The Druids, besides being priests, prophets, and legislators, were also physicians; they were acquainted, too, with the means of producing trances and ecstacies, and as one of their chief medical appliances they made use of the Mistletoe, which they gathered at appointed times with certain solemn ceremonies, and considered it as a special gift of heaven. This plant grew on the Oak, the sacred tree of the Celts and Druids; it was held in the highest reverence, and both priests and people then regarded it as divine. To this day the Welsh call _Pren-awr_--the celestial tree-- “The mystic Mistletoe, Which has no root, and cannot grow Or prosper but by that same tree It clings to.” The sacred Oak itself was thought to possess certain magical properties in evoking the spirit of prophecy: hence we find the altars of the Druids were often erected beneath some venerated Oak-tree in the sombre recesses of the sacred grove; and it was under the shadow of such trees that the ancient Germans offered up their holy sacrifices, and their inspired bards made their prophetic utterances. The Greeks had their prophetic Oaks that delivered the oracles of Jupiter in the sacred grove of Dodona-- “Such honours famed Dodona’s grove acquired, As justly due to trees by heaven inspired; When once her Oaks did fate’s decrees reveal, And taught wise men truths future to foretel.”--_Rapin._ The Arcadians attributed another magical power to the Oak, for they believed that by stirring water with an Oaken bough rain could be brought from the clouds. The Russians are acquainted with a certain herb which they call _Son-trava_, or Dream Herb, which has been identified with the _Pulsatilla patens_. This plant is said to blossom in the month of April, and to put forth an azure-coloured flower; if this is placed under the pillow, it will induce dreams, and these dreams are said to be fulfilled. In England, a four-leaved Clover similarly treated will produce a like result. Like the Grecian sorceresses, Medea and Circe, the Vedic magicians were acquainted with numerous plants which would produce love-philtres of the most powerful character, if not altogether irresistible. The favourite flowers among the Indians for their composition are the Mango, Champak, Jasmine, Lotus, and Asoka. According to Albertus Magnus, the most powerful flower for producing love is that which he calls _Provinsa_. The secret of this plant had been transmitted by the Chaldeans. The Greeks knew it as _Vorax_, the Latins as _Proventalis_ or _Provinsa_; and it is probably the same plant now known to the Sicilians as the _Pizzu’ngurdu_, to which they attribute most subtle properties. Thus the chastest of women will become the victim of the most burning passion for the man who, after pounding the _Pizzu’ngurdu_, is able to administer it to her in any sort of food.