Brewer's: Bar-sur-Aube

(Prévot). Je ne voudrais pas être roi, si j'étais prévot de Bar-sur-Aube (French). I should not care to be king, if I were Provost of Bar-sur-Aube [the most lucrative and honourable of all the provostships of France]. Almost the same idea is expressed in the words

And often to our comfort we shall find, The sharded beetle in a safer hold Than is the full-winged eagle.

Almost to the same effect Pope says:

And more true joy Marcellus exiled feels, Than Cæsar with a senate at his heels.

See Castle of Bungay.

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