The Miscellaneous Works in Prose and Verse of Sir Thomas Overbury, Knt., Now First Collected |
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Popular passages
Page 117 - ... is still accompanied with old songs, honest thoughts, and prayers, but short ones ; yet they have their efficacy, in that they are not palled with ensuing idle cogitations.
Page xxviii - Memoirs of the Peers of England, during the reign of James the First...
Page 38 - Give me, next good, an understanding wife, By Nature wise, not learned by much art; Some knowledge on her side will all my life More scope of conversation impart; Besides, her inborne virtue fortifie; They are most firmly good, who best know why.
Page 88 - ... idleness, that in mending one hole he had rather make three than want work, and when he hath done he throws the wallet of his faults behind him. He embraceth naturally ancient custom, conversing in open fields and lowly cottages.
Page 60 - Unto the society of men he is a sun, whose clearness directs their steps in a regular motion. When he is more particular, he is the wise man's friend, the example of the indifferent, the medicine of the vicious. Thus time goeth not from him, but with him, and he feels age more by the strength of his soul than the weakness of his body.
Page 283 - With respect to the piccadil, or, as Jonson writes it, Picardil, (as if he supposed the fashion of wearing it to be derived from Picardy,) the term is simply a diminutive of picca (Span, and Ital.) a spear-head, and was given to this article of foppery, from a fancied resemblance of its stiffened plaits to the bristled points of those weapons. Blount thinks, and apparently with justice, that Piccadilly took its name from the sale of the " small stiff collars, so called," which was first set on foot...
Page 292 - Queen Elizabeth did so often wish herself a milkmaid all the month of May, because they are not troubled with fears and cares, but sing sweetly all the day, and sleep securely all the night : and without doubt, honest, innocent, pretty Maudlin does so. I'll bestow Sir Thomas Overbury's milkmaid's wish upon her, " That she may die in the spring, and being dead, may have good store of flowers stuck round about her winding sheet.
Page 294 - Tobacco, which goes far beyond all their panaceas, potable gold, and philosopher's stones, a sovereign remedy to all diseases. A good vomit, I confess, a virtuous herb if it be well qualified, opportunely taken, and medicinally used, but, as it is commonly abused by most men, which take it as Tinkers do Ale, 'tis a plague, a mischief, a violent purger of goods, lands, health, hellish, devilish and damned Tobacco, the ruin and overthrow of body and soul.
Page 299 - ... having of May games, Whitsun ales, and morris dances, and the setting up of maypoles and other sports therewith used: so as the same be had in due and convenient time, without impediment or neglect of divine service...
Page 299 - ... that after the end of divine service our good people be not disturbed, letted or discouraged from any lawful recreation, such as dancing, either men or women ; archery for men, leaping, vaulting, or any other such harmless recreation, nor from having of May-games, Whitsunales, and Morris-dances ; and the setting up of May-poles and other sports therewith used...