284 SHAKESPEARE’S [SHEEP. 
Note that if you boil a Serpent or a worm, and give 
of the fat of that worm to any man to eat, he will under- 
stand when they sing. [He does not explain who are 
“they,” but from the previous article “they” may be 
mice or Serpents.] This has been proved. 
Albertus Magnus, “‘ Of the Wonders of the World.” 
In a garden of the suburbs [of Aleppo] I did see a 
Serpent of wonderful bigness, and they report that the male 
Serpent and young ones being killed by certain boys, this 
she-serpent, observing the water where the boys used to 
drink, did poison the same, ‘so as many of the boys died 
thereof; and that the citizens thereupon came out to kill 
her, but seeing her lie with her face upward, as complain- 
ing to the heavens that her revenge was just, that they, 
touched with a superstitious conceit, let her alone; finally 
that this Serpent had lived here many ages, and was of 
incredible years, Fynes Moryson, “Itinerary,” part i. p. 246. 
Ir a snake did bite a Cappadocian, the man’s blood was 
poison to the snake, and killed him. 
Purchas’ “Pilgrims,” p. 320 (ed. 1616). 
SERPENTS are plentifully engendered of much rain, or 
effusion of men’s blood in war. Ibid. p. 560. 
THE cucurijuba is a fresh-water snake [in Brazil], toothed 
like a dog; it catcheth a man, cow, stag, or other prey, 
winding it with the tail, and so swalloweth it whole ; after 
which she lies and rots, the ravens and crows eating her all 
but the bones, to which after groweth new flesh, by life 
derived from the head, which is hidden all this while in the 
mire. Ibid, p. 843. 
Sheep. 
A Seep is a nesh [soft] beast, and beareth wool, and is 
unarmed in body, and pleasing in heart. And if Sheep 
conceive toward the Northern wind, they conceive males ; 
and if they conceive toward the Southern wind, then they 
conceive females. And such as the veins be under the 
Sheep’s tongue, of such colour is the lamb when he is 
