as
an expression of impatience."

[572] "Glossary," 1876, p. 238.

_Lizard._ It was a common superstition in the time of Shakespeare that
lizards were venomous, a notion which probably originated in their
singular form. Hence the lizard's leg was thought a suitable ingredient
for the witches' caldron in "Macbeth" (iv. 1). Suffolk, in "2 Henry VI."
(iii. 2), refers to this idea:

"Their chiefest prospect murdering basilisks!
Their softest touch as smart as lizards' stings."

Again, in "3 Henry VI." (ii. 2), Queen Margaret speaks of

"venom toads, or lizards' dreadful stings."

In "Troilus and Cressida" (v. 1) it is classed with the toad and owl.

_Moth._ This term, as Mr. Patterson remarks in his "Insects Mentioned by
Shakespeare" (1841, p. 164), does not awaken many pleasing associations.
In the minds of most people it stands for an insect either contemptible
from its size and inertness, or positively obnoxious from its attacks on
many articles of clothing. Thus Shakespeare, he says, employs the
expression "moth" to denote something trifling or extremely minute. And
in "King John" (iv. 1) we have the touching appeal of Prince Arthur to
Hubert, in which, for mote, he would substitute moth:

"_Arthur._ Is there no remedy?

_Hubert._ None, but to lose your eyes.

_Arthur._ O heaven!--that there were but a mote in yours,
A grain, a dust, a gnat, a wandering hair,
Any annoyance in that precious sense!
Then, feeling what small things are boisterous there,
Your vile intent must needs seem horrible."

See also "Henry V." (iv. 1). In these two passages, however, the correct
reading is probably "mote."[573]

[573] Nares's "Glossary," vol. ii. p. 973.

_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