172 SHAKESPEARE'S [KNOT-GRASS. 



THE Kites or Gleads are of the kind of hawks or birds 

 of prey, only they be greater. These Gleads or Puttocks 

 seem by the winding and turning of their tails to and fro 

 as they fly to have taught pilots the use of the helm. After 

 the sunsteads alway in summer they be troubled with the 

 gOUt in their feet. Holland's Pliny, bk. x. ch. 10. 



IF the Kite's head be taken, and borne before the breast, 

 it brings the love and favour of all men and women ; if 

 it be hung on a hen's neck, it will never cease to run, until 

 it gets it off ; and if a cock's comb be anointed with its 

 blood, from thenceforth it will not crow. In its knees is 

 found a certain stone, if you look carefully, and if this be 

 put in the food of two enemies, they will become friends, 

 and there will be good peace between them. 



Albertus Magnus, " Of the Virtues of Animals." 



Knot-grass [Polygonum Vulgar e\. 



Hindering knot-grass. 



MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, iii. 2, 239. 



WE want a boy extremely for this function kept under 

 for a year with milk and Knot-grass. 



Beaumont and Fletcher, "The Coxcomb," ii. I. 



[Steevens quotes also to the same effect, " The Knight of 

 the Burning Pestle," by the same authors, but I have not the 

 reference. 



Knot-grass is binding, stays any flux, solders the lips of 

 green wounds, and knits broken bones, according to Parkinson's 

 " Herbal."] 



Lady-smock (or Cuckoo-flower). 



LOVE'S LABOUR'S LOST, v. 2, 905. 



V. Cuckoo-bud. 

 Lamb. 



AMONG all the beasts of the earth, the Lamb is most 

 innocent, soft and mild ; for he nothing grieveth neither 

 hurteth nor with teeth nor with horn nor with claws. 

 Those which be yeaned in springing time be more huge 



