See also “Henry V.” (iv. 1). In these two passages, however, the correct reading is probably “mote.”[573]
Serpent. A term used by our old writers to signify a serpent was “a worm,” which is still found in the north of England in the same sense. It is used several times by Shakespeare; as, for instance, in “Measure for Measure” (iii. 1), where the Duke, addressing Claudio, says:
“Thou’rt by no means valiant;
For thou dost fear the soft and tender fork
Of a poor worm.”
This passage also illustrates an error very prevalent in days gone by, that the forked tongue of the serpent tribe was their instrument of offence, without any thought of the teeth or fangs, which are its real weapons.[574] Again, the “blind-worm” or “slow-worm”—a little snake with very small eyes, falsely supposed to be venomous—is spoken of in “A Midsummer-Night’s Dream” (ii. 2), in that charming passage where the fairies are represented as singing to their queen, Titania:
“You spotted snakes, with double tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs, be not seen;
Newts, and blind-worms, do no wrong,
Come not near our fairy queen.”
In “Macbeth” (iv. 1), among the ingredients of the witches’ caldron are
“Adder’s fork, and blind-worm’s sting.”
To quote a further allusion, Shakespeare, in “Timon of Athens” (iv. 3), speaks of
“The gilded newt and eyeless venom’d worm.”
Massinger employs the same term in his “Parliament of Love” (iv. 2):