For "ignorance is the mother of devotion," as all the world knows.1 Anatomy of Melancholy. Part iii. Sect. 4, Memb. 1, Subsect. 2. The fear of some divine and supreme powers keeps men in obedience.2 Out of too much learning become mad. Ibid. Ibid. The Devil himself, which is the author of confusion and lies. Subsect. 3. Subsect. 5. Isocrates adviseth Demonicus, when he came to a strange city, to worship by all means the gods of the place. When they are at Rome, they do there as they see done.3 Memb. 2, Subsect. 1. One religion is as true as another. They have cheveril consciences that will stretch. Ibid. Subsect. 3. SIR THOMAS OVERBURY. 1581-1613. In part to blame is she, Which hath without consent bin only tride: A Wife. St. 36. 1 Ignorance is the mother of devotion. - JEREMY TAYLOR: To a Person newly Converted (1657). Your ignorance is the mother of your devotion to me. DRYDEN: The Maiden Queen, act i. sc. 2. 2 The fear o' hell's a hangman's whip To haud the wretch in order. BURNS: Epistle to a Young Friend. 8 Saint Augustine was in the habit of dining upon Saturday as upon Sunday; but being puzzled with the different practices then prevailing (for they had begun to fast at Rome on Saturday), consulted Saint Ambrose on the subject. Now at Milan they did not fast on Saturday, and the answer of the Milan saint was this: " Quando hic sum, non jejuno Sabbato; quando Romæ sum, jejuno Sabbato (When I am here, I do not fast on Saturday; when at Rome, I do fast on Saturday). Epistle xxxvi. to Casulanus. 4 In part she is to blame that has been tried: He comes too late that comes to be denied. MARY W. MONTAGU: The Lady's Resolve. PHILIP MASSINGER. 1584-1640. 1 Some undone widow sits upon mine arm, Death hath a thousand doors to let out life.2 The world's a theatre, the earth a stage Apology for Actors (1612). I hold he loves me best that calls me Tom. Hierarchie of the Blessed Angells. Seven cities warred for Homer being dead, Ibid. History of Women (ed. 1624). Page 286. JOHN SELDEN. 1584-1654. Equity is a roguish thing. For Law we have a measure, know what to trust to; Equity is according to the 1 See Middleton, page 172. 2 Death hath so many doors to let out life. - BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER: The Custom of the Country, act ii. sc. 2. The thousand doors that lead to death. - BROWNE: Religio Medici, part i. sect xliv. - 3 See Sir Philip Sidney, page 34. MILTON: Paradise Lost, book ii. line 804. 7 See Heywood, page 11. conscience of him that is Chancellor, and as that is larger or narrower, so is Equity. T is all one as if they should make the standard for the measure we call a "foot" a Chancellor's foot; what an uncertain measure would this be! One Chancellor has a long foot, another a short foot, a third an indifferent foot. 'Tis the same thing in the Chancellor's conscience. Table Talk. Equity. Old friends are best. King James used to call for his old shoes; they were easiest for his feet.1 Friends. Humility is a virtue all preach, none practise; and yet everybody is content to hear. Humility. 'Tis not the drinking that is to be blamed, but the excess. Ibid. Commonly we say a judgment falls upon a man for something in him we cannot abide. Judgments. Ignorance of the law excuses no man; not that all men know the law, but because 't is an excuse every man will plead, and no man can tell how to refute him. No man is the wiser for his learning. Wit and wisdom are born with a man. Law. Learning. Ibid. Few men make themselves masters of the things they write or speak. Take a straw and throw it up into the air, see by that which way the wind is. Philosophy is nothing but discretion. Marriage is a desperate thing. Ibid. you may Libels. Philosophy. Marriage. Thou little thinkest what a little foolery governs the world.2 Pope. 1 See Bacon, page 171. 2 Behold, my son, with how little wisdom the world is governed. OxenSTIERN (1583-1654). They that govern the most make the least noise. Syllables govern the world. Never king dropped out of the clouds. Never tell your resolution beforehand. Wise men say nothing in dangerous times. Ibid. Ibid. Wisdom. Ibid. WILLIAM DRUMMOND. 1585-1649. God never had a church but there, men say, I doubted of this saw, till on a day I westward spied great Edinburgh's Saint Gyles. Posthumous Poems. FRANCIS BEAUMONT. What things have we seen 1586-1616. Done at the Mermaid! heard words that have been So nimble and so full of subtile flame As if that every one from whence they came Had meant to put his whole wit in a jest, And resolved to live a fool the rest Of his dull life. Here are sands, ignoble things, Dropt from the ruined sides of kings. Letter to Ben Jonson. On the Tombs of Westminster Abbey. It is always good When a man has two irons in the fire. The Faithful Friends. Act i. Sc. 2. 1 See Burton, page 192. BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER. (FRANCIS BEAUMONT and JOHN FLETCHER.) All your better deeds Shall be in water writ, but this in marble.1 Philaster. Act v. Sc. 3. Upon my burned body lie lightly, gentle earth. A soul as white as heaven. But they that are above Have ends in everything.2 It shew'd discretion, the best part of valour." Act i. Sc. 2. Act iv. Sc. 1. Act v. Sc. 1. A King and No King. Act iv. Sc. 3. There is a method in man's wickedness, It grows up by degrees.* As cold as cucumbers. Act v. Sc. 4. Cupid's Revenge. Act i. Sc. 1. Calamity is man's true touchstone." Four Plays in One: The Triumph of Honour. Sc. 1. Kiss till the cow comes home. Scornful Lady. Act iii. Sc. 1. Lord! how it talked!" Beggars must be no choosers.7 8 Act v. Sc. 1. Sc. 3. No better than you should be. The Coxcomb. Act iv. Sc. 3. 1 See Shakespeare, page 100. 8 See Shakespeare, page 87. 2 See Shakespeare, page 145. 4 Nemo repente fuit turpissimus (No man ever became extremely wicked all at once). JUVENAL: ii. 83. Ainsi que la vertu, le crime a ses degrés (As virtue has its degrees, so has vice). RACINE: Phédre, act iv. sc. 2. 5 Ignis aurum probat, miseria fortes viros (Fire is the test of gold; adversity, of strong men). — SENECA: De Providentia, v. 9. 6 Then he will talk - good gods! how he will talk! - LEE: Alexander the Great, act i. sc. 3. 7 See Heywood, page 14. 8 She is no better than she should be. - FIELDING: The Temple Beau, act iv. sc. 3. |