The plant-lore & garden-craft of Shakespeare Part 37

The name has nothing to do with the goose. Dr. Prior has satisfactorily shown that the word is a corruption of "Crossberry." By the writers of Shakespeare's time, and even later, it was called Feaberry (Gerard, Lawson, and others), and in one of the many books on the Plague published in the sixteenth century, the patient is recommended to eat "thepes, or goseberries" ("A Counsell against the Sweate," fol. 23).

GORSE OR GOSS.

_Ariel._

Tooth'd Briers, sharp Furzes, p.r.i.c.king Goss, and Thorns.

_Tempest_, act iv, sc. 1 (180).

In speaking of the Furze (which see), I said that in Shakespeare's time the Furze and Gorse were probably distinguished, though now the two names are applied to the same plant. "In the 15th Henry VI. (1436), license was given to Humfrey, Duke of Gloucester, to inclose 200 acres of land--pasture, wode, hethe, vrises,[106:1] and gorste (_bruere, et jampnorum_), and to form thereof a Park at Greenwich."--_Rot. Parl._ iv.

498.[106:2] This proves that the "Gorst" was different from the "Vrise,"

and it may very likely have been the Petty Whin. "p.r.i.c.king Goss,"

however, may be only a generic term, like Bramble and Brier, for any wild p.r.i.c.kly plant.

FOOTNOTES:

[106:1] There is a hill near Lansdown (Bath) now called Frizen or Freezing Hill. Within memory of man it was covered with Gorse. This was probably the origin of the name, "Vrisen Hill."

[106:2] "Promptorium Parvulorum," p. 162, note.

GOURD.

_Pistol._

For Gourd and fullam holds.

_Merry Wives_, act i, sc. 3 (94).

I merely mention this to point out that "Gourd," though probably originally derived from the fruit, is not the fruit here, but is an instrument of gambling. The fruit, however, was well known in Shakespeare's time, and was used as the type of intense greenness--

"Whose crule stream, rombling in pebble-stone, Crept under Moss, as green as any Gourd."

SPENSER, _Virgil's Gnat_.

GRACE, _see_ RUE.

GRAPES, _see_ VINES.

GRa.s.sES.

(1) _Gonzalo._

How lush and l.u.s.ty the Gra.s.s looks! how green!

_Tempest_, act ii, sc. 1 (52).

(2) _Iris._

Here, on this Gra.s.s-plot, in this very place To come and sport.

_Ibid._, act iv, sc. 1 (73).

(3) _Ceres._

Why hath thy Queen Summon'd me hither to this short-gra.s.s'd green?

_Ibid._ (82).

(4) _Lysander._

When Phbe doth behold Her silver visage in the watery gla.s.s, Decking with liquid pearl the bladed Gra.s.s.

_Midsummer Night's Dream_, act i, sc. 1 (209).

(5) _King._

Say to her, we have measured many miles To tread a measure with her on this Gra.s.s.

_Boyet._

They say, that they have measured many miles To tread a measure with her on the Gra.s.s.

_Love's Labour's Lost_, act v, sc. 2 (184).

(6) _Clown._