Hans Grovendraad, an honest clown,
By cobbling in his native town,
Had earned a living ever.
read more

Hans Grovendraad, an honest clown,
By cobbling in his native town,
Had earned a living ever.
His work was strong and clean and fine,
And none who served at Crispin's shrine
Was at his trade more clever.

One said he wondered that leather was not dearer than any other
thing. Being demanded a reason: because, saith read more

One said he wondered that leather was not dearer than any other
thing. Being demanded a reason: because, saith he, it is more
stood upon than any other thing in the world.
- William Hazlitt,

To one commending an orator for his skill in amplifying petty
matters, Agesilaus said: "I do not think that read more

To one commending an orator for his skill in amplifying petty
matters, Agesilaus said: "I do not think that shoemaker a good
workman that makes a great shoe for a little foot."

. . . And holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and
well made. "Yet," read more

. . . And holding out his shoe, asked them whether it was not new and
well made. "Yet," added he, "none of you can tell where it
pinches me."

The wearer knowes, where the shoe wrings.
[The wearer knows best where the shoe pinches.]

The wearer knowes, where the shoe wrings.
[The wearer knows best where the shoe pinches.]

Cinderella's lefts and rights
To Geraldine's were frights,
And I trow
The damsel, deftly read more

Cinderella's lefts and rights
To Geraldine's were frights,
And I trow
The damsel, deftly shod,
Has dutifully trod
Until now.

Marry because you have drank with the king,
And the king hath so graciously pledged you,
You read more

Marry because you have drank with the king,
And the king hath so graciously pledged you,
You shall no more be called shoemakers.
But you and yours to the world's end
Shall be called the trade of the gentle craft.

I can tell where my own shoe pinches me.

I can tell where my own shoe pinches me.

The fairy stitching gleams
On the sides and in the seams,
And it shows
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The fairy stitching gleams
On the sides and in the seams,
And it shows
That Pixies were the wags
Who tipped these funny tags
And these toes.