The Book of Herbs — Text and Context

he Gipsies Metamorphosed._--BEN JONSON.

Ciboules are a small kind of onion; De la Quintinye says, “Onions degenerated.” From the reference to them in _Piers Plowman_, they were evidently in common use here in the time of Langlande. The French gardener adds that they are “propagated only by seeds of the bignes of a corn of ordinary gun-powder,” and Mr Britten identifies them with Scallions or Shallot (_A. ascalonium_).

CIVES, OR CHIVES, OR SEIVES (_Allium Schænoprasum_).

Straightways follow’d in A case of small musicians, with a din Of little Hautbois, whereon each one strives To show his skill; they all were made of seives, Excepting one, which puff’d the player’s face, And was a Chibole, serving for the bass.

_Britannia’s Pastorals_, Book III.

Cives and Ciboules are often mentioned together, as in this account of King Oberon’s feast. The leaves are green and hollow and look like rushes _en miniature_, and would serve admirably for elfin Hautbois. Miss Amherst[18] says that they are mentioned in a list of herbs (Sloane MS., 1201) found “at the beginning of a book of cookery recipes, fifteenth century.” She also tells us that when Kalm came to England (May 1748) he noticed them among the vegetables most grown in the nursery-gardens round London. They were “esteemed milder than onions,” and of a “quick rellish,” but their fame has declined in the last hundred years. Loudon says that the leaves are occasionally used to flavour soup, salads and omelettes--unlike ciboules, the bulb is not used--but the chief purpose for which I have heard them required is to mix with the food for young guinea-fowls and chickens.

[18] “History of Gardening in England.”

CORIANDER (_Coriandrum sativum_).

And Coriander last to these succeeds That hangs on slightest threads her trembling seeds.

_The Salad._--COWPER.

The chief interest attached to Coriander is that in the Book of Numbers, xi. 7, Manna is compared to the seed. It was originally introduced from the East, but is now naturalised in Essex and other places, where it has long been cultivated for druggists and confectioners. The seeds are quite round, like tiny balls, and Hogg remarks that they become fragrant by drying, and the longer they are kept the more fragrant they become. “If taken oute of measure it doth trouble a manne’s witt, with great jeopardye of madnes.”[19] Nowadays one comes across them oftenest in little round pink and white comfits for children.

CUMIN (_Cuminum cyminum_).

Cummin good for eyes, The roses reigning the pride of May, Sharp isope good for greene woundes remedies.[20]

Cumin is also mentioned in the Bible by Isaiah; and also in the New Testament, as one of the plants that were tithed. It is very seldom met with, but the seeds have the same properties as caraway seeds. Gerarde says it has “little jagged leaves, very finely cut into small parcels,” and “spoky tufts” of red or purplish flowers. “The root is slender, which perisheth when it hath ripened his seed,” and it delights in a hot soil. He recommends it to be boyled together with wine and barley meale “to the forme of a pultis” for a variety of ailments. In Germany the seeds are put into bread and they figure in folklore. De Gubernatis says it gave rise to a saying among the Greeks: “Le cumin symbolisait, chez les Grecs, ce qui est petit. Des avares, ils disaient, qu’ils auraient même partagé le cumin.”

[20] _Muiopotmos._--Spenser.

Darting fish that on a summer morn Adown the crystal dykes of Camelot, Come slipping o’er their shadows on the sand.... Betwixt the cressy islets, white in flower.

To purl o’er matted cress and ribbed sand, Or dimple in the dark of rushy coves.

_Ode to Memory._--TENNYSON.

Valley lilies, whiter still Than Leda’s love and cresses from the rill.

Cresses that grow where no man may them see.

I linger round my shingly bars, I loiter round my cresses.

_The Brook._--TENNYSON.