Celandine. 
(DECEPTIVE HOPES.) 
T HIS emblem of deceptive hopes derives its botanical name 
from a Greek word signifying a swallow, because, say 
some, of its coming and going with that bird ; but our old 
florigraphists give a different reason ; and according to Ge- 
i arde, it was so called from an opinion which prevailed among 
the country people, that the old swallows used it to restore 
sight to their young when their eyes were out. This idea is 
supported by Lyte, who, in his rare old “ Herbal,” speaking of 
the larger celandine, gravely remarks : “ Chelidonium, that is 
to say, swallow-herbe ; bycause, as Plinie writeth, it was the 
first found out by swallowes, and hath healed the eyes and 
restored sight to their young ones that have had harme in 
their eyes or have been blinde.” In Culpepper’s “ Herbal ” we 
also find this flower recommended for its virtues in restoring- 
o 
the eyesight. Says that veracious student of nature : “ This 
is a herb of the sun, and under the celestial lion, and is one of 
the best cures for the eyes ; for all that know anything in as¬ 
trology know that the eyes are subject to the Arminaries. . . . 
Make it into an oil or ointment, which you please, to anoint 
your sore eyes with : I can prove it both by my own expe¬ 
rience and the experience of those to whom I have taught it, 
that desperate sore eyes have been cured by this only medi¬ 
cine. . . . It is called chelidonium, from the Greek word 
chelidon, which signifies a swallow, because they say that if 
you put out the eyes of young swallows when they are in the 
nest, the old ones will recover them again with this herb. 
This I am confident, for I have tried it, that if we mar the 
very apples of their eyes with a needle, she will recover them 
again ; but whether with this herb or not, I know not.” 
Notwithstanding the opinions of these time-honoured men, 
H 
