414 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



people had for it in superstitious times. It 

 was said that the Devil could do no harm to 

 those who had mugwort in their house ; and 

 that placing a piece of this herb over the 

 door, would secure the house from all un- 

 lucky accidents. If hung up in the entry or 

 hall of a house, it was thought to banish all 

 witches; but, as old hags have long ceased to 

 exert any influence over man, and he shews 

 no desire to disentangle himself from the 

 enchantment of young and beautiful sorce- 

 resses, this herb is no longer seen in our halls. 



Mugwort was also carried by travellers in 

 former times, as it was thought to prevent 

 weariness. Casp. Hoffman notices this su- 

 perstition, and wittily says, he will not soon 

 weary who has in his journey Beyfuss, which 

 is the German name for this plant, and sig- 

 nifies at the same time, another foot : that 

 is, adds he, the four feet of a strong horse. 



Philodemus* states that this herb was 

 used by Isis against weariness, when wander- 

 ing through Egypt in quest of the body of 

 Osiris. 



Some authors are of opinion that these 

 fabulous and superstitious opinions origina- 

 ted from virtues that this plant seems cer- 



* L. de Fuga Isidis. 



