THE CANKER. 35 



has been a favourite object of comparison. In the 

 mouth of Viola it becomes one of the most touching 

 images that poet ever employed : 



" She never told her love ; 

 But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud, 

 Feed on her damask cheek." 



Twelfth Night, Act II. Sc. I. 



In many other passages " the worm " is either 

 alluded to, or mentioned, as " the canker." Thus, 

 when Laertes is cautioning Ophelia against 



" Hamlet and the trifling- of his favour," (Act I. Sc. III.) 



his words are — 



" The canker galls the infants of the spring, 

 Too oft, before their buttons be disclosed." 



Among the enumeration given by Titania of the 

 duties of her fairy attendants — 



" To kill cankers in the musk-rose buds," 



{Midsummer Night's Dream, Act II. Sc. III.) 



holds a prominent place ; and when in the opening 

 scene of the " Two Gentlemen of Verona," Protheus 

 is defending himself against the raillery of his friend 

 Valentine, the image which he employs is skilfully 

 turned against himself. 



" Protheus. Yet writers say, as in the sweetest bud 

 The eating canker dwells, so eating love 

 Inhabits in the finest wits of all. 



D 2 



