de be seke,
And though they die, they settle not a Leke."

And by Chaucer--

"And other suche, deare ynough a Leeke."

_Prologue of the Chanoune's Tale._

"The beste song that ever was made
Ys not worth a Leky's blade,
But men will tend ther tille."

_The Child of Bristowe._

FOOTNOTES:

[138:1] For a testimony of the high value placed on the Leek by the
Greeks see a poem on +Moly+, in "Anonymi Carmen de Herbis" in the "Poetae
Bucolici et didactici."

LEMON.

_Biron._

A Lemon.

_Longaville._

Stuck with Cloves.

_Love's Labour's Lost_, act v, sc. 2 (654).

_See_ ORANGE AND CLOVES.

LETTUCE.

_Iago._

If we will plant Nettles or sow Lettuce. (_See_ HYSSOP.)

_Othello_, act i, sc. 3 (324).

This excellent vegetable with its Latin name probably came to us from
the Romans.

"Letuce of lac derivyed is perchaunce;
For milk it hath or yeveth abundaunce."

_Palladius on Husbandrie_, ii, 216 (15th cent.)
E. E. Text Soc.

It was cultivated by the Anglo-Saxons, who showed their knowledge of its
narcotic qualities by giving it the name of Sleepwort; it is mentioned
by Spenser as "cold Lettuce" ("Muiopotmos"). And in Shakespeare's time
the sorts cultivated were very similar to, and probably as good as,
ours.

LILY.

(1) _Iris._

Thy banks with Pioned and Lilied[140:1] brims.

_Tempest_, act iv, sc. 1 (64).

(2) _Launce._

Look you, she is as white as a Lily and as small as a wand.

_Two Gentlemen of Verona_, act ii, sc. 3 (22).

(3) _Julia._

The air hath starved the Roses in her cheeks,
And pinch'd the Lily-tincture of her face.

_Ibid._, act iv, sc. 4 (160).

(4) _Flute._

Most radiant Pyramus, most Lily-white of hue.

_Midsummer Night's Dream_, act iii, sc. 1 (94).

(5) _Thisbe._

These Lily lips.

_Ibid._, act v, sc. 1 (337).

(6) _Perdita._

Lilies of all kinds,
The Flower-de-luce being one!

_Winter's Tale_,