n] 



The ' Ortus Sanitatis ' 



29 



the Tree of Life, in which we read that he who should eat 

 of the fruit " should be clothed with blessed immortality, 

 and should not be fatigued with infirmity, or anxiety, or 

 lassitude, or weariness of trouble." The engraving which 

 is named Narcissus (Text-fig. 13) has diminutive figures 

 emerging from the flowers, like a transformation scene at a 

 pantomime ! It is probably, however, intended to represent 



Text-fig. 13. "Narcissus" [Ortus Sanitatis, 

 Mainz, 1491]. 



the conversion of the beautiful youth, Narcissus, into a 

 flower. Apart from these mythological subjects, there are a 

 number of very curious engravings. A tree called "Bausor," 

 for instance, which was believed to exhale a narcotic poison, 

 like the fabulous Upas tree, has two men lying beneath its 

 shade, apparently in the sleep of death (Text-fig. 14). 



