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

Page 10

 
 
John Heywood. (1497?–1580?) (continued)
 
81
    When the sunne shineth, make hay.
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
82
    When the iron is hot, strike. 1
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
83
    The tide tarrieth no man. 2
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
84
    Than catch and hold while I may, fast binde, fast finde. 3
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
85
    And while I at length debate and beate the bush,
There shall steppe in other men and catch the burdes. 4
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
86
    While betweene two stooles my taile goe to the ground. 5
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
87
    So many heads so many wits. 6
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
88
    Wedding is destiny,
And hanging likewise. 7
          Proverbes. Part i. Chap. iii.
 
Note 1.
You should hammer your iron when it is glowing hot.—Publius Syrus: Maxim 262.

Strike whilst the iron is hot.—Francis Rabelais: book ii. chap. xxxi. John Webster: Westward Hoe. Tom A’Lincolne. George Farquhar: The Beaux’ Stratagem, iv. 1. [back]
Note 2.
Hoist up saile while gale doth last,
Tide and wind stay no man’s pleasure.
Robert Southwell: St. Peter’s Complaint. 1595.

Nae man can tether time or tide.—Robert Burns: Tam O’Shanter. [back]
Note 3.
Fast bind, fast find;
A proverb never stale in thrifty mind.
William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act ii. sc. 5.

Also in Jests of Scogin. 1565. [back]
Note 4.
It is this proverb which Henry V. is reported to have uttered at the siege of Orleans. “Shall I beat the bush and another take the bird?” said King Henry. [back]
Note 5.
Entre deux arcouns chet cul à terre (Between two stools one sits on the ground).—Les Proverbes del Vilain, MS. Bodleian. Circa 1303.

S’asseoir entre deux selles le cul à terre (One falls to the ground in trying to sit on two stools).—Francis Rabelais: book i. chap. ii. [back]
Note 6.
As many men, so many minds.—Terence: Phormio, ii. 3.

As the saying is, So many heades, so many wittes.—Queen Elizabeth: Godly Meditacyon of the Christian Sowle. 1548.

So many men so many mindes.—Gascoigne: Glass of Government. [back]
Note 7.
Hanging and wiving go by destiny.—The Schole-hous for Women. 1541. William Shakespeare: Merchant of Venice, act 2. sc. 9.

Marriage and hanging go by destiny; matches are made in heaven.—Robert Burton: Anatomy of Melancholy, part iii. sec. 2, mem. 5, subs. 5. [back]