John Heywood (1497 – 1580)
English writer known for his plays, poems, and collection of proverbs.
He that will not whan he may,
Whan he would, he shall haue nay.
Yes yes (quoth she) for all those wyse woordis vttred,
I know on which syde my bread is buttred.
But there will no butter cleaue on my breade.
And on my bread any butter to be spreade.
Euery promise that thou therin dost vtter,
Is as sure as it were sealed with butter.
There is no fyre without some smoke.
So many heads so many wits.
... Be they wynners or loosers,
... beggers should be no choosers.
A man maie well bring a horse to the water,
but he can not make him drinke without he will.
A hard beginnyng makth a good endyng.
It is better to be
An olde mans derlyng, than a yong mans werlyng.
All thing is the woorse for the wearing.
Wolde ye bothe eate your cake, and haue your cake?
Throw no gyft agayne at the geuers head,
For better is halfe a lofe than no bread.
And while I at length debate and beate the bushe,
There shall steppe in other men, and catche the burdes,
And by long time lost in many vayne wurdes.
Lyke a pyckpurs pilgrim, ye prie and ye proule
At rouers, to rob Peter and paie Poule.
Children learne to créepe er they can learne to go.
And once their hasty heat a little controlled,
Than perceive they well, hot love soon cold.
And when hasty witless mirth is mated well,
Good to be merry and wise, they think and feel.
Well aunt (quoth Ales) all is well that endes well.
Ye Ales, of a good begynnyng comth a good end.
Weddyng is desteny,
And hangyng likewise.
When all candels be out, all cats be grey,
All thingis are then of one colour, as who sey.
And this prouerbe faith, for quenching hot desyre,
Foul water as soone as fayre, will quenche hot fyre.
A heare of the dog that bote vs last night.