THE MANDRAGORA

The mandragora is a wild plant, the like of which does not exist.  Many kinds of medicine can be made of its root; this root, if you look at it closely, will be seen to have the form of a man.  The bark is very useful; when well boiled in water it helps many diseases.  The skillful physicians gather this plant when it is old, and they say that when it is plucked it weeps and cries, and if any one hears the cry he will die[14].  But those who gather it do this so carefully that they receive no evil from it.  If a man has a pain in his head or in his body, or in his hand or foot, it can be cured by this herb.  If you take this plant and beat it and let the man drink of it, he will fall asleep very softly, and no more will he feel pain[15].  There are two kinds of this plant,—­male and female.  The leaves of both are beautiful.  The leaf of the female is thick like that of the wild lettuce.

[Footnote 14:  “Would curses kill as doth the mandrake’s groan.”—­’2 Henry VI.,’ iii. 2. ]

[Footnote 15: 
          “Not poppy, nor mandragora,
     Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world.”—­’Othello,’ iii. 3.]

SAPPHIRE

The following two extracts are translated from ’Les Lapidaires Francais du Moyen Age,’ by Leopold Pannier, Paris, 1882.

The sapphire is beautiful, and worthy to shine on the fingers of a king.  In color it resembles the sky when it is pure and free from clouds[16].  No precious stone has greater virtue or beauty.  One kind of sapphire is found among the pebbles in the country of Libya; but that which comes from the land of the Turk is more precious.  It is called the gem of gems, and is of great value to men and women.  It gives comfort to the heart and renders the limbs strong and sound.  It takes away envy and perfidy and can set the prisoner at liberty.  He who carries it about him will never have fear.  It pacifies those who are angry, and by means of it one can see into the unknown.

[Footnote 16:  Cf. the exquisite line of Dante, ‘Purgatorio,’ i. 13:—­
     ‘Dolce color d’oriental zaffiro.’]

It is very valuable in medicine.  It cools those who are feverish and who on account of pain are covered with perspiration.  When powdered and dissolved in milk it is good for ulcers.  It cures headache and diseases of the eyes and tongue.  He who wears it must live chastely and honorably; so shall he never feel the distress of poverty.

CORAL

Coral grows like a tree in the sea, and at first its color is green.  When it reaches the air it becomes hard and red.  It is half a foot in length.  He who carries it will never be afraid of lightning or tempest.  The field in which it is placed will be very fertile, and rendered safe from hail or any other kind of storm.  It drives away evil spirits, and gives a good beginning to all undertakings and brings them to a good end.