AI-assisted editorial work · source and content reviewed

Poetry · Poem

YOU spotted snakes with double tongue

William ShakespeareEnglish RenaissancePoem
SOURCE TEXT · English original
YOU spotted snakes with double tongue,
Thorny hedgehogs, 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-legg’d spinners, hence!
Beetles black, approach not near;
Worm nor snail, do no offence.

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.
Cultural reading

Reading the poem

Fairies warn snakes, hedgehogs, spiders, beetles and snails away from their sleeping queen, with a sung lullaby refrain answering each set of warnings.

Language notes

Text and edition

The heading is the poem's first line; no separate title is supplied, and the text alternates warning stanzas with a refrain stanza.