214 SHAKESPEARE’S [NETTLE. 
Nettle. 
i. Kinc Henry IV., ii. 3, 10. 
Ir is a remedy against the venomous qualities of hem- 
lock, mushrooms and quicksilver, and a counterpoison for 
henbane, serpents and scorpions. The oil of it takes away 
the stinging which the Nettle itself maketh. 
Gerara’s “ Herbal,” 5.2. 
Cast the water of any sick person newly made at night 
on red Nettles, and if the Nettles be withered and dead 
in the morning after, then the sick party is like to die of 
that disease, if they be green still, then he is like to live. 
Lupton, ‘Notable Things,” bk. iv. § 71. 
THE virtue of Nettles is to force a woman that waters 
them to be as peevish for a whole day, and as waspish, as 
if she had been stung in the brow with a hornet. 
Greene, “Quip for an Upstart Courtier.” 
Now are they plagued in purgatory, and he whips them 
with Nettles. Tarleton, “‘ News out of Purgatory.” 
His hate to woman made Eupolis eat Nettle-pottage. 
“ Lady Alimony,” i, 2. 
He who holds this herb in his hand with yarrow is 
secure from every fear and from every phantasy. And if it 
be put with the juice of house-leek, and the hand be 
anointed therewith, and the residue be put in water where 
are fishes, they will collect about his hand, and also about 
his net. And if the hand be taken out, forthwith they re- 
turn to their own places where they were before. 
Albertus Magnus, ‘‘Of the Virtues of Herbs,” 
Newt. ‘ 
Mivsummer Nicut’s Dream, iil. 2, TI. 
Tus is a little black Lizard of the water; the poison 
hereof is like the poison of vipers. This serpent is bred 
in fat waters and soils, and sometimes in the ruins of old 
walls. There is nothing in nature that so much offendeth 
it as salt. Being moved to anger, it standeth upon the 
