280 THE SWALLOW'S HERB. 



saluberrimam hirundines monstravere vexatis pullorum 

 oculis ilia medentes." 



Gerard, referring to this plant, in his " Herball, or Generall 

 Historie of Plantes" (1597), observes : — " It is called celan- 

 dine, not because it then first springeth at the comming in of 

 the swallowes, or dieth when they goe away ; for as we haue 

 saide, it may be founde all the yeere ; but because some hold 

 opinion that with this herbe the dams restore sight to their 

 yoong ones when their eies be out, the which things are 

 vaine and false : for Cornelius Celsus in his sixt booke 

 doth witnesse that when the sight of the eies of diuers 

 yoong birdes be put foorth by some outward meanes, it 

 will after a time be restored of itselfe, and soonest of all 

 the sight of the swallow, whereupon, (as the same saith) 

 that the tale or fable grew, how, thorow an herbe the dams 

 restore that thing, which healeth of itselfe : the very same 

 doth Aristotle alleadge in the sixt booke of the historie of 

 liuing creatures : the eies of young swallowes, saith he, 

 that are not fledge, if a man do pricke them out, do grow 

 againe, and afterwards do perfectly recouer their sight." 

 Subsequently, when speaking of the "virtues'' of the plant, 

 the sage Gerard continues : — " The iuice of the herbe is 

 good to sharpen the sight, for it clenseth and consumeth 

 awaie slimie things that cleaue about the ball of the eie, 

 and hinder the sight." The root was considered good for 

 yellow-jaundice, and also (being chewed) for toothache. 

 Gerard adds, " The roote cut in small peeces is good to be 



