John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Page 10
| John Heywood. (1497?–1580?) (continued) |
| 81 |
| When the sunne shineth, make hay. |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| 82 |
| When the iron is hot, strike. 1 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| 83 |
| The tide tarrieth no man. 2 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| 84 |
| Than catch and hold while I may, fast binde, fast finde. 3 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| 85 |
| And while I at length debate and beate the bush, There shall steppe in other men and catch the burdes. 4 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| 86 |
| While betweene two stooles my taile goe to the ground. 5 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| 87 |
| So many heads so many wits. 6 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| 88 |
| Wedding is destiny, And hanging likewise. 7 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii. |
| Note 1. You should hammer your iron when it is glowing hot.—Publius Syrus: Maxim 262. Strike whilst the iron is hot.—Francis Rabelais: book ii. chap. xxxi. John Webster: Westward Hoe. Tom A’Lincolne. George Farquhar: The Beaux’ Stratagem, iv. 1. [back] |
| Note 2. Hoist up saile while gale doth last, Tide and wind stay no man’s pleasure. Robert Southwell: St. Peter’s Complaint. 1595. Nae man can tether time or tide.—Robert Burns: Tam O’Shanter. [back] |
| Note 3. Fast bind, fast find; A proverb never stale in thrifty mind. William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act ii. sc. 5. Also in Jests of Scogin. 1565. [back] |
| Note 4. It is this proverb which Henry V. is reported to have uttered at the siege of Orleans. “Shall I beat the bush and another take the bird?” said King Henry. [back] |
| Note 5. Entre deux arcouns chet cul à terre (Between two stools one sits on the ground).—Les Proverbes del Vilain, MS. Bodleian. Circa 1303. S’asseoir entre deux selles le cul à terre (One falls to the ground in trying to sit on two stools).—Francis Rabelais: book i. chap. ii. [back] |
| Note 6. As many men, so many minds.—Terence: Phormio, ii. 3. As the saying is, So many heades, so many wittes.—Queen Elizabeth: Godly Meditacyon of the Christian Sowle. 1548. So many men so many mindes.—Gascoigne: Glass of Government. [back] |
| Note 7. Hanging and wiving go by destiny.—The Schole-hous for Women. 1541. William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act 2. sc. 9. Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven.—Robert Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy, part iii. sec. 2, mem. 5, subs. 5. [back] |