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Home  »  Familiar Quotations  »  Colley Cibber 1671-1757 John Bartlett

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

Colley Cibber 1671-1757 John Bartlett

 
1
    So mourn’d the dame of Ephesus her love,
And thus the soldier arm’d with resolution
Told his soft tale, and was a thriving wooer.
          Richard III. (altered). Act ii. Sc. 1.
2
    Now, by St. Paul, the work goes bravely on.
          Richard III. (altered). Act iii. Sc. 1.
3
    The aspiring youth that fired the Ephesian dome
Outlives in fame the pious fool that rais’d it. 1
          Richard III. (altered). Act iii. Sc. 1.
4
    I ’ve lately had two spiders
Crawling upon my startled hopes.
Now though thy friendly hand has brush’d ’em from me,
Yet still they crawl offensive to my eyes:
I would have some kind friend to tread upon ’em.
          Richard III. (altered). Act iv. Sc. 3.
5
    Off with his head! so much for Buckingham!
          Richard III. (altered). Act iv. Sc. 3.
6
    And the ripe harvest of the new-mown hay
Gives it a sweet and wholesome odour.
          Richard III. (altered). Act v. Sc. 3.
7
    With clink of hammers closing rivets up. 2
          Richard III. (altered). Act v. Sc. 3.
8
    Perish that thought! No, never be it said
That Fate itself could awe the soul of Richard.
Hence, babbling dreams! you threaten here in vain!
Conscience, avaunt! Richard ’s himself again!
Hark! the shrill trumpet sounds to horse! away!
My soul ’s in arms, and eager for the fray.
          Richard III. (altered). Act v. Sc. 3.
9
    A weak invention of the enemy. 3
          Richard III. (altered). Act v. Sc. 3.
10
    As good be out of the world as out of the fashion.
          Love’s Last Shift. Act ii.
  
  
  
11
    We shall find no fiend in hell can match the fury of a disappointed woman,—scorned, slighted, dismissed without a parting pang. 4
          Love’s Last Shift. Act iv.
12
    Old houses mended,
Cost little less than new before they ’re ended.
          Prologue to the Double Gallant.
13
    Possession is eleven points in the law.
          Woman’s Wit. Act i.
14
    Words are but empty thanks.
          Woman’s Wit. Act v.
15
    This business will never hold water.
          She Wou’d and She Wou’d Not. Act iv.
16
    Losers must have leave to speak.
          The Rival Fools. Act i.
17
    Stolen sweets are best.
          The Rival Fools. Act i.
18
    The will for the deed. 5
          The Rival Fools. Act iii.
19
    Within one of her.
          The Rival Fools. Act v.
20
    I don’t see it.
          The Careless Husband. Act ii. Sc. 2.
21
    Persuasion tips his tongue whene’er he talks,
And he has chambers in King’s Bench walks. 6
 
Note 1.
See Sir Thomas Browne, Quotation 15. [back]
Note 2.
See Shakespeare, King Henry V, Quotation 16. [back]
Note 3.
See Shakespeare, King Richard III, Quotation 29. [back]
Note 4.
See Congreve, Quotation 2. [back]
Note 5.
See Swift, Quotation 40. [back]
Note 6.
A parody on Pope’s lines:—

Graced as thou art with all the power of words,
So known, so honoured at the House of Lords. [back]