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Night: Quotations from Shakespearian Quotations

When creeping murmur, and the poring dark, Fill the wide vessel of the universe.— H. V. iv. chorus.

The dragon wing of night o'er-spreads the earth. T. C. v. 9. The gaudy, blabbing, and remorseful day Is crept into the bosom of the sea; And now loud howling wolves arouse the jades Who, with their drowsy, slow, and flagging wings Clip dead men's graves, and from their misty jaws Breathe foul contagious darkness in the air.— H. VI. PT. II. iv. 1

Now o'er the one half world Nature seems dead, and wicked dreams abuse The curtain'd sleep; now witchcraft celebrates Pale Hecate's offerings: and wither'd murder, Alarum'd by his sentinel, the wolf, Whose howl's his watch, thus, with his stealthy pace, With Tarquin's ravishing strides, towards his design Moves like a ghost.— M. ii. 1.

Stumbling night.— K J. v. 5.

Look how the floor of heaven Is thick inlaid with patines of bright gold; There's not the smallest orb which thou behold'st, But in his motion like an angel sings, Still quiring to the young ey'd cherubim.— M. M. iv. 1.

Vaporous night approaches. Now the hungry lion roars, And the wolf behowls the moon; Whilst the heavy ploughman snores, All with weary task fore-done. Now the wasted brands do glow, Whilst the screech-owl, screeching loud, Puts the wretch that lies in woe, In remembrance of a shroud. Now it is the time of night, That the graves all gaping wide, Every one lets forth his sprite, In the church-way paths to glide: And we fairies, that do run, By the triple Hecate's team, From the presence of the sun, Following darkness like a dream, Now are frolic; not a mouse Shall disturb this hallow'd house : I am sent, with broom, before,— M. N. v. 2

To sweep the dust behind the door. Come, gentle night; come, loving, black-brow'd night, Give me my Romeo ; and, when he shall die, Take him, and cut him out in little stars, And he shall make the face of heaven so fine, That all the world will be in love with night,— R. J. iii. 2.

And pay no worship to the garish sun. The iron tongue of midnight hath told twelve :-— M. N. v. 1.

Lovers to bed; 'tis almost fairy time. To bed, to bed: Sleep kill those pretty eyes, And give as soft attachment to thy senses, As infants empty of all thought.— T. C. iv. 2

Beshrew the witch: with venomous wights she stays, As tediously as hell; but flies the grasps of love, With wings more momentary-swift than thought. T.C.iv.2— A. W. iv. 4

Pitchy night. 'Tis now the very witching time of night, When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out— H. iii. 1.

Contagion to the world. The time when screech-owls cry, and ban-dogs howl.— H. VI. PT. II. i. 4

Hark! peace! It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bell-man.— M. ii. 2.

Which gives the stern'st good night.