Too late the mayor cried

Posted by James Briggs on October 15, 2008 at 17:06

In Reply to: Too late the mayor cried posted by Sue F on October 15, 2008 at 11:42:

: Has anyone heard the phrase 'too late the mayor cried looking bigger' - used when someone does something too late. My Mum used the phrase and I wondered if she had invented it or if it had an origin?

It's pretty close to part of a line in the "Pied Piper of Hamelin" by Robert Browning. I think this must be the source.