The plant-lore & garden-craft of Shakespeare Part 59

MUSTARD.

(1) _Doll._

They say Poins has a good wit.

_Falstaff._

He a good wit? hang him, baboon! his wit's as thick as Tewksbury Mustard; there is no more conceit in him than in a mallet.

 

_2nd Henry IV_, act ii, sc. 4 (260).

(2) _t.i.tania._

Pease-blossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed!

_Bottom._

Your name, I beseech you, sir?

_Mustardseed._

Mustardseed.

_Bottom._

Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well; that same cowardly giant-like ox-beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your house: I promise you your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I desire your more acquaintance, good Master Mustardseed.

_Midsummer Night's Dream_, act iii, sc. 1 (165, 194).

(3) _Bottom._

Where's the Mounsieur Mustardseed?

_Mustardseed._

Ready.

_Bottom._

Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good mounsieur.

_Mustardseed._

What's your will?

_Bottom._

Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery Cobweb to scratch.

_Ibid._, act iv, sc. 1 (18).

(4) _Grumio._

What say you to a piece of beef and Mustard?

_Katharine._

A dish that I do love to feed upon.

_Grumio._

Ay, but the Mustard is too hot a little.

_Katharine._

Why then, the beef, and let the Mustard rest.

_Grumio._

Nay, then, I will not; you shall have the Mustard, Or else you get no beef of Grumio.

_Katharine._

Then both, or one, or anything thou wilt.

_Grumio._

Why then, the Mustard without the beef.

_Taming of the Shrew_, act iv, sc. 3 (23).

(5) _Rosalind._

Where learned you that oath, fool?

_Touchstone._

Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they were good pancakes, and swore by his honour the mustard was naught; now I'll stand to it, the pancakes were naught, and the Mustard was good, yet was the knight not forsworn. . . . .

You are not forsworn; no more was this knight swearing by his honour, for he never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away before he ever saw those cakes or that Mustard.