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

Page 137

 
 
William Shakespeare. (1564–1616) (continued)
 
1589
    Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all gently; for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say, the whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. Oh, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows and noise. I would have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant; it out-herods Herod.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1590
    Suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with this special observance, that you o’erstep not the modesty of nature.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1591
    To hold, as ’t were, the mirror up to nature.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1592
    The very age and body of the time his form and pressure.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1593
    Though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1594
    Not to speak it profanely.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1595
    I have thought some of Nature’s journeymen had made men and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1596
    First Play. We have reformed that indifferently with us, sir.
Ham. O, reform it altogether.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1597
    Horatio, thou art e’en as just a man
As e’er my conversation coped withal.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1598
    No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,
And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
Where thrift may follow fawning.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.
1599
    A man that fortune’s buffets and rewards
Hast ta’en with equal thanks.
          Hamlet. Act iii. Sc. 2.