e intended to be felt, which might be either the
poisoning or tormenting of enemies. The charm could not be taken away
but by the person who secreted it or by a superior power.

Particular trees and plants possess peculiar virtues in consequence of
crowns for deities having been made from them. Thus we find Jupiter's
crown was composed of flowers, generally of laurel; Juno's of the
vine; Bacchus' of the vine, with grapes, and branches of ivy, flowers,
and berries; those of Castor, Pollux, and the river gods, of
bulrushes; that of Apollo, sometimes of laurel, and sometimes rushes;
that of Saturn, new figs; that of Hercules, poplar; that of Pan, pine
or alder; that of Lucina, dictamnus; that of the Horae, the fruits
proper to each season; that of the Graces, olive branches; that of
Venus, roses; that of Ceres, ears of corn; and that of the Lares,
myrtle or rosemary. Rue was detested by witches and evil spirits.
There was a heathen ceremony, called Dendrophoria, which consisted of
the carrying of one or more pine trees through a city, at times of
sacrifice in honour of certain deities. The pine or pines were
afterwards planted, and the branches thereof were supposed to possess
virtues not to be found in non-sacred things.

There was a spirit drawn from May dew, which had striking virtues
attributed to it. Images were considered the most powerful of all
charms. They were held in great reverence by the Romans and other
nations. The noble Romans preserved the images of their ancestors with
great care, and had them carried in procession at their funerals and
triumphs. They placed them in the vestibules of their houses, there to
remain, even though the houses happened to be sold, it being
considered impious to displace them. It was not, however, allowed for
every one who had the images of their ancestors, to have them carried
at funerals. The privilege was conferred on those only who had
honourably discharged themselves in their various offices in life.
Persons who failed in this respect, forfeited all right to bring their
images before the public; and the images of persons who had committed
serious crimes were broken in pieces.

The Egyptians had great confidence in the power of amulets and charms
to prevent and deliver from mischief. There was a class of persons who
gained their livelihood by writing billets, to secure the wearers from
the power of enchantment and all kinds of accidents. Their most
intrinsically valuable r