78 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



by saying that the maiden, wandering alone in the fields, 

 uprooted a rampion, and so discovered a stair-case lead- 

 ing to a palace in the depths of the earth. 



One of Grimm's fairy tales is called after the heroine, 

 Rapunzel (K^mpion), for she was given this plant's name, 

 and the whole plot hangs on Rampions being stolen from 

 a magician's garden. There is an Italian tradition that 

 the possession of a rampion (as that of strawberries, 

 cherries, or red shoes), would excite quarrels among 

 children, which would sometimes go as far as " murder." 

 Even in a land of quick passions and southern blood, it 

 can hardly be thought that this tradition had much 

 ground to spring from, and I have not heard of it as 

 existing further north. Parkinson says that the roots 

 may be eaten as salad or " boyled and stewed with 

 butter and oyle, and some blacke or long pepper cast on 

 them." The distilled water of the whole plant is excel- 

 lent for the complexion, and " maketh the face very 

 splendent." Evelyn thought Rampions " much more 

 nourishing " than Radishes, and they are said to have 

 a "pleasant, nutty flavour"; in the winter the leaves 

 as well as the roots make a nice salad. Even if it is not 

 grown for use, it might well, with its graceful spires 

 of purple bells, be put for ornament in shrubberies. 

 Parkinson has said of Honesty, that "some eate the young 

 rootes before they runne up to flower, as Rampions are 

 eaten with vinegar and oyle" ; but Evelyn warns us apropos 

 of this very plant (with others) how cautiously the 

 advice of the Ancient Authors should be taken by the 

 sallet gatherer (Parkinson was probably quoting from 

 the "Ancients" when he said this); "for however it 

 may have been in their countries, in England Radix 

 Lunaria is accounted among the deadly poisons ! " One 

 cannot help wondering if Parkinson or Gerarde ever 

 knew those hardy individuals they allude to as " some," 

 and who tried the experiment ! 



