150 THE OWLS. 



And when Queen Margaret bids Suffolk curse his enemies, he 

 replies — 



Suff. " Should I not curse them ? Poison be their drink ! 



Gall, worse than gall, the daintiest that they taste ! 



Their nrasic, frightful as the serpent's hiss ; 



And boding screech-owls make the concert full ! 



All the foul terrors in dark-seated hell — 

 Q. Mar. Enough, sweet Suffolk ; thou torment's t thyself." 



In Julius Caesar too, with his sword drawn, what a picture of 

 the thunder-storm Casca draws — 



" O, Cicero, 

 I have seen tempests when the scolding winds 

 Have riv'd the knotty oaks ; and I have seen 

 The ambitious ocean swell, and rage, and foam ; 

 But never till to-night, never till now, 

 Did I go through a tempest dropping fire ; 

 And, yesterday, the bird of night did sit, 

 Even at noon-day, upon the market-place, 

 Hooting and shrieking." 



And when Lady Macbeth has urged Macbeth on to murder 

 Duncan, she cries — 



Lady M. " Hark ! Peace ! 



It was the owl that shrieked, the fatal bellman, 

 Which gives the sternest good-night." 



And when Macbeth enters, saying — 



" I have done the deed. Did'st thou not hear a noise ? " 



All she says is — 



" I heard the ovol scream and the crickets cry ;" 



No- doubt considering the shriek of the owl the worst of omens, 

 and I merely give these quotations to bear this out. Burns 

 also identifies the owl with the most gloomy thoughts and 

 situations. For instance, he says, if you want the antiquary, 

 Captain Grose, 



" By some auld, houlct-haunted biggin ', 

 Or kirk deserted by its riggin', 

 It's ten to ane you'll find him snug in 



Some eldritch part 

 Wi' deils, they say, Lord save's ! colleaguin' 

 At some black art." 



And in " Tarn o' Shanter " he says — 



" Tam skelpit on through dub and mire, 

 Despising wind, and rain, and fire ; 

 Whiles glowering round, wi' prudent cares, 



