“Charm'd with the foolish whistling of a name.”

— Abraham Cowley

Virgil, Georgics, book ii, line 72; reported in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919). Compare: "Ravish'd with the whistling of a name", Alexander Pope, Essay on Man, epistle iv, line 281.

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Abraham Cowley 40

British writer 1618–1667

Curtis Sittenfeld (1975) Novelist, short story writer

Source: American Wife

“I know of witches who whistle at different pitches, calling things that don't have names.”

Helen Oyeyemi (1984) British author

Source: White is for Witching

“Dressing up in costumes, playing silly games
Hiding out in tree-tops shouting out rude names
— whistling tunes we hide in the dunes by the seaside
— whistling tunes we piss on the goons in the jungle.
It’s a knockout.”

Peter Gabriel (1950) English singer-songwriter, record producer and humanitarian

Games Without Frontiers
Song lyrics, Peter Gabriel (III) (1980)

“and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.”

James Joyce book Dubliners

Source: Dubliners

“There's not a thing on earth that I can name,
So foolish, and so false, as common fame.”

John Wilmot, 2nd Earl of Rochester (1647–1680) English poet, and peer of the realm

Did e'er this Saucy World.
Other

“Surprising news from New York, the whistle-blower had his whistle blown!”

Amy Poehler (1971) American actress

citation needed
Weekend Update samples

“As clear as a whistle.”

John Byrom (1692–1763) Poet, inventor of a shorthand system

Epistle to Lloyd I' as quoted in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. (1919)

“Fame, moreover inspires backbiting. It does no good whatsoever to have one's name survive. A craving after fame is next foolish.”

Yoshida Kenkō (1283–1350) japanese writer

38
Essays in Idleness (1967 Columbia University Press, Trns: Donald Keene)
Context: One would like to leave behind a glorious reputation for surpassing wisdom and character, but careful reflection will show that what we mean by love of a glorious reputation is delight in the approbation of others. Neither those who praise nor those who abuse last for long, and the people who have heard their reports are like likely to depart the world as quickly. Before whom then should we feel ashamed? By whom should we wish to be appreciated? Fame, moreover inspires backbiting. It does no good whatsoever to have one's name survive. A craving after fame is next foolish.

“Whistle, and she'll come to you.”

John Fletcher Wit Without Money

Act IV, scene 4.
Wit Without Money (c. 1614; published 1639)

“I had never spoken to her, except for a few casual words, and yet her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood.”

James Joyce book Dubliners

"Araby"
Dubliners (1914)

“Charm'd with the foolish whistling of a name.”

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Abraham Cowley 40

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