H. 8.—­Our picture of the Druids is completed by Pliny,[58] writing shortly after the Claudian conquest.  Approaching the subject as a naturalist he does not mention their psychological tenets, but gives various highly interesting pieces of information as to their superstitions with regard to natural objects, especially plants.  “The Druids,” he says, “(so they call their Magi) hold nothing so sacred as the mistletoe and that tree whereon it groweth, if only this be an oak.  Oak-groves, indeed, they choose for their own sake, neither do they celebrate any sacred rite without oak-leaves, so that they appear to be called Druids from the Greek word for this tree.  Whatsoever mistletoe, then, groweth on such a tree they hold it for a heaven-sent sign, and count that tree as chosen by their God himself.  Yet but very rarely is it so found, and, when found, is sought with no small observance; above all on the sixth day of the moon (which to this folk is the beginning of months and years alike),[59] and after the thirtieth year of its age, because it is by then in full vigour of strength, nor has its half-tide yet come.  Hailing it, in their own tongue, as ‘Heal-all,’ they make ready beneath the tree, with all due rites, feast and sacrifice.  Then are brought up two bulls of spotless white, whose horns have never ere this known the yoke.  The priest, in white vestments, climbeth the tree, and with a golden sickle reapeth the sacred bough, which is caught as it falls in a white robe [sagum].  Then, and not till then, slay they the victims, praying that their God will prosper this his gift to those on whom he hath bestowed the same.”

H. 9.—­A drink made from mistletoe, or possibly the mere insertion of the branch into drinking water, was held by the Druids, Pliny adds, as an antidote to every kind of poison.  Other herbs had like remedial properties in their eyes.  The fumes of burning “selago"[60] were thus held good for affections of the eyesight, only, however, when the plant was plucked with due ceremonies.  The gatherer must be all in white, with bare and washen feet, and must hallow himself, ere starting on his quest, with a devotional partaking of bread and wine [sacro facto ... pane vinoque].  He must by no means cut the sacred stem with a knife, but pluck it, and that not with bare fingers, but through the folds of his tunic, his right hand being protruded for this purpose beneath his left, “in thievish wise” [velut a furante].  Another herb, “samolum,” which grew in marshy places, was of avail in all diseases both of man and beast.  It had to be gathered with the left hand, and fasting, nor might the gatherer on any account look back till he reached some runlet [canali] in which he crushed his prize and drank.