42 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



was the plant. He describes it " in leaves . . . like 

 unto the ordinary long-leafed Hisope ... of the colour 

 of Cyperus, of a taste not unpleasant which is somewhat 

 austere with the sweetnesse." It is a native of Siberia, 

 but has long been cultivated in France, and the name is 

 a corruption of the French Esdragon and means " Little 

 Dragon." Though no reason for this war-like title is 

 obvious, the name is practically the same in several 

 other countries. The leaves were good pickled, and it 

 is altogether a fine aromatic herb for soups and salads. 

 Vinegars for salads and sauce used often in earlier 

 days to be " aromatized " by steeping in them rosemary, 

 gilliflowers, barberries and so forth, but the only herb 

 used for this purpose at the present time is tarragon. 

 Tarragon vinegar can still be easily obtained. " The 

 volatile essential oil of tarragon is chemically identical 

 with that of anise " (Fernie). 



Thyme (Thymus vulgaris). 

 The bees on the bells of thyme 



Were as silent as ever old Timolus was 



Listening to my sweet pipings. 



Fan's Music — Shelley. 

 In my garden grew plenty of thyme, 

 It would flourish by night and by day, 

 O'er the wall came a lad, he took all that I had, 



And stole my thyme away. 



O ! And I was a damsel so fair. 

 But fairer I wished to appear. 

 So I washed me in milk, and I dressed me in silk. 

 And put the sweet thyme in my hair. 



Devonshire Son^s. 



Beneath your feet. 

 Thyme that for all your bruising smells more sweet. 



N. Hopper. 

 Some from the fen bring reeds, wild thyme from downs, 

 Some from a grove, the bay that poets crowns. 



Br, Pastorals^ book ii. 



