My ventures are not in one bottom trusted,

Nor to one place.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): The Merchant of Venice. Act i. Sc. 1.

By heaven, methinks it were an easy leap

To pluck bright honour from the pale-faced moon,

Or dive into the bottom of the deep,

Where fathom-line could never touch the ground,

And pluck up drowned honour by the locks.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Henry IV. Part I. Act i. Sc. 3.

Lord, Lord! methought, what pain it was to drown!

What dreadful noise of waters in mine ears!

What ugly sights of death within mine eyes!

Methought I saw a thousand fearful wrecks,

Ten thousand men that fishes gnawed upon,

Wedges of gold, great anchors, heaps of pearl,

Inestimable stones, unvalued jewels,

All scattered in the bottom of the sea:

Some lay in dead men's skulls; and in those holes

Where eyes did once inhabit, there were crept,

As 't were in scorn of eyes, reflecting gems.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): King Richard III. Act i. Sc. 4.

Modest doubt is call'd

The beacon of the wise, the tent that searches

To the bottom of the worst.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): Troilus and Cressida. Act ii. Sc. 2.

Though with those streams he no resemblance hold,

Whose foam is amber and their gravel gold;

His genuine and less guilty wealth t' explore,

Search not his bottom, but survey his shore.

Sir John Denham (1615-1668): Cooper's Hill. Line 165.

Bless thee, Bottom! bless thee! thou art translated.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616): A Midsummer Night's Dream. Act iii. Sc. 1.