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“ comforted the brain and strengthened the memory,” 
besides the passage in Hamlet, cited above, makes 
Perdita say — 
“ Reverend sirs, 
For you there’s rosemary, and rue; these keep 
Seeming, and savour, all the winter long: 
Grace, and remembrance, be to you both ; ” 
rue being the herb of grace, and rosemary of remem¬ 
brance. 
The qualities attributed to this plant in Shakspeares 
day, may account for its being formerly used, with 
other favourite flowers, at funerals. These offerings to 
the dead are thus beautifully referred to in Cymbeline:— 
“ Here’s a few flowers; but about midnight, more : 
The herbs, that have on them cold dew o’ the night 
Are strewings fitt’st for graves r . . . 
You were as flowers, now wither’d: even so 
These herblets shall, which we upon you strew.” 
“ With fairest flowers. 
Whilst summer lasts, and I live here, Fidele, 
I ’ll sweeten thy sad grave : thou shalt not lack 
The flower that’s like thy face, pale primrose; nor 
The azured harebell, like thy veins; no, nor 
C 4 
