The new Shaksperian dictionary of quotations. (With marginal classification and reference.)

Preface

Htl

There is no work more laborious than the Compiler's and none less appreciated. If at the advent of an author, who offers the fruit of his imagination, there are hundreds who think they could have done better there will be, on the production of any work that merely requires labour and judgment, thousands, and among them the most indolent, who will say, "What is it worth? Anyone could do this." No credit is given for design or method, but some trivial fault is discovered. Columbus having set up his egg, not only can every easy-chair pilot set up his also, but will demonstrate that the navigator's egg is a little out of the perpendicular, while his triumphant copy points from the nadir to the zenith. That a work of the dimensions of this Dictionary should be perfect is almost impossible ; passages, however common place, and having no Shaksperian characteristic, will, if they relate to any subject heading a page in this work, be considered essential by many persons ; but the author has purposely omitted all such passages, as this work is not a concordance, but a collection of beautiful, striking, or suggestive lines, arranged according to their subjects. Doubtless, however, some quaint and curious passages have been passed, and the author has no excuse but that he is only human, and that no compiler yet has produced so large a work, of a similar kind, free from all error. There are over four thousand quotations, and he who discovers some others that should have been among them, will be happy in his knowledge, while the less learned reader, whatever may be his need, will be hardly likely to miss them. It may be urged by some, that though the number of quotations given is ample, the subjects under which they are arranged are too few,

PREFACE

and that the title ' Dictionary ' is a misnomer. It must be apparent however, to the intelligent, that nearly every subject given includes others that should be understood, and that three out of every four quotations might be repeated over and over again under different headings, and thus swell the book into an unsaleable bulk. To avoid this, the author has confined himself to the strictly original sense in which the quotation was used. Again,, it would have been easy to have increased the number of subjects twenty-fold, by inserting such trite, commonplace lines as " I saw young Harry with his beaver on ; '" or, " Let's to billiards," under the headings of Beaver and Billiards. But if such quotations as these are admitted, it is obvious no single line of Shakspere's should be omitted. There are also, no doubt, hundreds of quotable lines that will not be found in this work, or, if found, not placed under the expected heading, but in the Addenda. The circumstances under which they have been used gave them their point, and the relevancy for the moment was less in the quotation than in the way it was applied. One might say of a conceited fool — " Thou wilt fall backward when thou hast more wit ;" or of an empty theatre — " A beggarly account of empty boxes," or to a tailor — " Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops." But each line, tho' fit enough, would be strained from its original meaning, and the author fails to see what justification could be urged for playing " such fantastic tricks " with the writings of the great poet. If the compiler has a worthy object, and has in the main fulfilled his design, all is done that can reasonably be expected.

There have been many books of Shaksperian Quotations published, which, tho' delightful books to read at idle moments, were tiresome ones to the busy student who wished rapidly to find a passage of which he remembered the idea but no leading word or phrase. In this work the author has given a classification of the ideas, so that when the book is used simply for reference no time is lost in search, but the eye passing rapidly down the margin falls at once upon the passage required, directed' by the words which give "the baby figure of the giant mass to come at large."

The student of Shakspere into whose hands a work of this kind falls for the first time, will have a new delight. When we become thoroughly vi

PREFACE.

acquainted with the incidents of a drama, the mere action of the play no longer pleases us in reading; the lines that simply connect the scenes, or direct the movements of the characters, when novelty is passed have lost their charm, and we turn over the leaves and rest on favourite passages. We often learn to like those best that express our own feelings, and persuade ourselves that our prejudice was shared by the great man. A comparison of all that he has said on a subiect may lead us to distinguish between the sentiments he held and those he thought fit, for dramatic purposes, to put into the mouths of his characters. To the idler, a work of this kind needs no recommendation; some pervading idea generally holds sway in the mind, and here he may take counsel of the wisest man.

The great success of a work of Proverbial Philosophy, arranged under headings, as "Love," "Marriage," "Sorrow," and the like, shows how ready people are to accept a guide if he will only talk to them on a favourite theme ; for Sorrow is never tired of its sadness, and Love will listen for ever to one who will sing only his song. To compare the much laughed at, but much read author of Proverbial Philosophy to Shakspere, would expose one to a charge of mockery, but the fact remains that this work, leaving out of consideration its use as a book of reference, is similar in character to that notorious production, and to those who have found pleasure and comfort in its pages, it may be safely said as much and more may be found here, bettered by true poetry, sound advice, perfect wisdom, and a knowledge that is almost prophetic.

