96 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



their bitterness, are excellent as a salad. The scales 

 of the involucre are as good as those of the artichoke, and 

 the roots in early spring are good to eat." The seeds 

 supply food to many small birds, and it is from the 

 gold-finch feeding so extensively on them that it has 

 been called Carduelis. This partiality of the gold-finch 

 must have been observed in several lands, for the same 

 name occurs in different tongues. In England, it has 

 been called Thistlefinch ; in French, Chardonneret, and 

 in Italian, Cardeletto, Cardeto being a waste covered with 

 thistles. One cannot help remembering the charming 

 line : — 



" As the thistle shakes, 

 When three gray linnets wrangle for the seed," 



with the reflection that other birds besides gold-finches 

 have a deep appreciation of it. 



But to go back to the Thistle itself, after all these 

 uses made of every part, no wonder that Browne called 

 it a " chiefest cherisher of vital power ! " Although, 

 latterly, its reputation in medicine has fallen, in old 

 days, on account of its numerous prickles ("Doctrine 

 of Signatures), it was thought good for stitches in 

 the side. Culpepper has further advice: "In spring, 

 if you please to boil the tender plant (but cut off the 

 prickles, unless you have a mind to choke yourself), it 

 will change your blood as the season changeth, and that 

 is the way to be safe." 



Carduus Benedictus, called the Holy, or the Blessed 

 Thistle, was considered a great preservative against the 

 plague, and that it was also given for a sudden spasm is 

 shown in the delightful scene between Beatrice and her 

 friends in " Much Ado About Nothing." It follows the 

 ruse that they have just played upon her, to persuade her 

 that Benedict is already in love with her, in the hope 

 that she may become enamoured of him, and the play upon 

 the name is very charming. Culpepper says that Carduus 



