I860.] THE PLANTS OF THE EARLY POETS. 243 



Hiacinth follow es not the sun more willingly. Stubbornesse and 

 obstinacy are herbs that grow not in her garden." 



Amongst Saint Plants I find the following : — 



St. Barbara's herb : Winter Cresses. 



St. James's wort : Ragwort, Staggerwort, Staverwort. 



St. John's herb : Thin-leaved Mugwort, Clary. 



St. Innocent's herb : Knotgrass, Bird's-tongue, Swine's-grass, 

 Centinody. 



St. Mary's herb : Our Lady's Mint, Spearmint, Cost Mary, 

 Ale-cost, Eoy's-bread. 



St. Peter's herb : Samphire, Crest-marin. 



Herb-Robert : Cranesbill. 



St. Roche's herb : Coniza, Fleabane. 



St. Simon's herb : Simon's Mallow, Vervain Mallow. 



St. John's wort : Hypericum, Tutsan, Parkleaves. • 



St. John's herb : Mugwort, or Clary, is, I doubt not, '' Herb 

 John-in-the-pot," spoken of by Gurnall in his ' Christian Ar- 

 mour,' about which a question was asked in the ' Phytologist' 

 some months since. 



The " Hiacinth" alluded to by Sir Thomas Overbury appears 

 to possess a habit which I was not aware of, that of following the 

 sun. Is this so, or does he allude to some other plant ? If so, 

 what ? S. B. 



THE PLANTS OF THE EARLY POETS. 



(Weeds and venemous plants) 



" Brought forth by the earth, 

 Mocking our hopes, turning our seed-wheat kernel 

 To burn-grain Thistle, and to vapourie Darnel, 

 Cockle, Wnd Oats, rough Burs, corn-cumbring Tares, 

 Short recompense for aU our costly cares. 

 Yet this were httle, if the more maheious 

 Fell stepdame brought us plants not more pernicious, 

 As sable Heniane ; Morell, making mad ; 

 Cold poysoning Poppy, itching, drowsy, sad ; 

 The stifning Carpese ; th' eyes-foe Hemlock, stinking, 

 Limb-numming, belcliing ; and the sinew-shriuking, 

 Dead-laughing Apium, weeping Aconite 

 (Which in our vulgar Deadly Wolfsbane bight) ; 

 The dropsy-breeding, sorrow-bringing Psylly 

 {Sear called Fleawurt), Colchis baneful Lily 



