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

Page 956

 
 
Martin Luther. (1483–1546)
 
9207
    A mighty fortress is our God,
  A bulwark never failing;
Our helper He amid the flood
  Of mortal ills prevailing.
          Psalm. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (trans. by Frederic H. Hedge).
9208
    Tell your master that if there were as many devils at Worms as tiles on its roofs, I would enter. 1
          Psalm. Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (trans. by Frederic H. Hedge).
9209
    Here I stand; I can do no otherwise. God help me. Amen!
          Speech at the Diet of Worms.
9210
    For where God built a church, there the Devil would also build a chapel. 2
          Table-Talk. lxvii.
9211
    A faithful and good servant is a real godsend; but truly ’t is a rare bird in the land.
          Table-Talk. clvi.
 
François Rabelais. (c. 1490–1553)
 
9212
    I am just going to leap into the dark. 3
          Motteux’s Life.
9213
    Let down the curtain: the farce is done.
          Motteux’s Life.
9214
    He left a paper sealed up, wherein were found three articles as his last will: “I owe much; I have nothing; I give the rest to the poor.”
          Motteux’s Life.
9215
    One inch of joy surmounts of grief a span,
Because to laugh is proper to the man.
          To the Reader.
 
Note 1.
On the 16th of April, 1521, Luther entered the imperial city [of Worms]…. On his approach… the Elector’s chancellor entreated him, in the name of his master, not to enter a town where his death was decided. The answer which Luther returned was simply this.—Bunsen: Life of Luther.

I will go, though as many devils aim at me as there are tiles on the roofs of the houses.—Ranke: History of the Reformation, vol. i. p. 533 (Mrs. Austin’s translation). [back]
Note 2.
See Burton, Quotation 80. [back]
Note 3.
Je m’en vay chercher un grand peut-estre. [back]