62 
THE FLORAL ORACLE. 
Gesner, the pastoral poet and botanist, says 
that the lads and lasses of certain Swiss villages 
proved the sincerity of their lovers by placing a 
petal of the poppy-blossom in the hollow of the 
left hand-palm, and then striking it with the 
other hand. If it broke with a sharp report, it 
attested the fidelity of the wooer; whilst if, on 
the contrary, it failed to break, it proved his or 
her faithlessness :— 
“ By a prophetic poppy-leaf I found 
Your changed affection, for it gave no sound, 
Though in my hand struck hollow as it lay; 
But quickly withered, like your love, away.” 
A writer on various matrimonial and amatory 
superstitious customs, observes that the belief 
in the efficacy of St. John’s-wort is very widely 
spread, and gives the following version of a 
poem transcribed from the German:— 
“Rosy red the hills appear 
With the light of morning, « 
Beauteous clouds, in asther clear, 
All the east adorning; 
White through mist the meadows shine: 
Wake, my love, my valentine! 
“ For thy locks of raven hue, 
Flowers of hoar-frost pearly, 
Crocus-cups of gold and blue, 
Snowdrops drooping early, 
With mezereon-sprigs combine: 
Rise, my love, my valentine! 
