PHILIP SPARROW. 145 



Shakespeare than the wren. In many passages throughout 

 the Plays mention is made of " the sparrow " without the 

 prefix " hedge " or " house." Occasionally we are enabled, 

 from the context, to determine the species ; but as this is 

 not always the case, we propose to consider under one 

 head all that Shakespeare has said of either species. 



The sparrow appears to have been early known by the 

 name of " Philip," perhaps from its note, to which 

 Catullus alludes : 



" Sed circumsiliens, modo hue, modo illuc, 

 Ad solam dominum USQUQ pipilabat." 



In Lyly's " Mother Bombie," 



"Cry 



Phip, phip, the sparrows as they fly." 



And Skelton, the Poet Laureate of Henry VIII.'s reign, 

 wrote a long poem entitled " Phylyppe Sparrow," on the 

 death of a pet bird of this species. Shakespeare thus 

 names it in King- John (Act i. Sc. i) : 



" Gurney. Good leave, good Philip. 

 Bastard. Philip! sparrow!" 



We are told of Cressida, when getting ready to meet her 

 lover, that- - 



" She fetches her breath so short as a new-ta'en sparrow." 

 Troilus and Cressida, Act iii. Sc. 2. 



Lucio, referring to Angelo, the severe Deputy Duke of 

 Vienna, says : 



u 



