They made a paction tween them twa,
They made it firm and sure,
That the first word whaeer shoud speak,
Shoud rise and bar the door.
—Unknown. Get Up and Bar the Door (l. 13–16)
Thy word is all, if we could spell.
—George Herbert (1593–1633)
Grace me no grace, nor uncle me no uncle;
I am no traitor’s uncle, and that word “grace”
In an ungracious mouth is but profane.
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)