London, 1875.

vn

NOTE.

The words that should be prefixed or annexed to the classification in the .margin are to be understood, and supplied in the mind of the reader. Such words, for example, as and, of versus, or, for, to, in, with, &c. By way of illustration, take the subject Accusation ; classification — Great Men, the word against being understood. In cases, however, where any difficulty or ambiguity appears, the words omitted in the margin will be found in the Digest.

ERRATA.

Page 7, Ambition : classification, Pride — Fall, for " and fall on the other — " read, " and fall on the other side." ,, 12, Beauty : classification, Descriptive of Virginal, for "virginal," read "virgin." ,, 127, Love: classification, Women — Tears, for "tears," read "fears." ,, 217, Sun : classification, Universal — Comforts, for "comforts," read "comfort."

viii

DIGEST.

SUBJECT.

SUB-HEAD OR CLASSIFICATION.

PAGE.

ACCUSATIONS ACTING

ACTORS

ACTION (See also Deeds)

AGE (Old, &c)

AMBITION

ANGER ..

APPEARANCE (See also Dress)...

ART

ARTISTS

AUTHORITY

BEAUTY...

against Great Men. Justifying, Regret for.

Overdone and Tameness in. Passion and Action. Purpose of Nature in. Speech in. Words and Action in. Wretchedness, Overdone in.

Bad, descriptive of. Clowns. Conceited. Dull. Good, descriptive of. Mankind. Onions and Breath. Praise. Times (The). Tragedian, descriptive of.

Careful. Continual, a Protest. Futile. Graceful, in Praise of. Great, Impediments to. v. Inaction, v. Inaction and Pride. Inciting to. Indiscreet. Misinterpreted. Necessary. Q.uick.

of Friends, and Success. Futile against Rage. Futile against Wilfulness, to Others v. Self.

and Beauty, its Power. Covetousness of. Descriptive of. Descriptive of, Voice, and Folly. Folly v. Childishness. Gravity in, Becoming. Hearty. Inconsiderate. Ingratitude of. Judgment of, Bad. and Love. Middle Age and Love. Neglected, and Neglected Greatness. Powerless against Beauty. Prime, and Providence. Second-childhood. Signs of. and Temper, and Wisdom. Witless, v. Youth, v. Youth and

Marriage.

Dangerous in Soldiers, and Humility, v. a Shadow, a Sin.

and Death, a Dream. Fame in War.

Meekness in Priests. Pride and Fall. Stern. Thoughts, in Youth.

Control of. and Courage. Disregarded. Expressions of. a Folly. Losers are Privileged. Privileged. Rebuked. Sin, v. Tameness. Wrongs. Unwise against Foes, in Woman, Unbecoming, v. Wisdom and Peace.

Deceptive. Deceptive, and Dress. Descriptive of, and Dress, and Dress. Rich and Poor. Faces v. Hearts. Judging by, Wrong. Misjudged. Misjudged, a Rebuke. Praised. Recognition by. ...

and Nature. Sculpture, Praised. Subjection of, to Authority. . . .

Sculptor, Praised. Talent v. Genius.

Awe of. Corrupted, and Punishment, its Errors, Privileged, and Gold, its Influence, and Insubordination in the Army, its Evil, its Power. Pride of. and Quarrels. Wrested. Unjust.

and Age. and Art. Blushes and Paleness. Children and Parents. and Death. Descriptive of. Descriptive of, in Anger. Descriptive of, Color. Descriptive of, Eyebrows. Descriptive of, Manly. Descriptive of, Virgin. Descriptive of, and Voice. Dimples. Faults. Flattery. Folly. Goodness, and Grief, its Effect. Hidden. Kindness. Loss of , in old Age. Loss of, for Ever. Portrait. Power of. Praised, its Pride.

2—3

3—4 4

4-6

6-7

7—8

8-9

9 io

TO II

IX

SUBJECT.

SUB-HEAD OR CLASSIFICATION.

PAGE.

BEAUTY...

BIRDS ...

BLESSINGS BLOOD ...

BLUNTNESS

BOASTERS

BREATH

BUSINESS

CA.RE ...

