o._

Blessed Fig's end!

_Ibid._, act ii, sc. 1 (256).

(10) _Horner._

I'll pledge you all, and a Fig for Peter.

_2nd Henry IV_, act ii, sc. 3 (66).

(11) _Pistol._

"Convey," the wise it call; "steal!" foh! a Fico
for the phrase!

_Merry Wives_, act i, sc. 3 (32).

(12) _Charmian._

O excellent! I love long life better than Figs.

_Antony and Cleopatra_, act i, sc. 2 (32).

In some of these passages (as 5, 6, 7, and perhaps in more) the
reference is to a grossly insulting and indecent gesture called "making
the fig." It was a most unpleasant custom, which largely prevailed
throughout Europe in Shakespeare's time, and on which I need not dwell.
It is fully described in Douce's "Illustrations of Shakespeare," i, 492.

In some of the other quotations the reference is simply to the
proverbial likeness of a Fig to a matter of the least importance.[94:1]
But in the others the dainty fruit, the green Fig, is noticed.

The Fig tree, celebrated from the earliest times for the beauty of its
foliage and for its "sweetness and good fruit" (Judges ix. 11), is said
to have been introduced into England by the Romans; but the more
reliable accounts attribute its introduction to Cardinal Pole, who is
said to have planted the Fig tree still living at Lambeth Palace.
Botanically, the Fig is of especial interest. The Fig, as we eat it, is
neither fruit nor flower, though partaking of both, being really the
hollow, fleshy receptacle enclosing a multitude of flowers, which never
see the light, yet come to full perfection and ripen their seed. The Fig
stands alone in this peculiar arrangement of its flowers, but there are
other plants of which we eat the unopened or undeveloped flowers, as the
Artichoke, the Cauliflower, the Caper, the Clove, and the Pine Apple.

FOOTNOTES:

[94:1] This proverbial worthlessness of the Fig is of ancient date.
Theocritus speaks of +sykinoi andres+, useless men; Horace, "Olim
truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum;" and Juvenal, "Sterilis mala
robora ficus."

FILBERTS.

_Caliban._

I'll bring thee to clustering Filberds.

_Tempest_, act ii, sc. 2(174).
(_See_ HAZEL.)

FLAGS.

_Caesar._