—Harleian MS., sixteenth century.
[171:B] "Jesus did vouchsafe to aunswere by a riddle and a prouerbiall saying: teaching that it was an other manier of kyngdome whereof the prophetes had spoken."—Udall.
[172:A] A quaint old English proverb warns us that "A hog upon trust grunts until he is paid for," a very discomposing habit.
[172:B] "For thilke verrei prouerbe befelde to him—The hound turnyde agen to his castyng, and a sowe to waischen in walewing in fenne."—2 Peter, chap. ii. Wyclif's translation.
[174:A] The date we have given is that of Suetonius, from whose writings we quote it. It was probably an ancient saying in his day.
[175:A] "Dat Deus immiti cornua curta bovi."
[175:B] Pliny, in speaking of the goose, says that "It may be thought there is visible in the creature some sparks of wisdom, for Lacydes, the philosopher, is said to have had one of them attached to him as a constant companion, which would never leave him night or day, neither in the open street nor in the baths." One does not quite see where the wisdom comes in. It appears either to suggest that the bird showed great fidelity, or, as some might think it, became an intolerable nuisance. However that may be, Pliny points to a remedy for the latter when he adds quaintly—"But our countrymen are wiser, who know how to make a dainty of their liver!" He then goes on to describe the cramming to which they are exposed. Polladius says that they were chiefly fed on powdered figs. Martial also mentions the great size to which the liver was developed—all of which goes to show that "There is nothing new under the sun," and that the equivalent of Strasburg paté has been an appreciated delicacy for many years before Derby hampers were dreamt of.
[179:A] "One swallow proueth not that summer is neare."—"Treatise against Dauncing," 1577.
"The eagle suffers little birds to sing,
And is not careful what they mean thereby."