"This is a proverbial saying. 'Hell,' says Herbert, 'is full of good meanings and wishings.'--_Jacula Prudentum_, p. 11. ed. 1631."
but he does not say where else the proverbial saying is to be found. The last editor, Croker, adds,--
"Johnson's phrase has become so proverbial, that it may seem rather late to ask what it means--why '_paved_?' perhaps as making the _road_ easy, _facilis descensus Averni_."
_The Plant "Hæmony"_ (Vol. ii., p. 88.).--I think MR. BASHAM, who asks for a reference to the plant "hæmony", referred to by Milton in his _Comus_, will find the information which he seeks in the following extract from Henry Lyte's translation of Rembert Dodoen's _Herbal_, at page 107, of the edition of 1578. The plant is certainly not called by the name of "hæmony," nor is it described as having prickles on its leaves; but they are plentifully shown in the engraving which accompanies the description.
"_Allysson._--The stem of this herbe is right and straight, parting itself at the top into three or foure small branches. The leaves be first round, and after long whitish and _rough_, or somewhat woolly in handling. It bringeth foorth at the top of the branches little _yellow_ floures, and afterward small rough whitish and flat huskes, and almost round fashioned like bucklers, wherein is contained a flat seede almost like to the seed of castell or stocke gilloflers, but greater.
"Alysson, as Dioscorides writeth, groweth upon rough mountaynes, and is not found in this countrey but in the gardens of some herboristes.
"The same hanged in the house, or at the gate or entry, keepeth man and beast from _enchantments and witching_."
As a "Note" to DR. BASHAM'S "Query", I would quote Ovid's _Metamorph._, lib vii. l. 264-5.:
"Illic Hæmoniá radices valle resectas. Seminaque, et flores, et succos incoquit acres."
_Practice of Scalping amongst the Scythians--Scandinavian Mythology._--In Vol. ii., p. 12., I desired to be informed whether this practice has prevailed amongst any people besides the American Indians. As you have established no rule against an inquirer's replying to his own Query, (though, unfortunately for other inquirers, self-imposed by some of your correspondents) I shall avail myself of your permission, and refer those who are interested in the subject to Herodotus, _Melpomene 64_, where they will find that the practice of scalping prevailed amongst the Scythians. This coincidence of manners serves greatly to corroborate the hypothesis that America was peopled originally from the northern parts of the old continent. He has recorded also their horrid custom of drinking the blood of their enemies, and making drinking vessels of their skulls, reminding us of the war-song of the savage of Louisiana:--