206 
swan’s down. 
will recognize in it an excellent illustration to the fol¬ 
lowing passage :— 
“ F the world’s volume 
Our Britain seems as of it, but not in’t ; 
In a great pool, a swan’s nest.” 
Cytnbeline, Act iii. Sc. 4. 
For the purpose of comparison, Shakespeare has found 
the swan very useful in metaphor. 
Benvolio, referring to Rosaline, says,— 
“ Compare her face with some that I shall show, 
And I will make thee think thy swan a crow.” 
Romeo and Juliet , Act i. Sc. 2. 
Troilus, descanting on the charms of Cressida, speaks 
of— 
“ Her hand 
to whose soft seizure 
The cygnet’s down is harsh.” . 
Troilus and Cressida , Act i. Sc. 1. 
Amongst the numerous classical allusions to be found 
throughout the Plays, we are reminded in the present 
chapter of Juno’s chariot drawn by swans :— 
“ And wheresoe’er we went, like Juno’s swans, 
Still we went coupled and inseparable.” 
As You, Like It, Act i. Sc. 3. 
Falstaff, too, with some humour, thus alludes to the 
loves of Leda :— 
