Crocodiles, Turtles > and Lizards. 27 



Love in Shakespeare ; courtiers in Gay ; Italians in Rogers \ 

 the sea in Campbell : 



" Mighty sea ! chameleon-like thou changest." 



lovers in Shelley : 



1 ' As a lover or a chameleon 

 Grows like what it lives upon ; " 



cowards in Byron 



" Took, like chameleons, some slight tinge of fear ; " 



and women "your true chameleons" in Pope, "who 

 change colour according to the humour and disposition of 

 the men who approach them ; " the weak-minded man in 



Pryor : 



" As the chameleon who is known 

 To have no colour but his own, 

 But borrows from his neighbour's hue, 

 His white or black, his green or blue ; 

 And struts as much in ready light 

 Which credit gives him upon sight." Prior. 



"Ah ! simple youth ! how oft will he 

 Of thy chang'd faith complain ! 

 And his own fortunes find to be 

 So airy and so vain, 

 Of so cameleon-like an hue, 

 That still their colour changes with it too ! " Cowley. 



' ' Through a thousand shades 

 His spirit flits, chameleon-like, and mocks 

 The eye of the observer." Rogers. 



That they thrive on a diet of air is a point that is obvi- 

 ously suggestive : 



" Speed. Why muse you, sir? "Tis dinner-time. 

 Valentine. I have dined. 



Speed. Ay, but hearken, sir ; though the chameleon Love can feed on the 

 air, I am one that am nourished by my victuals, and would fain have meat." 



