Mythology & Folklore

You Spotted Snakes with Double Tongue

by William Shakespeare 1564-1616

From Lyrics from the Dramatists of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1889)

Mythology & Folklore

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.

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/.

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