FIGS.

(1)Titania.Feed him with Apricocks and Dewberries,
With purple Grapes, green Figs, and Mulberries.
Midsummer Night's Dream, act iii, sc. 1 (169).
(2)Constance.And its grandam will
Give it a Plum, a Cherry, and a Fig.
King John, act ii, sc. 1 (161).
(3)Guard.Here is a rural fellow
That will not be denied your Highness's presence,
He brings you Figs.
Antony and Cleopatra, act v, sc. 2 (233).
(4)1st Guard.A simple countryman that brought her Figs.
Ibid. (342).
Ditto.These Fig-leaves
Have slime upon them.
Ibid., act v, sc. 2 (354).
(5)Pistol.When Pistol lies, do this; and Fig me, like
The bragging Spaniard.
2nd Henry IV, act v, sc. 3 (123).
(6)Pistol.Die and be damned, and Figo for thy friendship.
Fluellen.It is well.
Pistol.The Fig of Spain.
Henry V, act iii, sc. 6 (60).
(7)Pistol.The Figo for thee, then.
Ibid., act iv, sc. 1 (60).
(8)Iago.Virtue! a Fig!
Othello, act i, sc. 3 (322).
(9)Iago.Blessed Fig's end!
Ibid., act ii, sc. 1 (256).
(10)Horner.I'll pledge you all, and a Fig for Peter.
2nd Henry IV, act ii, sc. 3 (66).
(11)Pistol."Convey," the wise it call; "steal!" foh! a Ficofor the phrase!
Merry Wives, act i, sc. 3 (32).
(12)Charmian.O excellent! I love long life better than Figs.
Antony and Cleopatra, act i, sc. 2 (32).

In some of these passages (as [5], [6], [7], and perhaps in more) the reference is to a grossly insulting and indecent gesture called "making the fig." It was a most unpleasant custom, which largely prevailed throughout Europe in Shakespeare's time, and on which I need not dwell. It is fully described in Douce's "Illustrations of Shakespeare," i, 492.

In some of the other quotations the reference is simply to the proverbial likeness of a Fig to a matter of the least importance.[94:1] But in the others the dainty fruit, the green Fig, is noticed.

The Fig tree, celebrated from the earliest times for the beauty of its foliage and for its "sweetness and good fruit" (Judges ix. 11), is said to have been introduced into England by the Romans; but the more reliable accounts attribute its introduction to Cardinal Pole, who is said to have planted the Fig tree still living at Lambeth Palace. Botanically, the Fig is of especial interest. The Fig, as we eat it, is neither fruit nor flower, though partaking of both, being really the hollow, fleshy receptacle enclosing a multitude of flowers, which never see the light, yet come to full perfection and ripen their seed. The Fig stands alone in this peculiar arrangement of its flowers, but there are other plants of which we eat the unopened or undeveloped flowers, as the Artichoke, the Cauliflower, the Caper, the Clove, and the Pine Apple.

FOOTNOTES:

[94:1] This proverbial worthlessness of the Fig is of ancient date. Theocritus speaks of συκινοι ανδρες, useless men; Horace, "Olim truncus eram ficulnus, inutile lignum;" and Juvenal, "Sterilis mala robora ficus."