It is not quite clear when parrots were first introduced as cage birds, but their attractive colours, and aptitude for learning tricks and words, no doubt brought them into notice at an early period. Shakespeare knew that to ensure success in teaching a parrot, the bird must be rewarded:—
“The parrot will not do more for an almond.”—Troilus and Cressida, Act v. Sc. 2.
To talk “like a parrot,” that is, without reason, is proverbial. Lieutenant Cassio thus upbraids himself after a drunken squabble:—
“I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so discreet an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble? swagger? swear and discourse fustian with one’s own shadow? Oh, thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name to be known by, let us call thee devil!”—Othello, Act ii. Sc. 3.
A PARROT-TEACHER.
In a witty scene between Beatrice and Benedick, in Much Ado about Nothing, the former is likened by the latter to “a parrot-teacher,” from her great talkative powers:—
“Bened. But it is certain I am loved of all ladies, only you excepted: and I would I could find in my heart that I had not a hard heart, for truly I love now.
Beat. A dear happiness to women; they would else have been troubled with a pernicious suitor. I thank God, and my cold blood, I am of your humour for that; I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me.
Bened. God keep your ladyship still in that mind! so some gentleman or other shall ’scape a predestinate scratched face.
Beat. Scratching could not make it worse, an ’twere such a face as yours were.
Bened. Well, you are a rare parrot-teacher.[160]
Beat. A bird of my tongue is better than a beast of yours.
Bened. I would my horse had the speed of your tongue, and so good a continuer: but keep your way, o’ God’s name! I have done.
Beat. You always end with a jade’s trick: I know you of old.”
[Whereupon Don Pedro steps in and puts an end to this bantering.]
Much Ado about Nothing, Act i. Sc. 1.
The “Popinjay” (Henry IV. Part I. Act i. Sc. 3) apparently is only another name for parrot.
In the Glossary to Chaucer’s Works we find the word
thus explained:—“Popingay, a parrot; Papegaut, Fr.; Papegaey, Belg.; Papagallo, Ital.”