Footnotes
[8:7] The Proverbes of John Heywood is the earliest collection of English colloquial sayings. It was first printed in 1546. The title of the edition of 1562 is, John Heywoodes Woorkes. A Dialogue conteyning the number of the effectuall proverbes in the English tounge, compact in a matter concernynge two maner of Maryages, etc. The selection here given is from the edition of 1874 (a reprint of 1598), edited by Julian Sharman.
[9:1] Let the world slide.—Towneley Mysteries, p. 101 (1420). Shakespeare: Taming of the Shrew, induc. 1. Beaumont and Fletcher: Wit without Money, act v. sc. 2.
[9:2] A common exclamation of regret occurring in Spenser, Harrington, and the older writers. An earlier instance of the phrase occurs in the Towneley Mysteries.
[9:3] 'T is good to be merry and wise.—Jonson, Chapman, Marston: Eastward Ho, act i. sc. 1. Burns: Here 's a health to them that 's awa'.
don fust
C'on kint souvent est-on batu.
(By his own stick the prudent one is often beaten.)
Roman du Renart, circa 1300.
[9:5] 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.—Jonson, Chapman, Marston: Eastward Ho, act v. sc. 1.
Look before you ere you leap.—Butler: Hudibras, pt. ii. c. ii. l. 502.
He that will not when he may,
When he will he shall have nay.
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. Percy: Reliques.
[9:7] All the fatt 's in the fire.—Marston: What You Will. 1607.
[10:1] You should hammer your iron when it is glowing hot.—Publius Syrus: Maxim 262.
Strike whilst the iron is hot.—Rabelais: book ii. chap. xxxi. Webster: Westward Hoe. Tom A'Lincolne. Farquhar: The Beaux' Stratagem, iv. 1.
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.—Burns: Tam O' Shanter.
Fast bind, fast find;
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.
Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act ii. sc. 5.
Also in Jests of Scogin. 1565.
[10:4] 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.
[10:5] 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).—Rabelais: book i. chap. ii.
[10:6] 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.
[10:7] Hanging and wiving go by destiny.—The Schole-hous for Women. 1541. Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act 2. sc. 9.
Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven.—Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy, part iii. sec. 2, mem. 5, subs. 5.
[11:1] Happy man be his dole—Shakespeare: Merry Wives, act iii. sc. 4; Winter's Tale, act i. sc. 2. Butler: Hudibras, part i. canto iii. line 168.
[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 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.
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: Æneus 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).—Gestæ Romanorum. Tale lxvii.
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 emblé 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] Þet coc is kene on his owne mixenne.—Þe 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 désespéra 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.
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.
[15:4] 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, book iv. line 623; also Towneley Mysteries.
At six and seven.—Shakespeare: Richard II. act ii. sc. 2.
[15:7] All 's fish they get that cometh to net.—Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. February Abstract.
Where all is fish that cometh to net.—Gascoigne: Steele Glas. 1575.
[15:8] Him that makes shoes go barefoot himself.—Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy. Democritus to the Reader.
[15:9] 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 many 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, page [8]. Rabelais: book v. chap. xiii. Du Bartas: The Map of Man. Spenser: Faerie Queene, book iii. canto i. st. 17. Beaumont and Fletcher: Women Pleased, act. i. sc. 3.
[16:2] 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.
[16:4] Ah, well I wot that a new broome sweepeth cleane—Lyly: Euphues (Arber's reprint), p. 89.
Brend child fur dredth,
Quoth Hendyng.
Proverbs of Hendyng. MSS.
A burnt child dreadeth the fire.—Lyly: Euphues (Arber's reprint), p. 319.
[16:6] You do not speak gospel.—Rabelais: book i. chap. xiii.
[16:7] Marlowe: Jew of Malta, act iv. sc. 6. Bacon: Formularies.
[16:8] Sottes bolt is sone shote.—Proverbs of Hendyng. MSS.
[16:9] 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.
[16:10] Lyly: Euphues (Arber's reprint), p. 80.
[17:1] Pryde and Abuse of Women. 1550. The Marriage of True Wit and Science. Butler: Hudibras, part ii. canto i. line 698. Fielding: The Grub Street Opera, act ii. sc. 4. 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.
Two may keep counsel when the third 's away.—Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus, act iv. sc. 2.
[17:3] Pitchers have ears.—Shakespeare: Richard III. act ii. sc. 4.
[17:5] Thou shalt come out of a warme sunne into Gods blessing.—Lyly: Euphues.
Thou out of Heaven's benediction comest
To the warm sun.
Shakespeare: Lear, act ii. sc. 2.
[17:6] Ther can no great smoke arise, but there must be some fire.—Lyly: Euphues (Arber's reprint), p. 153.
[17:7] One swallowe prouveth not that summer is neare.—Northbrooke: Treatise against Dancing. 1577.
[18:2] I have thee on the hip.—Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act iv. sc. 1; Othello, act ii. sc. 7.
A hardy mouse that is bold to breede
In cattis eeris.
Order of Foles. MS. circa 1450.
[18:5] The same in Don Quixote (Lockhart's ed.), part i. book iii. chap. iv. Bunyan: Pilgrim's Progress. Fletcher: The Wild-Goose Chase, act iv. sc. 3.
[18:6] Time trieth truth.—Tottel's Miscellany, reprint 1867, p. 221.
Time tries the troth in everything.—Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. Author's Epistle, chap. i.
[18:7] I saye, thou madde March hare.—Skelton: Replycation against certayne yong scolers.
More water glideth by the mill
Than wots the miller of.
Shakespeare: Titus Andronicus, act ii. sc. 7.
[18:9] An earlier instance of this proverb occurs in Heywood's Johan the Husbande. 1533.
He must needs go whom the devil drives.—Shakespeare: All's Well that Ends Well, act i. sc. 3. Cervantes: Don Quixote, part i. book iv. chap. iv. Gosson: Ephemerides of Phialo. Peele: Edward I.
[18:10] Others set carts before the horses.—Rabelais: book v. chap. xxii.
[19:1] 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.
[19:2] To the latter end of a fray and the beginning of a feast.—Shakespeare: 2 Henry IV. act iv. sc. 2.
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.
[19:4] Jack Jugler, p. 46. Rabelais: book i. chap. xi. Blackloch: Hatchet of Heresies, 1565. Butler: Hudibras, part ii. canto iii. line 263.
[19:5] 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.—Jonson: Every Man in his Humour, act i. sc. 1.
[19:6] None so deaf as those that will not hear.—Mathew Henry: Commentaries. Psalm lviii.
[19:7] He has the wrong sow by the ear.—Jonson: Every Man in his Humour, act ii. sc. 1.
[19:9] 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.
THOMAS TUSSER. Circa 1515-1580.
God sendeth and giveth both mouth and the meat.[20:8]
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry.
Except wind stands as never it stood,
It is an ill wind turns none to good.
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. A Description of the Properties of Wind.
At Christmas play and make good cheer,
For Christmas comes but once a year.
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. The Farmer's Daily Diet.
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Such, mistress, such Nan,
Such master, such man.[21:1]
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. April's Abstract.
Who goeth a borrowing
Goeth a sorrowing.
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. June's Abstract.
'T is merry in hall
Where beards wag all.[21:2]
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. August's Abstract.
Naught venture naught have.[21:3]
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. October's Abstract.
Dry sun, dry wind;
Safe bind, safe find.[21:4]
Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. Washing.