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 " (Lunarid), which was 

 so named from the circular shape of its pod, which was 

 thought to resemble the moon (Luna), 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" (L u n aria), 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, 



C C 



