i 4 2 SHAKESPEARE'S [HARE. 



THE hairiest creature of all other is the Hare. 



Holland's Pliny, bk. xi. p. 347. 



MEN have assayed to make cloth of Hares* and Cony's 

 hair ; but in the hand they are not so soft as is the fur 

 upon the skin or case ; neither will they last, by reason 

 that the hair is short, and will soon shed. 



Ibid,, p. 232. 



THE common sort of people are persuaded, that the meat 

 of this kind of venison [i.e., Hare's flesh] causeth them 

 that feed upon it to look fair, lovely and gracious, for a 

 week together afterwards. There must needs be some cause 

 and reason of this settled opinion, which hath thus gener- 

 ally carried the world away to think so. 



Ibid., bk. xxviii. p. 341. 



THE eye-lids coming from the brows are too short to 

 cover their eyes, and therefore this sense is very weak in 

 them ; and besides their over-much sleep, their fear of dogs 

 and swiftness causeth them to see the less ; when they 

 watch, they shut their eyes, and when they sleep they open 

 them. The common sort of people suppose they are one 

 year male, and another female. Men find in Hares certain 

 little bladders filled with matter, and against rain Hares 

 suck thereout a certain humour, and anoint their bodies all 

 over therewith, and so are defended in time of rain. 

 Hares never drink, but content themselves with the dew, 

 and for that cause they often fall rotten. She keepeth not 

 her young ones together in one litter, but layeth them a 

 furlong one from another, that so she may not lose them 

 all together, if peradventure men or beasts light upon 

 them. The ears of this beast are like angels' wings, ships' 

 sails and rowing oars, to help her in her flight. The 

 eating of Hares procureth sleep. A waistcoat made of 

 Hares' skins straightens the bodies of young and old. The 

 rennet being mingled with vinegar is drunk against poison ; 

 and also if a man or beast be anointed with it, no serpent, 

 scorpion, spider or wild mouse, w r hose teeth are venomous, 

 will venture to sting the body so anointed. The same 

 being mingled with snails or any other shell-fish, which 



