Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Confound
The attempt and not the deed, confounds us.
Shakespeare.—Macbeth, Act II. Scene 2. (Lady Macbeth.)
If ever fearful
To do a thing, when I the issue doubted,
Whereof the execution did cry out
Against the non-performance; ’twas a fear
Which oft infects the wisest.
Shakespeare.—Winter’s Tale, Act I. Scene 2. (Camillo to Leontes.)