148 THE HEDGE-SPARROW AND CUCKOO. 



. under the impression that it was a possessive of the same 

 syntactical force with the pronouns in my self, your self, 

 her self."* 



So in Timon of Athens (Act v. Sc. i), we have 



" The public body 



feeling in itself 



A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal 

 Of it own fall." 



Again, in Winter's Tale (Act ii. Sc. 3) : 



" to it own protection." 



And 



" The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth." 



Winter's Tale, Act iii. Sc. 2. 



The popular notion referred to by the poet in King 

 Lear, is again mentioned by Worcester in Henry IV. 



" And, being fed by us, you us'd us so 

 As that ungentle gull, the cuckoo's birdft 

 Useth the sparrow ; did oppress our nest, 

 Grew by our feeding to so great a bulk, 

 That even our love durst not come near your sight, 

 For fear of swallowing." 



Henry IV. Part I. Act v. Sc. i. 



* " The English of Shakespeare," by G. L. Craik. 



f That is, the young cuckoo. The expression occurs again in The Merry Wives 

 of Windsor, Act ii. Sc. i : 



" Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-birds do sing." 



