146 THE FALL OF A SPARROW. 



" This ungenitured agent will unpeople the province 

 with continency ; sparrows must not build in his house, 

 because they are lecherous." Measure for Measure, Act 

 iii. Sc. 2. 



Iris tells us that Cupid 



" Swears he will shoot no more, but play with sparrows, 



And be a boy right out." 



Tempest, Act iv. Sc. i. 



In Troilusand Cressida, as well as in Hamlet, are passages 

 in which it is evident the poet had in his mind the words 

 of Matthew x. 29 : 



" Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing ? And one 

 of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." 



" I will buy nine sparrows for a penny, and his pia 

 mater is not worth the ninth part of a penny." Troilus 

 and Cressida, Act ii. Sc. I. 



" There 's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow." 



Hamlet, Act v. Sc. 2. 



Again, in the following lines, there is an evident allusion 

 to Psalm cxlvii. 9 (" He feedeth the young ravens that 

 call upon him ") : 



" And He that doth the ravens feed, 

 Yea, providently caters for the sparrow, 

 Be comfort to my age !" 



As You Like It, Act ii. Sc. 3. 



