176 SHAKESPEARE'S [LEECH. 



Leech. V. Horse-leech. 



A WATER - LEECH sittcth upon venomous things, and, 

 therefore, when he shall be set to a member bycause of 

 medicine, first he shall be wrapped in nettles and in salt, 

 and is thereby compelled to cast out of his body if he hath 

 tasted any venomous thing in warm water. 



Bartholomew (Bertbelet], bk. xviii. 93. 



Leek. 



The [leek] skin is good for your broken coxcomb. 



KING HENRY V., v. i, 55. 



THE juice thereof drunk with wine helpeth against biting 

 of serpents, and against every venomous beast. Leek 

 stamped with honey healeth wounds, if it be laid thereto 

 in a plaster-wise. Leek meddled with salt closeth soon 

 and healeth new wounds, and soldereth soon breaches. 

 And Leeks eaten raw helpeth against drunkenness. Also 

 the smell of Leeks driveth away scorpions and serpents, 

 and healeth the biting of a wood hound with honey, and 

 breedeth sleep. 



Bartholomew (Bertbelei), bk. xvii. 133. 



IF you prick the head of a Leek with a reed or a stick 

 sharped, and put within the same the seeds of rape, or of 

 cucumbers, the said Leek's head will so swell, that it will 

 seem monstrous. 



Lupton, "A Thousand Notable Things," bk. ii. 51. 



Now Leeks are in season, for pottage full good, 

 And spareth the milch-cow, and purgeth the blood ; 

 These having with peason, for pottage in Lent, 

 Thou sparest both oatmeal, and bread to be spent. 



Tusser, "Good Husbandry," March, st. 26. 



WHEN the seed of a Leek is thrown upon vinegar, it 

 restores its acidity. 



Albertus Magnus^ " Of the Wonders of the World." 



