THE BORAGE. , 149 



it is very disheartening to be obliged to limit 

 these vaunted powers simply to a cooling and muci- 

 laginous succulence, which renders the tender leaflets 

 and stems agreeable and refreshing in spring salads, 

 or in soups, &c. ; while the older sprays, by the nitre, 

 or nitrate of potash, which they yield,* impart a 

 pleasant coolness to water ; hence their use in the 

 summer-drink known as "cool-tankard/' or "sum- 

 mer-cup/' But as some atonement is necessary for 



thus 



"At one fell swoop," 



dispelling beliefs so agreeable to retain, the reader 

 shall have a prescription from the pen of the man 

 "who most studied melancholy/' which he may 

 rely on with implicit faith. The more implicit, 

 the happier for himself. It is old Burton him- 

 self who says, " only take this for a corollary and 

 conclusion, as thou tenderest thine own welfare (in 

 this, and all other, melancholy) thy good health 

 of body and minde ; observe this short precept, 

 give not way to solitariness and idleness. Be not 

 solitary, be not idle. Sperate miseri, cavete felices." 

 To the bees, however, the borage is still Llawen- 

 lys^c and it will regain somewhat of the credit we 

 have taken from it, when, in going forth in the sunny 

 hours of mid-day we see the exquisite beauty of its 

 cerulean blossoms, and the intense enjoyment of the 

 " busy bees " which crowd around it. It is curious 

 how very little, save in some antiquated and " out 



* Some of the BoragwiecK, as shewn by Marggraff, yield 

 pure nitre in considerable quantities. "Mem. de Berlin, 1747." 

 t See last page. 



