The leaues haue a cooling and drying qualitie, fit for the oyntment Populeon, wherein it is put. But the Apples haue a soporiferous propertie, as Leuinus Lemnius maketh mention in his Herball to the Bible, of an experiment of his owne. Besides, as Dioscorides first, and then Serapio, Auicen, Paulus Ægineta, and others also do declare, they conduce much to the cooling and cleansing of an hot matrix. And it is probable, that Rachel knowing that they might be profitable for her hot and dry body, was the more earnest with Leah for her Sonne Rubens Apples, as it is set downe Genesis 30. verse 14. The strong sent of these apples is remembred also, Cant. 7. 13. although some would diuert the signification of the Hebrew word, דודאים, vnto Violets, or some other sweet flowers, in the former place of Genesis, and the fruit of Musa, or Adams Apples in this place of the Canticles. Hamilcar the Carthaginian Captaine is said to haue infected the wine of the Lybians (his enemies against whom he fought) with the apples of Mandrake, whereby they being made exceeding drowsie, he obtained a famous victory ouer them.
Chap. XCVI.
Pomum Amoris. Loue Apples.
Although the beautie of this plant consisteth not in the flower, but fruit, yet giue me leaue to insert it here, lest otherwise it haue no place: whereof there are two especiall sorts, which wee comprehend in one Chapter, and distinguish them by maius and minus, greater and smaller: yet of the greater kinde, we haue noursed vp in our Gardens two sorts, that differ only in the colour of the fruite, and in nothing else.
Pomum Amoris maius fructu rubro. Great Apple of Loue the ordinary red sort.
This greater kinde of Loue Apples, which hath beene most frequently cherished with vs, hath diuers long and trayling branches, leaning or spreading vpon the ground, not able to sustaine themselues, whereon doe grow many long winged leaues, that is, many leaues set on both sides, and all along a middle ribbe, some being greater, and others lesse, iagged also and dented about the edges, of a grayish ouer-worne greene colour, somewhat rough or hairy in handling; from among the leaues and the branches come forth long stalkes, with diuers flowers set thereon, vpon seuerall short footstalks, consisting of sixe, and sometimes of eight small long yellow leaues, with a middle pricke or vmbone, which after the flowers are fallen, riseth to be the fruite, which are of the bignesse of a small or meane Pippin, vneuenly bunched out in diuers places, and scarce any full round without bunches, of a faire pale reddish colour, or somewhat deeper, like vnto an Orenge, full of a slimie iuice and watery pulpe, wherein the seede lyeth, which is white, flat and somewhat rough: the roote shooteth with many small strings and bigger branches vnder ground, but perisheth at the first feeling of our winter weather. The fruite hereof by often sowing it in our Land, is become much smaller then I haue here described it: but was at the first, and so for two or three yeares after, as bigge as I haue related it.
Pomum Amoris maius fructu luteo. Yellow Amorous Apples.
Of the same kinde is this other sort of Amorous Apples, differing in nothing but the colour of the fruite, which is of a pale yellow colour, hauing bunches or lobes in the same manner, and seede also like the former.
Pomum Amoris minus, siue Mala Ethiopica parua. Small Loue Apples.
The small Apples of Loue in the very like manner, haue long weake trayling branches, beset with such like leaues as the greater kinde hath, but smaller in euery part: the flowers also stand many together on a long stalke, and yellow as the former, but much smaller: the fruite are small, round, yellowish red berries, not much bigger then great grapes, wherein are contained white flat seede, like the other, but smaller: the roote perisheth in like manner euery yeare, and therefore must bee new sowen euery spring, if you will haue the pleasure of their sight in the garden; yet some yeares I haue known them rise of their owne sowing in my garden.