"For by her wille, without leese, Everi man shulde be seke, And though they die, they settle not a Leke."
"The beste song that ever was made Ys not worth a Leky's blade, But men will tend ther tille."
[138:1] For a testimony of the high value placed on the Leek by the Greeks see a poem on Μῶλυ, in "Anonymi Carmen de Herbis" in the "Poetæ Bucolici et didactici."
_Love's Labour's Lost_, act v, sc. 2 (654).
If we will plant Nettles or sow Lettuce. (_See_ HYSSOP.)
This excellent vegetable with its Latin name probably came to us from the Romans.
"Letuce of lac derivyed is perchaunce; For milk it hath or yeveth abundaunce."
_Palladius on Husbandrie_, ii, 216 (15th cent.) E. E. Text Soc.
It was cultivated by the Anglo-Saxons, who showed their knowledge of its narcotic qualities by giving it the name of Sleepwort; it is mentioned by Spenser as "cold Lettuce" ("Muiopotmos"). And in Shakespeare's time the sorts cultivated were very similar to, and probably as good as, ours.
Thy banks with Pioned and Lilied[140:1] brims.
Look you, she is as white as a Lily and as small as a wand.
_Two Gentlemen of Verona_, act ii, sc. 3 (22).
The air hath starved the Roses in her cheeks, And pinch'd the Lily-tincture of her face.
Most radiant Pyramus, most Lily-white of hue.
_Midsummer Night's Dream_, act iii, sc. 1 (94).
Lilies of all kinds, The Flower-de-luce being one!
Now by my maiden honour, yet as pure As the unsullied Lily.
_Love's Labour's Lost_, act v, sc. 2 (351).
Like the Lily That once was mistress of the field and flourish'd, I'll hang my head, and perish.
Yet a virgin, A most unspotted Lily shall she pass To the ground.
Give me swift transportance to those fields, Where I may wallow in the Lily beds Proposed for the deserver.
_Troilus and Cressida_, act iii, sc. 2 (12).
O, had the monster seen those Lily hands Tremble, like Aspen leaves, upon a lute.
Fresh tears Stood on her cheeks as doth the honey-dew Upon a gather'd Lily almost wither'd.
How bravely thou becomest thy bed, fresh Lily!
O sweetest, fairest Lily! My brother wears thee not the one half so well, As when thou grew'st thyself.
Of Nature's gifts thou may'st with Lilies boast, And with the half-blown Rose.
To gild refined gold, to paint the Lily, To throw a perfume on the Violet,