196 SHAKESPEARE’S [MANDRAGORA. 
off’ and destroyeth swelling of the body, and withstandeth 
venomous biting. They that dig Mandragora be busy to 
beware of contrary winds, while they dig, and make three 
circles about with a sword, and abide with the digging 
unto the sun going down, and trow so to have the herb 
with the chief virtues. The juice thereof is gathered and 
dried in the sun, the apples thereof be dried in the shadow. 
Bartholomew (Berthelet), bk. xvii. § 104. 
THERE hath been many ridiculous tales brought up of 
this plant, whether of old wives, or of some runagate 
surgeons or physic-mongers ] know not. That it is never 
or very seldom to be found growing naturally but under a 
gallows, where the matter that hath fallen from a dead 
body hath given it the shape of a man; and the matter 
of a woman the substance of a female plant. That. he 
who would take up a plant thereof must tie a dog there- 