CELIBACY

CHANCE

CHASTITY

CHILDREN

CHOICE

CONCLUSIONS CONDEMNATION CONSCIENCE

CONSTANCY

CONTENTMENT

COWARDS (Cowardice) CREDULITY

CURSES

CUSTOM (s) (See also Habit)

CYNICS

DANCERS

Sense of one's own. Sickness. Slander. Temptation. Time, its Effect on. Time and Opportunity. Transient. "Virtue. Wickedness. Wisdom.

Imprisoned, the Lark. Singing, the Swallow.

Asking for. A Double. A Mother's.

Tainted and Untainted.

Pronouncing.

Affected, v. Civility, v. Eloquence, a Fault, of Speech, and Stories, telling.

Courage, descriptive of. and Exposure. Rebuked.

Foul, and Onions. Sweet.

Indifference to. and Love, at Night. Urging, Commencement. Urgent.

Enemy to Life. Loss of, Regretted. Sleep and old -Age. Useless.

Convent. Condemned. Descriptive of. Praised. Vow of, and Youth.

Descriptive of. Enemies and Friends.

Descriptive of. and Temptation. ...

•Adopted. Bastard. Beautiful. Comfort of. Clever. Descriptive of, Infants. Influence. Likeness to Parents. Parentage, Uncertain. Parentage, Condemned. Parents and Money. Sick, and Sorrow. Trusting Daughters. Ungrateful.

Alternatives. Bad, Rebuked. Common, Disclaiming. Judgment. Judgment in, Shallow.

Descriptive of. Foregone. ...

of Others. Sin and Sinners. Unequal. ...

Cowardice. Descriptive of. Wicked. and Fear in a Thief. Guilty, its Reward. Plays, their Influence. Quick, and Resolution.

Job — Comforting, in Losses. Others v. Self, to Others in Trouble. Tardy.

Descriptive of. Faith, and Man, Perfect. Women. Vow of.

and Crowns of Kings, v. Discontent. Happiness. Poverty and Wealth. Safety in

Asserting.

in Danger.

Death.

v. Discretion, and Famine, in Honesty. Inciting to. Men and Women. Moral. Moral, the True. v. Politeness, v. Rashness.

Appearance, Good. Boasting. Death. Descriptive of. and Example, in Battle. Fear and Love. Foes, Weakness. Humility, Base. Men and Women. Rebuked, Man.

Descriptive of. Fools and Teachers. Gcodnatured (people). Husbands and Jealousy. Sayings v. Deeds. Women and Men

Descriptive of. Rebuked, of Tongue v. Heart. Useless.

Breach, and Great Men. Habit. New, Fashionable. Old and New. Truth and Error. Use. ...

Descriptive of.

Descriptive of.

Descriptive of.

Safety. ...

Graceful.

Hidden.

Desired. of Inaction. Invention.

15—16 16 17

*7

17—18 18

18 19

19 — 20 20 20

21 22

22 22

23—24

24—25

25 25—26

26 27

27 27

28 28 28

SUBJECT.

SUB-HEAD OR CLASSIFICATION.

PAGE.

DAY

DEATH ..

DEBTS ...

DECEIT...

DEEDS (See also Action (s))

DELAY ...

DESERTION DESPAIR DEVIL ...

DOGS ...

DREAMS

DRESS (See also Appearance)

DRINK

DUTY

ECHO

ELOQUENCE ...

ENEMIES

ENGLAND (English)

ENVY

EVIDENCE EVIL (s)

xi

Glorious. Morning, descriptive of. Unlucky. ...

Apparent. and a Bad Life. Consolation. Courage, Expressing. Debt to God. Descriptive of. Desire for. Distinctions between High and Low. Expecting. Fear of in Cowards. Fear of, Folly. Fear of the Pain. Funeral Obscure. Happiness. High and Low. Indifference. Inspiration. Kings and Beggars. Kings and Sages. Knowledge. Leveller. Life and Eternity, v. Life, Love of. Lovers. Mirth. News, Doctor. Pomp, Glory. Possessions. Quiet. Readiness. Repentance. Resolution. Signs of Approaching. Singing. Sleep. Sleep and Dreams. Sudden. Unprepared. Warning. Words of Dying Men. Youth. Youth and Beauty. ...

and Bonds of Lovers. Death, a Payment, ment and Promises. ...

