RUE.] NATURAL HISTORY. 265 



Rue. 



HAMLET, iv. 5, 181-2. 



RUE is a medicinable herb, and is full fervent. Weasels 

 teach that this herb is contrary to venom and to venomous 

 beasts, for he eateth first Rue, and balmeth himself with the 

 smell and the virtue thereof, ere he fighteth with the serpent, 

 and fighteth afterward sicherly [safely], and reseth [rusheth] 

 on the cockatrice, and slayeth him. Rue eaten raw sharpeth 

 the sight of the eyes ; and Rue, eaten or drunk with- 

 standeth mightily all venom and biting of venomous beasts, 

 if it be stamped with salt, garlic and nuts, and healeth 

 wonderly such bitings, and the smell of Rue driveth and 

 chaseth away all venomous beasts out of gardens, and is 

 therefore planted about sage to drive away serpents and 

 toads, which love sage best. And Rue hateth winter, dung 

 and humour, and thriveth well in dry weather. Ashes 

 should be meddled with seeds thereof, to destroy malshrags 

 [caterpillars] and other worms. 



Bartholomew (Bertkelet], bk. xvii. 141. 



RUE, or Herb-grace. 



Gerard's " Herbal," s.v. ; so also Minsbeu's Dictionary. 



IT is a common received opinion that Rue will grow the 

 better if it be filched out of another man's garden ; and it 

 is as ordinary a saying, that stolen bees will thrive worst. 



Hollands Pliny, bk. xix. ch. vii. 



Is a man disposed to drink freely, and to sit squarely 

 at it ? Let him before he begin take a draught of the 

 decoction of Rue-leaves, he shall bear his drink well, and 

 withstand the fumes that might trouble and intoxicate his 

 brains. /^/ e bk. xx. ch. xiii. 



WHAT savour is better, if physic be true, 

 For places infected, than wormwood and Rue ? 

 It is as a comfort, for heart and the brain, 

 And therefore to have it, it is not in vain. 

 Tusser, "Five Hundred Points," July's "Husbandry," st. n. 



TAKE a little Rue or herb-grace, and stamp the same, 

 then strain out the juice thereof, and after you have thus 



