John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
2982 John Dryden 1631-1700 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 2982 |
| AUTHOR: | John Dryden (1631–1700) |
| QUOTATION: | And raw in fields the rude militia swarms, Mouths without hands; maintain’d at vast expense, In peace a charge, in war a weak defence; Stout once a month they march, a blustering band, And ever but in times of need at hand. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Cymon and Iphigenia. Line 400. |