200 THE BOOK OF HERBS 



alludes to a " certaine stage of madnesse " which attacks 

 rabbits, and says that the cure is Hare-Thistle (Sonchus 

 oleraceus). The " Grete Herbal" called this plant the 

 " Hare's Palace." " For yf the hare come under it, he 

 is sure that no best can touche hym." 



These statements lead one to feel that once upon 

 a time, the world was much more like the world 

 of Richard JefFeries than it is, and that " wood 

 magic" was nearer to our forefathers than to our- 

 selves. Nowadays, when everything travels more 

 quickly along the road of life, the eyes of ordinary 

 mortals get confused with the movement and the 

 jostling and they do* not see the pretty by-play that 

 goes on in the bushes by the way, nor peer into the 

 depths of the woodland beyond. In this they lose 

 a good deal, but no one can " put back the clock," 

 and one must feel grateful that the idylls of the forest 

 are still being acted, and that there are still men whose 

 vision is quick enough to catch sight of them, and whose 

 pens have the cunning to put before others the glimpses 

 that they themselves have caught. 



A legend exists about the Cormorant, the Bat, and the 

 Bramble — quite inconsequent, but not wholly out of 

 place here, so it shall serve as a conclusion. 



Once the Cormorant was a wool 'merchant and he 

 took for partners the Bat and the Bramble. They 

 freighted a large ship with wool, but she was wrecked 

 and then they were bankrupt. Ever since that, the 

 Cormorant is diving into the deep, looking for the lost 

 ship ; the Bat skulks round till midnight, so that he 

 may not meet his creditors, and the Bramble catches 

 hold of every passing sheep to try and make up for 

 his loss by stealing wool. No doubt, you have often 

 noticed their ways, but did you ever before know their 

 reasons .'' 



