kespeare," p. 392.

"He is a poor cook who cannot lick his own fingers." Under a variety of
forms, this proverb is found in different countries. The Italians say,
"He who manages other people's wealth does not go supperless to bed."
The Dutch, too, say, "All officers are greasy," that is, something
sticks to them.[877] In "Romeo and Juliet" (iv. 2) the saying is thus
alluded to:

"_Capulet._ Sirrah, go hire me twenty cunning cooks.

_2 Servant._ You shall have none ill, sir; for I'll try if
they can lick their fingers.

_Capulet._ How canst thou try them so?

_2 Servant._ Marry, sir, 'tis an ill cook that cannot lick his
own fingers: therefore he that cannot lick his fingers goes
not with me."

[877] See Kelly's "Proverbs of All Nations," 1870, pp. 196, 197.

"He's mad, that trusts in the tameness of a wolf, a horse's health, a
boy's love, or a whore's oath" ("King Lear," iii. 6).[878]

[878] Halliwell-Phillipps's "Handbook Index to Shakespeare," p. 392.

"Heroum filii noxae." It is a common notion that a father above the
common rate of men has usually a son below it. Hence, in "The Tempest"
(i. 2), Shakespeare probably alludes to this Latin proverb:

"My trust,
Like a good parent, did beget of him
A falsehood, in its contrary as great
As my trust was."

"He knows not a hawk from a handsaw." Hamlet says (ii. 2): "When the
wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw."

"He may hang himself in his own garters." So, Falstaff ("1 Henry IV."
ii. 2) says: "Go, hang thyself in thine own heir-apparent garters."

"He that is born to be hanged will never be drowned." In "The Tempest"
(i. 1), Gonzalo says of the Boatswain: "I have great comfort from this
fellow: methinks he hath no drowning mark upon him; his complexion is
perfect gallows. Stand fast, good Fate, to his hanging! make the rope of
his destiny our cable, for our own doth little advantage! If he be not
born to be hanged, our case is miserable." The Italians say, "He that is
to die by the gallows may dance on the river."

"He that dies pays all debts" ("The Tempest," iii. 2).

"He who eats with the devil hath need of a long spoon." This is referred
to by Stephano, in "The Tempest" (ii. 2): "This is a devil, and no
monster: I will leave him; I have no long spoon." Again, in the "Comedy
of Errors" (iv. 3), Dromio of Syracuse says: "He must have a long spoon
that must eat with