PER.] NATURAL HISTORY. 331 



[Onions and Violets were conserved or pickled together in 

 alternate layers (Dawson, "Good Huswife's Jewel," 1596).] 



VIOLET is for faithfulness 



Which in me shall abide ; 

 Hoping likewise that from your heart 



You will not let it slide. 



"A Handful of Pleasant Delights" (1584), quoted by Malone. 



iper. 



I am no viper, yet I feed 



On mother's flesh which did me breed. 



PERICLES, i. I, 64. 



VIPER is a manner kind of serpents that is full veno- 

 mous, and hath that name for he bringeth forth brood 

 by strength ; for when her womb draweth to the time of 

 whelping, the whelps abideth not convenable time nor kind 

 passing, but gnaweth and fretteth the sides of their mother, 

 and they come so into this world with strength and with 

 the death of the mother. The male doth his mouth into 

 the mouth of the female, and she waxeth wode in liking, 

 and biteth off the head of the male, and so both father 

 and mother are slain. Of this serpent be made pasties 

 [lozenges], of the which is made treacle, that is remedy 

 against venom. And this adder Viper sustaineth and may 

 bear hunger long time in a strong winter ; and cometh to 

 the den under earth, and casteth first away his venom, and 

 doth sleep there until springing -time come again. And 

 when the pores of the earth open, then by heat of the 

 sun this serpent Viper awaketh and cometh out of his den, 

 and for his sight is appaired [impaired] by the long 

 abiding under the earth, he seeketh the root of fennel or 

 the herb of it, and washeth his dim eyes with the juice 

 thereof to recover his sight which he hath lost. And 

 Tyrus is a manner serpent that hight Viper also, and 

 great serpents flee this serpent Tyrus^ though he be little ; 

 and all his body is rough, and when he biteth any thing, 

 all that is about the thing rotteth anon. And among all 

 serpents the kind of Viper is worst, and when he would 

 gender, he wooeth a manner lamprey, and cometh to the 

 brink of the water, that he troweth that lamprey is in, 



