Note to The Tempest, 2.2.13 "adders . . . with cloven tongues"


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The Tempest,
Act 2, Scene 2, line 13
The adder is England's only poisonous snake, but it is very common, inhabiting a variety of terrains. Thus many people in Shakespeare's audience would how being wound about with adders could drive one crazy.
adder showing forked tongue

English Adder
Photo by permission of Jason Steel