Chapter 3

[11-2] Si les nues tomboyent esperoyt prendre les alouettes (If the skies fall, one may hope to catch larks).--RABELAIS: _book i. chap. xi._

[11-3] To cast beyond the moon, is a phrase in frequent use by the old writers. LYLY: _Euphues, p. 78._ THOMAS HEYWOOD: _A Woman Killed with Kindness._

[11-4] Let the world slide.--SHAKESPEARE: _Taming of the Shrew, ind. 1_; and, Let the world slip, _ind. 2_.

[11-5] Shall I not take mine ease in mine inn?--SHAKESPEARE: _1 Henry IV. act iii. sc. 2._

[11-6] See Skelton, page 8. SHAKESPEARE: _2 Henry VI. act i. sc. 1._ THOMAS HEYWOOD: _History of Women._

[11-7] Hold their noses to the grindstone.--MIDDLETON: _Blurt, Master-Constable, act iii. sc. 3._

[11-8] It is more blessed to give than to receive.--_John xx. 35._

[11-9] 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.

[12-1] RABELAIS: _book iv. chap. liv._ At my fingers' ends.--SHAKESPEARE: _Twelfth Night, act i. sc. 3._

[12-2] 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.

[12-3] At their wit's end.--_Psalm cvii. 27._

[12-4] THOMAS HEYWOOD: _If you know not me, etc., 1605._ TARLTON: _Jests, 1611._

[12-5] A relic of the Sumptuary Laws. One of the earliest instances occurs, 1530, in the interlude of _Godly Queene Hester_.

[12-6] Qui est pres de l'eglise est souvent loin de Dieu (He who is near the Church is often far from God).--_Les Proverbes Communs. Circa 1500._

[12-7] 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.

[12-8] Fair words never hurt the tongue.--JONSON, CHAPMAN, MARSTON: _Eastward Ho, act iv. sc. 1._

[12-9] FLETCHER: _Valentinian, act ii. sc. 1._

[12-10] HUMPHREY ROBERT: _Complaint for Reformation, 1572._ LYLY: _Euphues, 1579_ (Arber's reprint), _p. 107_.

[13-1] Neither fish nor flesh, nor good red herring.--SIR H. SHERES: _Satyr on the Sea Officers._ TOM BROWN: _AEneus Sylvius's Letter._ DRYDEN: _Epilogue to the Duke of Guise._

[13-2] Si finis bonus est, totum bonum erit (If the end be well, all will be well).--_Gestae Romanorum. Tale lxvii._

[13-3] Who that well his warke beginneth, The rather a good ende he winneth.

GOWER: _Confessio Amantis._

[13-4] LYLY: _Euphues_ (Arber's reprint), _p. 288_.

[13-5] TUSSER: _Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, An Habitation Enforced._ 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._

[13-6] Quant le cheval est emble dounke ferme fols l'estable (When the horse has been stolen, the fool shuts the stable).--_Les Proverbes del Vilain._

[13-7] 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._

[13-8] She looks as if butter would not melt in her mouth.--SWIFT: _Polite Conversation._

[13-9] 'T is old, but true, still swine eat all the draff.--SHAKESPEARE: _Merry Wives of Windsor, act iv. sc. 2._

[13-10] Ewyl weed ys sone y-growe.--_MS. Harleian, circa 1490._

An ill weed grows apace.--CHAPMAN: _An Humorous Day's Mirth._

Great weeds do grow apace.--SHAKESPEARE: _Richard III. act ii. sc. 4._ BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER: _The Coxcomb, act iv. sc. 4._

[14-1] God knows thou art a collop of my flesh.--SHAKESPEARE: _1 Henry VI. act v. sc. 4._

[14-2] Beggars must be no choosers.--BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER: _The Scornful Lady, act v. sc. 3._

[14-3] řet coc is kene on his owne mixenne.--_ře Ancren Riwle. Circa 1250._

[14-4] The stone that is rolling can gather no moss.--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 desespera pour le larron que ala en paradis avant que lui_, 13th century.

[14-5] 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.

[14-6] You know that love Will creep in service when it cannot go.

SHAKESPEARE: _Two Gentlemen of Verona, act iv. sc. 2._

[14-7] 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._

[14-8] Whylst grass doth grow, oft sterves the seely steede.--WHETSTONE: _Promos and Cassandra. 1578._

While the grass grows-- The proverb is something musty.

SHAKESPEARE: _Hamlet, act iii. sc. 4._

[15-1] An earlier instance occurs in Heywood, in his "Dialogue on Wit and Folly," _circa_ 1530.

[15-2] Two strings to his bow.--HOOKER: _Polity, book v. chap. lxxx._ CHAPMAN: _D'Ambois, act ii. sc. 3._ BUTLER: _Hudibras, part iii. canto i. line 1._ CHURCHILL: _The Ghost, book iv._ FIELDING: _Love in Several Masques, sc. 13._

[15-3] See Chaucer, page 5.

[15-4] Naught venture naught have.--TUSSER: _Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. October Abstract._

[15-5] 'T is an old saw, Children and fooles speake true.--LYLY: _Endymion._

[15-6] Set all on sex and seven.--CHAUCER: _Troilus and Cresseide,