Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Wheat and Tares
The servants of the householder came, and said unto him, Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?
He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?
But he said, Nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them.
St. Matthew, Chap. xiii. Ver. 27, 28, 29.
His foes are so enrooted with his friends,
That, plucking to unfix an enemy,
He doth unfasten so and shake a friend.
Shakespeare.—King Henry IV., Part II. Act IV. Scene 1. (Archbishop of York to Mowbray.)