UMBELLIFEK.E. 135 



u ' Fceniculum, Rosa, Verbena, Chelidonia, Ruta, 

 Ex bis fit aqua qua; luuiina reddit acuta.' 



" Which being translated, — 



" ' Of Fenuell, Roses, Vervain, Rue, and Celandine, 

 Is made a water good to cleere the sight of eine.' " 



In a curious old rhyming herbal, preserved at Stockholm, the following are a few 

 of the virtues ascribed to the Fennel : — 



" Fenel is herbe precyows — 

 Good is his seed, so is his rote ; 

 And to many things bote. 

 Ye sede is good, fastende to ete, 

 And eke in drage after mete. 

 Ageyn wyckid humores et bolyng, 

 Ageyn wyckid et many oyer thyng ; 

 Water of fenel to a plyth 

 Is wonder holsum for he syth 

 Me deled wt water of roset, 

 Half in aporcin nothyng bet. 

 Fenel in pottage &, in mete 

 Is good to done, whane you schalt ete. 

 Whanne the adder is hurt in eye, 

 Ye rede fenel is hys prey ; 

 And zif he mowe it fynde, 

 Wonderly he doth hys kynde j 

 He shale it chowe wonderly, 

 And leyn it to hys eye kindlely. 

 Ye jows schall sawg, & helyn ye eye, 

 Yat beforn was sick et feye." 



Much more of this curious rhyming on the virtues of the Fennel we might quote, but 

 we forbear. Pomet, in his " History of Druggs," assures us that confectioners " take 

 clusters of the green fennel, which, when covered with sugar, they sell to make the 

 breath sweet, for the green is reckoned to be of the greatest virtue ; while the seed," 

 he adds, " is laid between olives, in order to give the oil a fine taste." 



The Arabs of the present day use the leaves for giving a flavour to their food. In 

 Italy and Spain they are added to various beverages, and considered wholesome and 

 agreeable. The ancients believed that its constant presence in their food not only imparted 

 bodily health and longevity, but gave strength and courage to those who partook of it ; 

 an. idea which has been embellished by Longfellow, who deduces from it a moral : — 



" The goblet, wrought with curious art, 

 Is filled with waters that upstart 

 From the deep fountains of the heart, 

 By strong convulsions rent apart, 

 And running all to waste. 



And as it mantling passes round, 



"With fennel is it wreathed and crowned ; 



