33 



Passing to one of the unwelcome but insistent companions of 

 man, we find the boj^ in attendance at Sir John Falstaff's death-bed 

 reports that the old knight said — 



" a saw a flea sticking on Bardolph's nose," which he called " a 

 black soul burning in hell." — Hcnrij V., ii., 3. 



And not infrequently does Shakspere bring in the "lively hopper," 

 of which there was evidently no scarcity in thedaj^s of "good Queen 

 Bess." 



The carrier at the inn in Rochester, says — 



" Your chamber-lie breeds fleas like a loach." 



1. Henrij IV., ii., 1. 



The Duke of Orleans, discussing the valour of the soldiei'S opposed 

 to the English, says to the Constable of France — 



" That'fS a valiant flee that dare eat his breakfast on the lip of a 

 lion." — Henri/ V., iii., 7. 



Sir Toby Belch infers the white liver of Sir Andrew Ague-cheek 

 by asserting — 



"If he w^ere opened and you find so much blood in his liver as 

 will clog the foot of a flea, I'll eat the rest of his anatomy." 



Tu-elfth Xi'niit, iii., 2. 



Mrs. Ford is evidently in execution an expert, for to her jealous 

 husband, when he searches the basket, she says — 



" If you find a man there he shall die a flea's death." 



Merri/ Wives, iv., 2. 



Poverty and improper food was ordinarily supposed to engender 

 bots, and we find the ostler, at Rochester, says — 



"Pease and beans are as dank here as a dog; and that is the 

 next way to give poor jades the bots." — I Henri/ 1 V., ii., 1. 



Of the miserable nag of Petruchio it is stated — 



" he is so begnawn with bots." — 'ramimi of the Shrew, iii., 2. 



The wounded Cliftbrd, ere he dies, compares the supporters of 

 the Duke of York — 



" And whither fly the gnats, but to the sun ?" 



Ilennj Vl. (3), ii., 6. 



and again says, that when King Henry held the sway — 



" They never then had sprung like summer flies." 



Henr,/ V]. (8), ii., 6. 



