Imagination frames events unknown,
In wild, fantastic shapes of hideous ruin,
And what it fears creates.
_Belshazaar, Pt. II_. H. MORE.
Imagination's fool and error's wretch,
Man makes a death which nature never made;
Then on the point of his own fancy falls;
And feels a thousand deaths, in fearing one.
_Night Thoughts, Night IV_. DR. E. YOUNG.
A lamb appears a lion, and we fear
Each bash we see's a bear.
_Emblems, Bk. I.-XIII_. F. QUARLES.
Or in the night, imagining some fear,
How easy is a bush supposed a bear!
_Midsummer Night's Dream, Act v. Sc. 1_. SHAKESPEARE.
His fear was greater than his haste:
For fear, though fleeter than the wind,
Believes 't is always left behind.
_Hadibras, Pt. III. Canto III_. S. BUTLER.
His flight was madness: when our actions do not,
Our fears do make us traitors.
_Macbeth, Act iv. Sc. 2_. SHAKESPEARE.
Such a numerous host
Fled not in silence through the frighted deep,
With ruin upon ruin, rout on rout,
Confusion worse confounded.
_Paradise Lost, Bk. II_. MILTON.
Thou tremblest; and the whiteness in thy cheek
Is apter than thy tongue to tell thy errand.
_King Henry IV., Pt. II. Act i. Sc. 1_. SHAKESPEARE.
To fear the foe, since fear oppresseth strength,
Gives in your weakness strength unto your foe.
_King Richard II., Act in. Sc. 2_. SHAKESPEARE.
Fear
Stared in her eyes, and chalked her face.
_The Princess, IV_. A. TENNYSON.
Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair
And make my seated heart knock at my ribs,
Against the use of nature. Present fears
Are less than horrible imaginings.
_Macbeth, Act i. Sc. 3_. SHAKESPEARE.
LADY MACBETH. Letting _I dare not_ wait upon _I would_
Like the poor cat i' the adage.
MACBETH. Prythee. peace:
I dare do all that may become a man;
Who dares do more, is none.
_Macbeth, Act i. Sc. 7_. SHAKESPEARE.
Tender-handed stroke a nettle,
And it stings you for your pains;
Grasp it like a man of mettle,
And it soft as silk remains.
_Verses written on a Window in Scotland_. A. HILL.
Fain would I climb, yet fear I to fall.
_Written on a Window Pane_. SIR W. RALEIGH.
If thy heart fails thee, climb not at all.
_Written under the Above_. QUEEN ELIZABETH.