217 
BOOK XXVII. 
A DESCRIPTION OF PLANTS, AND OF THE REMEDIES DE- 
RIVED FROM THEM. 
CHAP. 1. (1.) EESEAECHES OF THE ANCIEI^TS l^PO^r THIS 
SUBJECT. 
The further I proceed in this work, the more I am impressed 
with admiration of the ancients ; and the greater the numher 
of plants that remain to be described, the more I am induced 
to venerate the zeal displayed by the men of former times in 
their researches, and the kindly spirit manifested by them in 
transmitting to us the results thereof. Indeed their bounteous- 
ness in this respect would almost seem to have surpassed the 
munificent disposition even of J^'ature herself, if our knowledge 
of plants had depended solely upon man's spirit of discovery : 
but as it is, it is evident beyond all doubt that this knowledge 
has emanated from the gods themselves, or, at all events, has 
been the result of divine inspiration, even in those cases where 
man has been instrumental in communicating it to us. In 
other words, if we must confess the truth — a marvel surpassed 
by nothing in our daily experience — ITature herself, that 
common parent of aU things, has at once produced them, and 
has discovered to us their properties. 
Wondrous indeed is it, that a Scythian^ plant should be 
brought from the shores of the Palus Meeotis, and the euphor- 
bia^ from Mount Atlas and the regions beyond the Pillars of 
Hercules, localities where the operations of Nature have reached 
their utmost limit ! That in another direction, the plant 
britannica^' should be conveyed to us from isles of the 
Ocean situate beyond the confines of the earth !^ That the 
sethiopis* should reach us from a climate scorched by the 
^ He alludes to the Glycyrrhiza or Scythice, our Liquorice, which is 
still found on the banks of the river Yo^ga. See B. xxi. c. 54, B. xxii. 
c. 11, B. XXV. c. 43, and B. xxvi. cc. 15, 87. 
2 See B. XXV. c. 38. 2* gge B. xxv. c. 6. 
2 Extra terras." Meaning, the continental part of the earth. 
* See c, 3 of this Book. 
