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Folk-lore of Shakespeare, by T.F. Thiselton Dyer, [1883], at sacred-texts.com
In the present chapter are collected together the chief proverbs either quoted or alluded to by Shakespeare. Many of these are familiar to most readers, but have gained an additional interest by reason of their connection with the poet's writings. At the same time, it may be noted, that very many of Shakespeare's pithy sayings have since his day passed into proverbs, and have taken their place in this class of literature. It is curious to notice, as Mrs Cowden Clarke remarks, 1 how "Shakespeare has paraphrased some of our commonest proverbs in his own choice and elegant diction." Thus, "make hay while the sun shines," becomes—
a statement which applies to numerous other proverbial sayings.
"A black man is a jewel in a fair woman's eyes."—In the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (v. 2), the following passage is an amusing illustration of the above:—
In "Titus Andronicus" (v. 1), there is a further allusion to this proverb where Lucius says of Aaron:—
"A beggar marries a wife and lice."—So in "King Lear" (iii. 2), song—
Thus it is also said—"A beggar payeth a benefit with a louse."
"A cunning knave needs no broker."—This old proverb is quoted by Hume in "2 Henry VI." (i. 2):—
"A curs’t cur must be tied short."—With this proverb we may compare what Sir Toby says in "Twelfth Night" (iii. 2) to Sir Andrew:—
"A drop hollows the stone," or "many drops pierce the stone."—We may compare "3 Henry VI." (iii. 2), "much rain wears the marble," and also the messenger's words (ii. 1), when he relates how "the noble Duke of York was slain"—
"A finger in every pie."—So in "Henry VIII." (i. 1), Buckingham says of Wolsey:—
To the same purport is the following proverb 1—"He had I a finger in the pie when he burnt his nail off."
"A fool's bolt is soon shot."—Quoted by Duke of Orleans in "Henry V." (iii. 7), With this we may compare the French—"De fol juge breve sentence." 2
"A friend at court is as good as a penny in the purse."—So in "2 Henry IV." (v. 1), Shallow says—
The French equivalent of this saying is—"Bon fait avoir ami en cour, car le procès en est plus court."
"A little pot's soon hot."—Grumio in "Taming of the Shrew" (iv. 1), uses this familiar proverb—"Were not I a little pot and soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth," &c.
"A pox of the devil."—"Henry V." (ii. 1.)
"A smoky chimney and a scolding wife are two bad companions."—There are various versions of this proverb—Ray gives the following:—"Smoke, raining into the house, and a scolding wife, will make a man run out of doors."
Hotspur, in "1 Henry IV." (iii. 1), says of his father,—
"A snake lies hidden in the grass."—This, as Mr Green 1 remarks, is no unfrequent proverb, and the idea is often made use of by Shakespeare. Thus in "2 Henry VI." (iii. 1), Margaret declares to the attendant nobles—
Lady Macbeth (i. 5), tells her husband,—
Juliet ("Romeo and Juliet," iii. 2), speaks of
"A staff is quickly found to beat a dog."—Other versions of this proverb are,—
"It is easy to find a stone to throw at a dog." 2
[paragraph continues] So in "2 Henry VI." (iii. 1), Gloucester says,—
"A wise man may live anywhere."—In "Richard II." (i. 3), John of Gaunt says,—
"A woman conceals what she does not know."—Hence Hotspur says to his wife in "1 Henry IV." (ii. 3),—
"All men are not alike."—"Much Ado about Nothing" (iii. 5). 1
"All's Well that Ends well."
"As lean as a rake."—So in "Coriolanus" (i. 1), one of the citizens says,—"Let us revenge this with our pikes, ere we become rakes."—So Spenser in his "Faerie Queene" (bk. ii. can. it),—
This proverb is found in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" (i. 289),—
"As thin as a whipping post" is another proverb of the same kind.
"As mad as a march hare."—"The Two Noble Kinsmen" (iii. 5). We may compare the expression "hare-brained,"—"I King Henry IV." (v. 2).
"As sound as a bell."—So in "Much ado about Nothing" (iii. 2), Don Pedro says of Benedick,—"He hath a heart as sound as a bell."
"As the bell clinketh, so the fool thinketh."—This proverb is indirectly alluded to in "Much ado about Nothing" (iii. 1), in the previous passage, where Don Pedro says of Benedick that "he hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper, for what his heart thinks his tongue speaks."
Another form of the same proverb is—"As the fool thinks, the bell tinks." 1
"As true as steel."—This popular adage is quoted in "Troilus and Cressida" (iii. 2)—
We may also compare the proverb:—"As true as the dial to the sun."
"At hand, quoth pickpurse," "1 Henry IV." (ii. 1).—This proverbial saying arose, says Malone, from the pickpurse, always seizing the prey nearest him.
"Ay, tell me that and unyoke" ("Hamlet," v. I).—This was a common adage for giving over or ceasing to do a thing; a metaphor derived from the unyoking of oxen at the end of their labour.
