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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
100
Then,
of
course,
from
time
immemorial
all
kinds
of
charms
have
been
observed
on
St.
Valentine's
Day
to
produce
prophetic
dreams.
A
popular
charm
consisted
of
placing
two
bay
leaves,
after
sprinkling
them
with
rose-water,
across
the
pillow,
repeating
this
formula:--
"Good
Valentine,
be
kind
to
me,
In
dream
let
me
my
true
love
see."
St.
Luke's
Day
was
in
years
gone
by
a
season
for
love-divination,
and
among
some
of
the
many
directions
given
we
may
quote
the
subjoined,
which
is
somewhat
elaborate:--
"Take
marigold
flowers,
a
sprig
of
marjoram,
thyme,
and
a
little
wormwood;
dry
them
before
a
fire,
rub
them
to
powder,
then
sift
it
through
a
fine
piece
of
lawn;
simmer
these
with
a
small
quantity
of
virgin
honey,
in
white
vinegar,
over
a
slow
fire;
with
this
anoint
your
stomach,
breasts,
and
lips,
lying
down,
and
repeat
these
words
thrice:--
'St
Luke,
St.
Luke,
be
kind
to
me,
In
dream
let
me
my
true
love
see!'
This
said,
hasten
to
sleep,
and
in
the
soft
slumbers
of
night's
repose,
the
very
man
whom
you
shall
marry
shall
appear
before
you."
Lastly,
certain
plants
have
been
largely
used
by
gipsies
and
fortune-tellers
for
invoking
dreams,
and
in
many
a
country
village
these
are
plucked
and
given
to
the
anxious
inquirer
with
various
formulas.
Footnotes:
1.
"Primitive
Culture,"
1873,
ii.
416,
417.
2.
See
Dorman's
"Primitive
Superstition,"
p.
68.
3.
Thorpe's
"Northern
Mythology,"
1851,
ii.
108.
4.
"Primitive
Superstitions,"
p.
67.
5.
"Plant-lore
Legends
and
Lyrics,"
p.
265.
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