C) The gathering of the mistletoe

‘amplissima arborum ad hoc aevi existimatur romae visa, quam propter miraculum tiberius caesar in eodem ponte naumachiario exposuerat advectam cum reliqua materie, duravitque ad neronis principis amphitheatrum. fuit autem trabs ea e larice, longa pedes cxx, bipedali crassitudine aequalis, quo intellegebatur vix credibilis reliqua altitudo fastigium ad cacumen aestimantibus. fuit memoria nostra et in porticibus saeptorum a m. agrippa relicta aeque miraculi causa, quae diribitorio superfuerat, pedibus brevior, sesquipedali crassitudine. abies admirationis praecipuae visa est in nave, quae ex aegypto gai principis iussu obeliscum in vaticano circo statutum quattuorque truncos lapidis eiusdem ad sustinendum eum adduxit. qua nave nihil admirabilius visum in mari certum est. modium lentis pro saburra ei fuere. longitudo spatium obtinuit magna ex parte ostiensis portus latere laevo. ibi namque demersa est claudio principe cum tribus molibus turrium altitudine in ea exaedificatis obiter puteolano pulvere advectisque. arboris eius crassitudo quattuor hominum ulnas conplectentium implebat, vulgoque auditur nummum et pluris malos venundari ad eos usus, rates vero conecti leftbracketxlrightbracket sestertium plerasque. at in aegypto ac syria reges inopia abietis cedro ad classes feruntur usi. maxima ea in cypro traditur ad undeciremem demetri succisa pedum, crassitudinis vero ad trium hominum conplexum. germaniae praedones singulis arboribus cavatis navigant, quarum quaedam et homines ferunt. spississima ex omni materie, ideo et gravissima iudicatur hebenus et buxus, graciles natura. neutra in aquis fluvitat, nec suber, si dematur cortex, nec larix. ex reliquis spississima lotos, quae romae ita appellatur, dein robur exalburnatum. et huic nigricans color magisque etiam cytiso, quae proxime accedere hebenum videtur, quamquam non desunt qui syriacas terebinthos nigriores adfirment. celebravit et thericles nomine calices ex terebintho solitus facere torno; perquam probatur materies. omnium haec sola ungui vult meliorque fit oleo. colos mire adulteratur iuglande ac piro silvestri tinctis atque in medicamine decoctis. omnibus quae diximus spissa firmitas. ab iis proxima est cornus, quamquam non potest videri materies propter exilitatem, sed lignum non alio paene quam ad radios rotarum utile aut si quid cuneandum sit in ligno clavisve figendum ceu ferreis. ilex item et oleaster et olea atque castanea, carpinus, populus. haec et crispa aceris modo, si ulla materies idonea esset ramis saepe deputatis. castratio illa est adimitque vires. de cetero plerisque horum, sed utique robori, tanta duritia, ut terebrari nisi madefactum non queat et ne sic quidem adactus avelli clavus. e diverso clavum non tenet cedrus. mollissima tilia. eadem videtur et calidissima. argumentum adferunt quod citissime ascias retundat. calidae et morus, laurus, hederae et omnia, e quibus igniaria fiunt.²⁴⁷⁵

Upon this occasion we must not omit to mention the admiration that is lavished upon this plant by the Gauls. The Druids - for that is the name they give to their magicians - held nothing more sacred than the mistletoe and the tree that bears it, supposing always that tree to be the robur. Of itself the robur is selected by them to form whole groves, and they perform none of their religious rites without em- ploying branches of it; so much so, that it is very probable that the priests themselves may have received their name from the Greek name for that tree. In fact, it is the notion with them that everything that grows on it has been sent immediately from heaven, and that the mistletoe upon it is a proof that the tree has been selected by God himself as an object of his especial favour.
The mistletoe, however, is but rarely found upon the robur; and when found, is gathered with rites replete with religious awe. This is done more particularly on the fifth day of the moon, the day which is the beginning of their months and years, as also of their ages, which, with them, are but thirty years. This day they select because the moon, though not yet in the middle of her course, has already considerable power and influence; and they call her by a name which signifies, in their language, the all-healing. Having made all due preparation for the sacrifice and a banquet beneath the trees, they bring thither two white bulls, the horns of which are bound then for the first time. Clad in a white robe the priest ascends the tree, and cuts the mistletoe with a golden sickle, which is received by others in a white cloak. They then immolate the victims, offering up their prayers that God will render this gift of his propitious to those to whom he has so granted it. It is the belief with them that the mistletoe, taken in drink, will impart fecundity to all animals that are barren, and that it is an antidote for all poisons. Such are the religious feelings which we find entertained towards trifling objects among nearly all nations.²⁴⁷⁶ ’