"Baccare, quoth Mortimer to his sow."—With this Mr Halliwell-Phillipps compares Gremio's words in "The Taming of the Shrew" (ii. 1)—
Mr Dyce (Glossary, p. 23) says the word signifies "go back," and cites one of John Heywood's epigrams upon it:—
"Barnes are blessings."—"All's Well that Ends Well" (i. 3).
"Base is the slave that pays," "Henry V." (ii. 1). 2
"Bastards are born lucky."—This proverb is alluded to in "King John" (i. 1), by the bastard, who says:—
Philip wishes his brother good fortune, because Robert was not a bastard.
"Beggars mounted run their horses to death." 1—Quoted by York in "3 Henry VI." (i. 4). We may also compare the proverb:—"Set a beggar on horseback, he'll ride to the devil."
"Begone when the sport is at the best."—Mr Halliwell-Phillipps quotes Benvolio's words in "Romeo and Juliet" (i. 5) .—
To the same effect are Romeo's words (i. 4):—.
"Be off while your shoes are good."—This popular phrase still in use, seems alluded to by Katharine in "Taming of the Shrew" (iii. 2), who says to Petruchio:—
"Better a witty fool than a foolish wit."—Quoted by the clown in "Twelfth Night" (i. 5).
"Better fed than taught."—This old saying may be alluded to in "All's Well that Ends Well" (ii. 2) by the clown, "I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught;" and again (ii. 4) by Parolles:—
"Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale."—Quoted by Launce as a proverb in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (iii. 1).
"Blush like a black dog."—This saying is referred to in "Titus Andronicus" (v. 1)
"Bought and sold," "Troilus and Cressida" (ii. x).—A proverbial phrase applied to anyone entrapped or made a victim by treachery or mismanagement. It is found again in the "Comedy of Errors" (iii. 1); in "King John" (v. 4); and in "Richard III." (v. 3).
"Bring your hand to the buttery-bar and let it drink." "Twelfth Night" (i. 3), Mr Dyce quotes the following explanation of this passage, although he does not answer for its correctness:—"This is a proverbial phrase among forward Abigails, to ask at once for a kiss and a present. Sir Andrew's slowness of comprehension in this particular gave her a just suspicion at once, of his frigidity and avarice." The buttery-bar means the place in palaces and in great houses whence provisions were dispensed; and it is still to be seen in most of our Colleges.
"Brag's a good dog, but Hold-fast is a better."—This proverb is alluded to in "Henry V." (ii. 3), by Pistol:—
"Bush natural, more hair than wit."—Ray's Proverbs—So in "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (iii. 1), it is said, "She hath more hair than wit."
"By chance but not by truth." 2 "King John" (i. 1).
"Care will kill a cat; yet there's no living without it." So in "Much ado about Nothing" (v. 1), Claudio says to Don Pedro:—"What though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care."
"Come cut and long tail," "Merry Wives of Windsor" (iii. 4).—This proverb means, "Let any come that may, good or bad"; and was, no doubt, says Staunton, originally applied to dogs or horses."
"Comparisons are odious."—So in "Much ado about Nothing" (iii. 5), Dogberry tells Verges:—
"Confess and be hanged."—This well known proverb is probably alluded to in the "Merchant of Venice" (iii. 2):—
We may also refer to what Othello says (iv. 1):—"To confess, and to be hanged for his labour; first, to be hanged, and then to confess. I tremble at it."
In "Timon of Athens" (i. 2), Apemantus says:—"Ho, ho, confess’d it! hang’d it, have you not?"
"Cry him, and have him." So Rosalind says in "As You Like It" (i. 3), "If I could try 'hem' and have him."
"Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool." "King Lear" (iii. 5). It is given by Ray in his "Proverbs" (1768); see also "Taming of the Shrew" (ii. 1).
"Cucullus non facit monachum."—So in "Henry VIII." (iii. 1), Queen Katharine says:—
Chaucer thus alludes to this proverb:—
"Dead as a door nail."—So in "2 Henry VI." (iv. 10), Cade says to Iden:—"I have eat no meat these five days; yet, come thou and thy five men, and if I do not leave you all as dead as a door-nail, I pray God I may never eat grass more."
We may compare the term, "dead as a herring," which Caius uses in the "Merry Wives of Windsor" (ii. 3), "By gar, de herring is no dead so as I vill kill him."
"Death will have his day." "Richard II." (iii. 2).
"Delays are dangerous."—In "1 Henry VI." (iii. 2), Reignier says—
"Diluculo surgere," &c. "Twelfth Night" (ii. 3).
"Dogs must eat."—This with several other proverbs is quoted by Agrippa in "Coriolanus" (i. 1).
"Dun's the mouse," "Romeo and Juliet" (i. 4).—This was a proverbial saying, of which no satisfactory explanation has yet been given. Nares thinks it was "frequently employed with no other intent than that of quibbling on the word done." Ray has, "as dun as a mouse." Mercutio says—"Tut, dun's the mouse, the constable's own word."
"Empty vessels give the greatest sound."—Quoted in "Henry V." (iv. 4).
"Every dog hath his day, and every man his hour."—This old adage seems alluded to by the Queen in "Hamlet" (v. 1). 1
"Every man at forty is either a fool or a physician." 2—This popular proverb is probably referred to in "Merry Wives of Windsor" (iii. 4), by Mistress Quickly, who tells Fenton how she had recommended him as a suitor for Mr Page's daughter instead of Doctor Caius:—"This is my doing now: 'nay,' said I, 'will you cast away your child on a fool, and a physician? Look on Master Fenton:' this is my doing."
"Familiarity breeds contempt."—So in the "Merry Wives of Windsor" (i. 1), Slender says, "I hope, upon familiarity will grow more contempt."
"Fast bind, fast find."—In "Merchant of Venice" (ii. 5), Shylock says—
"Finis coronat opus."—A translation of this Latin proverb is given by Helena in "All's Well that Ends Well" (iv. 4):—
In "2 Henry VI." (v. 2), too, Clifford's expiring words are—"La fin couronne les œuvres." We still have the expression to crown, in the sense of to finish or make perfect. Mr Douce 3 remarks that "coronidem imponere is a metaphor well known to the ancients, and supposed to have originated from the practice of finishing buildings by placing a crown at the top as an ornament; and for this reason the words crown, top and head, are become synonymous in most languages. There is reason for believing that the ancients placed a crescent at the beginning, and a crown, or some ornament that resembled
it, at the end of their books." In "Troilus and Cressida" (iv. 5), Hector says
Prince Henry ("2 Henry IV.," ii. 2) in reply to Poins, gives another turn to the proverb:—"By this hand, thou thinkest me as far in the devil's book as thou and Falstaff for obduracy and persistency: let the end try the man." 1
"Fly pride, says the peacock."—This is quoted by Dromio of Syracuse in "The Comedy of Errors" (iv. 3) 2—
"Friends may meet, but mountains never greet."—This is ironically alluded to in "As You Like It" (iii. 2), by Celia—"It is a hard matter for friends to meet; but mountains may be removed with earthquakes and so encounter."
"Give the devil his due."—In "Henry V." (iii. 7) it is quoted by the Duke of Orleans.
"God sends fools fortune."—It is to this version of the Latin adage, "Fortuna favet fatuis" ("Fortune favours fools"), that Touchstone alludes in his reply to Jaques, in "As You Like It" (ii. 7)—
Under different forms the same proverb is found on the Continent. The Spanish say, "The mother of God appears to fools;" and the German one is this, "Fortune and women are fond of fools." 3
"God sends not corn for the rich only."—This is quoted by Marcius in Coriolanus (i. 1).
"Good goose, do not bite."—This proverb is used in "Romeo and Juliet" (ii. 4)—
"Good liquor will make a cat speak."—So in the "Tempest" (ii. 2) Stephano says—"Come on your ways: open your mouth; here is that which will give language to you, cat; open your mouth."
"Good wine needs no bush."—This old proverb, which is quoted by Shakespeare in "As You Like It" (v. 4, "Epilogue")—"If it be true that good wine needs no bush, ’tis true that a good play needs no epilogue"—refers to the custom of hanging up a bunch of twigs, or a wisp of hay at a roadside inn, as a sign that drink may be had within. This practice, "which still lingers in the cider-making counties of the west of England, and prevails more generally in France, is derived from the Romans, among whom a bunch of ivy was used as the sign of a wine shop." They were, also, in the habit of saying, "Vendible wine needs no ivy hung up." The Spanish have a proverb—"Good wine needs no crier." 1
"Greatest clerks not the wisest men."—Mr Halliwell-Phillipps, in his "Handbook Index to Shakespeare" (391), quotes the following passage in "Twelfth Night" (iv. 2), where Maria tells the Clown to personate Sir Topas the curate—"I am not tall enough to become the function well, nor lean enough to be thought a good student; but to be said an honest man and a good housekeeper goes as fairly as to say a careful man and a great scholar."
"Happy man be his dole."—("Taming of the Shrew," i. 1; "1 Henry IV." ii. 2). Ray has it, "Happy man, happy dole;" or, "Happy man by his dole."
"Happy the bride on whom the sun shines."—Mr Halliwell-Phillipps, in his "Handbook Index to Shakespeare" (p. 392), quotes as an illustration of this popular proverb, the following passage in the "Twelfth Night" (iv. 3), where Olivia and Sebastian having made "a contract of eternal bond of love," the former says—
"Happy the child whose father went to the devil." 1—So, in "3 King Henry VI." (ii. 2), the King asks interrogatively—
The Portuguese say, "Alas, for the son whose father goes to heaven."
"Hares pull dead lions by the beard."—In "King John" (ii. 1), the bastard says to Austria—
"Have is have, however men do catch."—Quoted by the bastard in "King John" (i. 1).
"Heaven's above all."—In "Richard II." (iii. 3). York tells Bolingbroke—
So, too, in "Othello" (ii. 3), Cassio says—
"He is a poor cook who cannot lick his own fingers."—Under a variety of forms, this proverb is found in different countries. The Italians say, "He who manages other people's wealth does not go supperless to bed." The Dutch, too, say, "All officers are greasy," that is, something sticks to them. 3 In "Romeo and Juliet" (iv. 2), the saying is thus alluded to—
"He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath."—"King Lear" (iii. 6). 4
"Heroum filii noxæ."—It is a common notion that a father above the common rate of men, has usually a son below it. Hence in the "Tempest" (i. 2), Shakespeare probably alludes to this Latin proverb—
"He knows not a hawk from a handsaw."—Hamlet says (ii. 2)—"When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw."
"He may hang himself in his own garters."—So, Falstaff, ("1 Henry IV." 2), says—"Go hang thyself in thy own heir-apparent's garters."
"He that is born to be hanged will never be drowned."—In the "Tempest" (i. 1), Gonzalo says of the boatswain:—"I have great comfort from this fellow: methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his hanging: make the rope of his destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage. If he be not born to be hanged, our case is miserable."
The Italians say, "He that is to die by the gallows, may dance on the river."
"He that dies pays all debts."—"Tempest" (iii. 2.)
"He who eats with the devil hath need of a long spoon."—This is referred to by Stephano in the "Tempest" (ii. 2), "This is a devil, and no monster: I will leave him; I have no long spoon." Again, in the "Comedy of Errors" (iv. 2), Dromio of Syracuse says, "He must have a long spoon that must eat with the devil."
The old adage which tells how:—
is quoted in "Antony and Cleopatra" (ii. 7), by Menas—
"Hold hook and line."—"2 King Henry IV." (ii. 4). This, says Dyce, is a sort of cant proverbial expression which sometimes occurs in our early writers ("Glossary," p. 210).
"Hold, or cut bow-strings." 1—"Midsummer Night's Dream" (i. 2).
"Honest as the skin between his brows."—"Much ado about Nothing" (iii. 5). 2
"Hunger will break through stone walls."—This is quoted by Marcius in "Coriolanus" (i. 1), who, in reply to Agrippa's question, "What says the other troop?" replies—
According to an old Suffolk proverb, 3 "Hunger will break through stone walls, or anything, except Suffolk cheese."
"I scorn that with my heels."—"Much ado about Nothing" (iii. 4). A not uncommon proverbial expression. It is again referred to in the "Merchant of Venice" (ii. 2), by Launcelot, "Do not run; scorn running with thy heels." Dyce thinks it is alluded to in "Venus and Adonis,"—
"If you are wise, keep yourself warm."—This proverb is probably alluded to in the "Taming of the Shrew" (ii. 1)—
So, in "Much ado about Nothing" (i. 1)—
"I fear no colours."—"Twelfth Night" (i. 5).
"Ill gotten goods never prosper."—This proverb is referred to by the King ("3 Henry VI.," ii. 2)—
"Illotis manibus tractare sacra."—Falstaff, in "1 Henry IV." (iii. 3), says, "Rob me the exchequer the first thing thou doest, and do it with unwashed hands too."
"Ill will never said well."—This is quoted by Duke of Orleans in "Henry V." (iii. 7).
"In at the window, or else o’er the hatch."—("King John" (i. 1). Applied to illegitimate children. Staunton has this note: "Woe worth the time that ever a gave suck to a child that came in at the window!" ("The Family of Love," 1608). So also in "The Witches of Lancashire," by Heywood and Broome, 1634, "It appears you came in at the window." "I would not have you think I scorn my grannam's cat to leap over the hatch."
"It is a foul bird which defiles its own nest."—This seems alluded to in "As You Like it" (iv. 1), where Celia says to Rosalind, "You have simply misused our sex in your love-prate: we must have your doublet and hose plucked over your head, and show the world what the bird hath done to her own nest."
"It is a poor dog that is not worth the whistling."—So Goneril in "King Lear" (iv. 2), "I have been worth the whistle."
"It is a wise child that knows its own father."—In the "Merchant of Venice" (ii. 2), Launcelot has the converse of this, "It is a wise father that knows his own child."
"It is an ill wind that blows nobody good."—So, in "3 King Henry VI." (ii. 5), we read—
And in "2 Henry IV." (v. 3), when Falstaff asks Pistol "What wind blew you hither?" the latter replies—
"It is easy to steal a shive from a cut loaf."—In "Titus Andronicus" (ii. 1), Demetrius refers to this proverb. Ray has, "’Tis safe taking a shive out of a cut loaf."
"It's a dear collop that's cut out of my own flesh." Mr Halliwell-Phillipps thinks there may be possibly an allusion to this proverb in "1 Henry VI." (v. 4), where the shepherd says of La Pucelle:—
"I will make a shaft or a bolt of it." In the "Merry Wives of Windsor" (iii. 4), this proverb is used by Slender. 1 Ray
gives, "to make a bolt or a shaft of a thing." This is equivalent to:—"I will. either make a good or a bad thing of it; I will take the risk."
"It is like a barber's chair." "All's Well that Ends Well" (ii. 2).
The following passage in "Midsummer Night's Dream" (iii. 2):—
refers to the popular proverb of olden times, says Staunton, signifying "all ended happily." So, too, Biron says, in "Love's Labour's Lost" (v. 2)—
It occurs in Skelton's poem "Magnyfycence" (Dyce, ed. i. 234)—
And in Heywood's "Dialogue" (Sig. F.3, 1598)—
"Kindness will creep where it cannot go." Thus, in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (iv. 2), Proteus tells Thurio how "Love will creep in service where it cannot go." There is a Scotch proverb, "Kindness will creep whar it mauna gang."
"Let the world slide," "Taming of the Shrew" (i., Induc.).
"Let them laugh that win." Othello says (iv. 1)—
On the other hand the French say—
"Like will to like, as the devil said to the collier." With this we may compare the following passage in "Twelfth Night" (iii. 4), "What, man! ’tis not for gravity to play at cherry-pit with Satan: Hang him, foul collier!"—collier having been in Shakespeare's day a term of the highest reproach.
"Losers have leave to talk." Titus Andronicus (iii. 1), says—
"Maids say nay, and take." So Julia, in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (i. 2), says—
In the "Passionate Pilgrim" we read—
"Make hay while the sun shines." King Edward, in "3 King Henry VI." (iv. 8), alludes to this proverb—
The above proverb is peculiar to England, and as Trench remarks, could have its birth only under such variable skies as ours.
"Many talk of Robin Hood that never shot in his bow." So, in "2 Henry IV." (iii. 2), Justice Shallow, says Falstaff, "talks as familiarly of John a Gaunt as if he had been sworn brother to him; and I'll be sworn a’ never saw him but once in the Tilt yard; and then he burst his head for crowding among the marshal's men."
"Marriage and hanging go by destiny."—This proverb is the popular creed respecting marriage, and under a variety of forms is found in different countries. Thus, in "Merchant of Venice" (ii. 9), Nerissa says—
Again in "All's Well that Ends Well" (i. 3), the clown says—
We may compare the well known proverb—"Marriages are made in heaven," and the French version, "Les mariages sont écrits dans le ciel."
"Marriage as bad as hanging."—In "Twelfth Night" (i. 5), the clown says—"Many a good hanging prevents a bad marriage."
"Marry trap."—"Merry Wives of Windsor" (i. 1), this, says Nares, "is apparently a kind of proverbial exclamation, as much as to say, 'By Mary,' you are caught."
"Meat was made for mouths."—Quoted in "Coriolanus" (i. 1).
"Misfortunes seldom come alone."—This proverb is beautifully alluded to by the king in "Hamlet" (iv. 5.)—
The French say 1—"Malheur ne vient jamais seul."
"More hair than wit."—"Two Gentlemen of Verona" (iii. 2), a well known old English proverb.
"Mortuo leoni et lepores insultant."—This proverb is alluded to by the Bastard in "King John" (ii. 1), who says to the Archduke of Austria;—
"Much water goes by the mill the miller knows not of."—This adage is quoted in "Titus Andronicus" (ii. 1), by Demetrius:—
"My cake is dough."—("Taming of the Shrew," v. I). An obsolete proverb repeated on the loss of hope or expectation: the allusion being to the old fashioned way of baking cakes at the embers, when it may have been occasionally the case for a cake to be burnt on one side and dough on the other. In a former scene (i. 2), Grumio had before said—"Our cake is dough on both sides." Staunton quotes from "The Case is altered," 1609—
"Murder will out."—So in the "Merchant of Venice" (ii. 2),
[paragraph continues] Launcelot says—"Murder cannot be hid long; a man's son may, but at the length truth will out."
"Near or far off, well won is still well shot."—"King John" (i. 1).
"Needs must when the devil drives."—In "All's Well that Ends Well" (i. 3), the clown tells the countess—"I am driven on by the flesh; and he must needs go that the devil drives."
"Neither fish nor flesh, nor good red herring." 1—Falstaff says of the Hostess in "1 Henry IV." (iii. 3), "Why, she's neither fish nor flesh; a man knows not where to have her."
"One nail drives out another."—In "Romeo and Juliet" (i. 2), Benvolio says:—
The allusion, of course, is to homoeopathy. The Italians say, "Poison quells poison."
"Old men are twice children;" or, as they say in Scotland, "Auld men are twice bairns." We may compare the Greek Δὶς παῖδες οἱ γεροντες. The proverb occurs in "Hamlet" (ii. 2):—
"Out of God's keeping into the warm sun."—So Kent says in "King Lear" (ii. 2):—
"Patience perforce is a medicine for a mad dog."—This proverb is probably alluded to by Tybalt in "Romeo and Juliet" (i. 5)
[paragraph continues] And again in "Richard III." (i. 1):—
"Pitch and Pay." "Henry V." (ii. 3). This is a proverbial expression equivalent to "Pay down at once." 1 It probably originated from pitching goods in a market, and paying immediately for their standing. Tusser, in his "Description of Norwich," calls it—
"Pitchers have ears."—Baptista quotes this proverb in "Taming of the Shrew" (iv. 4)
According to another old proverb:—"Small pitchers have great ears."
"Poor and proud! fy, fy."—Olivia, in "Twelfth Night" (iii. 1), says:—
"Praise in departing." "Tempest" (iii. 3). The meaning is:—"Do not praise your entertainment too soon, lest you should have reason to retract your commendation." Staunton quotes from "The Paradise of Dainty Devises," 1596:—
"Pray God my girdle break." 2 "1 Henry IV." (iii. 4).
"Put your finger in the fire and say it was your fortune."—An excellent illustration of this proverb is given by Edmund in "King Lear" (i. 2):—"This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we are sick in fortune, we make guilty of our disasters, the sun, the moon, and the stars: as if we were villains on necessity; fools, by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves and treachers by spherical predominance; drunkards, liars and adulterers, by an enforced obedience of planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on: an admirable evasion," etc.
"Respice finem, respice furem."—It has been suggested that Shakespeare ("Comedy of Errors," iv. 4) may have met with these words in a popular pamphlet of his time by George Buchanan, entitled "Chamæleon Redivivus; or, Nathaniel's Character Reversed"—a satire against the Laird of Lidingstone, 1570, which concludes with the following words, "Respice finem, respice furem."
"Seldom comes the better."—In "Richard III." (ii. 3), one of the citizens says—
A proverbial saying of great antiquity. Mr Douce 1 cites an account of its origin from a MS. collection of stories in Latin, compiled about the time of Henry III.
"Service is no inheritance."—So, in "All's Well that Ends Well" (i. 3), the Clown says—"Service is no heritage."
"Sit thee down, sorrow."—"Love's Labour's Lost" (i. 1).
"Sit at the stern."—A proverbial phrase to have the management of public affairs. So, in "1 Henry VI." (i. 1), Winchester says—
"She has the mends in our own hands."—This proverbial phrase is of frequent occurrence in our old writers, and probably signifies, "it is her own fault;" or, "the remedy lies with herself." It is used by Pandarus in "Troilus and Cressida" (i. 1). Burton in his "Anatomy of Melancholy," writes—"And if men will be jealous in such cases, the mends is in their own hands, they must thank themselves."
"Small herbs have grace, great weeds do grow apace."—"Richard III." (ii. 4).
"So wise, so young, do ne’er live long."—"King Richard III." (iii. 1). 2
"So like you, ’tis the worse."—This is quoted as an old proverb by Paulina in the "Winter's Tale" (ii. 3).
"Something about, a little from the right."—"King John" (i. 1).
"Sowed cockle, reap no corn."—"Love's Labour's Lost" (iv. 3).
"Speak by the card."—"Hamlet" (v. 1). A merchant's expression, equivalent to "be as precise as a map or book." The card is the document in writing containing the agreement made between a merchant and the captain of a vessel. Sometimes the owner binds himself, ship, tackle, and furniture, for due performance, and the captain is bound to declare the cargo committed to him in good condition. Hence, "to speak by the card" is to speak according to the indentures or written instructions.
"Still swine eat all the draff."—"Merry Wives of Windsor" (iv. 2).
Ray gives—"The still sow eats up all the draught."
"Still waters run deep."—So in "2 Henry VI." (iii. 1), Suffolk says,—
"Strike sail."—A proverbial phrase to acknowledge oneself beaten. In "3 Henry VI." (iii. 3), it occurs—
When a ship in fight, or on meeting another ship lets down her topsails at least half mast high, she is said to strike, that is, to submit or pay respect to the other. 1
"Strike while the iron is hot."—Poins probably alludes to this proverb in "2 Henry IV." (ii. 4) My lord, he will drive you out of your revenge and turn all to a merriment, if you take not the heat."
Again, in "King Lear" (i. 1), Goneril adds—
"Take all, pay all"—"Merry Wives of Windsor" (ii. 2). Ray gives another version of this proverb, "Take all, and pay the baker."
"Tell the truth and shame the devil."—In "1 Henry IV." (iii. 1), Hotspur tells Glendower,—
"That was laid on with a trowel."—This proverb, which is quoted by Ray, is used by Celia in "As You Like It" (i. 2). Thus we say, when anyone bespatters another with gross flattery, that he lays it on with a trowel.
"The cat loves fish, but she's loth to wet her feet."—It is to this proverb that Lady Macbeth alludes when she upbraids her husband for his irresolution (i. 7),—
There are various forms of this proverb. 1* Thus, according to the rhyme,—
The French version is "Le chat aime le poisson mais il n’aime pas à meuiller la patte,"—so that it would seem he borrowed from the French.
"The Devil rides on a fiddlestick"—"1 Henry IV." (ii. 4).
"The galled jade will wince."—So Hamlet says (iii. 2), "let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung."
