CYGNETS. 
207 
“ O powerful love ! that, in some respects, makes a beast 
a man ; in some other, a man a beast. You were also, 
Jupiter, a swan, for the love of Leda ; O, omnipotent love ! 
how near the god drew to the complexion of a goose!” 
—Merry Wives of Windsor , Act v. Sc. 5. 
The swan, in Shakespeare’s day, was in much request 
for the table, and, for those who could afford it, was served 
up at all the principal feasts. In “The Northumberland 
Household Book,” such items as the following constantly 
occur:— 
“ Item. It is thoughte goode that my Lordis SWANNES 
be taken and fedde to serve my Lordis house and to be 
paide fore as they may be boughte in the countrey, seeing 
that my Lorde hath Swannes enoughe of his owne. 
“ITEM a Warraunte to be servide oute yerely at Michael¬ 
mas for xx SWANNES for th’ expencez of my Lordis house 
as too say for Cristynmas Day v—Saynt Stephyns Day ij 
—Saynt John Day ij—Childremas Day ij—Saint Thomas 
Day ij—New Yere Day iij—ande for the xij th Day of 
Cristynmas iiij Swannys.” 
These were not to be old birds, however. The “ War- 
raunt ” referred to expressly provides that they should 
be “signetts.” 
In the case of the swan, as with many other species, 
were we to call attention to every passage throughout the 
