1 68 THE COCK. 



noticed by Shakespeare. In the prologue to the fourth 

 act of King Henry V. — 



" The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll, 

 And the third hour of drowsy morning name." 



Steevens has shown that the popular notion of a phantom 

 disappearing at cock-crow is of very ancient date. The 

 conversation of Bernardo, Horatio, and Marcellus, on the 

 subject of Hamlet's ghost, affords a good illustration of 

 this :— 



"Bern. It was about to speak, when the cock crew ! 

 Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing 

 Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, 

 The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, 

 Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat 

 Awake the god of day ; and, at his warning, 

 Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, 

 The extravagant * and erring spirit hies 

 To his confine : and of the truth herein, 

 This present object made probation. 

 Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. 



Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes 

 Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, 

 The bird of dawning singeth all night long : 

 And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad ; 



* Note here the use of the word "extravagant ' in its primary signification, 

 implying, of the ghost, its wandering beyond its proper sphere. 