"The grace o’ God is gear enough."—This is the Scotch form of the proverb which Launcelot Gobbo speaks of as being well parted between Bassanio and Shylock in "The Merchant of Venice" (ii. 2),—"The old proverb is very well parted between my master Shylock and you, sir; you have the grace of God, sir, and he hath enough."
"The Mayor of Northampton opens oysters with his dagger." This proverb is alluded to by Pistol in "Merry Wives of Windsor," (ii. 2), when he says—
Northampton being some eighty miles from the sea, oysters were so stale before they reached the town (before railroads or even coaches were known), that the "Mayor would be loath to bring them near his nose."
"The more haste the worse speed."—In "Romeo and Juliet" (ii. 6), Friar Laurence says,—
The proverb thus alluded to seems to be derived from the Latin adage, "Festinatio tarda est." It defeats its own purpose by the blunders and imperfect work it occasions. 1 Hence the French say, "He that goes too hastily along often stumbles on a fair road."
"There is flattery in friendship,"—used by the constable of France in "Henry V." (iii. 7). The usual form of this proverb being, "There is falsehood in friendship."
"There was but one way"—"Henry V." (ii. 3). "This," says Dyce, "is a kind of proverbial expression for death."("Glossary," P. 494.)
"The weakest goes to the wall."—This is quoted by Gregory in "Romeo and Juliet" (i. 1), whereupon Sampson adds:—"Women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the wall: therefore I will push Montague's men from the wall, and thrust his maids to the wall."
"There went but a pair of shears between them."—"Measure for Measure" (i. 2), i.e., "We are both of the same piece."
"The world goes on wheels."—This proverbial expression occurs in "Antony and Cleopatra" (ii. 7); and Taylor, the water-poet, has made it the subject of one of his pamphlets: "The worlde runnes on wheeles, or, oddes betwixt carts and coaches."
"Three women and a goose make a market."—This proverb is alluded to in "Love's Labour's Lost" (iii. i):—
The following lines in "1 King Henry VI." (i. 6)
allude to the Adonis horti which were nothing but portable earthen pots, with some lettuce or fennel growing in them.
[paragraph continues] On his yearly festival every woman carried one of them in honour of Adonis, because Venus had once laid him in a lettuce bed. The next day they were thrown away. The proverb seems to have been used always in a bad sense, for things which make a fair show for a few days and then wither away. The dauphin is here made to apply it as an encomium. There is a good account of it in Erasmus's Adagia; but the idea may have been taken from "The Faerie Queene," Bk. iii., cant. 6, st. 42 (Singer's "Shakespeare," 1875, vi. 32).
"To clip the anvil of my sword."—"This expression in 'Coriolanus' (iv. 5) is very difficult," says Mr Green, "to be explained, unless we regard it as a proverb, denoting the breaking of the weapon and the laying aside of enmity. Aufidius makes use of it in his welcome to the banished Coriolanus."
"To have a month's mind to a thing."—Ray's proverbs. So in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (i. 2) Julia says
"’Tis merry in hall when beards wag all." 2—This is quoted by Silence in "2 Henry IV." (v. 3)—
"To have one in the wind."—This is one of Camden's proverbial sentences. In "All's Well that Ends Well" (iii. 6), Bertram says—
"To hold a candle to the devil"—that is, "to aid or countenance that which is wrong."—Thus in the "Merchant of Venice" (ii. 6) Jessica says
—the allusion being to the practice of the Roman Catholics who burn candles before the image of a favourite saint, carry them in funeral processions, and place them on their altars."
"To the dark house," "All's Well that Ends Well" (ii. 3).—A house which is the seat of gloom and discontent.
"Truth should be silent."—Enobarbus in "Antony and Cleopatra" (ii. 2) says:—
"To take mine ease in my inn."—A proverbial phrase used by Falstaff in "1 Henry IV." (iii. 3), implying, says Mr Drake, "a degree of comfort which has always been the peculiar attribute of an English house of public entertainment." 1
"Twice away says stay"—"Twelfth Night" (v. 1). Malone thinks this proverb is alluded to by the clown: "Conclusions to be as kisses, if your four negatives make your two affirmatives, why, then, the worse for my friends and the better for my foes;" and quotes Marlowe's "Last Dominion," where the Queen says to the Moor—
"Trust not a horse's heel."—In "King Lear" (iii. 6), the fool says, "he's mad that trusts a horse's health." Malone would read "heels."
"Two may keep counsel putting one away."—So Aaron, in "Titus Andronicus" (iv. 2), says—
"Ungirt, unblest."—Falstaff alludes to the old adage in "1 Henry IV." (iii. 3)—"I pray God my girdle break." Malone quotes from an ancient ballad—
"Walls have ears."—So in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (v. 1), Thisbe is made to say—
"Wedding and ill-wintering tame both man and beast."—Thus, in "Taming of the Shrew" (iv. 1), Grumio says" Winter tames man, woman, and beast; for it hath tamed my old master, and my new mistress, and myself." We may also compare the Spanish adage—"You will marry and grow tame."
