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

1785 William Shakespeare 1564-1616 John Bartlett

 
NUMBER:1785
AUTHOR:William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
QUOTATION:King Stephen was a worthy peer,
  His breeches cost him but a crown;
He held them sixpence all too dear,—
  With that he called the tailor lown. 1
ATTRIBUTION:Othello. Act ii. Sc. 3.  [text]
WORKS:William Shakespeare Collection.
 
Note 1.
Though these lines are from an old ballad given in Perry’s Reliques, they are much altered by Shakespeare, and it is his version we sing in the nursery. [back]