86 



The " luce" is, of course, the fleur-de-lis, or flower-de-luce, and the " coat," 

 Robert Shallow's coat of arms. In the association of the " familiar beast," with 

 " love," we are reminded of the " lousy and lecherous" of one of our modern 

 ballad-writers. 



Shakespeare makes at least eight allusions to the louse. One of them con- 

 veys^^the strongest expression of contempt that can possibly be imagined : " I 

 care not to be the louse of a lazar." {i. e, of a man afflicted with loathsome 

 diseases). Troilus and Cressida, Act V., sc. 1. 



Orthoptera. — " Shall we be merry ?" asks Prince Henry in 1st Part of K. 

 Henry IV., Act II., sc. 4, " As merry as crickets," answers Poins. The cheerful 

 note of the cricket (Acheta domestica), produced by the rubbing together of the 

 notched edges of the insect's upper wings, must have been a familiar sound to 

 Shakespeare. When all is quiet around the hearth the note arises in many an 

 English dwelling. But a very slight noise will startle the insect, and cause a 

 cessation of its music. So the little Mamillius in a Winter's Tale, says that he 

 will tell his story so softly, that " yon crickets shall not hear it," Act II., sc. 1. 



Amongst the equipments of Queen Mab is a whip of cricket bone." Romeo 

 and Juliet, Act I., sc. 4. The " winter cricket" is spoken of in the Taming of the 

 Shrew, Act IV., sc. 8. 



I find but one allusion to locusts — that made by lago when speaking of 

 Othello and his countrymen. 



These Moors are changeable in their wills : —fill thy purse with money ; the food that to him now 

 is as luscious as locusts, shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. — Othello, Act I, sc. 3. 



The species mentioned here is doubtless (Edipoda migratorius, which often 

 visits Morocco, and is used for food. 



The grasshopper is mentioned in Romeo and Juliet Act I., sc. 4, where the 

 cover of Queen Mab's wagon is said to be made of the wings of grasshoppers. 



Arachnida. — In the Merchant of Venice we have an instance of the skill 

 with which the great poet could draw, even from the work of a disgusting insect, 

 a fitting illustration to enhance the attractions of an admired lady. 



Here, in her hair, 



The painter plays the spider, and hath woven 

 A golden mesh, to entrap the hearts of men, 

 Faster than gnats in cobwebs. 



Act III., sc. 2. 



A different kind of weaving is spoken of in the 2nd Part of K. Henry VI., 

 Act III., sc. 1 : 



My brain more busy than the labouring spider 

 . Weaves tedious snares to trap mine enemies. 



And in Othello, Act II., sc. 1, where lago says to himself, 



With as little a web as this 



Will I ensnare as great a fly as Cassio. 



And yet again in K. Henry VIII , Act, I., sc. 1, where it is said of Wolsey : 



Spider-like 



Out of his self-drawing web, he gives us note 

 The force of his own merit makes his way. 



With wonderful eff'ecb Shakespeare makes use of the Spider in shewing the 

 power of imagination. 



There may be in the cup 

 A spider steep'd, and one may drink, depart, 

 And yet partake no venom ; for his knowledge 

 Is not infected : but if one present 

 The abhorr'd ingredient to his eye, make known 

 How he hath drank, he cracks his gorge, his sides, 

 With violent hefts : — I have drunk and seen the spider. 



Winter's Tale, Act II., sc. 1. 



