“I do not like ‘but yet’, it does allay
The good precedence: fie upon ‘but yet’,
‘But yet’ is as a jailer to bring forth
Some monstrous malefactor.” (AC.2.5)
Tips for use. When she is almost ready to say yes but there is still some hesitation expressed by “but yet”. Or in any occasion where a positive statement is followed by a ‘but’ or ‘and yet’. In “Your Daily Shakespeare” see also ‘Argument, good a. but honest dealing is best – didst thou never hear that things ill got had ever bad success?’
In the play. Cleopatra to messenger who hesitates (knowing Cleopatra’s character) to tell her that Antony married Octavia while in Rome.
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