MUSTARD

FALSTAFF

Hang him, baboon! His wit’s as thick as

Tewksbury MUSTARD; there is no more

conceit in him than a mallet.

—Henry IV, Pt. 2 [Act II, sc. 4]

GRUMIO

What say you to a piece of beef and MUSTARD?

KATHARINE

A dish that I do love to feed upon.

GRUMIO

Ay, but the MUSTARD

is too hot a little.

KATHARINE

Why then, the beef,

and let the MUSTARD rest.

GRUMIO

Nay, then, I will not;

you shall have the MUSTARD,

Or else you get no beef of Grumio.

KATHARINE

Then both, or one, or anything thou wilt.

GRUMIO

Why then, the MUSTARD without the beef.

—Taming of the Shrew [Act IV, sc. 3]

BOTTOM

Where’s the Mounsieur MUSTARDSEED?

MUSTARDSEED

Ready.

BOTTOM

Give me your neaf, Mounsieur

MUSTARDSEED. Pray you,

leave your courtesy, good Mounsieur.

MUSTARDSEED

What’s your will?

BOTTOM

Nothing, good Mounsieur, but to help

Cavalery Cobweb to scratch.

—A Midsummer Night’s Dream [Act IV, sc. 1]

ROSALIND

Where learned you that oath, fool?

TOUCHSTONE

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 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.

——As You Like It [Act I, sc. 2]

TITANIA

Pease-blossom! Cobweb! Moth! and

MUSTARDSEED! . . .

BOTTOM

Good Master MUSTARDSEED,

I know your patience well;

the 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.

—A Midsummer Night’s Dream [Act III, sc. 1]