2 34 The Soverane Herbe 



shortcomings of each other. Woman was demonstra- 

 tive, man melancholy and given to lonely walks in 

 the wood where previously they had wandered bliss- 

 fully together hand in hand. He would sit him down 

 on mossy stones and whimper aloud of ' The woman 

 you gave unto me.' Waking wearily one morning, he 

 rose sulkily and strayed aimlessly into the forest to 

 lose his melancholy in its recesses. There he met 

 dancing towards him a woman fairer and more 

 beautiful than the other. In happiness and joy of 

 the sublimest depths the day passed all too swiftly. 

 But as night approached she told him with tears that 

 they must part for ever, for she must die — for that 

 only had she been created. 



' Yet sorrow not overmuch,' continued she, ' for 

 from my grave a wondrous herb shall spring, from 

 the leaves of which shall come the healing of the 

 nations. For when you shall burn them with fire an 

 exceeding grateful vapour shall arise therefrom, blue 

 as my eyes and sweet as my breath — for you named 

 them blue and sweet — which being drawn into thy 

 heart shall cause thee to forget all trouble and sorrow 

 that may ever come upon thee.' 



'So saying she died, and man buried her, and 

 watched secretly over her grave many days till all 

 was fulfilled as was spoken. The fair herb grew, the 

 sun dried its leaves, the fire burned it, and indeed the 

 healing breath was there. So it came to pass that 

 man no longer feared woman, for from that time 

 forth he could always, like ^neas, escape into his 

 cloud. And he named the herb Nicotia, " for," said 

 he, " ' Haec otia.' " 



