Henry VI, Part 2

By William Shakespeare QUOTATION: As dead as a doornail.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Jack Cade, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 4, sc. 10, l. 40-1.

Shakespeare may have established this phrase as proverbial.

QUOTATION: Adam was a gardener.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Jack Cade, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 4, sc. 2, l. 134.

A peasant claiming all men are descended from a working man, though Adam did not have to work in the Garden of Eden.

QUOTATION: Whereas, before, our forefathers had no other books but the score and the tally, thou hast caused printing to be used, and, contrary to the King, his crown, and dignity, thou hast built a paper-mill.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Jack Cade, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 4, sc. 7, l. 34-7.

A peasant accusing Lord Saye of treason.

QUOTATION: Thou hast most traitorously corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting a grammar school.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Jack Cade, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 4, sc. 7, l. 32-4.

The peasants accusations against Lord Saye.

QUOTATION: Smooth runs the water where the brook is deep.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Suffolk, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 3, sc. 1, l. 53.

Proverbial.

QUOTATION: The treasury of everlasting joy.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. King Henry, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 2, sc. 1, l. 18.

Henry’s formula for heaven.

QUOTATION: Our kinsman Gloucester is as innocent
From meaning treason to our royal person
As is the sucking lamb or harmless dove.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. King Henry, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 3, sc. 1, l. 69-71.

The comparisons are proverbial.

QUOTATION: Faster than springtime showers comes thought on thought.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. York, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 3, sc. 1, l. 337.

QUOTATION: I fear me you but warm the starvèd snake,
Who, cherished in your breasts, will sting your hearts.
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. York, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 3, sc. 1, l. 343-4.

Plotting rebellion.

QUOTATION: Yet now farewell, and farewell life with thee!
ATTRIBUTION: William Shakespeare (1564–1616), British dramatist, poet. Queen Margaret, in Henry VI, Part 2, act 3, sc. 2, l. 356.

Bidding farewell to her banished lover.