114 CROW-KEEPER AND SCARE-CROW. 



" Compare her face with some that I shall show, 

 And I will make thee think thy swan a crow." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act i. Sc. 2. 



Beatrice says (Much Ado about Nothing, Act i. Sc. i), 

 " I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a 

 man swear he loves me ;" but then this was meant to be 

 personal, for Benedick, whom she addressed, was not a 

 favoured suitor. She might have added, with Dromio, in 

 the Comedy of Errors, Act iii. Sc. i : 



" We '11 pluck a crow together." 



This saying appears to be of some antiquity, but the 

 origin of it is not very clear. 



The custom of protecting newly sown wheat from the 

 birds by keeping a lad to shout, or putting up a " scare- 

 crow," is no doubt an old one. Shakespeare makes allu- 

 sion to both methods : 



" That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper." 



King Lear, Act iv. Sc. 6. 



That is like a boy employed to keep the crows from the 

 corn. So again 



" Scaring the ladies like a crow-keeper'' 



Romeo and Juliet, Act i. Sc. 4. 



The rustic, although entrusted with a bow and arrows, 

 was not expected to have much skill in archery, and 