"We steal as in a castle."—"1 Henry IV." (ii. 1). This, says Steevens, was once a proverbial phrase.
"What can't be cured must be endured."—With this popular adage may be compared the following—"Past cure is still past care," in "Love's Labour's Lost" (v. 2). So in "King Richard II." (ii. 3), the Duke of York says—
Again, Macbeth (iii. 2) says—
"What's mine is yours, and what is yours is mine."—"Measure for Measure" (v. 1).
"When things come to the worst they'll mend."—The truth of this popular adage is thus exemplified by Pandulph in "King John" (iii. 4)—
Of course it is equivalent to the proverb—"When the night's darkest the day's nearest."
"When? can you tell?"—"Comedy of Errors" (iii. 1). This proverbial query, often met with in old writers, and perhaps alluded to just before in this scene, when Dromio of Syracuse says—"Right, sir; I'll tell you when, an you'll
tell me wherefore;" occurs again in "1 Henry IV." (ii. 1)—"Ay, when? canst tell?"
"When two men ride the same horse one must ride behind."—So in "Much Ado About Nothing" (iii. 5) Dogberry says—"An two men ride of a horse, one must ride behind." 1 With this may be compared the Spanish adage, "He who rides behind does not saddle when he will."
"While the grass grows, the steed starves."—This is alluded to by Hamlet (iii. 2)—"Ay, but sir, 'while the grass grows,'—the proverb is something musty."—See Dyce's "Glossary," p. 499.
"Who dares not stir by day must walk by night."—"King John" (i. 1).
"Who goes to Westminster for a wife, to St Paul's for a man, and to Smithfield for a horse, may meet with a queane, a knave, and a jade."—This proverb often quoted by old writers, is alluded to in "2 Henry IV." (i. 2):—
"Wit, whither wilt?"—This was a proverbial expression not unfrequent in Shakespeare's day. It is used by Orlando in "As you Like It" (iv. i)—"A man that had a wife with such a wit, he might say—'Wit, whither wilt? '"
"Will you take eggs for money?"—This was a proverbial phrase, quoted by Leontes in the "Winter's Tale" (i. 2), for putting up with an affront, or being cajoled or imposed upon.
"Words are but wind, but blows unkind."—In "Comedy of Errors" (iii. i), Dromio of Ephesus uses the first part of this popular adage.
"Worth a Jew's eye."—Launcelot in the "Merchant of Venice" (ii. 5), says—
According to tradition, the proverb arose from the custom of
torturing Jews to extort money from them. It is simply, however, a corruption of the Italian gióia (a jewel).
"You'll never be burnt for a witch."—This proverb which was applied to a silly person is probably referred to in "Antony and Cleopatra" (i. 1) by Charmian to the sooth-sayer—
"Young ravens must have food."—"Merry Wives of Windsor" (i. 3), 1 Ray has "Small birds must have meat."
416:1 "Shakspeare Proverbs," 1858.
417:1 Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 159.
417:2 Ibid. p. 94.
418:1 "Shakespeare and the Emblem Writers," 1870, p. 341.
418:2 See Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," 1870, p. 157.
419:1 Halliwell-Phillipps’ "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 390, under Proverbs.
420:1 See Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," p. 92.
420:2 Halliwell-Phillipps’ "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 391
421:1 See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 326.
422:1 See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 333; Kelly's "Proverbs of all Nations," 1870, p. 173.
422:2 Halliwell-Phillipps’ "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 391.
424:1 Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 86.
424:2 Ray gives another form:—Every man is either a fool or a physician after thirty years of age; see Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," 1857, p. 27.
424:3 "Illustrations of Shakspeare," p. 199.
425:1 See Green's "Shakespeare and the Emblem Writers," 1870, pp. 319, 323.
425:2 Halliwell-Phillipps’ "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 391.
425:3 Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," 1872, p. 52.
426:1 Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," 1870, pp. 175, 176.
427:1 See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 100; Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," p. 187.
427:2 Halliwell-Phillipps’ "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 392.
427:3 See Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," 1870, pp. 196–7.
427:4 Halliwell-Phillipps’ "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 392.
429:2 "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 392.
429:3 Bohn's "Handbook of Proverb," 1857, p. 409.
430:1 A shaft is an arrow for the longbow, a bolt is for the crossbow. Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," p. 155.
432:1 "But now consider the old proverbe to be true, yt saieth that marriage is destinie."—Hall's "Chronicles."
433:1 See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 116.
434:1 See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," pp. 160, 251.
435:1 See Dyce's "Glossary," p. 323.
435:2 Halliwell-Phillipps’ "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 393.
436:1 "Illustrations of Shakspeare," p. 333.
436:2 See page 312.
437:1 Brewer's "Dictionary of Phrase and Fable," p. 860.
438:1 Ray's "Proverbs" (Bohn's Edition), 1859, p. 76.
439:1 Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," p. 80.
440:2 See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 115.
441:1 "Shakspeare and His Times," i. p. 216.
443:1 See Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," p. 49.
444:1 "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 395.