John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
1785 William Shakespeare 1564-1616 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 1785 |
| AUTHOR: | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| QUOTATION: | King Stephen was a worthy peer, His breeches cost him but a crown; He held them sixpence all too dear,— With that he called the tailor lown. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Othello. Act ii. Sc. 3. [text] |
| WORKS: | William Shakespeare Collection. |
| Note 1. Though these lines are from an old ballad given in Perry’s Reliques, they are much altered by Shakespeare, and it is his version we sing in the nursery. [back] |