Herbs mentioned by Shakespeare in his plays

by Gwen Herat

Recently week I wrote about the flowers that Shakespeare put into his plays and today it is the herbs that he has mentioned, though briefly. It is very interesting to study the aspects of his adoration for nature and her splendour, the seasons, the birds and bees, trees and plants, environment etc. that are found in his plays and sonnets. He has made them all come out alive and keep us mindful of God's own creations for mankind without which we cannot survive. But Shakespeare was no botantist or for that matter, a horticulturist but rather a countryman gifted with an acute sense of observation. In his matchless gift of poetry, he sings their praise. Shakespeare was familiar with all the wild and cultivated flowers, herbs, plants, etc. He excelled in his exquisite expression of love for nature and her magic. No play went unsung of their glories.

Shakespeare celebrates the humble woodbine in A Midsummer's Night's Dream as well as in Much Ado About Nothing

Both Shakespeare's parents came from farming families which made a clear impression of his early environment, the instinct countryman that he was, his native Warwickshire reflects throughout his works. His birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon which was a little market town linked with the surrounding countryside situated in the very heart of England. The River Avon alongside which the town had originated centuries before as a river-crossing settlement, divided Arden woodlands country to the north which still remain as an ancient forest with open fields and pastures. Naturally, the young Shakespeare would have been absolutely familiar with this setting where he grew up. Though he sought London to make a name for himself, his heart lay in his native land. It was in Welcombe on rising ground looking across the river valley over which he wandered often that nature beckoned him. Apparently, he had observed the colour, form, scent, etc. in plant life whether they were flowers or fruit and even herbs that he had often seen in his mother's kitchen yard and when she prepared his meals, he savoured the aroma in the food.

Shakespeare found the most common flowers interesting whether they grew in the meadows, woods or hedge grow alongside with the spicy herbs that at times were medicinal. the lush freshness of the Avon meadows and the wooded landscapes of Arden forest in the backyard of his several homes where some herbs were found, never escaped his observing eyes. Herbs were often used in the preparation of food in the countryside and often came from their gardens rather than from the markets. He knew and understood the properties of herbs and the purposes for which they were employed. The pale yellow woodbine now referred to as honeysuckle too are mentioned. The name woodbine denotes its climbing character while honeysuckle suggests the sweet juice of the flower and its juicy red fruits that found its way to the kitchen.

Honeysuckle "And bid her steal into the pleached bower

Where honeysuckle ripened by the sun

Forbid the sun to enter'

Much Ado About Nothing, III, I.

Balm (balsam) Melissa officinalis

"As sweet as balm, as soft as air, as gentle ..

Antony and Cleaopatra, V.II

Camomile - Anthemis noblis

"Though the camomile, though it is trodden on the faster

it grows, yet youth, the more it is wasted the sooner it wears ...

King Henry, IV (Part 1) 11, 1V

Fennel - Foeniculum vigare

'Ther's fennel for you and columbines ...

Hamlet, 1V, V

Garlic - Allium

'And most dear actors, eat no onions nor garlic, for we are to utter sweet breath ...

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 1V, 11

Hyssop - Hyssopus officinalis

'We will plant nettles or sow lettuce

set hyssop and weed up thyme ...

Othello, 1, 111

Lavander - Lavandula spica

Mints - Mentha spicta

Savory - Satureia mentana

Marjoram - Organum vulgar

'Here's flowers for you

Hot lavander, mints, savory, marjoram

The Winter's Tale, 1V, 1V

Parseley - Carum petroselium

'I knew a wench married in an afternoon as she went to the

garden for parsley to stuff a rabit ..

The Taming of the Shrew, 1V, 1V

Rosemary - Rosemarinus officinalis

'There's rosemary, that's for remembrance

pray you oove, remember ..

Hamlet, 1V. V

Rue - Ruta graveoleus

'Here she did fall a tear, here, in this place

I'll set a bank of rue, sour herb of grace

Rue, even for ruth, here shortly shall be seen

In the remembrance of a weeping queen ...

King Richard, 11. 111,1V

Saffron - Crocus sativus

'I must have saffron to colour the warden pies ...

the Winter's Tale, 1V,111

Thyme - Thymus serpyllum

'I know a bank where the wild thyme blows ...

A Midsummer Night's Dream, 11, 1