his knowledge of his audiences assured
him would not be out of place even in that great tragedy.

The objection to the Yew theory of Hebona, that the Yew is named by
Shakespeare under its more usual name, is no real objection. On the same
ground Ebony and Henbane must be excluded; together with Gilliflowers,
which he elsewhere speaks of as Carnations; and Woodbine, because he
also speaks of Honeysuckle.

FOOTNOTES:

[118:1] Hebona is the reading of the First Quarto (1603) and of the
Second Quarto (1604), and is decided by the critics to be the true
reading.

[119:1] Mr. Beisley suggests Enoron, _i.e._, Nightshade, which Mr. Dyce
describes as "a villainous conjecture." In my first edition I expressed
my belief that Hebenon was either Henbane or a general term for a deadly
poisonous plant; but I had not then seen Dr. Nicholson's and Mr.
Harrison's papers.

[119:2] Saxo Grammaticus: "Ubi datus parricidio locus, cruenta manu
mentis libidinem satiavit; trucidati quoque fratris uxore potitus,
incestum parricidio adjecit."--_Historiae Danorum_, lib. iii, fol. xxvii,
Ed. 1514.

"The Historye of Hamblet, Prince of Denmark:" Fergon "having secretly
assembled certain men and perceiving himself strong enough to execute
his enterprise, Horvendile, his brother, being at a banquet with his
friends, sodainely set upon him, where he slewe him as treacherously, as
cunningly he purged himselfe of so detestable a murder to his
subjects."--COLLIER'S _Shakespeare's Library_.

[119:3] "Hamlet's Cursed Hebenon," by Dr. R. B. Nicholson, M.D. (read
Nov. 14, 1879). "Hamlet's Juice of Cursed Hebona," by Rev. W. A.
Harrison, M.A. (read May 12, 1882). Both the papers are published in the
"Transactions" of the Society.

HEMLOCK.

(1) _Burgundy._

Her fallow leas
The Darnel, Hemlock, and rank Fumitory
Doth root upon.

_Henry V_, act v, sc. 2 (44).

(2) _3rd Witch._

Root of Hemlock digg'd i' the dark.

_Macbeth_, act iv, sc. 1 (25).

(3) _Cordelia._

Crown'd with rank Fumiter and Furrow-weeds,
With Burdocks, Hemlock, Nettles, Cuckoo-flowers.

_King Lear_, act iv, sc. 4 (3).

One of the most poisonous of a suspicious family (the Umbelliferae), "the
great Hemlocke doubtlesse is not possessed of any one good facultie, as
appeareth by his lothsome smell and othe