Shakespeare.—Much Ado about Nothing, Act II. Scene 3. (Balthazar to Don Pedro.)
I will make a prief of it in my note-book.
Shakespeare.—Merry Wives of Windsor, Act I. Scene 1. (Sir Hugh Evans.)
NOTES.—In notes, with many a winding bout
Of linked sweetness, long drawn out.
Milton.—L’ Allegro, Line 139.
Such notes, as warbled to the string,
Drew iron tears down Pluto’s cheek,
And made hell grant what love
did seek!
Milton.—Il Penseroso, Line 106.
NOTHING.—When I told you
My state was nothing, I should then have told you
That I was worse than
nothing.
Shakespeare.—Merchant of Venice, Act III. Scene 2. (Bassanio to Portia.)
Gratiano speaks an infinite deal of nothing.
Shakespeare.—Merchant of Venice, Act I. Scene 1. (Bassanio to Antonio.)
Nothing! thou elder brother e’en to shade.
Rochester.—Poem on Nothing.
He answered nothing.
St. Matthew.—Chap. XXVII. Verse 12.
NOTHING.—O Mighty Nothing! unto thee,
Nothing, we owe all things that be;
God spake once when he
all things made,
He saved all when he nothing said.
The world was made of nothing then;
’Tis made by
nothing now again.
Crashaw.—Steps to the Temple.
Nothing but a night not to be seen,
Was seen by us.
Habington.—The Queen of Arragon, Act V. Scene 1.
The covering sky is nothing; Bohemia nothing;
My wife is nothing; nor nothing have these nothings,
If this
be nothing.
Shakespeare.—Winter’s Tale, Act I. Scene 2. (Leontes to Camillo.)
Nothing in his life
Became him like the leaving it.
Shakespeare.—Macbeth, Act I. Scene 4. (Malcolm to Duncan.)
Thus synods oft concern for faith conceal,
And for important nothings shew a zeal.
Garth.—Dispensary, Canto I. Line 71.
Who nothing has to lose, the War bewails;
And he who nothing pays, at Taxes rails.
Congreve.—Poem on Pleasing.