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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
157
The
almond,
again,
is
regarded
as
expressive
of
haste,
in
reference
to
its
hasty
growth
and
early
maturity;
while
the
evening
primrose,
from
the
time
of
its
blossoms
expanding,
indicates
silent
love--refraining
from
unclosing
"her
cup
of
paly
gold
until
her
lowly
sisters
are
rocked
into
a
balmy
slumber."
The
bramble,
from
its
manner
of
growth,
has
been
chosen
as
the
type
of
lowliness;
and
"from
the
fierceness
with
which
it
grasps
the
passer-by
with
its
straggling
prickly
stems,
as
an
emblem
of
remorse."
Fennel
was
in
olden
times
generally
considered
an
inflammatory
herb,
and
hence
to
eat
"conger
and
fennel"
was
to
eat
two
high
and
hot
things
together,
which
was
an
act
of
libertinism.
Thus
in
"2
Henry
IV."
(Act
ii.
sc.
4),
Falstaff
says
of
Poins,
"He
eats
conger
and
fennel."
Rosemary
formerly
had
the
reputation
of
strengthening
the
memory,
and
on
this
account
was
regarded
as
a
symbol
of
remembrance.
Thus,
according
to
an
old
ballad:--
"Rosemary
is
for
remembrance
Between
us
day
and
night,
Wishing
that
I
may
always
have
You
present
in
my
sight."
And
in
"Hamlet,"
where
Ophelia
seems
to
be
addressing
Laertes,
she
says
(Act
iv.
sc.
5):--
"There's
rosemary,
that's
for
remembrance."
Vervain,
from
time
immemorial,
has
been
the
floral
symbol
of
enchantment,
owing
to
its
having
been
in
ancient
times
much
in
request
for
all
kinds
of
divinations
and
incantations.
Virgil,
it
may
be
remembered,
alludes
to
this
plant
as
one
of
the
charms
used
by
an
enchantress:--
"Bring
running
water,
bind
those
altars
round
With
fillets,
with
vervain
strew
the
ground."
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