John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
886 William Shakespeare 1564-1616 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 886 |
| AUTHOR: | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| QUOTATION: | To gild refined gold, to paint the lily, To throw a perfume on the violet, To smooth the ice, or add another hue Unto the rainbow, or with taper-light To seek the beauteous eye of heaven to garnish, Is wasteful and ridiculous excess. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | King John. Act iv. Sc. 2. [text] |
| WORKS: | William Shakespeare Collection. |