232 NATURAL HISTORY. 



culent, and therefore the one deceiveth the other. 

 And the like of hemlock and rue ; both which draw 

 strong juices. 



493. Some of the ancients, and likewise divers of 

 the modern writers, that have laboured in natural 

 magic, have noted a sympathy between the sun, 

 moon, and some principal stars, and certain herbs 

 and plants. And so they have denominated some 

 herbs solar, and some lunar ; and such like toys put 

 into great words. It is manifest that there are some 

 flowers that have respect to the sun in two kinds, 

 the one by opening and shutting, and the other by 

 bowing and inclining the head. For marygolds, 

 tulips, pimpernel, and indeed most flowers, do open 

 and spread their leaves abroad when the sun shineth 

 serene and fair : and again, in some part, close them, 

 or gather them inward, either towards night, or 

 when the sky is overcast. Of this there needeth no 

 such solemn reason to be assigned, as to say, that 

 they rejoice at the presence of the sun, and mourn 

 at the absence thereof. For it is nothing else but a 

 little loading of the leaves, and swelling them at the 

 bottom, with the moisture of the air, whereas the 

 dry air doth extend them ; and they make it a piece 

 of the wonder, that garden clover will hide the stalk 

 when the sun sheweth bright, which is nothing but 

 a full expansion of the leaves. For the bowing and 

 inclining the head, it is found in the great flower of 

 the sun, in marygolds, wart-wort, mallow flowers, 

 and others. The cause is somewhat more obscure 

 than the former ; but I take it to be no other, but 



