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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 406

 
 
Thomas Percy. (1729–1811) (continued)
 
4386
    We ’ll shine in more substantial honours,
  And to be noble we ’ll be good. 1
          Winifreda (1720).
4387
    And when with envy Time, transported,
  Shall think to rob us of our joys,
You ’ll in your girls again be courted,
  And I ’ll go wooing in my boys.
          Winifreda (1720).
4388
    King Stephen was a worthy peere,
  His breeches cost him but a croune;
He held them sixpence all too deere,
  Therefore he call’d the taylor loune.


He was a wight of high renowne,
  And those but of a low degree;
Itt ’s pride that putts the countrye doune,
  Then take thine old cloake about thee. 2
          Take thy old Cloak about Thee.
4389
    A poore soule sat sighing under a sycamore tree;
  Oh willow, willow, willow!
With his hand on his bosom, his head on his knee,
  Oh willow, willow, willow! 3
          Willow, willow, willow.
4390
    When Arthur first in court began,
  And was approved king. 4
          Sir Launcelot du Lake.
4391
    Shall I bid her goe? What if I doe?
  Shall I bid her goe and spare not?
  Oh no, no, no! I dare not. 5
          Corydon’s Farewell to Phillis.
 
Note 1.
See Chapman, Quotation 21.

Nobilitas sola est atque unica virtus (Nobility is the one only virtue).—Juvenal: Satire viii. line 20. [back]
Note 2.
The first stanza is quoted in full, and the last line of the second, by Shakespeare in “Othello,” act ii. sc. 3. [back]
Note 3.
The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,
Sing all a green willow;
Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,
Sing willow, willow, willow.
Othello, act iv. sc. 3. [back]
Note 4.
Quoted by Shakespeare in Second Part of “Henry IV.,” act ii. sc. 4. [back]
Note 5.
Quoted by Shakespeare in “Twelfth Night,” act ii. sc. 3. [back]