ses, one after another; and in another of the same date
we are taught how to apply it: "If a man ache in half his head . . .
delve up Waybroad without iron ere the rising of the sun, bind the roots
about the head with Crosswort by a red fillet, soon he will be well."
But the Plantain did not long sustain its high reputation, which even in
Shakespeare's time had become much diminished. "I find," says Gerard,
"in ancient writers many good-morrowes, which I think not meet to bring
into your memorie againe; as that three roots will cure one griefe, four
another disease, six hanged about the neck are good for another maladie,
&c., all which are but ridiculous toys." Yet the bruised leaves still
have some reputation as a styptic and healing plaster among country
herbalists, and perhaps the alleged virtues are not altogether fanciful.

As a garden plant the Plantain can only be regarded as a weed and
nuisance, especially on lawns, where it is very difficult to destroy
them. Yet there are some curious varieties which may claim a corner
where botanical curiosities are grown. The Plantain seems to have a
peculiar tendency to run into abnormal forms, many of which will be
found described and figured in Dr. Masters' "Vegetable Teratology," and
among these forms are two which are exactly like a double green Rose,
and have been cultivated as the Rose Plantain for many years. They were
grown by Gerard, who speaks of "the beauty which is in the plant," and
compared it to "a fine double Rose of a hoary or rusty greene colour."
Parkinson also grew it and valued it highly.

FOOTNOTES:

[214:1] Of these names Plantain properly belongs to Plantago major;
Lamb's-tongue to P. media; and Kemps, Cocks, and Ribwort to P.
lanceolata.

[215:1]

"His forehead dropped as a stillatorie
Were ful of Plantayn and peritorie."

_Prologue of the Chanoune's Yeman._

[215:2] Nares, and Schmidt from him, consider Plantage = anything
planted.

PLUMS, WITH DAMSONS AND PRUNES.

(1) _Constance._

Give grandam kingdom, and it grandam will
Give it a Plum, a Cherry, and a Fig.

_King John_, act ii, sc. 1 (161).

(2) _Hamlet._

The satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards,
that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick
amber and Plum-tree gum.

_Hamlet_, act ii, sc. 2