[509] "A Dissuasive from Popery," pt. i. chap. ii. sec. 9; see Dyce's "Glossary," p. 371.
_Holy Thistle._ The Carduus Benedictus, called also "blessed thistle," was so named, like other plants which bear the specific name of "blessed," from its supposed power of counteracting the effect of poison.[510] Cogan, in his "Haven of Health," 1595, says, "This herbe may worthily be called _Benedictus_, or _Omnimorbia_, that is, a salve for every sore, not known to physitians of old time, but lately revealed by the special providence of Almighty God." It is alluded to in "Much Ado About Nothing" (iii. 4):
"_Margaret._ Get you some of this distilled Carduus Benedictus, and lay it to your heart; it is the only thing for a qualm.
_Hero._ There thou prickest her with a thistle.
_Beatrice._ Benedictus! why Benedictus? you have some moral in this Benedictus.
_Margaret._ Moral? no, by my troth, I have no moral meaning. I meant, plain holy-thistle."
[510] Nares's "Glossary," vol. i. p. 464.
_Insane Root._ There is much doubt as to what plant is meant by Banquo in "Macbeth" (i. 3):
"have we eaten on the insane root That takes the reason prisoner?"
The origin of this passage is probably to be found in North's "Plutarch," 1579 ("Life of Antony," p. 990), where mention is made of a plant which "made them out of their wits." Several plants have been suggested--the hemlock, belladonna, mandrake, henbane, etc. Douce supports the last, and cites the following passage:[511] "Henbane ... is called insana, mad, for the use thereof is perillous; for if it be eate or dronke, it breedeth madness, or slow lykenesse of sleepe." Nares[512] quotes from Ben Jonson ("Sejanus," iii. 2), in support of hemlock:
"well, read my charms, And may they lay that hold upon thy senses As thou hadst snufft up hemlock."
[511] Batman's "Upon Bartholomæus de Proprietate Rerum," lib. xvii. chap. 87.
_Ivy._ It was formerly the general custom in England, as it is still in France and the Netherlands, to hang a bush of ivy at the door of a vintner.[513] Hence the allusion in "As You Like It" (v. 4, Epilogue), where Rosalind wittily remarks: "If it be true that good wine needs no bush, 'tis true that a good play needs no epilogue." This custom is often referred to by our old writers, as, for instance, in Nash's "Summer's Last Will and Testament," 1600: