Source: John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919. 1     The loss of wealth is loss of dirt, As sages in all times assert; The happy man ’s without a shirt.           Be Merry Friends. 2     Let the world slide, 1 let the world go; A fig for care, and a fig for woe! If I can’t pay, why I can owe, And death makes equal the high and low.           Be Merry Friends. 3     All a green willow, willow, All a green willow is my garland.           The Green Willow. 4     Haste maketh waste.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ii. 5     Beware of, Had I wist. 2           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ii. 6     Good to be merie and wise. 3           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ii. 7     Beaten with his owne rod. 4           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ii. 8     Look ere ye leape. 5           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ii. 9     He that will not when he may, When he would he shall have nay. 6           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 10     The fat is in the fire. 7           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 11     When the sunne shineth, make hay.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 12     When the iron is hot, strike. 8           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 13     The tide tarrieth no man. 9           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 14     Than catch and hold while I may, fast binde, fast finde. 10           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 15     And while I at length debate and beate the bush, There shall steppe in other men and catch the burdes. 11           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 16     While betweene two stooles my taile goe to the ground. 12           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 17     So many heads so many wits. 13           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 18     Wedding is destiny, And hanging likewise. 14           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 19     Happy man, happy dole. 15           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. 20     God never sends th’ mouth but he sendeth meat.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iv. 21     Like will to like.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iv. 22     A hard beginning maketh a good ending.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iv. 23     When the skie falth we shall have Larkes. 16           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iv. 24     More frayd then hurt.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iv. 25     Feare may force a man to cast beyond the moone. 17           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iv. 26     Nothing is impossible to a willing hart.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iv. 27     The wise man sayth, store is no sore.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. v. 28     Let the world wagge, 18 and take mine ease in myne Inne. 19           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. v. 29     Rule the rost. 20           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. v. 30     Hold their noses to grinstone. 21           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. v. 31     Better to give then to take. 22           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. v. 32     When all candles bee out, all cats be gray.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. v. 33     No man ought to looke a given horse in the mouth. 23           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. v. 34     I perfectly feele even at my fingers end. 24           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. vi. 35     A sleveless errand. 25           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. vii. 36     We both be at our wittes end. 26           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. viii. 37     Reckeners without their host must recken twice.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. viii. 38     A day after the faire. 27           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. viii. 39     Cut my cote after my cloth. 28           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. viii. 40     The neer to the church, the further from God. 29           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ix. 41     Now for good lucke, cast an old shooe after me.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ix. 42     Better is to bow then breake. 30           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ix. 43     It hurteth not the toung to give faire words. 31           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ix. 44     Two heads are better then one.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. ix. 45     A short horse is soone currid. 32           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 46     To tell tales out of schoole.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 47     To hold with the hare and run with the hound. 33           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 48     She is nether fish nor flesh, nor good red herring. 34           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 49     All is well that endes well. 35           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 50     Of a good beginning cometh a good end. 36           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 51     Shee had seene far in a milstone. 37           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 52     Better late than never. 38           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 53     When the steede is stolne, shut the stable durre. 39           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 54     Pryde will have a fall; For pryde goeth before and shame commeth after. 40           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 55     She looketh as butter would not melt in her mouth. 41           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 56     The still sowe eats up all the draffe. 42           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 57     Ill weede growth fast. 43           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 58     It is a deere collop That is cut out of th’ owne flesh. 44           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 59     Beggars should be no choosers. 45           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. 60     Every cocke is proud on his owne dunghill. 46           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 61     The rolling stone never gathereth mosse. 47           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 62     To robbe Peter and pay Poule. 48           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 63     A man may well bring a horse to the water, But he cannot make him drinke without he will.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 64     Men say, kinde will creepe where it may not goe. 49           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 65     The cat would eate fish, and would not wet her feete. 50           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 66     While the grasse groweth the horse starveth. 51           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 67     Better one byrde in hand than ten in the wood. 52           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 68     Rome was not built in one day.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 69     Yee have many strings to your bowe. 53           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 70     Many small make a great. 54           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 71     Children learne to creepe ere they can learne to goe.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 72     Better is halfe a lofe than no bread.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 73     Nought venter nought have. 55           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 74     Children and fooles cannot lye. 56           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 75     Set all at sixe and seven. 57           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 76     All is fish that comth to net. 58           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 77     Who is worse shod than the shoemaker’s wife? 59           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 78     One good turne asketh another.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 79     By hooke or crooke. 60           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 80     She frieth in her owne grease. 61           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 81     Who waite for dead men shall goe long barefoote.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 82     I pray thee let me and my fellow have A haire of the dog that bit us last night. 62           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 83     But in deede, A friend is never knowne till a man have neede.           Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. 84     This wonder (as wonders last) lasted nine daies. 63           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. i. 85     New brome swepth cleene. 64           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. i. 86     All thing is the woorse for the wearing.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. i. 87     Burnt child fire dredth. 65           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ii. 88     All is not Gospell that thou doest speake. 66           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ii. 89     Love me litle, love me long. 67           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ii. 90     A fooles bolt is soone shot. 68           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. iii. 91     A woman hath nine lives like a cat. 69           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. iv. 92     A peny for your thought. 70           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. iv. 93     You stand in your owne light.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. iv. 94     Though chaunge be no robbry.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. iv. 95     Might have gone further and have fared worse.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. iv. 96     The grey mare is the better horse. 71           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. iv. 97     Three may keepe counsayle, if two be away. 72           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 98     Small pitchers have wyde eares. 73           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 99     Many hands make light warke.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 100     The greatest Clerkes be not the wisest men. 74           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 101     Out of Gods blessing into the warme Sunne. 75           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 102     There is no fire without some smoke. 76           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 103     One swallow maketh not summer. 77           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 104     Fieldes have eies and woods have eares. 78           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 105     A cat may looke on a King.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 106     It is a foule byrd that fyleth his owne nest. 79           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 107     Have yee him on the hip. 80           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 108     Hee must have a long spoone, shall eat with the devill. 81           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 109     It had need to bee A wylie mouse that should breed in the cats eare. 82           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 110     Leape out of the frying pan into the fyre. 83           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 111     Time trieth troth in every doubt. 84           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 112     Mad as a march hare. 85           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 113     Much water goeth by the mill That the miller knoweth not of. 86           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. v. 114     He must needes goe whom the devill doth drive. 87           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 115     Set the cart before the horse. 88           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 116     The moe the merrier. 89           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 117     To th’ end of a shot and beginning of a fray. 90           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 118     It is better to be An old man’s derling than a yong man’s werling.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 119     Be the day never so long, Evermore at last they ring to evensong. 91           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 120     The moone is made of a greene cheese. 92           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 121     I know on which side my bread is buttred.           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. vii. 122     It will not out of the flesh that is bred in the bone. 93           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. viii. 123     Who is so deafe or so blinde as is hee That wilfully will neither heare nor see? 94           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 124     The wrong sow by th’ eare. 95           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 125     Went in at the tone eare and out at the tother. 96           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 126     Love me, love my dog. 97           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 127     An ill winde that bloweth no man to good. 98           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 128     For when I gave you an inch, you tooke an ell. 99           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 129     Would yee both eat your cake and have your cake? 100           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 130     Every man for himselfe and God for us all. 101           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 131     Though he love not to buy the pig in the poke. 102           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. ix. 132     This hitteth the naile on the hed. 103           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. xi. 133     Enough is as good as a feast. 104           Proverbes. Part ii. Chap. xi.   Note 1. Let the world slide.—Towneley Mysteries, p. 101 (1420). William Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, induc. 1. Beaumont and Fletcher: Wit without Money, act v. sc. 2. [back] Note 2. A common exclamation of regret occurring in Spenser, Harrington, and the older writers. An earlier instance of the phrase occurs in the Towneley Mysteries. [back] Note 3. ’T is good to be merry and wise.—Ben Jonson, George Chapman, Marston: Eastward Ho, act i. sc. 1. Robert Burns: Here ’s a health to them that ’s awa’. [back] Note 4. don fust C’on kint souvent est-on batu. (By his own stick the prudent one is often beaten.) Roman du Renart, circa 1300. [back] Note 5. Look ere thou leap.—In Tottel’s Miscellany, 1557; and in Tusser’s Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. Of Wiving and Thriving. 1573. Thou shouldst have looked before thou hadst leapt.—Ben Jonson, George Chapman, Marston: Eastward Ho, act v. sc 1. Look before you ere you leap.—Samuel Butler: Hudibras, pt. ii. c. ii. l. 502. [back] Note 6. He that will not when he may, When he will he shall have nay. Robert Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy, pt. iii. sec. 2, mem. 5, subs. 5. He that wold not when he might, He shall not when he wolda. The Baffled Knight. Thomas Percy: Reliques. [back] Note 7. All the fatt ’s in the fire.—Marston: What You Will. 1607. [back] Note 8. You should hammer your iron when it is glowing hot.—: Maxim 262. Strike whilst the iron is hot.—Francis Rabelais: book ii. chap. xxxi. John Webster: Westward Hoe. Tom A’Lincolne. George Farquhar: The Beaux’ Stratagem, iv. 1. [back] Note 9. Hoist up saile while gale doth last, Tide and wind stay no man’s pleasure. Robert Southwell: St. Peter’s Complaint. 1595. Nae man can tether time or tide.—Robert Burns: Tam O’Shanter. [back] Note 10. Fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act ii. sc. 5. Also in Jests of Scogin. 1565. [back] Note 11. It is this proverb which Henry V is reported to have uttered at the siege of Orleans. “Shall I beat the bush and another take the bird?” said King Henry. [back] Note 12. Entre deux arcouns chet cul à terre (Between two stools one sits on the ground).—Les Proverbes del Vilain, MS. Bodleian. Circa 1303. S’asseoir entre deux selles le cul à terre (One falls to the ground in trying to sit on two stools).—Francis Rabelais: book i. chap. ii. [back] Note 13. As many men, so many minds.—Terence: Phormio, ii. 3. As the saying is, So many heades, so many wittes.—Queen Elizabeth: Godly Meditacyon of the Christian Sowle. 1548. So many men so many mindes.—Gascoigne: Glass of Government. [back] Note 14. Hanging and wiving go by destiny.—The Schole-hous for Women. 1541. William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act 2. sc. 9. Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven.—Robert Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy, part iii. sec. 2, mem. 5, subs. 5. [back] Note 15. Happy man be his dole.—William Shakespeare: Merry Wives, act iii. sc. 4; Winter’s Tale, act i. sc. 2. Samuel Butler: Hudibras, part i. canto iii. line 168. [back] Note 16. Si les nues tomboyent esperoyt prendre les alouettes (If the skies fall, one may hope to catch larks).—Francis Rabelais: book i. chap. xi. [back] Note 17. To cast beyond the moon, is a phrase in frequent use by the old writers. John Lyly: Euphues, p. 78. Thomas Heywood: A Woman Killed with Kindness. [back] Note 18. Let the world slide.—William Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, ind. 1; and, Let the world slip, ind. 2.  [back] Note 19. Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn?—William Shakespeare: 1 Henry IV. act iii. sc. 2.  [back] Note 20. See Skelton, Quotation 2. William Shakespeare: 2 Henry VI. act i. sc. 1. Thomas Heywood: History of Women. [back] Note 21. Hold their noses to the grindstone.—Thomas Middleton: Blurt, Master-Constable, act iii. sc. 3. [back] Note 22. It is more blessed to give than to receive.—John xx. 35. [back] Note 23. This proverb occurs in Rabelais, book i. chap. xi.; in Vulgaria Stambrigi, circa 1510; in Butler, part i. canto i. line 490. Archbishop Trench says this proverb is certainly as old as Jerome of the fourth century, who, when some found fault with certain writings of his, replied that they were free-will offerings, and that it did not behove to look a gift horse in the mouth. [back] Note 24. Francis Rabelais: book iv. chap. liv. At my fingers’ ends.—William Shakespeare: Twelfth Night, act i. sc. 3. [back] Note 25. The origin of the word “sleveless,” in the sense of unprofitable, has defied the most careful research. It is frequently found allied to other substantives. Bishop Hall speaks of the “sleveless tale of transubstantiation,” and Milton writes of a “sleveless reason.” Chaucer uses it in the Testament of Love.—Sharman. [back] Note 26. At their wit’s end.—Psalm cvii. 27. [back] Note 27. Thomas Heywood: If you know not me, etc., 1605. Tarlton: Jests, 1611. [back] Note 28. A relic of the Sumptuary Laws. One of the earliest instances occurs, 1530, in the interlude of Godly Queene Hester. [back] Note 29. Qui est près de l’église est souvent loin de Dieu (He who is near the Church is often far from God).—Les Proverbes Communs. Circa 1500. [back] Note 30. Rather to bowe than breke is profitable; Humylite is a thing commendable. The Morale Proverbs of Cristyne; translated from the French (1390) by Earl Rivers, and printed by Caxton in 1478. [back] Note 31. Fair words never hurt the tongue.—Ben Jonson, George Chapman, Marston, Eastward Ho, act iv. sc. 1. [back] Note 32. Fletcher: Valentinian, act ii. sc. 1. [back] Note 33. Humphrey Robert: Complaint for Reformation, 1572. John Lyly: Euphues, 1579 (Arber’s reprint), p. 107. [back] Note 34. Neither fish nor flesh, nor good red herring.—Sir H. Sheres: Satyr on the Sea Officers. Tom Brown: Æneas Sylvius’s Letter. John Dryden: Epilogue to the Duke of Guise. [back] Note 35. Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit (If the end be well, all will be well).