BILK -WORM POETRY L33 



In sprint,' our trees the Caterpillars rears ; 

 Their trees likewise these noble creatures beare. 

 And Borne proceed from eggs that soaped are 



i their enemies sight, which thing is rare. 

 They feed not only on the Mulberry 

 Which in our World Bole f'>"'l is held to be 



all Bach precious Worms of thai 

 But Poplar, Plum, Crab, Oake, and Apple tree, 

 STea Cherry, ami tree called Pohickery: 



S rubs :ni<l Bush) a fe< d full many 

 Her Worms are huge whose bottoms dare 

 With Lemmons of the largest size compare." 



The grand conclusion of the book disports in tinman 

 Worms : 



" Homo Vermis 



Wee all are creeping Worms of th' earth, 

 Some are Silk- Worms great by birth, 

 ' shine by night, 



Slow- Worms other-, ant to Ml.', 



Some are Muck-Worms, Blaves to wealth, 

 Maw- Worms some that wrong the health, 



e to the publique no good willers, 

 Cancker— Worms and Cater-pillers; 



• 1 about the earth wee'r crawling, 

 For a sorry lite wee'r Bprawling, 

 Putrid stuff we suck, it ii;;- us, 

 Death then sets his fool and kills u-." 



The details of the early silk experiments are so 

 many thai we cannot follow them further with profit, 

 hut some of the leading events musl be noted. 

 .Limes I. attempted t<> compel the London Company 

 row silk in Virginia. The Company Imposed "a 

 fine of ten pounds <•!' tobacco upon everj planter who 

 «liil not cultivate at leasl ten mulbern trees for every 



