Doth pierce her breste, and geve them of her blood.
Then searche your breste, and as you have with tonge,
With penne procede to do your countrie good:
Your zeal is great, your learning is profounde;
Then help our wantes with that you do abound."
In George Wither's "Emblems," 1634, we find:—
"Our Pelican, by bleeding thus,
Fulfill'd the law, and cured us."
Shakspeare, in "Hamlet," thus alludes to the popular notion:—
"To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms;