STAllU'OUT. 139 



an altogether wild statement that one would have 

 imagined could not have survived the day of its birth. 

 Gerarde discourseth as follows on the plant : It is re- 

 ported hy men of great fame and learning- that this plant 

 doth change the colour of its flowers thrice in a day. This 

 rumour we may believe, and it may be true, for that we 

 see and perceive things of as great and greater wonder to 

 proceed out of the earth. This herbe I planted in my 

 garden, whither (in his season) I did repaire to finde out 

 the truth hereof, but I could not espy any such variable - 

 nesse herein ; yet thus much I may say, that as the heate 

 of the sunne doth change the colour of diuers flowers so it 

 fell out with this, which in the morning was very faire, 

 hut after of a pale wan colour. Which proveth that to be 

 but a fable which is reported by some, that in one day it 

 changeth the colour of its flowers thrice : that is to say, in 

 the morning it is white, at nooue purple, and in the even- 

 ing crimson. But it is not untrue that there may be found 

 three colours of the flowers in one day, by reason that the 

 flowers are not all perfected together, but one after another 

 by little and little. There may easily be obserued three 

 colours in them, which is to be vnderstood of them that are 

 beginning to flowre, that are perfectly flowred, and those 

 that are falling away- For they that are flowering and be 

 not wide open and perfect are of a purplish colour, and 

 those that are perfect and wide-open of a whitish blew, and 

 such as have fallen away have 'a white down; which 

 changing hapneth vnto other plants." Gerarde had him- 

 self too great a love of the marvellous to be easily daunted 

 by a wonderful story, but we cannot but respect his love 

 for the truth, and the great pains he took to ascertain what 

 really was the truth. So many of these ancient writers, and 



