Many
examples
are given in Nares and the _NED.
Ben Jonson - The Devil's Association
?
?
?
?
?
?
a mirth-making bird,
so ridiculously mimical, that he is easily caught, or rather
catcheth himself by his over-active imitation. As the fowler
stretcheth forth his arms and legs, stalking towards the bird,
so the bird extendeth his legs and wings, approaching the fowler
till he is surprised in the net. '--G.
This is what is alluded to in 4. 6. 42. The use of the metaphor is
common. Gifford quotes Beaumont & Fletcher. _Bonduca_ and _Sea Voyage_.
Many examples are given in Nares and the _NED. _, to which may be added
_Damon and Pithias_, _O. Pl. _ 4. 68; Nash, _Wks. _ 3. 171; and Butler's
_Character of a Fantastic_ (ed. Morley, p. 401): 'He alters his gait
with the times, and has not a motion of his body that (like a dottrel)
he does not borrow from somebody else. ' Nares quotes _Old Couple_ (_O.
Pl. _, 4th ed. , 12. 41):
_E. _ Our Dotterel then is caught?
_B.
so ridiculously mimical, that he is easily caught, or rather
catcheth himself by his over-active imitation. As the fowler
stretcheth forth his arms and legs, stalking towards the bird,
so the bird extendeth his legs and wings, approaching the fowler
till he is surprised in the net. '--G.
This is what is alluded to in 4. 6. 42. The use of the metaphor is
common. Gifford quotes Beaumont & Fletcher. _Bonduca_ and _Sea Voyage_.
Many examples are given in Nares and the _NED. _, to which may be added
_Damon and Pithias_, _O. Pl. _ 4. 68; Nash, _Wks. _ 3. 171; and Butler's
_Character of a Fantastic_ (ed. Morley, p. 401): 'He alters his gait
with the times, and has not a motion of his body that (like a dottrel)
he does not borrow from somebody else. ' Nares quotes _Old Couple_ (_O.
Pl. _, 4th ed. , 12. 41):
_E. _ Our Dotterel then is caught?
_B.
