Perfonal Names ^ &c» 45 
and progrefs of this cuftom, which appears 
to be of high antiquity, fince there are ex- 
amples of it among the antient poets, hifto- 
rians, and phyficians. 
Poetry has confecrated, in this way, the 
names of Adonis, Daphne, Hyacinthtis, Nar^ 
cijfus, and others. Pliny informs us, that 
Eupaforhi?n is faid to be the cognomen of 
MiTHRiDATES, who firft difcovered the 
ufes of that plant. Qentiana^ we are told, 
is derived from Gentius, king of Illyria: 
Lyfimachidy from Lysimachus, king of 
Sicily: Telephiumy from Telephus, king 
oiMyJia: Teiicriwn, from Teucer, king of 
Troy : Clymenum, from ClYxMenus : Arte-^ 
mifiay from the wife of king Mausolus : 
Heleniiimy from Helena^ the wife of Me-- 
lulaiis : Eup/jorlium, from Euphorbus, 
phyfician to Jiii^a IL king of Mauritania^ 
though Salmasius avers, that this name 
had been in ufe at a much earlier period. 
Many other inftances might be adduced. 
In fucceeding ages, the devotion of the 
monks led them to confecrate a variety 
of plants to the faints of the kalendar. 
Thus we have the Herla San^i Anto- 
Nil, 
