Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging.

  • Seager, H. W. (Herbert West), 1848-
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    The Adder fleeth the hind, and slayeth the lion, and he eateth rue, and changeth his skin, and loveth hoJlowness of wood and of trees, and drinketh milk busily. And he hurteth and grieveth with the teeth, and with the tail, and sheddeth venom, and lieth in the sun under hedges, and sucketh bitches, eateth flies, and licketh powder [dust]. The grease of the water-adder helpeth against the biting of the crocodile ; and if a man have with him the gall of this adder, the crocodile shall not grieve him nor noy him ; and that most jeopardous and fearful beast dare not, nor may do against him in no manner of wise damage nor grief, which beareth the gall of the said Adder. Bartholometu {Bertheiet), bk. xviii. § 34. V. Aspick, Serpent. Agate. If low, an agate very vilely cut. Much Ado about Nothing, iii. i, 65. I was never manned with an agate till now ; but f will inset you neither in gold nor silver, but in vile apparel, and send you back again to your master for a jewel. ii. King Henry IV., i. 2, 18-23. Agate-ring. i. King Henry IV., ii. 4, 78. In shape no bigger than an agate-stone On the forefinger of an alderman. Romeo and Juliet, i. 4, 55-6. The first manner thereof helpeth witchcraft. For there- with tempest is changed ; and stinteth rivers and streams. And the manner kind of Creta changeth perils and maketh gracious and pleasing, and fair showing and speaking, and giveth might and strength. The third manner stone, that is of Ind, comforteth the sight, and helpeth against thirst and venom, and smelleth sweet if it be nigh. The burning of it is odoriferous. Bartholomew {Berthekt), bk. xvi. § 11. [Agates were worn by justices of the peace.] Thou wilt spit as formally, and show thy Agate and hatched chain, as well as the best of them. Beaumont and Fletcher''s Coxcomb (Steevens). [The Agate which is found in the eagle's nest is of two sorts, male and female.] The male thereof is hard, and is