VER VAIN. 
(You enchant me.) 
ERVAIN, or wild verbena , has been the floral 
symbol of enchantment from time immemorial. 
It was styled “ sacred herb” by the Greeks, who 
ascribed a thousand marvellous properties to it, one of 
which was its power of reconciling enemies. Under the 
influence of this belief, they, as did also the Romans, sent 
it by their ambassadors on treaties of peace; and whenever 
they despatched their heralds to offer terms of reconcilia¬ 
tion, renewal or suspension of hostilities, one of them 
invariably bore a sprig of vervain. In his “ Muses’ 
Elysium,” Drayton calls it “ holy vervain,” and thus 
speaks of it: 
“ A wreath of vervain heralds wear 
Amongst our garlands named, 
Being sent that weighty news to bear 
Of peace or war proclaimed.” 
The peoples of antiquity also frequently used this plant 
in various kinds of divinations, sacrifices, and incantations ; 
and its specific name of verbena originally signified a herb 
used to decorate altars. Ben Jonson says, 
“ Bring your garlands, and with reverence place 
The vervain on the altar.” 
It was much valued by the Druids, being regarded by 
