TIMIDITY OF THE DOVE. 
195 
All. That would hang us, every mother’s son. 
Bottom. I grant you, friends, if that you should fright 
the ladies out of their wits, they would have no more 
discretion but to hang us ; but I will aggravate my voice 
so, that I will roar you as gently as any sucking dove ; I 
will roar you an’t were any nightingale .”—Midsummer 
Night's Dream , Act i. Sc. 2. 
We have before drawn attention to the fact that birds 
which are by nature weak and timid, flying at the 
approach of man, will nevertheless show fight in defence 
of their young. Shakespeare has noticed this in the case 
of the wren,* and the dove :— 
“ And doves will peck in safeguard of their brood.” 
Henry VI. Part III. Act ii. Sc. 2. 
And in the same play— 
“ So doves do peck the falcon’s piercing talons.” 
Henry VI. Part III. Act i. Sc. 4. 
Again— 
“To be furious, 
Is to be frighted out of fear ; and in that mood 
The dove will peck the ostrich.” 
Antony and Cleopatra , Act iii. Sc. 13. 
And yet there can scarcely be a more timid bird than 
the dove, as Falstafif well knew, when he said ironically:— 
* See ante , p. 143 . 
