another, was a superstitious practice much resorted to in olden
times.[725] This mode of enchantment, too, was formerly often employed
in our own country, and Gay, in his "Shepherd's Week," relates how
Hobnelia was guilty of this questionable practice:

"As I was wont, I trudged, last market-day,
To town with new-laid eggs, preserved in hay.
I made my market long before 'twas night;
My purse grew heavy, and my basket light.
Straight to the 'pothecary's shop I went,
And in love-powder all my money spent.
Behap what will, next Sunday after prayers,
When to the ale-house Lubberkin repairs,
These golden flies into his mug I'll throw,
And soon the swain with fervent love shall glow."

[725] See Potter's "Antiquities of Greece;" Brand's "Pop.
Antiq.," vol. iii. p. 306.

In the "Character of a Quack Astrologer," 1673, quoted by Brand, we are
told how "he trappans a young heiress to run away with a footman, by
persuading a young girl 'tis her destiny; and sells the old and ugly
philtres and love-powder to procure them sweethearts." Shakespeare has
represented Othello as accused of winning Desdemona "by conjuration and
mighty magic." Thus Brabantio (i. 2) says:

"thou hast practised on her with foul charms;
Abus'd her delicate youth with drugs, or minerals,
That weaken motion."

And in the following scene he further repeats the same charge against
Othello:

"She is abus'd, stol'n from me, and corrupted
By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;
For nature so preposterously to err,
Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,
Sans witchcraft could not."

Othello, however, in proving that he had won Desdemona only by honorable
means, addressing the Duke, replies:

"by your gracious patience,
I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver
Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,
What conjuration, and what mighty magic,--
For such proceeding I am charg'd withal,--
I won his daughter."

It may have escaped the poet's notice that, by the Venetian law, the
giving love-potions was held highly criminal, as appears in the code
"Della Promission del Malefico," cap. xvii., "Del Maleficii et
Herbarie."

A further allusion to this practice occurs in "A Midsummer-Night's
Dream" (ii. 1). where Puck and Oberon amuse themselves at Titania's
expense.[726]

[726] See page 227.

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