MAHOMED’S DOVE. 193 
the wane, and in the conjunction do utterlie wither and 
vade.” 
The following lines from Pericles are somewhat to the 
point :— 
‘How dare the plants look up to heaven, from whence 
They have their nourishment ?” 
Pericles, Act i. Sc. 2. 
It is possible that particular reference may be had to 
the plant “ Honesty,” or “ Lunary ” (Launaria), which was 
so named from the circular shape of its pod, which was 
thought to resemble the moon (Lama), not only in its 
form, but in its silvery brightness, The title of “ Honesty” 
appears to have been given it from the transparent nature 
of the-pod, which discovers those seed-vessels that contain 
seed from such as are barren or have shed their seed. 
We learn from Chaucer that “ Honesty” (Luxaria), was 
one of the plants used in incantations. Drayton calls it 
“Lunary ” :— 
“Then sprinkles she the juice of rue, 
With nine drops of the midnight dew 
From Lunary distilling.” 
Nymphid. 
But to return to our doves. It is related that Mahomed 
had a dove which he used to feed with wheat out of his 
ear, which dove, when it was hungry, lighted on Mahomed’s 
shoulder and thrust its bill in to find its breakfast, 
ce 
