198 THE COMPLETE HERBAL 



hensions ; and yet among astrologers all \ niglit, the one from Aries, and the other 

 this does not deserve a good word : Oh the j from Scorpio ; give me thy leave by sym- 

 patience of Mars ! 1 pathy to cure this poor man with drinking 



; a draught of Wormwood beer every morn- 

 Felix qui potuit rcmm cognoscere caucus, 

 inque domus superum scandere curafacit. 

 O happy he that can the knowledge gain, 

 To know the eternal God made nought in vain. 



To this 1 add, 

 I know the reason causeth such a dearth 



ing. The Moon was weak the other day, 

 and she gave a man two terrible mischiefs, 

 a dull brain and a weak sight; Mars laid 

 by his sword, and comes to her ; Sister 

 Moon, said he, this man hath angered thee, 



I lYIIlFVV bUYrf ftwmWU VrUUWlrU t?u*_>aA ** *-_, u j T 1 11 1 * 1 * 



Of knowledge ; 'tis because men love theearth. j out beseech thee take notice he is but a 



I fool ; prithee be patient, I will with my herb 



The other day Mars told me he met with * wormwood cure him of both infirmities by 

 Venus, and he asked her, What was the j antipathy, for thou knowest thou and I can- 

 reason that she accused him for abusing \ not agree ; with that the Moon began to 

 women? He never gave them the pox. In \ quarrel; Mars (not delighting much in 

 the dispute they fell out, and in anger ! women's tongues) went away, and did it 

 parted, and Mars told me that his brother j whether she would or no. 



Jaturn told him, that an antivenerean 



He that reads this, and understands what 



medicine was the best against the pox. :i he reads, hath a jewel of more worth than 

 Once a month he meets with the Moon. | a diamond ; he that understands it not, is 

 Mars is quick enough of speech, and the! as little fit to give physick. There lies a 

 Moon not much behind hand, (neither are | key in these words which will unlock, (if it 

 most women.) The Moon looks much j be turned by a wise hand) the cabinet of 



after children, and children are much trou- j 

 bled with the worms; she desired a medi- 

 cine of him, he bid her take his own herb, 



physick : I have delivered it as plain as I 

 durst; it is not only upon Wormwood as 

 I wrote, but upon all plants, trees, and 



Wormwood. He had no sooner parted \ herbs ; he that understands it not, is unfit 

 with the Moon, but he met with Venus, and 5 (in my opinion) to give physic. This shall 

 she was as drunk as a hog; Alas! poor j live when I am dead. And thus I leave it 

 Venus, quoth he ; What ! thou a fortune, j to the world, not caring a farthing whether 

 and be drunk? I'll give thee antipathetical \ they like it or dislike it. The grave equals 

 cure; Take my herb Wormwood, and thou \ all men, and therefore shall equal me with 

 shall never get a surfeit by drinking. A I all princes; until which time the eternal 

 poor silly countryman hath got an ague, j Providence is over rne : Then the ill tongue 

 and cannot go about his business : he | of a prating fellow, or one that hath more 

 wishes he had it not, and so do I ; but I { tongue than wit, or more proud than 

 will tell him a remedy, whereby he shall | honest, shall never trouble me. Wisdom is 

 prevent it ; Take the herb of Mars, Worm- [justified by her children. And so much for 

 wood, and if infortunes will do good, what | Wormwood. 



will fortunes do? Some think the lungs are YAR CALLED NOSE _ BLEED , MILFOIL 



under Jupiter ; and if the lungs then the ' AND THOUSALD . LEAL . 



breath ; and though sometimes a man gets j 



a stinking breath, and yet Jupiter is a for-! Descript.~\ IT hath many long leaves 

 tune, forsooth ; up comes Mars to him ; j spread upon the ground, finely cut, and 

 Come brother Jupiter, thou knowest I sent | divided into many small parts- It flowers 

 thee a couple of trines to thy house last | are white, but not all of a whiteness, and 



