 | Robert Kemp Philp, J. Bennett - History - 1874
...death-watch has been affirmed to " click the hour of death." Swift thus ridicules the superstition : " A wood- worm that lies in old wood, like a hare in her form, With teeth or with claws it will bite, it will scratch, And chamber-maids christen this worm a death- watch ; Because, like a watch, it will... | |
 | John Platts - 1876 - 952 pages
...in which it is heard. Thus sings the muse of the witty Dean of St. Patrick on this subject : — " A wood worm That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form: With teeth or with jlaws, it will bite or will scratch. And chambermaids christen this worm a death-watch ; Because like... | |
 | Dover coll - 1883
...tries to eradicate the foolish superstition, which caused its name, by means of ridicule, thus : — " A wood worm, That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form, With teeth or with claws it will bite, it will scratch, The chambermaids christen this worm a death-watch; Because like a watch it always... | |
 | John Platts - 1882
...in which it is heard. Thus sings the muse of the witty Dean of St. Patrick on this subject : — " A wood worm That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form: With teeth or with jlaws, it will bite or will scratch, And chambermaids christen this worm a death-watch; Because like... | |
 | Robert Kemp Philp - House & Home - 1889 - 396 pages
...hour of death." Swift ridicules the absurd superstition in the following manner : — " A wood-worm that lies in old wood, like a hare in her form, With teeth or with claws it will bite, it will scratch, And chamber-maids christen this worm a death-watch , Because, like a watch, it will... | |
 | William James Rolfe - 1889 - 187 pages
...to eleven. Dean Swift (1667-1745) gives the following fanciful description of the creature : — " A wood worm That lies in old wood, like a hare in...will scratch, And chambermaids christen this worm a death-watchj Because, like a watch, it always cries click : Then woe be to those in the house who are... | |
 | Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. Entomological Section - 1896
...suggested, it would appear, by the old song of " A cobbler there was, and he lived in a stall," runs thus: A wood worm That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form, With teeth or with claws, it will bite, it will scratch; And chambermaids christen this worm a Death-watch, Because, like a watch, it always... | |
 | Social Science - 1899
...in order to say two things — first, that despite Swift's laughter at the fear of this insect — That lies in old wood, like a hare in her form, With teeth and with claws it will bite or will scratch, And chambermaids christen this worm a death-watch, Because,... | |
 | John Brand, Sir Henry Ellis - 1900 - 807 pages
...formality of this account may well be contrasted wita the witty vivacity of Swift, who furnishes, moreover, a charm to avert the omen — " A Wood Worm That lies...will scratch. And Chambermaids christen this Worm a Death Watch : Because like a Watch it always cries click : Then woe be to those in the House who are... | |
 | William Gregory Wood-Martin - 1902
...are so startled with these noises." following amusing, as well as practical, charm to avert the fatal omen : — " A wood worm That lies in old wood, like...will bite or will scratch, And chambermaids christen the worm a death-watch : Because like a watch, it always cries click : Then woe be to those in the... | |
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That lies in old wood like a hare in her form; With teeth or with claws it will bite or will scratch, And chambermaids christen this worm a death watch ; Because like a watch it always cries click; Then woe be to those in the house who are sick : For,... 
