PHILIP SPARROW. 
45 
Shakespeare than the wren. In many passages throughout 
the Plays mention is made of “ the sparrow ” without the 
prefix “ hedge ” or “ house.” Occasionally we are enabled, 
from the context, to determine the species ; but as this is 
not always the case, we propose to consider under one 
head all that Shakespeare has said of either species. 
The sparrow appears to have been early known by the 
name of “ Philip,” perhaps from its note, to which 
Catullus alludes :— 
“ Sed circumsiliens, modo hue, modo illuc, 
Ad solam dominum usque pipilabat .” 
In Lyly’s “ Mother Bombie,” 
“ Cry 
Phip , phip, the sparrows as they fly.” 
And Skelton, the Poet Laureate of Henry VIII.’s reign, 
wrote a long poem entitled “ Phylyppe Sparrow,” on the 
death of a pet bird of this species. Shakespeare thus 
names it in King John (Act i. Sc. i) :— 
“ Gurney. Good leave, good Philip. 
Bastard. Philip! sparrow!” 
We are told of Cressida, when getting ready to meet her 
lover, that- — 
“ She fetches her breath so short as a new-ta’en sparrow.” 
Troilus and Cressida , Act iii. Sc. 2. 
Lucio, referring to Angelo, the severe Deputy Duke of 
Vienna, says :— 
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