38$ 



keeper being informed of the heinousness of the erime, mingles for 

 them a drink made of bhang, the juice of an intoxicating sort 

 of hemp; this at first they refuse; but on receiving the addi- 

 tion of some dutry, made from the deadly solanum, called poss, 

 it makes them so foolishly mad, that after a week's taking, they 

 crave it more than ever they nauseated. They are then brought 

 into the inner lodgings of the house, where folding-doors open upon 

 delicious gardens, and apes, cats, dogs, and monkeys, are their 

 attendants ; with whom they maintain their dialogues, exercising 

 over them their humour of an assassin, usurper, miser, or what 

 their genius led them to, whilst themselves. After this manner 

 they are imprisoned during the king's pleasure, or he order their 

 cure, to restore them to their senses again ; which otherwise, after 

 their spirits are tired by a restless appetite of doing, and in the 

 meantime have not a suitable recruit, they linger by a lasting 

 leanness into the shades, which alive they represented/' 



Such enervating drugs and deleterious potions were well 

 known in ancient Rome, and no doubt in the ancient ages of 

 Greece. Dropping the allegory, Circe most probably adminis- 

 tered similar beverage and baneful food to those who were unfor- 

 tunately impaled within her magic circle. 



" On seats around, with downy coverings grac'd, 

 " With semblance fair th' unhappy men she plac'd ; 

 " Milk newly prest, the sacred flour of wheat, 

 " And honey fresh, and Pramnian wines the treat : 

 " But venom'd was the bread, and mix'd the bowl, 

 " With drugs nf force to darken all the soul ' ' 



A variety of poisons are mentioned by the Roman historian* 

 and poets, especially by Tacitus ; many of a similar nature to 



