5o8 pPant T^orc, Iseger^f, dn^ "ISLjrlc/. 



that the whole earth was inundated : and from this circumstance 



the oceans were formed. The Chinese honour the Pumpkin or 



Gourd as the emperor of vegetables. The vegetable was consi- 

 dered by the ancients to be an emblem of abundance, fecundity, 

 prosperity, and good health. To dream of Pumpkins, however, is 

 considered a very bad omen. 



Purification Flower. — See Snowdrop. 



PURSLANE. — Purslane (Portulaca), strewn about a bed, 

 used in olden times to be considered a sure protection against evil 

 spirits. Astrologers classify it among the herbs of the Moon. 



QUINCE. — The fruit of the Quince-tree [Cydonia) was con- 

 secrated to Venus, and was looked upon by Grecian lovers as a 

 love token. According to Athenaeus, the chariot of the goddess 

 of Love was not only filled with Myrtles and Roses, but also with 

 Quinces, and in many ancient effigies of the goddess, she is 

 represented with a Quince in her hand. By a decree of Solon, 

 which gave to an ancient popular custom the countenance of the 

 law, a Grecian bride, before seeking the nuptial couch, had to eat 



a Quince. The Greeks called the Quince Chrysomelon, or Golden 



Apple ; hence it is not surprising to find it asserted that the golden 

 fruit of the Hesperides were Quinces, and that these tempted 

 Hercules to attack the guardian dragon. In confirmation of this 

 opinion, a statue of the demi-god holding a Quince in his hand as 

 a trophy is referred to. It is also alleged that it was by means of 

 Quinces given to him by Venus, that Hippomenes beguiled 



Atalanta during his race with her, and so won it. It was by 



means of a Quince that Acontius won his bride : this youth, when 

 at Delos, to attend the sacrifices of Diana, fell in love with the 

 beautiful Cydippe: fearing to demand her hand, on account of 

 his obscure origin, the crafty lover threw into the Temple of Diana, 

 whilst Cydippe was performing her devotions, a Quince, with this 

 inscription : — " I swear, by the divinity of Diana, to become the 

 wife of Acontius." The young girl, having picked up the Quince, 

 read aloud the inscription, and, being compelled by the oath she 

 had thus inadvertently taken in the sacred presence of the god- 

 dess, she obtained her parents' consent to marry the quick-witted 



Acontius. Turner, in his ' Brittish Physician,' says that the 



juice of raw Quince is accounted an antidote against deadly poison. 



To dream of Quinces is stated to be favourable to the dreamer, 



denoting speedy release from troubles, sickness, &c. 



QUICKEN-TREE.— The Mountain Ash, Wild Service, or 

 Rowan-tree [Pyrus aucuparia), is also known by the names of 

 the Quicken or Quick-beam, Witchen or Wicken, appellations 

 which, from the Rowan-tree having been long regarded as a 

 preservative against witchcraft, some writers have erroneously 

 connecfted with the Anglo-Saxon word wicce, a witch. Evelyn 

 calls this tree the Quick-beam, and says that in Wales it is 



