Folk-lore of Shakespeare Part 90

This proverb is found in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" (i. 289):

"Al so lene was his hors as is a rake."

"As thin as a whipping-post" is another proverb of the same kind.

"As mad as a March hare" ("The Two n.o.ble Kinsmen," iii. 5). We may compare the expression "hare-brained:" "1 Henry IV." (v. 2).

"As sound as a bell." So in "Much Ado about Nothing" (iii. 2), Don Pedro says of Bened.i.c.k: "He hath a heart as sound as a bell."

"As the bell clinketh, so the fool thinketh." This proverb is indirectly alluded to in "Much Ado About Nothing" (iii. 2), in the previous pa.s.sage, where Don Pedro says of Bened.i.c.k that "He hath a heart as sound as a bell, and his tongue is the clapper; for what his heart thinks, his tongue speaks."

Another form of the same proverb is: "As the fool thinks, the bell tinks."[863]

[863] See Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," p. 91.

"As true as steel." This popular adage is quoted in "Troilus and Cressida" (iii. 2):

"As true as steel, as plantage to the moon."

We may also compare the proverb: "As true as the dial to the sun."

"At hand, quoth pick-purse" ("1 Henry IV.," ii. 1). This proverbial saying arose, says Malone, from the pickpurse always seizing the prey nearest him.

"Ay, tell me that and unyoke" ("Hamlet," v. 1). This was a common adage for giving over or ceasing to do a thing; a metaphor derived from the unyoking of oxen at the end of their labor.

"Baccare, quoth Mortimer to his sow." With this Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps compares Gremio's words in the "Taming of the Shrew" (ii. 1):

"Saving your tale, Petruchio, I pray, Let us, that are poor pet.i.tioners, speak too: Baccare! you are marvellous forward."

Mr. Dyce ("Glossary," p. 23) says the word signifies "go back," and cites one of John Heywood's epigrams upon it:

"Backare, quoth Mortimer to his sow; Went that sowe backe at that bidding, trow you."

"Barnes are blessings" ("All's Well that Ends Well," i. 3).

"Base is the slave that pays" ("Henry V.," ii. 1).[864]

[864] Halliwell-Phillipps's "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 391.

"b.a.s.t.a.r.ds are born lucky." This proverb is alluded to in "King John" (i.

1), by the b.a.s.t.a.r.d, who says:

"Brother, adieu; good fortune come to thee!

For thou wast got i' the way of honesty."

Philip wishes his brother good fortune, because Robert was not a b.a.s.t.a.r.d.

"Beggars mounted run their horses to death."[865] Quoted by York in "3 Henry VI." (i. 4). We may also compare the proverb: "Set a beggar on horseback, he'll ride to the devil."

[865] See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 326.

"Begone when the sport is at the best." Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps quotes Benvolio's words in "Romeo and Juliet" (i. 5):

"Away, be gone; the sport is at the best."

To the same effect are Romeo's words (i. 4):

"The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done."

"Be off while your shoes are good." This popular phrase, still in use, seems alluded to by Katharina in "Taming of the Shrew" (iii. 2), who says to Petruchio:

"You may be jogging whiles your boots are green."

"Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit." Quoted by the clown in "Twelfth Night" (i. 5).

"Better fed than taught." This old saying may be alluded to in "All's Well that Ends Well" (ii. 2) by the clown, "I will show myself highly fed and lowly taught;" and again (ii. 4) by Parolles:

"A good knave, i' faith, and well fed."

"Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale." Quoted by Launce as a proverb in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (iii. 1).

"Blush like a black dog." This saying is referred to in "t.i.tus Andronicus" (v. 1):

"_1 Goth._ What, canst thou say all this, and never blush?

_Aaron._ Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is."

"Bought and sold" ("Troilus and Cressida," ii. 1). A proverbial phrase applied to any one entrapped or made a victim by treachery or mismanagement. It is found again in the "Comedy of Errors" (iii. 1); in "King John" (v. 4); and in "Richard III." (v. 3).

"Bring your hand to the b.u.t.tery-bar, and let it drink" ("Twelfth Night,"

i. 3). Mr. Dyce quotes the following explanation of this pa.s.sage, although he does not answer for its correctness: "This is a proverbial phrase among forward abigails, to ask at once for a kiss and a present.

Sir Andrew's slowness of comprehension in this particular gave her a just suspicion, at once, of his frigidity and avarice." The b.u.t.tery-bar means the place in palaces and in great houses whence provisions were dispensed; and it is still to be seen in most of our colleges.

"Brag's a good dog, but Hold-fast is a better." This proverb is alluded to in "Henry V." (ii. 3), by Pistol:

"Hold-fast is the only dog, my duck."[866]

[866] See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 333; Kelly's "Proverbs of all Nations," 1870, p. 173.

"Bush natural, more hair than wit." Ray's Proverbs. So in "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (iii. 1), it is said, "She hath more hair than wit."

"By chance but not by truth"[867] ("King John," i. 1).

[867] Halliwell-Phillipps's "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 391.

"Care will kill a cat; yet there's no living without it." So in "Much Ado About Nothing" (v. 1), Claudio says to Don Pedro: "What though care killed a cat, thou hast mettle enough in thee to kill care."

"Come cut and long-tail" ("Merry Wives of Windsor," iii. 4). This proverb means, "Let any come that may, good or bad;" and was, no doubt, says Staunton, originally applied to dogs or horses.