SHAKESPEARE’S GARDEN 
IOI 
Your son was misled by a snipt-taffeta fellow there, whose 
villainous saffron would have made all the unbaked and 
doughy youth of a nation his colour. 
All's Well that Ends Well , IV. v. i. 
The name is said by Prior (p. 194) to come from 
the Spanish azafran , from the Arabic al zahofaran, 
\ but it is named as “ safurroun ” and “ sayfryn ” in the 
| fourteenth century. It seems possible that it may 
| be one of the plants brought here by Roman 
i civilization. 
I The marigold is so bright that its flower might 
I well be dyed with the plant we have just discussed. 
I It is called by botanists Calendula officinalis , L. ; the 
I former name it obtained from its being in bloom on 
I the kalends of every month, the latter from its use 
I in medicine, which, as old Fuller said, “We all 
I know the many and sovereign virtues in your leaves, 
| the Herb Generali in all pottage” (“Antheologie,” 
S 1655, p. 52). Among the ailments for which it was 
specific are mentioned headache, jaundice, red eyes, 
toothache, and ague (Stevens, p. 224). Its flowers 
are still used among the peasantry dried, as they are 
still supposed to affect what Gerard gave as their 
chief virtue—“to strengthen and comfort the heart.” 
Prior says (p. 145) it is called in “The Grete Her- 
ball ” “ Mary Gowles,” and originated in the Saxon 
“ mersc-mear-gealla,” marsh - horse-g owl—that is, the 
marsh-marigold ( Caltha )—from which it has been 
transferred to the Calendula , which is called in Sloane 
MS. 5 the “Seynte Marie rode.”* Be all this as 
it may, the manner in which it opens with the sun 
and follows that orb through its glorious course is 
well known ; as Shakespeare sings : 
The marigold, that goes to bed wi’ the sun 
And with him rises weeping. 
Winter's Tale, IV. iv. 105; 
Another pretty name is Spousa solis, bride of the sun. 
