it is merry in hall when beards wag all

it is merry in hall when beards wag all: c 1300 King Alisaunder (EETS) 1.1164 Swithe [so] mury hit is in halle, When the burdes wawen alle!

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. vii. 13^v It is mery in halle, When berds wag all.

1598 SHAKESPEARE Henry IV, Pt. 2 v. iii. 35 Be merry, be merry, my wife has all... ’Tis merry in hall when beards wag all.

1738 SWIFT Polite Conversation ii. 170 Come; they say, ’Tis merry in Hall, when Beards wag all.

1857 TROLLOPE Barchester Towers III. iv. ‘’Twas merry in the hall when the beards wagged all;’ and the clerical beards wagged merrily..that day.

1976 ‘J. DAVEY’ Treasury Alarm i. Presumably this is how the Treasury greybeards get their fun. Are they in fact grey-bearded? One rather assumes a great wagging of beards: ’tis merry in hall when beards wag all.

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merry — see it is merry in hall when beards wag all a cherry year, a merry year; a plum year, a dumb year eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die the more the merrier … Proverbs new dictionary
wag — see it is merry in hall when beards wag all … Proverbs new dictionary
hall — see it is merry in hall when beards wag all … Proverbs new dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
beard — see it is merry in hall when beards wag all … Proverbs new dictionary

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