112 FOOD FOR CROWS. 



And made a prey for carrion kites and crows 

 Even of the bonny beast he lov'd so well." 



Henry VI. Part II. Act v. Sc. 2. 



Cassius, on the eve of battle, augured a defeat because, 



as he said, — 



" Crows 



Fly o'er our heads, and downward look on us, 



As we were sickly prey ; their shadows seem 



A canopy most fatal, under which 



Our army lies, ready to give up the ghost." 



Julius Ccesar, Act v. Sc. 1 . 



In the third act of Cymbeline (Sc. 1), when Caius 

 Lucius, the Roman Ambassador, comes to demand tribute 

 from the British King, he is met with a flat refusal, and 

 Cloten, one of the lords in waiting, deriding his threat of 

 war, says : — 



" His Majesty bids you welcome. Make pastime 

 with us a day or two, or longer : if you seek us after- 

 wards in other terms, you shall find us in our salt- 

 water girdle : if you beat us out of it, it is yours ; if 

 you fall in the adventure, our crows shall fare the better 

 for you ; and there's an end." 



Alexander Iden, addressing the lifeless body of Jack 

 Cade, whom he had just slain, exclaims : — 



" Hence will I drag thee headlong by the heels 

 Unto a dunghill, which shall be thy grave, 



