Alas! what lock or iron engine is't,
That can thy subtle secret strength resist,
Still the best farrier cannot set a shoe
So sure, but thou (so shortly) canst undo."
The blasting-root, known in Germany as spring-wurzel, and by us as
spring-wort, possesses similar virtues, for whatever lock is touched by it
must yield. It is no easy matter to find this magic plant, but, according to
a piece of popular folk-lore, it is obtained by means of the woodpecker.
When this bird visits its nest, it must have been previously plugged up
with wood, to remove which it goes in search of the spring-wort. On
holding this before the nest the wood shoots out from the tree as if
driven by the most violent force. Meanwhile, a red cloth must be placed
near the nest, which will so scare the woodpecker that it will let the
fabulous root drop. There are several versions of this tradition.
According to Pliny the bird is the raven; in Swabia it is the hoopoe, and
in Switzerland the swallow. In Russia, there is a plant growing in marshy
land, known as the rasir-trava, which when applied to locks causes them
to open instantly. In Iceland similar properties are ascribed to the herb-
paris, there known as lasa-grass.
According to a piece of Breton lore, the selago, or "cloth of gold,"
cannot be cut with steel without the sky darkening and some disaster
taking place:--
"The herb of gold is cut; a cloud
Across the sky hath spread its shroud
To war."
On the other hand, if properly gathered with due ceremony, it
conferred the power of understanding the language of beast or bird.[2]
As far back as the time of Pliny, we have directions for the gathering of
this magic plant. The person plucking it was to go barefoot, with feet
washed, clad in white, after having offered a sacrifice of bread and wine.
Another plant which had to be gathered with special formalities was the
magic mandragora. It was commonly reported to shriek in such a
hideous manner when pulled out of the earth that,
"Living mortals hearing them run mad."
Hence, various precautions were adopted. According to Pliny, "When
they intended to take up the root of this plant, they took the wind
thereof, and with a sword describing three circles about it, they digged it
up, looking towards the west." Another old authority informs us that he
"Who would take it up, in common prudence should tie a dog to it to