LADY MACBETH: Ah Ophelia, speak up my child.
OPHELIA: Madam, I move we plant rosemary, that’s for remembrance and a chosen emblem for weddings and funerals. And pansies, they’re for thought, tho Madam Titania called them “love-in-idleness.” Fennel, too, we should have, that’s for flatterers, tho some say the gladiators mixed it with their daily food, to make them fierce and rude. Columbine is pretty, but it means unfaithfulness—and forsaken lovers—let’s not plant that. Then we must have rue, for its other name is herb of grace—we all need that. And daisies, shall we plant those? They mean to “dissemble.” But oh dear Madam, I pray you let us have violets—and violets and violets, for they mean faithfulness. (sits down)
KATHERINE: Madam President, I move we cheer Ophelia, she hath told us useful things. (Members—“Aye, aye, aye!”)
LADY MACBETH: (Raps for quiet) Peace ladies, time passes, we must hasten, are there more suggestions?
PERDITA: Madam President—Now Jove give me courage, I do so tremble when I speak—we should plant lavender and mint, and savory, and marjoram, and pale primroses—fairest flowers of their season would show star-like on Avon’s banks, while the flower-de-luce and crown imperial would rear their lily heads in majesty gainst the foliage of willows. We could also have carnations and gillyvors, tho I like them not.
(sits down hastily)
KATHERINE: Madam President. Perdita is so shy she will not tell why she likes not the carnation and the gillyvors, but I know ’tis because they both are streaked with red and white and look like painted women.
MISTRESS FORD: (aside) Let’s call Cleopatra “gilly” for short.
CORDELIA: Madam President.
LADY MACBETH: Cordelia has the floor.