68 SHAKESPEARE'S [CODLING. 



disturbeth the wit, and grieveth the head, and changeth 

 savour of bread and infecteth bread that it is meddled with, 

 and grieveth full soon, and slayeth sometime if it be eaten 

 in great quantity. Bartholomew (Berthelet\ bk. xvii. 194. 



V. Darnel. 



Codling. 



Not yet old enough for a man, nor young enough for a boy ; as a 

 squash is before 'tis a peascod, or a codling when 'tis almost an apple. 



TWELFTH NIGHT, i. 5, 167. 



[So in Benjonsorfs "Alchemist," and Drome's "Mad Couple," 

 i. I.] 



V. Apple. 



Columbine. 



There's fennel for you, and columbines. 



HAMLET, v. 4, 180. 



[To the notes in Steevens 1 Shakespeare on this passage may 

 be added that the Columbine was also called Herba Leonis, or 

 " the herb wherein the lion doth delight," and that it was " used 

 especially to deck the gardens of the curious, garlands and 

 houses" (Gerard's "Herbal," s.v.\ 



Minsheu (Dictionary, s.v.} translates Columbine into the Latin 

 A quilegia ("because in its flowers there is some likeness to the 

 eagle "), and Chelidonia (i.e., celandine), which is so called, " for 

 it springeth or bloometh in the coming of swallows." " By the 

 juice of celandine swallows' eyes turneth again to the first 

 state, if they be hurt or put out" (Bartholomew, bk. xvii. 46). 

 So Lupton ("A Thousand Notable Things," bk. iii. 89) : ''The 

 eyes of young swallows being in the nest, pricked with a needh 

 or a pin, and so made blind, within four or five days aftei 

 they will see again ; which is very true, for I have proved ii 

 But how they recover their sight I know not. But divei 

 write, if their eyes be hurt, the old swallows restore their 

 sight again with the juice of celandine." And the same author 

 states : " Celandine with the heart of a wont or a mould-warp 

 [i.e., mole], laid under the head of one that is grievously sick, 

 if he be in danger of death, immediately he will cry with a 

 loud voice, or sing: if not, he will weep" (bk. ii. 4). 



Most probably Minsheu translated " Columbine " wrongly, but 

 Jthe virtues of celandine are worthy of record.] 



