Part 17 (2/2)

Some devils ask but the paring of one's nail, A Rush, a hair, a drop of blood, a pin, A Nut, a Cherry-stone.

_Comedy of Errors_, act iv, sc. 3 (72).

(7) _Queen._

Oh, when The twyning Cherries shall their sweetness fall Upon thy tasteful lips.

_Two n.o.ble Kinsmen_, act i, sc. 1 (198).

(8)

When he was by, the birds such pleasure took, That some would sing, some other in their bills Would bring him Mulberries and ripe-red Cherries.

He fed them with his sight, they him with berries.

_Venus and Adonis_ (1101).

Besides these, there is mention of ”cherry lips”[54:1] and ”cherry-nose,”[54:2] and the game of ”cherry-pit.”[54:3] We have the authority of Pliny that the Cherry (_Prunus Cerasus_) was introduced into Italy from Pontus, and by the Romans was introduced into Britain.

It is not, then, a true native, but it has now become completely naturalized in our woods and hedgerows, while the cultivated trees are everywhere favourites for the beauty of their flowers, and their rich and handsome fruit. In Shakespeare's time there were almost as many, and probably as good varieties, as there are now.

FOOTNOTES:

[54:1] _Midsummer Night's Dream_, act v, sc. 1; _Richard III_, act i, sc. 1; _Two n.o.ble Kinsmen_, act iv, sc. 1.

[54:2] _Midsummer Night's Dream_, act v, sc. 1.

[54:3] _Twelfth Night_, act iii, sc. 4.

CHESTNUTS.

(1) _Witch._

A sailor's wife had Chestnuts in her lap, And munch'd, and munch'd, and munch'd.

_Macbeth_, act i, sc. 3 (4).

(2) _Petruchio._

And do you tell me of a woman's tongue That gives not half so great a blow to hear As will a Chestnut in farmer's fire?

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