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271
The Folk-lore of Plants
·
T. F. Thiselton-Dyer
92
Then
there
is
the
basil
with
its
mystic
virtues,
and
the
cumin-see
and
cyclamen,
which
from
the
time
of
Theophrastus
have
been
coveted
for
their
magic
virtues.
The
purslane,
crocus,
and
periwinkle
were
thought
to
inspire
love;
while
the
agnus
castus
and
the
Saraca
Indica
(one
of
the
sacred
plants
of
India),
a
species
of
the
willow,
were
supposed
to
drive
away
all
feelings
of
love.
Similarly
in
Voigtland,
the
common
basil
was
regarded
as
a
test
of
chastity,
withering
in
the
hands
of
the
impure.
The
mandrake,
which
is
still
worn
in
France
as
a
love-charm,
was
employed
by
witches
in
the
composition
of
their
philtres;
and
in
Bohemia,
it
is
said
that
if
a
maiden
can
secretly
put
a
sprig
of
the
common
clover
into
her
lover's
shoe
ere
he
sets
out
on
a
journey,
he
will
be
faithful
to
her
during
his
absence.
As
far
back
as
the
time
of
Pliny,
the
water-lily
was
regarded
as
an
antidote
to
the
love-philtre,
and
the
amaranth
was
used
for
curbing
the
affections.
On
the
other
hand,
Our
Lady's
bedstraw
and
the
mallow
were
supposed
to
have
the
reverse
effect,
while
the
myrtle
not
only
created
love,
but
preserved
it.
The
Sicilians
still
employ
hemp
to
secure
the
affections
of
those
they
love,
and
gather
it
with
various
formalities,[2]
fully
believing
in
its
potency.
Indeed,
charms
of
this
kind
are
found
throughout
the
world,
every
country
having
its
own
special
plants
in
demand
for
this
purpose.
However
whimsical
they
may
seem,
they
at
any
rate
have
the
sanction
of
antiquity,
and
can
claim
an
antecedent
history
certainly
worthy
of
a
better
cause.
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