ITS FIVE WITS. 95 



" Parsone's Tale," says : — " Certes delites been after the 

 appetites of the 'five wittes ;' as sight, hereing, smelling, 

 savouring, and touching." But it is not clear how this 

 proverbial phrase became connected with the owl, nor 

 what is the origin of " warming " the wits. 



" Petruchio. Am I not wise ? 

 Katharine. Yes, keep you warm." 



Taming of the Shrew, Act ii. Sc. i. 



" If he have wit enough to keep himself warm" 



Much Ado, Act i. Sc. i. 

 " Bless thy five wits." 



King Lear, Act iii. Sc. 4, and Act iii. Sc. 6. 



The allusion above made to Tennyson's well-known 

 poem, reminds us of the quaint and characteristic song in 

 the last scene of Loves Labours Lost : — 



in. 

 " When icicles hang by the wall, 



And Dick the shepherd blows his nail, 

 And Tom bears logs into the hall, 



And milk comes frozen home in pail ; 

 When blood is nipp'd, and ways be foul, 

 Then nightly sings the staring owl, 



To-who ; 

 Tu-whit, to-who, a merry note, 

 While greasy Joan doth keel the pot. 



