204 THE FLEA. 



species alluded to. Its stupid inaction, which is so 

 great that the fly appears almost devoid of the power 

 of movement, would countenance this supposition. 

 But still, it does not explain why the insect should be 

 supposed to be blind. Sluggish, it certainly is ; but 

 why should it be represented as deprived of sight .'' 

 Perhaps you can ferret out for me some " tale of the 

 times of old," some forgotten legend, some expected 

 superstition, which may irradiate the origin of the 

 belief now shrouded in the gloom and uncertainty' of 

 former ages. 



On the habits of the little insect which figured 

 upon Bardolph's nose, it is not my intention to en- 

 large. I mentioned formerly, that it belonged to 

 the order Aphaniptera, and described the apparatus 

 by which it inflicts a wound. I now merely remark, 

 that from the frequent mention of it by Shakspeare, 

 it is evident there was no scarcity of them in " mer- 

 rie England" during the days of good Queen Bess. 

 The carriers in "Henry the Fourth," complain of 

 them.* They are alluded to in the colloquy between 

 Shallow and his man Davy.f And even the Duke 

 of Orleans, without reproach to manhood be it 

 spoken, is represented as saying to the Constable of 



* Henry IV., First Part, Act II. Sc. I. 

 t Henry IV., Second Part, Act V. Sc. I. 



