In “Henry VI.,” part II. (Act V., Sc. 1) York quotes the legend of Achilles’ spear “able to kill or cure”; while in “Hamlet” (Act IV., Sc. 7) Laertes declares that he will anoint his sword with unction bought of a mountebank;
“No mortal that but dips a knife in it,
Where it draws blood, no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratched withal.”
The action of drugs as charms is much in evidence in “Othello.” The father of Desdemona accuses the Moor of having
“Practised on her with foul charms,
Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals
That awaken motion.”