—Gestæ Romanorum. Tale lxvii. [back] Note 36. Who that well his warke beginneth, The rather a good ende he winneth. Gower: Confessio Amantis. [back] Note 37. John Lyly: Euphues (Arber’s reprint), p. 288. [back] Note 38. Thomas Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, An Habitation Enforced. John Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress. Mathew Henry: Commentaries, Matthew xxi. Murphy: The School for Guardians. Potius sero quam nunquam (Rather late than never).—Livy: iv. ii. 11. [back] Note 39. Quant le cheval est emblé dounke ferme fols l’estable (When the horse has been stolen, the fool shuts the stable).—Les Proverbes del Vilain. [back] Note 40. Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.—Proverbs xvi. 18. Pryde goeth before, and shame cometh behynde.—Treatise of a Gallant. Circa 1510. [back] Note 41. She looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth.—Jonathan Swift: Polite Conversation.  [back] Note 42. ’T is old, but true, still swine eat all the draff.—William Shakespeare: Merry Wives of Windsor, act iv. sc. 2. [back] Note 43. Ewyl weed ys sone y-growe.—MS. Harleian, circa 1490. An ill weed grows apace.—George Chapman: An Humorous Day’s Mirth. Great weeds do grow apace.—William Shakespeare: Richard III. act ii. sc. 4. Beaumont and Fletcher: The Coxcomb, act iv. sc. 4. [back] Note 44. God knows thou art a collop of my flesh.—William Shakespeare: 1 Henry VI. act v. sc. 4. [back] Note 45. Beggars must be no choosers.—Beaumont and Fletcher: The Scornful Lady, act v. sc. 3. [back] Note 46. Pet coc is kene on his owne mixenne.—Pe Ancren Riwle. Circa 1250. [back] Note 47. The stone that is rolling can gather no moss.—Thomas Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. A rolling stone gathers no moss.—Publius Syrus: Maxim 524. Gosson: Ephemerides of Phialo. Marston: The Fawn. Pierre volage ne queult mousse (A rolling stone gathers no moss).—De l’hermite qui se désespéra pour le larron que ala en paradis avant que lui, 13th century. [back] Note 48. To rob Peter and pay Paul is said to have derived its origin when, in the reign of Edward VI., the lands of St. Peter at Westminster were appropriated to raise money for the repair of St. Paul’s in London. [back] Note 49. You know that love Will creep in service when it cannot go. William Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, act iv. sc. 2. [back] Note 50. Shakespeare alludes to this proverb in Macbeth:— Letting I dare not wait upon I would, Like the poor cat i’ the adage. Cat lufat visch, ac he nele his feth wete.—MS. Trinity College, Cambridge, circa 1250. [back] Note 51. Whylst grass doth grow, oft sterves the seely steede.—Whetstone: Promos and Cassandra. 1578. While the grass grows— The proverb is something musty. William Shakespeare: Hamlet, act iii. sc. 4. [back] Note 52. An earlier instance occurs in Heywood, in his “Dialogue on Wit and Folly,” circa 1530. [back] Note 53. Two strings to his bow.—Richard Hooker: Polity, book v. chap. lxxx. George Chapman: D’ Ambois, act ii. sc. 3. Samuel Butler: Hudibras, part iii. canto i. line 1. Churchill: The Ghost, book iv. Henry Fielding: Love in Several Masques, sc. 13. [back] Note 54. See Chaucer, Quotation 42. [back] Note 55. Naught venture naught have.—Thomas Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. October Abstract [back] Note 56. ’T is an old saw, Children and fooles speake true.—John Lyly: Endymion. [back] Note 57. Set all on sex and seven.—Geoffrey Chaucer: Troilus and Cresseide, book iv. line 623; also Towneley Mysteries. At six and seven.—William Shakespeare: Richard II. act ii. sc. 2. [back] Note 58. All ’s fish they get that cometh to net.—Thomas Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. February Abstract. Where all is fish that cometh to net.—Gascoigne: Steele Glas. 1575. [back] Note 59. Him that makes shoes go barefoot himself.—Robert Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy. Democritus to the Reader. [back] Note 60. This phrase derives its origin from the custom of certain manors where tenants are authorized to take fire-bote by hook or by crook; that is, so much of the underwood as may be cut with a crook, and so much of the loose timber as may be collected from the boughs by means of a hook. One of the earliest citations of this proverb occurs in John Wycliffe’s Controversial Tracts, circa 1370.—See Skelton, Quotation 5. Francis Rabelais: book v. chap. xiii. Du Bartas: The Map of Man. Edmund Spenser: Faerie Queene, book iii. canto i. st. 17. Beaumont and Fletcher: Women Pleased, act i. sc. 3. [back] Note 61. See Chaucer, Quotation 28. [back] Note 62. In old receipt books we find it invariably advised that an inebriate should drink sparingly in the morning some of the same liquor which he had drunk to excess over-night. [back] Note 63. See Chaucer, Quotation 48. [back] Note 64. Ah, well I wot that a new broome sweepeth cleane—John Lyly: Euphues (Arber’s reprint), p. 89. [back] Note 65. Brend child fur dredth, Quoth Hendyng. Proverbs of Hendyng. MSS. A burnt child dreadeth the fire.—John Lyly: Euphues (Arber’s reprint), p. 319. [back] Note 66. You do not speak gospel.—Francis Rabelais: book i. chap. xiii. [back] Note 67. Christopher Marlowe: Jew of Malta, act iv. sc. 6. Francis Bacon: Formularies. [back] Note 68. Sottes bolt is sone shote.