92 
ENCHANTMENT. 
the sphinx, in the sands of the desert; but 
the lotus and the acanthus shall ever flower 
upon the banks of the Nile, the mistletoe will 
always flourish upon the oak, and the vervain 
upon the barren knolls. 
Vervain was used by the ancients for divers 
kinds of divinations: they attributed to it a 
thousand properties ; among others, that of 
reconciling enemies; and when the Roman 
heralds at arms were despatched with a mes¬ 
sage of peace or war to other nations, they 
wore a wreath of vervain. Drayton alludes 
to this custom: 
A wreath of vervain heralds wear, 
Amongst our garlands named, 
Being sent that dreadful news to bear, 
Offensive war proclaimed. 
The Druids held this plant in great vene¬ 
ration, and, before gathering it, they made a 
sacrifice to the earth. Probably they used it 
for food; and Dryden thus mentions it: — 
Some scattering pot-herbs here and there he found, 
Which, cultivated with his daily care, 
And bruised with vervain, were his daily fare. 
We are told that the worshippers of the sun, 
in performing their services, held branches of 
vervain in their hands. Venus Victorious 
wore a crown of myrtle interwoven with ver¬ 
vain, and the Germans to this day give a hat 
