ONLY ONCE MENTIONED BY SHAKSPEARE. 143 



their modes of life at present extends, no species of 

 ant whatever hoards up grain. When Solomon, 

 therefore, describes the ant " as providing her meat 

 in the summer," he intimates, that she employs in- 

 dustry in taking advantage of the season proper to 

 accomplish a specific purpose ; and in this respect, 

 we may all " consider her ways and be wdse." 



The appearance of a plain, on which numerous 

 colonies of ants have reared their mansions, has been 

 beautifully described by "Wordsworth : — 



" The intelliffence that makes 



The tiny creatures strong by social league 

 Supports the generations, multiplies 

 Their tribes, till we behold a spacious plain 

 Or grassy bottom, all with little hills, 

 Tlieir labour, cover'd as a lake with waves ; 

 Thousands of cities in the desert place. 

 Built up of Life, and food, and means of life ! " 



The Excursion. 



It is somewhat remarkable, that an insect so well 

 known, should, throughout all the dramatic works of 

 Shakspeare, be but once mentioned ; when others, 

 not more attractive, are so frequently introduced. 

 Perhaps, as the industry of the ant is the quality for 

 which it is conspicuous, it did not admit of the 

 variety of simile, or of the light and fanciful analogies 

 essential for the purposes of the poet. Instead, how- 

 ever, of indulging in what can only be regarded as 

 conjectural, I shall for a moment forsake the writings 



