The evil eye. An account of this ancient and wide spread superstition

98 THE EVIL EYE chap.
Clement of Alexandria mentions thirty-six plants
dedicated to the genii who presided over the signs
of the zodiac.
In classic days tree and plant worship was
prevalent both in Greece and Italy. Pliny tells us
that in the Forum at Rome there was a sacred fig-
tree named rumina/is, which was worshipped from
the time of Romulus down to his day,^°^ and dire con-
sternation would have arisen if any evil had befallen
it. Tacitus also speaks of this tree, while the writer
can testify that it is still to be seen on the Forum,
sculptured on one of the two remarkable monuments,
said to have been erected by Trajan, each of which
has the Sustaurovilia or Suovetaurilia on one of Its
sides. The tree appears in the bas-relief which
commemorates the foundation of an orphanage.
Another sacred tree in Rome grew on the Palatine,
and whenever in a dry season this tree seemed to be
drooping, Plutarch says a shout was raised, and
people ran from all sides with pails of water as if to
put out a fire. The story of Daphne being changed
into a laurel-tree is all in keeping with this ancient
faith.^^«
Fichte," the pine, is credited with great healing powers, and is believed to pre-
serve animals from harm. Boughs of it are hung up on stable doors to
keep off the evil spirits. In Bohemia, too, the pine kernel from the topmost
cone is thought to make the eater invulnerable against shot. In other parts
of Germany to tie a knot in the highest shoot of a pine-tree is a sovereign
remedy for gout ! (Doubtless !).
155 Pliny, Nat. Hist. xv. 20 (Bohn, vol. iii. p. 310J.
i^s Among the sacred trees and plants we cannot omit the large number
which in a way are, even amongst ourselves, dedicated to or named after Our
Lady. First are those into which the name enters, as in Marigold, Marsh
Marigold, Rose Mary, Mary Buds (Calendula officinalis).
Winking Mary-buds begin
To ope their golden eyes.
—
Cymbeline, Act ii. So. 3.
St. Mary's Seed {Sonchus Oleraceus, Sow thistle), Mary's Tears, or Sage of
Bethlehem {Pulmonaria officinalis).
Then we have Lady Glove (Diqitalis piirpiij-ea). This is very different
from, the Italian Guanto di nostra Si^nora.