provocatives, and as
such are mentioned by Falstaff in "Merry Wives of Windsor" (v. 5): "Let
the sky rain potatoes; let it thunder to the tune of Green Sleeves, hail
kissing comfits, and snow eringoes." Mr. Ellacombe[492] thinks that in
this passage the globe artichoke is meant, "which is a near ally of the
eryngium, and was a favorite dish in Shakespeare's time."

[492] "Plant-Lore of Shakespeare," p. 66.

_Fennel._ This was generally considered as an inflammatory herb; and to
eat "conger and fennel" was "to eat two high and hot things together,"
which was an act of libertinism.[493] Thus in "2 Henry IV." (ii. 4)
Falstaff says of Poins, he "eats conger and fennel." Mr. Beisly
states[494] that fennel was used as a sauce with fish hard of digestion,
being aromatic, and as the old writers term it, "hot in the third
degree." One of the herbs distributed by poor Ophelia, in her
distraction, is fennel, which she offers either as a cordial or as an
emblem of flattery: "There's fennel for you, and columbines."

[493] Nares's "Glossary," vol. i. p. 302; Dyce's "Glossary," p. 159.

[494] "Shakspere's Garden," p. 158.

Mr. Staunton, however, considers that fennel here signifies _lust_,
while Mr. Beisly thinks its reputed property of clearing the sight is
alluded to. It is more probable that it denotes flattery; especially as,
in Shakespeare's time, it was regarded as emblematical of flattery. In
this sense it is often quoted by old writers. In Greene's "Quip for an
Upstart Courtier," we read, "Fennell I meane for flatterers." In "Phyala
Lachrymarum"[495] we find:

"Nor fennel-finkle bring for flattery,
Begot of his, and fained courtesie."

[495] Quoted in Nares's "Glossary," vol. i. p. 303.

_Fern._ According to a curious notion fern-seed was supposed to possess
the power of rendering persons invisible. Hence it was a most important
object of superstition, being gathered mystically, especially on
Midsummer Eve. It was believed at one time to have neither flower nor
seed; the seed, which lay on the back of the leaf, being so small as to
escape the detection of the hasty observer. On this account, probably,
proceeding on the fantastic doctrine of signatures, our ancestors
derived the notion that those who could obtain and wear this invisible
seed would be themselves invisible: a belief which is referred to in "1
Henry IV." (ii. 1):

"_Gadshill._ We have the receipt of fern-seed, we walk
i