174 DIVI BOTANICI. 



laries. This notion may be set aside as gratuitous ; but^ whether 

 the Plant dei'ived. its name from a deified maiden or a virtuous and 

 enterprising matron, it might unquestionably be employed as an ex- 

 cellent medicinal agent, although now neglected, like many other 

 valuable British vegetables, for no better apjjarent reason than the 

 circumstance of its being readily obtainable and abundant. 



Chiron the Centaur. — When divested of the fantastic imagery 

 under which he was mystically represented by the inventors of 

 ethnic IMythology, this person appears as a munificent though un- 

 polished patriarch among a pastoral people whom he essayed to be- 

 nefit by the exercise of an acute natural sagacity, enlightened by 

 high endowments of the perceptive and reflective powers. Having 

 observed the salutary efficacy of a bitter herb upon the lower ani- 

 mals, he rightly inferred that it might determine equally favourable 

 results in man. He instituted a trial, and the wisdom of his fore- 

 drawn conclusion has been established by experience, both various 

 and. manifold. His name i-anks high in ancient story, for his skill 

 in music, archery, medicine, astronomy, and most of the polite arts ; 

 and, in these departments of science, he liberally communicated in- 



of the very sun. The same, if it be taken in wine, helpeth and saueth those 

 that are poisoned with opium : being either drunk, or worn about the neck, 

 or but tied to any jiart of the body, it hath a pecuhar vertue against the ve- 

 nom of todes." — Historia Nuluralh, lib. xxv, cap. vii, x ; folio, Venetiis, 

 14G9 : also The Natiral Historie of C. PVniivs, by l?hilemon Holland, M.D., 

 folio, London, 1034; vol. ii, p. 222, 231-2. Marvellous and manifold are 

 the powers imputed to the Mugwort : a copious enumeration of them is ex- 

 hibited in Dr. James's Medkinal Diclioiiari/, under the plant's botanical 

 name. Bartholomew Glanville, who composed his work about the middle of 

 the fourteenth century, observes, with characteristic quainlness, that "Ar- 

 temisia is called nioder of herbes, and was somet3'me halowed by men of na- 

 tions to the goddesse Diana that hyglit Arthemis in Grece, for that the 

 goddesse founde out the vertuous therof and taughte theym to mankynde ; 

 it driueth away fendes and withstondeth euyl thoughtes, and abateth feete 

 ache that cometh of trauaile of goynge." — Bartholoniej Anglicj de Propriela- 

 libtis Renim, libri xix; folio, Lugdunj, 1480; lib. xvii, cap. xvi: Bertholo- 

 nieus de Pi-aprktalibus Rcrum, translated into English j'v John de Trevisa; 

 folio, London, 103o, p. 149. " To make a chylde mery, hange a bondell of 

 Mugwort tagant, or make smoke thereof under the cliylde's bedde, for it tak- 

 eth away anoy for (fro J then. Agaynst payne of the heed called mygrej'nc 

 or cephale, gyve some hot opiate in the decoccj'on of jMugwert,and he that 

 bereth it on hym in walkynge Averycth not. It is also good agaynst yll 

 thoughtes, and stopeth the eyes that harmes, and all deuyllysshnesse fleeth 

 fi-o the place where it is." — The Grde Herhall, wliych gyveth parfyt know- 

 ledge and vnderstandyng of all mancr of Herbes ; folio, London, 1529, caj). 

 ssix. 



