offered, in order to prove their in- 

 nocence, to take up red-hot iron in their hands : a similar ordeal 

 was extant in the Middle Ages, when invalids and delicate per- 

 sons, particularly monks and ecclesiastics, were exempted from 

 the usual mode of single combat, and were required to test their in- 

 nocence by holding red-hot iron in their hands. These trials were 

 made in the church during the celebration of mass, inspe(5tion being 

 made by the clergy alone. The suspecfted person, therefore, if he 

 had any friends at hand, was easily shielded by covering his hand 

 with a thick coating of some substance which would enable him 

 to resist the adtion of heat. Albertus Magnus describes a paste 

 compounded in the thirteenth century for this express purpose. 

 The sap of the Marsh Mallow, the slimy seeds of a kind of Pleabane, 

 and the white of a hen's egg, were combined to make the paste 



adhere, and the hands covered with it were perfectly safe. 



According to a German tradition, an ointment made of the leaves 

 of the Marsh Mallow was employed to anoint the body of anyone 



affedled by witchcraft. The Marsh Mallow is held by astrologers 



to be a herb of Venus. 



MARSH MARIGOLD.— According to Rapin, the Sicilian 

 shepherd Acis originally discovered the Marsh Marigold (Caltha) 

 growing in his native pastures : — 



" Nor without mention shall the Cif/(Aa die, 

 Which Acis once found out in Sicily ; 

 She Phoebus loves, and from him draws her hue, 

 And ever keeps his golden beams in view." 



The flower's modem Italian name, Sposa di Sole, has probably been 

 given to it in reference to this legend. On May-day, country 

 people strew Marsh Marigolds before their doors, and twine them 

 into garlands. Some think the Caltha palustris to be Shakspeare's 

 " winking May-bud with golden eye," which, if plucked with due 

 care, and borne about, will hinder anyone from speaking an angry 

 word to the wearer. 



MASTIC. — The Mastic or Pistachio-tree {Pistacia Lenfiscus), 

 the symbol of purity and virginity, was particularly dear to Dic- 

 tynna, a nymph of Crete, and one of Diana's attendants. Following 

 her example, the Greek virgins were fond of adorning themselves 

 with Mastic-sprays ; and at the present time, in the isle of Chios, 

 where the Mastic-tree flourishes, they eat the gum to preserve 



