Note E352 — 56.
Reading edition
"Tis merie in hall, When beards wag all."
This proverb is of great antiquity. It occurs in the Life of Alexander (formerly, but erroneously, attributed to Adam Davie), written in 1312, where the words are:
"Swithe mury hit is in halle, When burdes wawen alle." —Weber's Met. Rom.
It occurs also in Shakspere, 2 Henry IV. Act v. sc. 3, and is quoted in the Merie Tales of Skelton, 1567. See also Ray's Proverbs.