"An Italian, through the oft smelling of an hearb called Basil, had a Scorpion bred in his braine, which did not only a long time grieve him, but also at the last killed him... Take heede therefore ye smellers of Basil."
Thomas Lupton, A Thousand Notable Things (1595)
Mend your wicked ways and repent, ye smellers of basil! Is the enchanting aroma of your insalata caprese worth the risk of death by grievous brain scorpion?
Tomorrow in the Daily Mail...
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