320 Reptiles. 



" here, here will I renuiin, 



With worms that are thy ehambermaids." 



The word is most usually employed to denote the larva of some spe- 

 cies of insect. Thus when Hamlet, after speaking of the " convo- 

 cation of politic worms," says " your worm is your only emperor for 

 diet : we fat all creatures else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for mag- 

 gots ; " we perceive at once that the words " worm " and " maggots " 

 apply to one and the same thing, namely, the larva) of the flesh-flies. 

 Every one will call to mind another example, in the celebrated scene 

 where Othello demands " the handkerchief." 



" The worms were hallowed that did breed the silk." 



In other instances, however, the word is applied either to the serpent, 

 or to some species of venomous reptile. 



" Were there a ^serpent seen with forked tongue, 

 That slily glided towards your m^esty, 

 It were but necessary you were wak'd, 

 Lest, being suffered in that harmful slumber. 

 The mortal worm might make the sleep eternal." 



2nd part K. Henry VI. Act iii. Scene ii. 



Again, when Hermia, in the Midsummer Night's Dream, reproaches 

 Demetrius for the supposed murder of Lysander, she asks — 



" And hast thou killed him sleeping ? O brave touch ! 

 Could not a worm, an adder do so much ? 

 An adder did it ; for with doubler tongue 

 Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung." 



Act iii. Scene ii. 



Cleopatra employs the word to designate the asp, for she enquires 

 of the countryman who had brought it — 



" Hast thou the pretty worm of Nilus there, 

 That kills and pains not ? " 



Act V. Scene ii. 



On one occasion the peculiar malignity of the " worm " is indicated 

 by the term " viperous." 



" Civil dissension is a viperous worm 

 That gnaws the bowels of the Commonwealth.'' 



1st part K. Henry VI. Act iii. Scene ii. 



Robert Patterson. 

 3, College Square North, Belfast. 



(To be continued). 



I 



