As to the fairy rings (Nos. 1, 2, and 3) a great amount of legendary lore was connected with them. Browne notices them--
"A pleasant mead Where fairies often did their measures tread, Which in the meadows makes such circles green As if with garlands it had crowned been."
"Where once such fairies dance, No grass does ever grow;"
and in Shakespeare's time the sheep refused to eat the grass on the fairy rings (1); I believe they now feed on it, but I have not been able to ascertain this with certainty. Others, besides the sheep, avoided them. "When the damsels of old gathered may-dew on the grass, which they made use of to improve their complexions, they left undisturbed such of it as they perceived on the fairy rings, apprehensive that the fairies should in revenge destroy their beauty, nor was it reckoned safe to put the foot within the rings, lest they should be liable to fairies' power."--DOUCE'S _Illustrations_, p. 180.
[170:1] Herrick calls them "brownest Toadstones."
He a good wit? hang him, baboon! his wit's as thick as Tewksbury Mustard; there is no more conceit in him than in a mallet.
Pease-blossom! Cobweb! Moth! and Mustardseed!
Good Master Mustardseed, I know your patience well; that same cowardly giant-like ox-beef hath devoured many a gentleman of your house: I promise you your kindred hath made my eyes water ere now. I desire your more acquaintance, good Master Mustardseed.
_Midsummer Night's Dream_, act iii, sc. 1 (165, 194).
Give me your neaf, Mounsieur Mustardseed. Pray you, leave your courtesy, good mounsieur.
Nothing, good mounsieur, but to help Cavalery Cobweb to scratch.
What say you to a piece of beef and Mustard?
Why then, the beef, and let the Mustard rest.
Nay, then, I will not; you shall have the Mustard, Or else you get no beef of Grumio.
Then both, or one, or anything thou wilt.
_Taming of the Shrew_, act iv, sc. 3 (23).
Of a certain knight that swore by his honour they were good pancakes, and swore by his honour the mustard was naught; now I'll stand to it, the pancakes were naught, and the Mustard was good, yet was the knight not forsworn. . . . . You are not forsworn; no more was this knight swearing by his honour, for he never had any; or if he had, he had sworn it away before he ever saw those cakes or that Mustard.