John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Page 14
| John Heywood. (1497?–1580?) (continued) |
| 128 |
| It is a deere collop That is cut out of th’ owne flesh. 1 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. |
| 129 |
| Beggars should be no choosers. 2 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. x. |
| 130 |
| Every cocke is proud on his owne dunghill. 3 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| 131 |
| The rolling stone never gathereth mosse. 4 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| 132 |
| To robbe Peter and pay Poule. 5 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| 133 |
| A man may well bring a horse to the water, But he cannot make him drinke without he will. |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| 134 |
| Men say, kinde will creepe where it may not goe. 6 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| 135 |
| The cat would eate fish, and would not wet her feete. 7 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| 136 |
| While the grasse groweth the horse starveth. 8 |
| Proverbes. Part i. Chap. xi. |
| Note 1. God knows thou art a collop of my flesh.—William Shakespeare: 1 Henry VI. act v. sc. 4. [back] |
| Note 2. Beggars must be no choosers.—Beaumont and Fletcher: The Scornful Lady, act v. sc. 3. [back] |
| Note 3. |
| Note 4. The stone that is rolling can gather no moss.—Thomas Tusser: Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry. A rolling stone gathers no moss.—Publius Syrus: Maxim 524. Gosson: Ephemerides of Phialo. Marston: The Fawn. Pierre volage ne queult mousse (A rolling stone gathers no moss).—De l’hermite qui se désespéra pour le larron que ala en paradis avant que lui, 13th century. [back] |
| Note 5. To rob Peter and pay Paul is said to have derived its origin when, in the reign of Edward VI., the lands of St. Peter at Westminster were appropriated to raise money for the repair of St. Paul’s in London. [back] |
| Note 6. You know that love Will creep in service when it cannot go. William Shakespeare: Two Gentlemen of Verona, act iv. sc. 2. [back] |
| Note 7. Shakespeare alludes to this proverb in Macbeth:— Letting I dare not wait upon I would, Like the poor cat i’ the adage. Cat lufat visch, ac he nele his feth wete.—MS. Trinity College, Cambridge, circa 1250. [back] |
| Note 8. Whylst grass doth grow, oft sterves the seely steede.—Whetstone: Promos and Cassandra. 1578. While the grass grows— The proverb is something musty. William Shakespeare: Hamlet, act iii. sc. 4. [back] |