John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
588 William Shakespeare 1564-1616 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 588 |
| AUTHOR: | William Shakespeare (1564–1616) |
| QUOTATION: | But earthlier happy is the rose distill’d Than that which withering on the virgin thorn 1 Grows, lives, and dies in single blessedness. |
| ATTRIBUTION: | A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Act i. Sc. 1. [text] |
| WORKS: | William Shakespeare Collection. |
| Note 1. Maidens withering on the stalk.—William Wordsworth: Personal Talk, stanza 1. [back] |