194 mvi BOTANICI. 



produced by Euphorbium, and by varied analysis of its elements, 

 this judgment has been pronounced by experienced physicians — 

 " nous repetons que l'emploi interne de 1' Euphorbe doit etre banni 

 de la saine medicine, et son usage externe fait avec une extreme 

 prudence/' 



Melissa the Princess. — Mycologists represent the deified Ju- 

 piter as having been fostered, amid the perils of his infancy, by the 

 two daughters of Melissus one of the primeval Cretan kings. These 

 princesses are designated Amalthcea and Melissa, in heroic story ; 

 and there too, their " philoprogenitive" piety stands recorded with 

 due admiration and reverence. From a generous solicitude respect- 

 ing the charge of their adoption, the young divinity received ample 

 supplies of milk and honey : he prospered wondrously under the 

 use of this rich as well as luscious aliment, wherein the best qualities 

 of nectar and ambrosia reside, in their exquisite purity : it is the 

 sweetest and the safest panacea,* and one of the surest also for pro- 

 longing the joyous vivacity of youth, and for resisting the infirmities 

 which deprive old age of cheerfulness and comfort. 



When their nursling had exalted himself to the "sovereignty over 

 gods and men," these compassionate maidens were not left unre- 

 quited, for the tenderness of their affection. Amalthsea obtained a 

 bright destiny from the Lord of Olympus himself, but he trans- 

 ferred to Botanists the sublimer duty of originating her sister's 

 immortality ; and, from them, she derived the deification which 

 accorded her a shrine in the temple of Vegetable Nature. Thiswise 

 runs their tale in legendary diction. While secluded on the 

 Dictaean mountain with its flowery solitudes, the mysterious babe 

 was entertained with milk of goats by Amalthaea, who discharged 

 the self-assigned office of providing him with this very nutritive 

 beverage ; and, in gratitude for the faithfulness of this maternity, 

 the god afterwards bestowed upon her an everlasting inheritance in 

 the heavens, with its symbol Capricorn among the zodiacal constel- 



" Pliny relates an anecdote confirmatory of this observation : — " As for 

 honied wine, the best and the most wholesome is always that which is made 

 of the oldest hard winf: it is very nutritive and breedeth good flesh. Many 

 have held out a long time fresh and lusty in their old age, with the nourish- 

 ment of honied wine alone without any other food. Of this, we have the 

 notable example of Pollio Romulus who, being above an hundred years old, 

 bare his age passing well : at this the Emperor Augustus marvelled much ; 

 and, being upon a time a guest at Pollio's house, he asked him what means 

 he employed most so to maintain that fresh vigour both of body and mind. 

 The reply was, intus mulso, /oris oho, by using honied wine within and oil 

 without."— Dr. Holland's Pliny, Book XXII, chap, xxii, Vol. II, p. 136. 



