[286:1] "It is the juice of certain canes or reedes whiche growe most plentifully in the Ilandes of Madera, Sicilia, Cyprus, Rhodus and Candy. It is made by art in boyling of the Canes, much like as they make their white salt in the Witches in Cheshire."—Coghan, Haven of Health, 1596, p. 110.

[287:1] "Babee's Book," xxx.

[287:2] It is mentioned by Chaucer—

"Gyngerbred that was so fyn.
And licorys and eek comyn
With Sugre that is trye."—Tale of Sir Thopas.

SWEET MARJORAM, see [Marjoram].

SYCAMORE.

(1)Desdemona (singing).The poor soul sat sighing by a Sycamore tree.
Othello, act iv, sc. 3 (41).
(2)Benvolio.Underneath the grove of Sycamore
That westward rooteth from the city's side,
So early walking did I see your son.
Romeo and Juliet, act i, sc. 1 (130).
(3)Boyet.Under the cool shade of a SycamoreI thought to close mine eyes some half an hour.
Love's Labour's Lost, act v, sc. 2 (89).

In its botanical relationship, the Sycamore is closely allied to the Maple, and was often called the Great Maple, and is still so called in Scotland. It is not indigenous in Great Britain, but it has long been naturalized among us, and has taken so kindly to our soil and climate that it is one of our commonest trees. It is one of the best of forest trees for resisting wind; it "scorns to be biassed in its mode of growth even by the prevailing wind, but shooting its branches with equal boldness in every direction, shows no weatherside to the storm, and may be broken, but never can be bended."-Old Mortality, c. i.