John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
1371 William Shakespeare 1564-1616 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 1371 |
| AUTHOR: | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| QUOTATION: | If it were done when ’t is done, then ’t were well It were done quickly: if the assassination Could trammel up the consequence, and catch With his surcease success; that but this blow Might be the be-all and the end-all here, But here, upon this bank and shoal of time, We ’ld jump the life to come. But in these cases We still have judgment here; that we but teach Bloody instructions, which being taught, return To plague the inventor: this even-handed justice Commends the ingredients of our poison’d chalice To our own lips. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Macbeth. Act i. Sc. 7. [text] |
| WORKS: | William Shakespeare Collection. |