644. Blue was the colour of truth and constancy; hence the expression 'true blue'; cf. Cler. Tale, E. 254. Green (l. 646) signified inconstancy. Lydgate, in his Fall of Princes, fol. e 7, speaking of Dalilah, says—
'In stede of blewe, which stedefast is and clene,
She louyd chaungys of many diuers grene.'
'True blue will never stain'; Proverb.
''Twas Presbyterian true blue'; Hudibras, i. i. 191.
Tyrwhitt draws attention to the Balade against Women Unconstant (in vol. i. p. 409), the burden of which is—
'In stede of blew, thus may ye were al grene.'
648. tidifs. The tidif is mentioned as an inconstant bird in Prol. to Leg. G. W. l. 154—
'And tho that hadde doon unkindenesse
As dooth the tydif, for newfangelnesse,' &c.