148 THE HEDGE-SPARROW AND CUCKOO. 



under the impression that it was a possessive of the same 

 syntactical force with the pronouns in my self, your self, 

 her self."* 



So in Timon of Athens (Act v. Sc. 1), we have — 



" The public body . . . . 



. feeling in itself 

 A lack of Timon's aid, hath sense withal 

 Of it own fall." 



Again, in Winter's Tale (Act ii. Sc. 3) : — 



" to it own protection." 

 And— 



" The innocent milk in it most innocent mouth." 



Winter s Tale, Act iii. Sc. 2. 



The popular notion referred to by the poet in King 

 Lear, is again mentioned by Worcester in Henry IV. — 



" And, being fed by us, you us'd us so 

 As that ungentle gull, the cuckoo's bird,-\ 

 Useth the sparrow ; did oppress our nest, 

 Grew by our feeding to so great a bulk, 

 That even our love durst not come near your sight, 

 For fear of swallowing." 



Henry IV. Part I. Act v. Sc. 1. 



" " The English of Shakespeare," by G. L. Craik. 



f That is, the young cuckoo. The expression occurs again in The Merry Wives 

 0/ Windsor, Act ii. Sc. i : — 



" Take heed, ere summer comes, or cuckoo-birds do sing." 



