Suckle fools and chronicle small beer
Shakespeare's Othello, Act II, Scene i:
DESDEMONA.
O heavy ignorance! -- thou praisest the worst best. But what
praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman indeed, -- one
that, in the authority of her merit, did justly put on the vouch
of very malice itself?
IAGO.
She that was ever fair, and never proud;
Had tongue at will, and yet was never loud;
Never lack'd gold, and yet went never gay;
Fled from her wish, and yet said "Now I may;"
She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh,
Bade her wrong stay, and her displeasure fly;
She that in wisdom never was so frail
To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail;
She that could think, and ne'er disclose her mind;
See suitors following, and not look behind;
She was a wight, if ever such wight were,--
DESDEMONA.
To do what?
IAGO.
To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.
DESDEMONA.
O most lame and impotent conclusion!