29—30 and Friends. Pay-

Fair, Looks. Justified for Friends, of the World.

Evil. Evil, false to Marriage. Evil, at Night. Evil, and Pity. Evil, and Regret. Evil, v. Words. Fear to Attempt. Good. Good, and Light. Good, Unpraised. Hesitation. Incomplete. Justifying. Performance. Performance and Promise. Persisted, and Repentance. Price. Recrimination. Reluctance. Temptation. Unnatural, v. Words. ...

Dangerous. Descriptive of, and Beggary. Suspense, and Thinking.

Descriptive of.

Descriptive of. Expressing.

and Death, his Due. a Gentleman, and Scripture, and Temptation, and Truth. Wine, Inordinate Use of

Descriptive of. Hounds, their Lick and Sores. Physic. Qualities, Different.

Bad. Belief in. Delusion. Descriptive of Queen Mab. and Falsehood, and Fear, and Foregone Acts. Happy, and Life. Presaging Joy.

Bad. Costly, Advice. Deceptive. Descriptive of. Fashion Fool's. Mind v. Body.

Ale for Kings. And Brains, Weak. Death and Drunkenness Drunkard. Drunkard, Excuse. and Englishmen. In temperance. Intemperance of Kings, and Lechery, and Memory. Money. Unkindness. v. Water. Wine in Moderation. Youth and age.

to Father and Husband. Reward, Simpleness. Simpleness, Respect.

Descriptive of. Hunting. Singing. Sorrow. ...

v. Action to the Ignorant. Descriptive of. v. Plainness.

Friends, Chance. Fortune. v. Hollow Friends. Poverty. Power. ...

Boast. Character. Decline. Descriptive of, Praise. Past and Present. Praise. Revolution. Secure against Foes. v. the World

and Virtue. ...

Circumstantial. Confirmed. Marks, Natural. ...

Alternatives, Choice. General, of Life. v. Good in Man.

30—34

35—37

37-38

38—40 40

40—41

41—42 42 42

42—43

43—44

44 44—45

SUBJECT.

SUB-HEAD OR CLASSIFICATION.

PAGE.

EVILS (s)

EXCUSES EXILE

EXPERIENCE ...

EXTRAVAGANCE EYES

FACES

FALSEHOOD

FAME (See also Glory) FAREWELLS

FASHION (See also Novelty)...

FATE

FAULTFINDERS FAULTS

FEAR

FLATTERERS ...

FLATTERY

FOLLY ... xii

Infection.

Justice.

Faults, Love.

Orphan. Patient and Doctor. Widow and

Faults, Worse. Guilt. Shame. Small Faults. Descriptive of. Language. Sunshine,

Death, a comparison a Consolation. . . .

Home v, Abroad. of Others, Futile. Perfection, Man. v. Sadness. Wilfulness.

Comparison to the Sun. and Friends, Loss of. ...

Appearance, Haste. Brain, Troubled Descriptive of, Beautiful. Descriptive of, Blue. Eyelashes. Inviting. Inviting and Modest. Judgment. Blind, Minds. Language. Loss. Painter, Beautiful. Power. Stars, v. Tongue, Offence. True, and Offences. Wicked, of Women, Eyebrows, of Women, v. Learning. Women, Scornful. Women, Sleep. Women, Tears. Women, Wooing. Wooing, Kisses

Blushing. Blushing, and Modesty. Changed, and Character. Complexion. Control of. Descriptive of the Character by. Descriptive of a Worn, of Men v. Women. Painted. Round, Foolish, and Sorrow. Tell-Tale. ...

and Antique Fables. Appearance, Deceptive, for Friendship. Palpable, in the Poor and Rich. Policy. Self- Credited. v. Truth, and the Devil. Women and Conscience.

Descriptive of.

Descriptive of.

Glory, luctant.

a Virtue.

to England.

to Happiness.

Tears. Time.

for Ever. Fee, Kisses, to Lover's. Lover's, Hasty. Rev. Welcomes.

Old and New.

v. Providence.

Descriptive of. Followers. Imitating,

Assurance. Avoidance, Futile. Mastering, Resistance, Futile. Resolved against.

Descriptive of . Self v. Others.

