Mythology & Folklore
You Spotted Snakes with Double Tongue
From Lyrics from the Dramatists of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1889)
You spotted snakes with double tongue,
Thorny hedge-hogs, be not seen;
Newts, and blind-worms, do no wrong;
Come not near our fairy queen:
Philomel, with melody,
Sing in our sweet lullaby;
Lulla, lulla, lullaby, lulla, lulla, lullaby;
Never harm,
Nor spell, nor charm,
Come our lovely lady nigh;
So, good night, with lullaby.
Weaving spiders, come not here:
Hence, you long-legged spinners, hence!
Beetles black, approach not near;
Worm, nor snail, do no offence.
Philomel, with melody, &c.
Cite this poem
MLA
Shakespeare, William. “You Spotted Snakes with Double Tongue.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/shakespeare/192/.
Chicago
Shakespeare, William. “You Spotted Snakes with Double Tongue.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/shakespeare/192/.
Read this poem with the Codex →