108 A BLACK CHARACTER. 



Here " wicked " may be taken to mean pernicious or 

 destructive — the antonym being "virtuous," as in the 

 expression " the virtuous properties of plants." A bad 

 sore is described, in an old tract on hawking (Harl. MS. 

 2,340), as "a wykked felone.'' 



As the type of blackness, both as regards colour and 

 character, we find the raven frequently contrasted with 

 the white dove, the emblem of all that is pure and gentle. 



"Who will not change a raven for a dove ?" 



Midsummer Nighfs Dream, Act ii. Sc. 2. 



" I '11 sacrifice the lamb that I do love, 

 To spite a raven's heart within a dove." 



Twelfth Night, Act v. Sc. 1. 



" Beautiful tyrant ! fiend angelical ! 

 Dove-feather 'd raven! 



Just opposite to what thou justly seem'st." 



Romeo and Juliet, Act iii. Sc. 2. 



The quarto (1599) and folio here read, "ravenous, dove- 

 feather'd raven," &c. 



As colour is intensified by contrast, so we read — 



" Whiter than snow upon a raven's back." 



So the undated quarto. Other editions have the emen- 

 dation — 



