Poison romance and poison mysteries / by C.J.S. Thompson.

  • Charles Thompson
Date:
1899
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Poison romance and poison mysteries / by C.J.S. Thompson. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    40/272 page 28
    “ mingled with myrrh,” that was offered to the Saviour on the Cross, it being commonly given to those who suffered death by crucifixion to allay in some degree their terrible agonies. In Shakespeare’s time, mandrake still kept its place in public estimation as a narcotic. Thus we have Cleopatra asking for the drug, that she may “sleep out this great gap of time” while her Antony is away; and Iago, when his poison begins to work in the mind of the Moor, exclaims : “ Not poppy, nor mandragora, Nor all the drowsy syrups of this world, Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep.” Some of the old names applied to the plant, such as semihomo and anthropomorphon, refer to the appearance of the root, while the term “love- apples ” applied to the fruit relates to their imaginary aphrodisiacal properties. It is mentioned in the Scriptures in connection with such episodes.
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