Hypocritical tears. The tale is, that crocodiles moan and sigh
like a person in deep distress, to allare travellers to the spot, and
even shed tears over their prey while in the act of devouring it.
As the mournful crocodile
With sorrow snares relenting passengers.
Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI., iii. 1.
Source: Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, E. Cobham Brewer, 1894
