Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging.

  • Seager, H. W. (Herbert West), 1848-
Date:
1896
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Natural history in Shakespeare's time : being extracts illustrative of the subject as he knew it / Made by H. W. Seager, M. B., &c. Also pictures thereunto belonging. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Harvey Cushing/John Hay Whitney Medical Library at Yale University.

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    and they gather wheat and reck not of barley, and when the wheat is berained, that they gather to heap, then the Ants do all the wheat out into the sun, that it may be dried again. And it is said that in Ethiopia be Ants shap[ed] as hounds, and diggeth up golden gravel with their feet, and keep it that it be not taken away. And pursueth anon to the death them that take it away. And when they be overset in their houses to be taken, then shed they venomous water upon men, and that water burneth his hand that it toucheth, and breedeth therein itching and smarting. For they have that water instead of weapon and of armour. In Ind be right great Ants with horns, that keep gold and precious stones with wonder covetise and desire, but Indians steal them in summer-time when the Ants be hid in hills for strong burning heat ; but the Ants fly after them busily, which take away the gold ; and wound them after, though they flee the Ants riding on swift camels—in them is so wicked fierceness for lust of gold. When bears be sick, they seek Ants, and devour them, and heal themselves in that wise. But in some case Ants' eggs be medicinable. Bartholometv {BertMet), bk. xviii. § 53.