er good fortune, because Robert was not a
bastard.

"Beggars mounted run their horses to death."[865] Quoted by York in "3
Henry VI." (i. 4). We may also compare the proverb: "Set a beggar on
horseback, he'll ride to the devil."

[865] See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 326.

"Begone when the sport is at the best." Mr. Halliwell-Phillipps quotes
Benvolio's words in "Romeo and Juliet" (i. 5):

"Away, be gone; the sport is at the best."

To the same effect are Romeo's words (i. 4):

"The game was ne'er so fair, and I am done."

"Be off while your shoes are good." This popular phrase, still in use,
seems alluded to by Katharina in "Taming of the Shrew" (iii. 2), who
says to Petruchio:

"You may be jogging whiles your boots are green."

"Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit." Quoted by the clown in
"Twelfth Night" (i. 5).

"Better fed than taught." This old saying may be alluded to in "All's
Well that Ends Well" (ii. 2) by the clown, "I will show myself highly
fed and lowly taught;" and again (ii. 4) by Parolles:

"A good knave, i' faith, and well fed."

"Blessing of your heart, you brew good ale." Quoted by Launce as a
proverb in the "Two Gentlemen of Verona" (iii. 1).

"Blush like a black dog." This saying is referred to in "Titus
Andronicus" (v. 1):

"_1 Goth._ What, canst thou say all this, and never blush?

_Aaron._ Ay, like a black dog, as the saying is."

"Bought and sold" ("Troilus and Cressida," ii. 1). A proverbial phrase
applied to any one entrapped or made a victim by treachery or
mismanagement. It is found again in the "Comedy of Errors" (iii. 1); in
"King John" (v. 4); and in "Richard III." (v. 3).

"Bring your hand to the buttery-bar, and let it drink" ("Twelfth Night,"
i. 3). Mr. Dyce quotes the following explanation of this passage,
although he does not answer for its correctness: "This is a proverbial
phrase among forward abigails, to ask at once for a kiss and a present.
Sir Andrew's slowness of comprehension in this particular gave her a
just suspicion, at once, of his frigidity and avarice." The buttery-bar
means the place in palaces and in great houses whence provisions were
dispensed; and it is still to be seen in most of our colleges.

"Brag's a good dog, but Hold-fast is a better." This proverb is alluded
to in "Henry V." (ii. 3), by Pistol:

"Hold-fast is the only dog, my duck."[866]

[866] See Bohn's "Handbook of Proverbs," p. 333;