Acetaria: A Discourse of Sallets by John Evelyn
page 40 of 180 (22%)
page 40 of 180 (22%)
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several other gallant Persons with him, who all of them perish'd at the
same Repast; would be apt to ask with the [30]_Naturalist_ (speaking of this suspicious Dainty) _Quæ voluptas tanta ancipitis cibi_? and who indeed would hazard it? So true is that of the Poet; He that eats _Mushroms_, many time _Nil amplius edit_, eats no more perhaps all his Life after. What other deterring _Epithets_ are given for our Caution, [Greek: Barê pnigoenta mukêtôn], _heavy_ and _choaking_. (_Athenæus_ reporting of the Poet _Euripides's_, finding a Woman and her three Children strangl'd by eating of them) one would think sufficient warning. Among these comes in the _Fungus Reticularis_, to be found about _London_, as at _Fulham_ and other places; whilst at no small charge we send for them into _France_; as we also do for _Trufles_, _Pig-nuts_, and other subterraneous _Tubera_, which in _Italy_ they fry in Oyl, and eat with _Pepper_: They are commonly discovered by a _Nasute Swine_ purposely brought up; being of a Chessnut Colour, and heady Smell, and not seldom found in _England_, particularly in a Park of my Lord _Cotton's_ at _Rushton_ or _Rusbery_ in _Northampton_-shire, and doubtless in other [31]places too were they sought after. How these rank and provocative Excrescences are to be [32]treated (of themselves insipid enough, and only famous for their kindly taking any Pickle or _Conditure_) that they may do the less Mischief we might here set down. But since there be so many ways of Dressing them, that I can incourage none to use them, for Reasons given (besides that they do not at all concern our safer and innocent _Sallet_ Furniture) I forbear it; and referr those who long after this beloved _Ragout_, and other _Voluptuaria Venena_ (as _Seneca_ calls them) to what our Learned Dr. _Lyster_[33] says of the many Venomous _Insects_ harbouring and corrupting in a new found-out Species of _Mushroms_ had lately in |
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