2 7 o SHAKESPEARE'S [SAGE. 



[Sage.] 



[Sage is not mentioned by Shakespeare, but the following 

 statements are worth recording] : 



THE learned and wise among the Persians affirm, that if 

 Sage be putrefied or laid to rot in horse-dung, while the 

 sun and moon do both occupy the second face of Leo ; 

 thereon will breed a bird like an ousel, or black-bird, 

 the ashes whereof being burned, and strewed or cast into 

 a burning lamp, will make the house seem to be full of 

 serpents. Lupton, "Notable Things," bk. iii. 72. 



[SAGE treated as above] generates a certain worm or bird 

 with a tail like a black-bird, and if any one's breast be 

 touched with its blood, he will lose his senses for fifteen 

 [hours ? or days ?] and more. And if the aforesaid serpent 

 be burnt, and its ashes be thrown in the fire, there will 

 straightway be a horrible clap of thunder. And this has 

 been tried by the moderns. 



Albert us Magnus, " Of the Virtues of Herbs." 



SAGE is singular good for the head and brain ; it 

 quickeneth the senses and memory. Gerard's "Herbal," /.*. 



V. Toad. 

 Salamander. 



i. KING HENRY IV., iii. 3, 53. 



THE Salamander is like to the newt in shape, and is 

 never seen but in great rain, and faileth in fair weather, 

 and his song is crying. And he quencheth the fire that he 

 toucheth as ice does, and water frore [frozen]. And out 

 of his mouth cometh white matter, and if that matter 

 touch a man's body, the hair shall fall, and what it 

 toucheth is corrupt, and infected, and turneth into foul 

 colour. And is a pestilent beast most venomous, for the 

 Salamander infecteth fruit of trees, and corrupteth water, so 

 that he that eateth or drinketh thereof is slain anon. And 

 if his spittle touch the foot, it infecteth and corrupteth 

 the man's body. Of all beasts only the Salamander liveth 



