CHAPTER VII 



OF HERBS AND BEASTS 



Here may'st thou range the goodly, pleasant field, 

 And search out simples to procure thy heal. 

 What sundry virtues, sundry herbs do yield, 



'Gainst grief which may thy sheep or thee assail. 



Eclogue vii. — DuATroN. 



And tryed time yet taught me greater thinges ; 



The sodain rising of the raging seas, 

 The soothe of byrdes by beating of their winges, 



The powre of herbes, both which can hurt and ease ; 

 And which be wont t' enrage the restless sheepe, 

 And which be wont to worke eternal sleepe. 



ShepheariTs Calendar. — SpENSER. 



And did you hear wild music blow 

 All down the boreen, long and low. 



The tramp of ragweed horses' feet, 

 And Una's laughter wild and sweet. 



The Passing of the Shee. — N. HoppER. 



Herbs and animals may appear linked together in many 

 aspects, but there are two in which I specially wish to 

 look at them — first, glancing at the old traditions that 

 tell of beasts and birds themselves having preferences 

 among herbs ; secondly, the human reasoning, which 

 decreed that certain plants must benefit or aifect special 

 creatures. The glamour of magic at times hovers over 

 both. Ragwort is St James's Wort (the French call it 

 Jacobee), and St James is the patron saint of horses, 

 therefore Ragwort is good for horses, and has even 

 gained the name of the Staggerwort, from being often 

 prescribed for " the staggers." This is a good speci- 



