John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
2011 Thomas Middleton 1580-1627 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 2011 |
| AUTHOR: | Thomas Middleton (1580–1627) |
| QUOTATION: | Black spirits and white, red spirits and gray, Mingle, mingle, mingle, you that mingle may. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | The Witch. Act v. Sc. 2. |
| Note 1. These lines are introduced into Macbeth, act iv. sc. 1. According to Steevens, “the song was, in all probability, a traditional one.” Collier says, “Doubtless it does not belong to Middleton more than to Shakespeare.” Dyce says, “There seems to be little doubt that ‘Macbeth’ is of an earlier date than ‘The Witch.’” [back] |