Part 27 (1/2)

_1st Henry VI_, act iii, sc. 2 (41).

Virgil, in his Fifth Eclogue, says--

”Grandia saepe quibus mandavimus hordea solcis Infelix lolium et steriles dominantur avenae.”

Thus translated by Thomas Newton, 1587--

”Sometimes there sproutes abundant store Of baggage, noisome weeds, Burres, Brembles, Darnel, c.o.c.kle, Dawke, Wild Oates, and choaking seedes.”

And the same is repeated in the first Georgic, and in both places _lolium_ is always translated Darnel, and so by common consent Darnel is identified with the Lolium temulentum or wild Rye Gra.s.s. But in Shakespeare's time Darnel, like c.o.c.kle (which see), was the general name for any hurtful weed. In the old translation of the Bible, the Zizania, which is now translated Tares, was sometime translated c.o.c.kle,[78:1] and Newton, writing in Shakespeare's time, says--”Under the name of c.o.c.kle and Darnel is comprehended all vicious, noisom and unprofitable graine, encombring and hindring good corne.”--_Herball to the Bible._ The Darnel is not only injurious from choking the corn, but its seeds become mixed with the true Wheat, and so in Dorsets.h.i.+re--and perhaps in other parts--it has the name of ”Cheat” (Barnes' Glossary), from its false likeness to Wheat. It was this false likeness that got for it its bad character. ”Darnell or Juray,” says Lyte (”Herball,” 1578), ”is a vitious graine that combereth or anoyeth corne, especially Wheat, and in his knotten straw, blades, or leaves is like unto Wheate.” Yet Lindley says that ”the noxious qualities of Darnel or Lolium temulentum seem to rest upon no certain proof” (”Vegetable Kingdom,” p. 116).

FOOTNOTES:

[78:1] ”When men were a sleepe, his enemy came and oversowed c.o.c.kle among the wheate, and went his way.”--_Rheims Trans._, 1582. For further early references to c.o.c.kle or Darnel see note on ”Darnelle” in the ”Catholicon Anglic.u.m,” p. 90, and Britten's ”English Plant Names,” p.

143.

DATES.

(1) _Clown._

I must have Saffron to colour the Warden pies--Mace--Dates?

none; that's out of my note.

_Winter's Tale_, act iv, sc. 3 (48).

(2) _Nurse._

They call for Dates and Quinces in the pastry.

_Romeo and Juliet_, act iv, sc. 4 (2).

(3) _Parolles._

Your Date is better in your pie and your porridge than in your cheek.

_All's Well that Ends Well_, act i, sc. 1 (172).

(4) _Pandarus._