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

Page 96

 
 
William Shakespeare. (1564–1616) (continued)
 
Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace,
Have no delight to pass away the time,
Unless to spy my shadow in the sun.
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 1.
1093
    To leave this keen encounter of our wits.
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 2.
1094
    Was ever woman in this humour wooed?
Was ever woman in this humour won?
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 2.
1095
    Framed in the prodigality of nature.
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 2.
1096
    The world is grown so bad,
That wrens make prey where eagles dare not perch. 1
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 3.
1097
    And thus I clothe my naked villany
With old odd ends stolen out of 2 holy writ,
And seem a saint when most I play the devil.
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 3.
1098
    O, I have passed a miserable night,
So full of ugly sights, of ghastly dreams,
That, as I am a Christian faithful man,
I would not spend another such a night,
Though ’t were to buy a world of happy days.
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 4.
1099
    Lord, Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown!
What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears!
What ugly sights of death within mine eyes!
Methought I saw a thousand fearful wrecks,
Ten thousand men that fishes gnawed upon,
Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,
Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,
All scattered in the bottom of the sea:
Some lay in dead men’s skulls; and in those holes
Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,
As ’t were in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems.
          King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 4.
1100
    A parlous boy.
          King Richard III. Act ii. Sc. 4.
 
Note 1.
For fools rush in where angels fear to tread.—Alexander Pope: Essay on Criticism, part iii. line 66. [back]
Note 2.
”Stolen forth” in White and Knight. [back]