THE FASCINATIONS OF FENNEL 63 



feel satisfied ; fat people ate it to make themselves 

 thin ; blind people ate it to restore their sight, 

 having observed serpents did this, or so we are 

 told. Quantities of poetry have been written 

 about this Herb, with its odd strong taste, its tall 

 straggling branches, its bright golden flowers. 

 This is part of what the gentle poet of America 

 had to say about it : 



' Above the lowly plants it towers, 

 The fennel with its yellow flowers, 

 And in an earlier age than ours 



Was gifted with the wondrous powers 

 Lost vision to restore. 



' It gave new strength and fearless mood. 

 And gladiators, fierce and rude, 

 Mingled it in their daily food ; 

 And he who battled and subdued 

 The wreath of fennel wore.' 



Less striking is this Herb than many another 

 plant, yet round ' the yellowing fennel run to 

 seed,' were woven some of Browning's most subtle 

 thoughts. Evidently there is something wanting in 

 people who are blind to the fascinations of Fennel. 



There is another Fennel, known as Finocchio or 

 Florence Fennel, the swollen stem bases of which 

 are boiled and form a favourite dish in Italy. 



