FEBRUARY 
A February face, 
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness ? 
Much Ado About Nothing , V. iv. 41. 
“AS the day lengthens the cold strengthens” is 
d*- the country proverb, and it is often true. The 
great ice fair on the Thames lasted well into this 
month ; but, nevertheless, the first signs of re¬ 
awakening life commence. The “ lambs’ tails ” of 
our childhood and the golden gorse are in flower, 
and even the rosemary in very sheltered nooks, and 
to these we can add one or two other plants the poet 
names, which do not seem to have any more fitting 
resting-place—a round dozen Shakespeare’s refer¬ 
ences to the hazel mount to—under the name of 
filbert, nut. The first name, filbert, is derived from 
a barbarous rendering of feuille leaf and beard, to 
denote its distinguishing peculiarity, the permanent 
leafy calyx; others say it is derived from King Phili¬ 
bert, but why they do not explain. Nut (Saxon, 
knut, connected with “ knot ”) implies a mere hard, 
round lump ; and hazel (Saxon, hcesl or hcesel , from 
base , a husk, or lices, a behest), a hazel-stick being in 
general use in management of slaves and cattle. 
Only twice is the word “hazel” used—viz., in the 
pretty comparison of the fiery Kate, who, 
Like the hazel-twig 
Is straight and slender and as brown in hue 
As hazel-nuts and sweeter than the kernels. 
Taming of the Shrew , II. i. 255. 
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