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There is a charming suggestion of the shape of the butterfly's wings in Mid- 

 summer Night's Dream, Act II., sc. 1, where Titania bids the fairies : 



•Pluck the wings from painted butterflies 



To fan the moon-beams from the sleeping eyes. 



(of the strange being with whom she is enamoured). 



An adjective that Shakespeare applies on two occasions to the butterfly is 

 " gilded " : 



And laugh at gilded butterflies. 



King Lear, Act V., sc. 2. 

 I saw him run after a gilded butterfly. 



Coriolanus, Act I., sc. 3. 



What particular species he is alluding to in these passages we cannot tell — 

 probably to one of the Fritillaries, and possibly to the " High Brown " (Argynnis 

 adippe). In connection with this insect Morris writes : — " It has been well 

 observed that all the best and highest enjoyments of man are those which, com- 

 ing as they do direct from the bounteous hand of the Omnipotent himself, are 

 not purchasable with money or any other human commodity. Every aspect under 

 which nature is viewed throws light upon this remark and gilds it with the 

 unmistakable lustre of truth." The under side of the hind-wings of Adippe are 

 gorgeous with their large silver spangles and their rusty red spots. The combi- 

 nation of these as the insect flutters by certainly gives the idea of gilding. Other 

 adjectives used by Shakespeare in relation to butterflies are " painted " (as above), 

 and " summer " (Coriolanus, Act IV., sc. 6), both appropriate enough. 



To moths and their larvae we find many allusions. The canker-worm, 

 especially aflbrded the poet many apt and beautiful comparisons. Several of these 

 refer to love. Who is not familiar with the words of Viola in Twelfth Night 

 telling of the effect of unrequited love upon health : 



She never told her love 



But let concealment, like a worm i' the bud 

 Feed on her damask cheek. 



Act II., sc. 4. 



There is wisdom quaintly expressed in the advice given by the suspicious 

 Laertes to his sister : 



The chariest maid is prodigal enough, 

 If she unmask her beauty to the moon : 

 Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes : 

 The canker galls the infants of the spring, 

 Too oft before their buttons be disclosed ; 

 And in the morn and liquid dew of youth 

 Contagious blastments are most imminent. 



Hamlet, Act I., sc. 3. 



In the Two Gentlemen of Verona we have a playful conversation upon the 

 ■effect of love upon the understanding : 



Valentine. — Love is your master, for he masters you : 

 And he that is so yoked by a fool, 

 Methinks should not be chronicled for wise. 

 Proteus. — Yet writers say. As in the sweetest bud 

 The eating canker dwells, so eating love 

 Inhabits m the finest wits of all. 



Valoitine.—Aud writers say. As the most forward bud 



Is eaten by the cmkerere it blow, 



Even s ) by love the young a-nd tender wit 



Is turu'd to folly ; blasting in the bud, 



Losing his verdure even in the prime, 



And all the fair effects of future hopes. 



In another passage beautiful and pathetic grief " is the canker. The unhappy 

 Constance speaks of her little son Arthur, who is in the toils of his wicked uncle 

 John : 



But now will canker sorrow eat my bud 

 And chase the native beauty from his cheek. 



King John, Act III. , sc. 4. 



6 (EN.) 