Discovered. Excuses. Faultfinders, Old. in Favourites, Excused. Full of, Descriptive of. and Good Men. In All. Law. Love. Rash, in the Rich. Self-Amendment. Self-Blindness to. a Single, and Virtues. Small, Lenity to. Unmentionable. Useful, sometimes.

Actions. Appearance. Baseness. of the Dead. Descriptive of. Extreme, Foolish. Fearless. Folly of. General. Greatness. and Hate, by Instinct. Judgment, the Cause of. Nobility, Exempt. v. Penitence. Reason. Success, Mistrust. Suspense. Tyrants. Women, Love, in Women, Natural, and Wrongs, the Cause.

All Men. Descriptive of. Fortune and Friends. Men, Betrayed by.

Beauty. Compliments, Feigning. Condemnation. Counsel. Danger. Descriptive of. Dislike. Justified, for Peace sake. Mirror. The Poor and Rich. Power of, on . Women, Sin. Vanity. Villainy's Mask. ...

Bank of, Descriptive of. Carnations, Gillyflowers. Daffodils. Distilled. on Grave. Language. Memento, Love. Oxlips and Lillies. like Pleasures. Primroses. Properties. Purples. Rain. Rosemary and Rue. Violets.

in Sage, and Fool. Skill. Sun. Wisdom.

44—45 45—46

46 47

47—48

48—49

5°

50— 5 1

52 52

52—54

54—55 55—56

56—57

57-58

SUBJECT.

SUB-HEAD OR CLASSIFICATION.

PAGE.

FOOD (Meals)

FOPS

FORGIVENESS

FORTUNE (See also Misfortune) ...

FRIENDSHIP ...

FUTURE

GENTLEMEN ...

GENTLENESS .., GHOSTS GIFTS

GLORY

GOLD (See Money or Riches)

GOOD

GOODNESS (Kindness) ..

GORMANDS .

GOVERNMENT.

GREATNESS...

Digestion, Health. Discourse, Fasting - . Disturbed. Eager. Fasting, Maladies. Feasts. Feasts, Welcomes. Home and Abroad. Temper. Welcomes. Worms.

Brainless, Descriptive of. Credulous, Descriptive of. Dulness and Wit. and Fortune. Sage. Sick. Slander of. Virtuous, and Wife. v. Wise Men. Wit.

Descriptive of. Descriptive of, Rich. Descriptive of, Shallow. ...

Granting. Imploring. Repeated.

Coming, Sign of. Decline in old Age. Decline of, and Friends. Descriptive of, Gifts of. Fickle. Flattery. Fools. Height and Decline. Incomplete, Ever. v. Independence of Spirit. Inequality of. Judgments, Influenced by. Loss of, and Friends. and Love, Influence on. Misfortune, Indifference to. Opportunity, and the Poor. Pride. Undeserved. Wealth v. Competency, and Wisdom, Power of. and Women.

Absent. Accidents make Foes, and Animals, Instinct of. Assistance, and Confidence, Withheld. Dangerous, and Dispositions Alike. False, Descriptive of. Flattering. Forbearance. Forgotten. Forswearing. and Goods, In common. Hollow, v. Foes. Love. Number. Old and New. and the Poor, and Fortune. True. Truth of, in Trial. Trusting, Advice as to. Use. in Wealth and Poverty.

Asserting. Ceremony. Descriptive of. False. Feigned. Flattery. Foolish. Forgotten. Loans and Interest. and Love. Platonic, Danger of. of Wicked — Men

After-Death, Unknown. Descriptive of. Knowledge of, Desired. Knowledge of, and Despair. Times, Prophecy. Uncertain.

Adam, Profession. Descriptive of. Descriptive of a Poor. Devil. (The) Education. Plebeian, and Son. Young. . . .

Blessings. Power. Want of. a Weakness. Weakness, Descriptive of

Addressing

Descriptive of. Ridiculed.

and Cock-crow.

Visiting, Earth.

of Fortune and Nature. and Giver v. Value. Giver, Descriptive of. of Heaven, a Complaint. Knowledge. Beauty. of Nature. of Nature, Use. Power on Women. Of Rich — Men. Reluctant. Superfluous. Value. Value, in Love. Value, when Lost. Women, and Tears. Of Women to Men

Crimes. Descriptive of, Great. Little, of War, Ridiculed, its Wretchedness.

