142 SHAKESPEARE'S [HARE 
Tue hairiest creature of all other is the Hare. 
Holland’s Pliny, bk. xi. p. 347. 
Men have assayed to make cloth of Hares’ and Cony’s 
hair; but in the hand they are not so soft as is the fur 
upon the skin or case; neither will they last, by reason 
that the hair is short, and will soon shed. 
Ibid, p. 232. 
Tue common sort of people are persuaded, that the meat 
of this kind of venison [i.e., Hare’s flesh] causeth them 
that feed upon it to look fair, lovely and gracious, for a 
week together afterwards. There must needs be some cause 
and reason of this settled opinion, which hath thus gener- 
ally carried the world away to think so. 
Ibid., bk. xxviii. p. 341. 
Tue eye-lids coming from the brows are too short to 
cover their eyes, and therefore this sense is very weak in 
them ; and besides their over-much sleep, their fear of dogs 
and swiftness causeth them to see the less; when they 
watch, they shut their eyes, and when they sleep they open 
them. The common sort of people suppose they are one 
year male, and another female. Men find in Hares certain 
little bladders filled with matter, and against rain Hares 
suck thereout a certain humour, and anoint their bodies all 
over therewith, and so are defended in time of rain. 
Hares never drink, but content themselves with the dew, 
and for that cause they often fall rotteri. She keepeth not 
her young ones together in one litter, but layeth them a 
furlong one from another, that so she may not lose them 
all together, if peradventure men or beasts light upon 
them. The ears of this beast are like angels’ wings, ships’ 
sails and rowing oars, to help her in her flight. The 
eating of Hares procureth sleep. A waistcoat made of 
Hares’ skins straightens the bodies of young and old. The 
rennet being mingled with vinegar is drunk against poison ; 
and also if a man or beast be anointed with it, no serpent, 
scorpion, spider or wild mouse, whose teeth are venomous, 
will venture to sting the body so anointed. The same 
being mingled with snails or any other shell-fish, which 
