of Plinies Naturall Hiftorie. 235 
A tweenethe corner of theeye and the nofe, called Aigilops ; forto heale which fore, there is a 
-_ foveraigne hearbe of that *name growing among Barley: In blade or leafeitrefemblcth that of * Azilops. 
Wheat : the feed or graine whereof, beaten into pouder and mixed with nieale or flower,or the 5°™* tke 
juice drawne out of the hearbe, they ufe forthe faid purpofe to applie unto the affected place in Plt 
mannet of a falve or liniment . Now the {aid juice muft bee prefled out of the ftalke and Jeaves Darnell. 
thereof,whiles they bee ftefh andfulleft of fap: but then the haw or eare that it beareth,ought to 
betaken away, which beeing incorporat with the flower of three-month corne, is made up into 
bals ortrofches.Some were wont in this cure go ufe the juice alfo of Mandragoras butthey gave 
it over afterwards. Howbeit, forcertaine ,the root of Mandragorasbruifed or ftamped,and tem- 
pered with the oile of rofes and wine, cureth weeping and watering eyes,yea,and afluageth their 
B pain:and the faid juice howfoever it be rejected in the former cafe,goeth into many collyries ot 
eyefalves, | ” 
This hearb Mandragoras,fome writers call Circeitrm;and twokinds there be of it?the white, 
which is fuppofed the male;and the black,which you muft take for the female. The leaves of this 
female refemble thofe of the *Leétuce,but that they be narrower: hairie alfo they are,and all of «wrereusos 
an*equall bignefle. Two or three roots it hath, andthofe of a reddifh or rufler colour withour, itis ‘alied 
but white within :of a flefhie fubftance and tender,running downe into the earth almoft a cubir 2274s. 
E : z c : ¢ . 1. fegnalibys not 
_in length.A certaine fruit or apple they beare,of the bignefle of Filberds or Hazel-nuts, within canibu-, for 
which there be feeds likeunto the pippens of Peares, The white Mandrage fome name Arlen, Mandrage bea- 
thatis to fay, the male; others*Morion:and there be again who call it Hypophlomos. The white 41779," 
C leaves of this Mandrage bee broader than the other,and in deed equall to the garden Docke or viritecvel Gee 
Patience.In the digging up of the root of Mandrage, there are fome ceremonies obferved: Firft 
they that goe about this worke,look efpecially to this, that the wind be notin theiz face,but blow 
upon their backes : then,withthe point of afword they draw three circlesround about the plant: 
which done,they dig it up afterwards with theirface into the Welt. There is ajuice preffed forth , eel ee 
both of thefruir,and alfo of the leaves fhred and minced; ofthe*ftem likewife being firft headed baritts delexibe 
orthe top cut off2nd alfo of the rootwhich fometime they do pounce and pricke for to let out Mandrages 
the liquor, otherwhiles they boile it:and the root fo prepared, icas goodas the juice. The fame Spares fen 
alfo being cutinto certaine thin rundles they ufe to*preferve in wine. Howbeit,Mandrage is not *seruatur in 
found alwaies & every where full of juice :but in what place foever fuch may be gotten, the right */7e,aecorcing 
D feafonto fecke for itis about Vintage time :the fent thereofis ftrong, butthe root and fruit doe Pala 
{mell the ftronger. The apples of the white,when they be ripe, the manner is to drie in the fhad- whereas Dief- 
dow: butthe juice drawne out of them, is permitted to ftand in the Sunne for to gather and har. (“210th #- 
den.In like fort,the juice of the root whether it bee bruifed and ftaiyped, ot fodden in grofle red 3 sraijcisur tino, 
wine tothe confumption of a third part, The leaves moreover of Mandrage are commonly kept oy pe: aye 
and condite in a kind of pickle ot faltbrine:tor otherwile the juice of them whiles they bee fre(h ioleeeeey 
and greene, ispeftiferousand a very poyfon.And yet order them fo well as youcan, hurtfull they litle threads. 
beeevery way : the onely {mell of them ftuffeththe head, and breedeth the murre and the pofe, ce iieaee 
Howbeit, in fome countries they venture to eat the apples or fruit thereof: but thofethatknow 
not howto drefle and order them aright, loofe the ufe of their tongue thereby, and prove dumbe 
forthe time, furprifed and overtaken with the exceeding {trong favour that they have.And verely 
if they beefoboldastotakea great quantitie thereof in drinke, they are {ure to die for it. Yet it 
_ may beuled fafely ynongh for to procure fleepe, if there bea good regard had in the dofe,that it 
be anfwerable in proportion tothe {trength and complexion of the patient: one cyath thereofis 
thought to bea moderat and {ufficient draught. Alfo itis an ordinarie thing to drinke itagaint 
the poyfon of ferpents:likewife, before the cutting, cauterizing, pricking or Jauncing of any 
member,to take away the fence and feeling of fuch extreame cures. And fufficient itis infome 
bodiestocaftthem into a {leepe with the {mell of Mandrage, againft the time of fuch Chirurge- 
rie. There be thatdrinke it in lieu of Ellebore,for to purge the bodie of melancholicke humours, 
E takirig two oboles thereofin honied wine. Howbeit,ENebore is {tronger in operation for to eva- 
cuatblacke choler out of the bodie, andto provoke vomit. ! 
As touching Hemlocke,it is alfo aranke poyfon,witnefle the publicke ordinance and Jaw of 
the Athenians,whereby malefaCtors,who have defervedto die, were forced to drinkthat odious 
potion of Hemlocke.Howbeit,many good vertues hath this hearbe, and would not beerejected 
and caftafide for the fundric ules therof in Phyfick, The {eedis every way hurtfull and venomous. 
