CYGNETS. 207 



" O powerful love ! that, in some respects, makes a beast 

 a man ; in some other, a man a beast. You were also, 

 Jupiter, a swan, for the love of Leda ; O, omnipotent love ! 

 how near the god drew to the complexion of a goose !" 

 — Merry Wives of Windsor, Act v. Sc. 5. 



The swan, in Shakespeare's day, was in much request 

 for the table, and, for those who could afford it, was served 

 up at all the principal feasts. In "The Northumberland 

 Household Book," such items as the following constantly 

 occur : — 



" Item. It is thoughte goode that my Lordis Swannes 

 be taken and fedde to serve my Lordis house and to be 

 paide fore as they may be boughte in the countrey, seeing 

 that my Lorde hath Swannes enoughe of his owne. 



"ITEM a Warraunte to be servide oute yerely at Michael- 

 mas for xx SWANNES for th' expencez of my Lordis house 

 as too say for Cristynmas Day v — Saynt Stephyns Day ij 



Saynt John Day ij — Childremas Day ij — Saint Thomas 



Day ij New Yere Day iij — ande for the xij th Day of 



Cristynmas iiij Swannys." 



These were not to be old birds, however. The " War- 

 raunt" referred to expressly provides that they should 

 be "signetts." 



In the case of the swan, as with many other species, 

 were we to call attention to every passage throughout the 



