Note 3 — THE SELECTOR, AND LITERARY NOTICES OF NEW WORKS.
Reading edition
Footnote 3
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(return)
Philosophers and wits have written on this subject. Sir Thomas Brown, who wrote a book of Vulgar Errors, remarks with great seriousness that the man "who could eradicate this error from the minds of the people, might prevent the fearful passions of the heart, and many cold sweats taking place in grandmothers and nurses"—Swift lets fly the shafts of satire in these lines.—
A woodworm 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 sure as a gun they will give up the ghost If the maggat cries click when it scratches the post.
Gay, too, in a pastoral dirge, says,
The wether's bell, Before the drooping flock, toll'd forth her knell; The solemn deathwatch click'd the hour she died.