John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Page 282
| John Dennis. (1657–1734) |
| 3057 |
| A man who could make so vile a pun would not scruple to pick a pocket. |
| The Gentleman’s Magazine. Vol. li. Page 324. |
| 3058 |
| They will not let my play run; and yet they steal my thunder. 1 |
| Thomas Southerne. (1660–1746) |
| 3059 |
| Pity ’s akin to love. 2 |
| Oroonoka. Act ii. Sc. 1. |
| 3060 |
| Of the king’s creation you may be; but he who makes a count ne’er made a man. 3 |
| Sir Anthony Love. Act ii. Sc. 1. |
| Mathew Henry. (1662–1714) |
| 3061 |
| The better day, the worse deed. 4 |
| Commentaries. Genesis iii. |
| 3062 |
| Many a dangerous temptation comes to us in fine gay colours that are but skin-deep. 5 |
| Commentaries. Genesis iii. |
| Note 1. Our author, for the advantage of this play (“Appius and Virginia”), had invented a new species of thunder, which was approved of by the actors, and is the very sort that at present is used in the theatre. The tragedy however was coldly received, notwithstanding such assistance, and was acted but a short time. Some nights after, Mr. Dennis, being in the pit at the representation of “Macbeth,” heard his own thunder made use of; upon which he rose in a violent passion, and exclaimed, with an oath, that it was his thunder. “See,” said he, “how the rascals use me! They will not let my play run, and yet they steal my thunder!”—Biographia Britannica, vol. v. p. 103. [back] |
| Note 2. See Beaumont and Fletcher, Quotation 24. [back] |
| Note 3. I weigh the man, not his title; ’t is not the king’s stamp can make the metal better.—Wycherley: The Plaindealer, act i. sc. 1. A prince can make a belted knight, A marquis, duke, and a’ that; But an honest man ’s aboon his might: Guid faith, he maunna fa’ that. Robert Burns: For a’ that and a’ that. [back] |
| Note 4. See Middleton, Quotation 6. [back] |
| Note 5. See Venning, Quotation 1. [back] |