We read in Purchas’s Pilgrims that the Jews were not permitted to burn Fleas in the flame of their lamps on Sabbath evenings.[1043] The muscular power of the Flea is so great that it can leap to the distance of two hundred times its own length, which will appear the more surprising when we consider that a man, were he endowed with equal strength and agility, would be able to leap between three and four hundred yards. Aristophanes, in his usual licentious way, ridicules the great Socrates for his pretended experiments on this great muscular power: _Disciple._ That were not lawful to reveal to strangers. _Strepsiades._ Speak boldly then as to a fellow-student; For therefore am I come. _Disc._ Then I will speak; But set it down among our mysteries. It is a question put to Chærophon By our great master Socrates to answer, How many of his own lengths at a spring A Flea can hop; for one by chance had skipp’d Straight from the brow of Chærophon to th’ head Of Socrates. _Streps._ And how did then the sage Contrive to measure this? _Disc._ Most dext’rously. He dipp’d the insect’s feet in melted wax, Which hard’ning into slippers as it cool’d, By these computed he the question’d space. _Streps._ O Jupiter, what subtilty of thought![1044] The witty Butler has also commemorated the same circumstance in his justly celebrated poem of Hudibras: How many scores a Flea will jump Of his own length, from head to rump; Which Socrates and Chærophon In vain assay’d so long agon.