Commotion in the winds! frights, changes, horrors,
Divert and crack, rend and deracinate
The unity and married calm of states
Quite from their fixture.
And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth; for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.
Hermia and Lear both use an expression derived from the same source:—
Hermia.—An adder did it; for with doubler tongue
Than thine, thou serpent, never adder stung.—Mid. N. Dream, iii. 2.
Lear.—Struck me with her tongue,
Most serpent-like, upon the very heart.—ii. 4.