Fear of Death. 
401 
material usually selected by the parent beetle as a 
habitation for its offspring. Lyly uses the word in this 
sense, and writes: “ The quaile that forsaketh the mallowes 
to eat hemlock, or the fly that shunneth the rose to light 
on a cow-shard ” (. Euphues , p. 240). This reading of the 
w r ord is supported by Kirby and Spence in their Ento¬ 
mology (p. 221, 7th edition). 
Ben Jonson notices these sheath-like cases:— 
“ The scaly beetles with their habergeons, 
That make a humming murmur as they fly.” 
(The Sad Shepherd , ii. 2.) 
Isabella's appeal to her brother’s courage and honour 
has been frequently quoted as indicating Shakspeare’s 
opinion as to the sensibility of insects. That the dramatist 
was too large-hearted and tender to be indifferent to pain, 
even if suffered by so small a creature as a worm, is 
certain, but the Rev. Mr. Bird has pointed out that in 
these lines Shakspeare’s purpose was to show how little 
man feels in dying:—- 
“ Darest thou die ? 
The sense of death is most in apprehension; 
And the poor beetle, that we tread upon. 
In corporal sufferance finds a pang as great 
As when a giant dies.’ 
(Measure for Measure , iii. 1, 76.) 
The sting of death lies in the foreknowledge of it, not 
in the act:— 
“ Even a beetle, which feels so little, feels as much as a giant does. 
The less, therefore, the beetle is supposed to feel, the more force we give 
to the sentiment of Shakspeare.” (Patterson, p. 79.) 
“The honey-bags steal from the humble-bees, 
And for night-tapers crop their waxen thighs. Glow-worm. 
And light them at the fiery Glow-worm’s eyes.” 
(.Midsummer Night’s Dream, iii. 1,171.) 
2 D 
