Grocott & Ward, comps. Grocott’s Familiar Quotations, 6th ed. 189-?.
Silence
So sweetly she sang, as in silence she stray’d
O’er the ruins of Babylon’s towers.
Sloman.—The Maid of Judah.
Silence in love betrays more woe
Than words, though ne’er so witty;
A beggar that is dumb, you know,
May challenge double pity.
Sir Walter Raleigh.—The Silent Lover, Verse 6.
I tell you, sir, the lady is not at liberty. It’s a match. You see she says nothing. Silence gives consent.
Goldsmith.—The Good-natured Man, Act II.
You promised me your silence, and you break it
Ere I have scarce begun.
Dryden.—All for Love, Act II. Scene 1.
D’ye think a woman’s silence can be natural?
Farquhar.—The Inconstant, Act II.
Let silence close our folding-doors of speech.
Carey.—Chrononhotonthologos, Scene 1.
The Muses were dumb while Apollo lectured.
Charles Lamb.—Letter to Barton.