Such things must be if we sell ale.
This was the good woman's reply to her husband when he complained of the exciseman's too demonstrative gallantry.
If you would have the hen's egg you must bear with her cackling.
The cat loves fish, but she is loath to wet her feet.
It is to this proverb that Lady Macbeth alludes when she upbraids her husband for his irresolution:—
"Letting 'I dare not' wait upon 'I would,'
Like the poor cat in the adage."
"There's no catching trouts with dry breeches" (Portuguese).[343]
Almost and hardly save many a lie.
"Perhaps hinders folk from lying" (French).[344]