4 SHAKESPEARE'S [ADDER. 



And in Ethiopia is another kind of Magnes that forsaketh 

 iron, and driveth it away from him. Also the same Magnes 

 draweth iron to it in one corner, and putteth it away in 

 another corner. And the more blue the Magnes is the 

 better it is. 



[He then ascribes to it the same virtues as belong to the 

 Adamant of reconciling men and their wives, and testing 

 women's chastity.] 



If the powder thereof be sprung and done upon coals in 

 four corners of the house, it shall seem to them that be 

 in the house, that the house should fall anon. And that 

 seeming is by moving that cometh by turning of the 

 brain. And there be mountains of such stones, and there- 

 fore they draw to them and break ships that be nailed with 

 iron [of which Sir John Mandeville also speaks]. 



Bartholomew {Berthelet\ bk. xvi. 63. 



[It is evident from these quotations that Shakespeare and 

 Lylly confused the Adamant or Diamond, which was supposed 

 to repel iron, with the iron-attracting Magnet, being no doubt 

 misled by the similarity of their other properties.] 



IF this stone be placed on coals in the four corners of 

 the house, I say, if it be pounded and sprinkled on the 

 coals, sleepers will flee the house and quite forsake it, and 

 then thieves can see after all that they please. 



Albertus Magnus, " Of the Virtues of Stones." 



Adder. 



Is the adder better than the eel, 

 Because his painted skin contents the eye ? 



TAMING OF THE SHREW, iv. 3, 179, 180. 



Art thou like the adder waxen deaf? 



ii. KING HENRY VI., iii. 2, 76. 



It is the bright day that brings forth the adder ; 

 And that craves wary walking. 



JULIUS CAESAR, ii. i, 14, 15. 



Each jealous of the other, as the stung 

 Are of the adder. 



KING LEAR, v. i ? 56, 57. 





AN Adder dwelleth in shadows, he slideth and wriggleth 

 in slipper draughts and wrinkles, and in slimy passing. 



