O Proserpina, For the flowers now, that frighted thou let'st fall From Dis's waggon! daffodils, That come before the swallow dares, and take The winds of March with beauty; violets dim, But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes Or Cytherea's breath; pale primroses, That die unmarried, ere they can behold Bright Phœbus in his strength,—a malady Most incident to maids; bold oxlips and The crown imperial; lilies of all kinds, The flower-de-luce being one. -The Winter's Tale. Act iv. Sc. 4.
You May Also Like / View all maxioms
That would hang us, every mother's son. -A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act i. Sc. 2.
That would hang us, every mother's son. -A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act i. Sc. 2.
Was ever woman in this humour wooed? Was ever woman in this humour won? -King Richard III. Act i. Sc. read more
Was ever woman in this humour wooed? Was ever woman in this humour won? -King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 2.
Makes a swan-like end, Fading in music. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.
Makes a swan-like end, Fading in music. -The Merchant of Venice. Act iii. Sc. 2.
Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York, And all the clouds that read more
Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York, And all the clouds that loured upon our house In the deep bosom of the ocean buried. Now are our brows bound with victorious wreaths, Our bruised arms hung up for monuments, Our stern alarums changed to merry meetings, Our dreadful marches to delightful measures. Grim-visaged war hath smoothed his wrinkled front; And now, instead of mounting barbed steeds To fright the souls of fearful adversaries, He capers nimbly in a lady's chamber To the lascivious pleasing of a lute. But I, that am not shaped for sportive tricks, Nor made to court an amorous looking-glass; I, that am rudely stamped, and want love's majesty To strut before a wanton ambling nymph; I, that am curtailed of this fair proportion, Cheated of feature by dissembling nature, Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world, scarce half made up, And that so lamely and unfashionable That dogs bark at me as I halt by them,— Why, I, in this weak piping time of peace, Have no delight to pass away the time, Unless to spy my shadow in the sun. -King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 1.
Call you that backing of your friends? A plague upon such backing! -King Henry IV. Part I. Act ii. Sc. read more
Call you that backing of your friends? A plague upon such backing! -King Henry IV. Part I. Act ii. Sc. 4.
For he is but a bastard to the time That doth not smack of observation. -King John. Act i. Sc. read more
For he is but a bastard to the time That doth not smack of observation. -King John. Act i. Sc. 1.
The cankers of a calm world and a long peace. -King Henry IV. Part I. Act iv. Sc. 2.
The cankers of a calm world and a long peace. -King Henry IV. Part I. Act iv. Sc. 2.
Enough, with over-measure. -Coriolanus. Act iii. Sc. 1.
Enough, with over-measure. -Coriolanus. Act iii. Sc. 1.
Hereafter, in a better world than this, I shall desire more love and knowledge of you. -As You Like It. read more
Hereafter, in a better world than this, I shall desire more love and knowledge of you. -As You Like It. Act i. Sc. 2.
