John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
3113 Matthew Prior 1664-1721 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 3113 |
| AUTHOR: | Matthew Prior (1664–1721) |
| QUOTATION: | Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart, And often took leave, but was loth to depart. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | The Thief and the Cordelier. |
| Note 1. As men that be lothe to departe do often take their leff. [John Clerk to Wolsey.]—Ellis: Letters, third series, vol. i. p. 262. ”A loth to depart” was the common term for a song, or a tune played, on taking leave of friends. Tarlton: News out of Purgatory (about 1689). George Chapman: Widow’s Tears. Thomas Middleton: The Old Law, act iv. sc. 1. Beaumont and Fletcher: Wit at Several Weapons, act ii. sc. 2. [back] |