Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Serpent
With indented wave,
Prone on the ground.
Milton.—Paradise Lost, Book IX. Line 496.
He is a very serpent in my way.
Shakespeare.—King John, Act III. Scene 3. (The King to Hubert.)
A serpent that will sting thee to the heart.
Shakespeare.—King Richard II., Act V. Scene 3. (York to Bolingbroke.)
What, would’st thou have a serpent sting thee twice?
Shakespeare.—Merchant of Venice, Act IV. Scene 1. (Shylock to Bassanio.)