Abuse.

Revenge.

in Everything.

Bold. Cruelty. Descriptive of Relatives. v. fluenced by.

Brainless, Descriptive of. .

Mystery. Obedience to.

Young

and Abuse of Power, and Fattery. Death v. Evil. Name.

Philanthropy.

Unfortunate.

Praise, and Woman, In-

Power and Knowledge. Rulers,

59 59—60

60—62

62 — 64 64—65

65-66

66 66—67

Aim, True. Burden. Ceremonv, Decline. Descriptive of. Fallen,

67—68 68

68—69

69 69

69—70

70—72

Xlll

SUBJECT.

SUB-HEAD OR CLASSIFICATION.

PAGE.

GREED ...

GRIEF ...

GUESTS

GUILT

HABIT(See also Custom) HAIR

HANDS

HASTE

HATE

HERESY (Heretic) ...

HOME

HONESTY

HONOUR (s)

HOPE

HORSES xiv and Friends. Fallen, Favours, Uncertainty.

a Farewell. Fallen, a Happiness Hidden, Descriptive of. Lost

Love. v. Lowliness and Content. Modesty. Self. Knowledge. Slander. Soiled. Thought v. Action True. Uncertainty. ...

Folly, Descriptive of. its Influence.

Affected. Alone, Suffering. Anticipation. Appearance. Beauty Checked. Consolation. Control. Courage, Pride. Death, Result. Descriptive of, Great. Duration. Duration, and Worth. Looks, Expressing. Extreme. Everywhere. Fellowship. Folly, of Immoderate. Foreboding. Good — Effect. Great, Effect. Great, Cure. Great, and Lesser Hidden. Ill, Effect. Imagination. Impatient. Indifference. Insanity, and Joy, Mixed. Moderate, and Excessive. Mock. Old and New. Passive. Prolonged — a Fault. Real, and Reason. Relating. Silent. Sleep. Sympathy. Sympathy, Mocked. Tears, Comfort. Time. Unknown. Unspoken. Unreasonable. and Wisdom, and Words, and Words of Women and Host. Unbidden. v. Farewell

Wedding and Fathers. Welcome,

Descriptive of. and Fear.

Descriptive

Conscience. Conscience and Fear.

Self-Betraying.

Bad v. Good. Breaking. Breaking, Difficulty of. Power of, for Good.

Brown. Descriptive of. Carelessly, Dressed. Chestnut, on the Face, of Men. False. Golden, Descriptive of. Portrait of, Golden. Red, Character. ...

Bloody, by Murder. Descriptive of Beautiful. Descriptive of Coarse. Descriptive of Health. Descriptive of White Idle v. Intelligence. Innocent. Labour and Brave Minds v. Weapons in Quarrels. Youth and Health

Competency v. Superfluity. Descriptive of. Heaven v. Earth of Others. Silent. Transient, in Virtue, and Philosophy. ..

Business, v. Caution and Slowness. Descriptive of. Inciting to, Descriptive of. the Folly of. ...

and Fear, and Killing

Descriptive of.

Absent, Mirth. Keeping, Descriptive of. perienced. Meals.

Adversity. Asserting, v. Beauty. Courage. Description of, Men. Descriptive of, Praise. Dishonesty, and Fortune, and Women. Folly. Poverty. Rare.

Asserting. Bestowal of, Reason, for Bribery. Burden. Danger. Death. Descriptive of. Desired. Emulation. False. Life. Loss. Misplaced. mere Title, v. True. True. True v. False. True, Descriptive of.

Deceptive. Descriptive of, Power. Future. False. High, and Low. Lovers. and the Miserable. Pleasure, of Imagination. ...

Looks. and the Negligent. Violent, Words of, in Sport.

Keeping, Inex-

Descriptive of. Descriptive of, Rider. Descriptive cf, the Hare. Music.

Young, Burthen 'd.

70 — 72 73

73—77 77—78

78 78

78—79

79 — 80 80

80—81 81

81—83

83—84

84—85

85 85—86

SUBJECT.

SUB-HEAD OR CLASSIFICATION.

PAGE.

HUSBANDS (See also Wives)...

HYPOCRITES

IDLENESS

IGNORANCE

IMAGINATION (See also Thoughts)

INCONSTANCY