PLANT-LORE OF SHAKESPEARE 
133 
The Honeysuckle has ever been the emblem of firm and 
fast affection—as it climbs round any tree or bush that is near 
it, not only clinging to it faster than Ivy, but keeping its hold 
so tight as to leave its mark in deep furrows on the tree that 
has supported it. The old writers are fond of alluding to this. 
Bullein in “The Book of Simples,” 1562, says very prettily, 
“ Oh, how swete and pleasant is Woodbinde, in woodes or 
arbours, after a tender, soft rain; and how friendly doe this 
herbe, if I maie so name it, imbrace the bodies, armes, and 
branches of trees, with his long winding stalkes, and tender 
leaves, openyng or spreading forthe his swete Lillis, like ladies 
fingers, emog the thornes or bushes,” and there is no doubt 
from the context that he is here referring to the Honeysuckle. 
The author of “ The Flower and the Leaf” gives the crown of 
Woodbine to those who were constant in love— 
“ And tho that weare chaplets on their hede 
Of fresh Woodbine, be such as never were 
To love untrue in word, thought, ne dede, 
But aye stedfast; ne for pleasaunce ne fere, 
Though that they should their hertes al to-tere, 
Would never flit, but ever were stedfast 
Till that there lives there asunder brast.” 
The two last lines well describe the fast union between the 
Honeysuckle and its mated tree. 
t)Ort»OCf?S, see IbavlOCfeS. 
ibgssop. 
’Tis in ourselves that we are thus or thus. Our bodies are our gardens, 
to the which our wills are gardeners; so that if we will plant Nettles 
or sow Lettuce, set LIyssop, and weed up Thyme, supply it with one 
gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have it sterile with 
idleness, or maimed with industry, why, the power and incorrigible 
authority of this lies in our wills.— Othello , i. 3, 322. 
We should scarcely expect such a lesson of wisdom drawn 
from the simple herb-garden in the mouth of the greatest 