—Proverbs of Hendyng. MSS. [back] Note 69. It has been the Providence of Nature to give this creature nine lives instead of one.—Pilpay: The Greedy and Ambitious Cat, fable iii. B. C. [back] Note 70. John Lyly: Euphues (Arber’s reprint), p. 80. [back] Note 71. Pryde and Abuse of Women. 1550. The Marriage of True Wit and Science. Samuel Butler: Hudibras, part ii. canto i. line 698. Henry Fielding: The Grub Street Opera, act ii. sc. 4. Matthew Prior: Epilogue to Lucius. Lord Macaulay (History of England, vol. i. chap. iii.) thinks that this proverb originated in the preference generally given to the gray mares of Flanders over the finest coach-horses of England. Macaulay, however, is writing of the latter half of the seventeenth century, while the proverb was used a century earlier. [back] Note 72. See Chaucer, Quotation 58. Two may keep counsel when the third ’s away.—William Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus, act iv. sc. 2. [back] Note 73. Pitchers have ears.—William Shakespeare: Richard III. act ii. sc. 4. [back] Note 74. See Chaucer, Quotation 26. [back] Note 75. Thou shalt come out of a warme sunne into Gods blessing.—John Lyly: Euphues. Thou out of Heaven’s benediction comest To the warm sun. William Shakespeare: Lear, act ii. sc. 2. [back] Note 76. Ther can no great smoke arise, but there must be some fire.—John Lyly: Euphues (Arber’s reprint), p. 153. [back] Note 77. One swallowe prouveth not that summer is neare.—Northbrooke: Treatise against Dancing. 1577. [back] Note 78. See Chaucer, Quotation 19. [back] Note 79. See Skelton, Quotation 7. [back] Note 80. I have thee on the hip.—William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act iv. sc. 1; Othello, act ii. sc. 7. [back] Note 81. See Chaucer, Quotation 35. [back] Note 82. A hardy mouse that is bold to breede In cattis eeris. Order of Foles. MS. circa 1450. [back] Note 83. The same in Don Quixote (Lockhart’s ed.), part i. book iii. chap. iv. John Bunyan: Pilgrim’s Progress. John Fletcher: The Wild-Goose Chase, act iv. sc. 3. [back] Note 84. Time trieth truth.—Tottel’s Miscellany, reprint 1867, p. 221. Time tries the troth in everything.—Thomas Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. Author’s Epistle, chap. i. [back] Note 85. I saye, thou madde March hare.—John Skelton: Replycation against certayne yong scolers. [back] Note 86. More water glideth by the mill Than wots the miller of. William Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus, act ii. sc. 7. [back] Note 87. An earlier instance of this proverb occurs in Heywood’s Johan the Husbande. 1533. He must needs go whom the devil drives.—William Shakespeare: All ’s Well that Ends Well, act i. sc. 3. Cervantes: Don Quixote, part i. book iv. chap. iv. Gosson: Ephemerides of Phialo. George Peele: Edward I. [back] Note 88. Others set carts before the horses.—Francis Rabelais: book v. chap. xxii. [back] Note 89. Gascoigne: Roses, 1575. Title of a Book of Epigrams, 1608. Beaumont and Fletcher: The Scornful Lady, act i. sc. 1; The Sea Voyage, act i. sc. 2. [back] Note 90. To the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast.—William Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV. act iv. sc. 2. [back] Note 91. Be the day short or never so long, At length it ringeth to even song. Quoted at the Stake by George Tankerfield (1555). Fox: Book of Martyrs, chap. vii. p. 346. [back] Note 92. Jack Jugler, p. 46. Francis Rabelais: book i. chap xi. Blackloch: Hatchet of Heresies, 1565. Samuel Butler: Hudibras, part ii. canto iii. line 263. [back] Note 93. What is bred in the bone will never come out of the flesh.—Pilpay: The Two Fishermen, fable xiv. It will never out of the flesh that ’s bred in the bone.—Ben Jonson: Every Man in his Humour, act i. sc. 1. [back] Note 94. None so deaf as those that will not hear.—Mathew Henry: Commentaries. Psalm lviii. [back] Note 95. He has the wrong sow by the ear.—Ben Jonson: Every Man in his Humour, act ii. sc. 1. [back] Note 96. See Chaucer, Quotation 47. [back] Note 97. George Chapman: Widow’s Tears, 1612. A proverb in the time of Saint Bernard was, Qui me amat, amet et canem meum (Who loves me will love my dog also).—Sermo Primus. [back] Note 98. Falstaff. What wind blew you hither, Pistol? Pistol. Not the ill wind which blows no man to good. William Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV. act v. sc. 3. [back] Note 99. Give an inch, he ’ll take an ell.—John Webster: Sir Thomas Wyatt. [back] Note 100. Wouldst thou both eat thy cake and have it?—George Herbert: The Size. [back] Note 101. Every man for himself, his own ends, the devil for all.—Robert Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy, part iii. sec. i. mem. iii. [back] Note 102. For buying or selling of pig in a poke.—Thomas Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. September Abstract. [back] Note 103. You have there hit the nail on the head.—Francis Rabelais: bk. iii. ch. xxxi. [back] Note 104. Dives and Pauper, 1493. Gascoigne: Poesies, 1575. Alexander Pope: Horace, book i. Ep. vii. line 24. Henry Fielding: Covent Garden Tragedy, act v. sc. 1. Isaac Bickerstaff: Love in a Village, act iii. sc. 1. [back]

to John Heywood

Site copyright ©1996-2018 Anniina Jokinen. All rights reserved.
This page created by Anniina Jokinen on July 10, 2006. Last updated December 16, 2018.