Dyce's Skelton, 1843, ii., 132). To speke plaine Englishe made him cokolde. Alas I was not auised wel before Vnkonnyngly to speake such language: I should haue sayde how that he had an horne . . . And in some land Cornodo men do them call, And some affirme that such folk have no gall.
c. 152(?). Hick Scorner (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, i., 180). My mother was a lady of the stews, blood born, And (Knight of the Halter) my father wore an horne.
c. 1537. Thersites (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, i., 412). Why wilt thou not thy hornes inhold? Thinkest thou that I am a cuckold.
c. 1550. The Pride and Abuse of Women (176 in Early Pop. Poetry, ed. Hazlitt, iv., 237). And loke well, ye men to your wives . . . Or some wyll not styche . . . To horne you on everye side.
1568. Bannatyne MSS. 'The use of Court,' p. 765 (Hunterian Club, 1886). Vp gettis hir wame, Scho thinkis no schame For to bring hame The laird ane horne.
1574. Appius and Virginia (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, iv., 118). A hairbrain, a hangman, or a grafter of hornes.
1575. Laneham's Letter (ed. 1871). p. 40. With yoor paciens, Gentlmen, . . . be it said: wear it not in deede that hornz bee so plentie, hornware I beleeue woold bee more set by than it iz, and yet thear in our parts, that wyll not stick too auoow that many an honest man both in citee and cuntree hath his hoous bv horning well vphollden, and a daily freend allso at need.
c. 1580. Collier of Croydon (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, viii., 436). My head groweth hard, my horns will shortly spring.
1586. Lupton, 1,000 Not. Things, ed. 1675, p. 261. Take heed thou art not horn'd, and then feicht home.
1597. Hall, Satires, i., 8. Fond wittol that would'st load thy witless head, With timely horns before thy bridal bed. Idem, ii., 7. If chance it come to wanton Capricorne, And so into the Ram's disgraceful horne.
1598. Shakspeare, 2 Henry IV., Act i., sc. 2. Well, he hath the horn of abundance and the lightness of his wife shines through it.
1598. Jonson, Every Man in his Humour, v., 1. See, what a drove of horns fly in the air, Winged with my cleansèd and my credulous breath.
1598. Sylvester, Du Bartas, ed. 1641, v., 41. The adulterous Sargus . . . Courting the Shee Goates on the grassie shore Would horn their husbands that had horns before.
1599. Jonson, Every Man Out of his Humour, iv., 4. Now horn upon horn pursue thee, thou blind, egregious, dotard.
1600. Look About You, Sc. 10 (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, v., 415). By adding horns unto our falcon's head.
1600. Shakspeare, As You Like it. iv., 2. Take thou no scorn to wear the horn, It was a crest ere thou wast born.
1600. Shakspeare, Much Ado about Nothing, i. Then up comes the devil with his horns upon his head, looking like an old cuckold. Ibid. v. 1. But when shall we see the savage bull's horns on the sensible Benedict's head.
1601. Jonson, Poetaster, iv., 3. And there is never a star in thy forehead but shall be a horn if thou dost persist to abuse me.
1602. Campion, English Poesy (Bullen, Works, 1889, p. 248). Mock him not with horns, the case is altered.
1603. Philotus (Pinkerton, Scottish Poems, 1792, iii., 17). Sen thair may be na uther buit? Plat on his heid ane horne.
1604. Marston, Malcontent i., I. Mendoza is the man makes thee a horned beast: 'tis Mendoza cornutes thee.
1605. Jonson, Volpone, ii., 4. Volp.: Nay, then, I not repent me of my late disguise. Mos.: If you can horne him, Sir, you need not.
1605. Chapman, All Fools, v., 1 (Plays, 1874, p. 75). And will you blow the horn yourself where you may keep it to yourself? Go to, you are a fool. Ibid. (p. 76.) It may very well be that the devil brought horns into the world, but the women brought them to the men.
1607. How a Man May Choose a Good Wife From a Bad, ii., I. (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, ix., 28). Quando venis aput, I shall have two horns on my caput.
