SCORPION.] NATURAL HISTORY. 273 



Ind at the mouth of the box any while, by virtue thereof 

 the attercop is overcome and dieth, as it were suddenly. 

 And this same I have seen proved oft in many and diverse 

 places. And they that use nigromancy mean that they have 

 answer of god more thereby than by other precious stones. 

 Also witches love well this stone, for they ween that they 

 may work certain wonders by virtue of this stone. This 

 stone bringeth men out of prison bonds, and undoeth gates 

 and bonds that it toucheth. The Sapphire loveth chastity, 

 and therefore lest the effect thereof be let in any wise by 

 his uncleanness that him beareth, it needeth him that beareth 

 it to live chaste. Also this stone doth away envy, and 

 putteth off dread and fear, and maketh a man bold and 

 hardy, and master and victor, and maketh the heart stead- 

 fast in goodness, and maketh meek and mild and goodly. 



Bartholomew (Bertkelet\ bk. xvi. 87. 



Savory. 



WINTER'S TALE, iv. 4, 104. 



SUMMER SAVORY maketh thin, and is boiled and eaten 

 with beans, pease, and other windy pulses. 



Gerard's "Herbal," s.v. 



Scorpion. 



MACBETH, iii. 2, 36. 



A SCORPION is a land worm with a crooked sting in 

 the tail, and it stingeth with the tail, and sheddeth venom 

 in the crooked wound. And it is his property that he 

 smiteth never, nor hurteth never the palm of the hand. 

 And they bring forth small worms shapen as eggs, and 

 breedeth fervent and right pestilential venom as serpents do. 

 And the venom of Scorpions noyeth and grieveth three 

 days full sore, and afterward slayeth with soft death, but 

 it be hoi pen and succoured the sooner. And the Scorpion 

 smiteth maidens with death's stroke, when he smiteth and 

 stingeth them, and women also, but he smiteth not men 

 so soon ; and grieveth most and noyeth in the morrow- 

 tide, when they come out of their dens. The Scorpion's 

 tail is alway ready to smite and sting ; and he stingeth 

 and smiteth aslant, and sheddeth in the smiting white 



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