238 



Then what am I ? There's not an herb doth grow. 



Nor root, but I their virtue:; know, 



And can the craggy pi shew ; 

 Yet Varus slights my love, above my pow'r. 



And sleeps on rosy beds secure ; 

 Ah ! much I fear some rival's greater skill 



Defends him from my weaker spell. 



It would be endless to repeat the variety of instances relating 

 to these spells and incantalions which were continually brought 

 before the courts of adawlet in Baroche and Dhuboy, where they 

 could neither be refuted nor counteracted. Those brought to 

 light in the public court were generally more intended for de- 

 struction by poison, than for the creation or revival of the lender 

 passion. To effect the latter many virtues are attributed to the 

 mendey, or al'hinna, a fragrant and elegant shrub in the oriental 

 gardens, already mentioned. With the leaves of this plant the In- 

 dian women tinge their nails and fingers of a crimson dye; from 

 whence that passage in a Hindoo song, " Like me, O Minna! 

 thy heart has long been full of blood; whose foot art thou desirous 

 of kissing?" The other spells were composed of less innocent 

 materials, and appropriated to more iniquitous purposes. With 

 the exception of human ingredients, they bore a very near resem- 

 blance to the singular anecdote recorded by Tacitus, and con- 

 firmed by Dio Cassius, respecting the death of Germanieus; who 

 was supposed to have been poisoned at Anlioch, by the secret 

 orders of Piso, by means of Martina, a celebrated female prac- 

 titioner in these arts. " Under the floor, and in the cavities 

 of the walls, a collection of human bones was found, with charms, 



