"Her hair, like golden threads, play'd with her breath."
—Collier.
[337] i.e., Go before. So in the 119th Psalm: "Mine eyes prevent the night watches."—Steevens.
Again, in the office of consecrating Cramp Rings: "We beseech thee, O Lord, that the Spirit which proceeds from thee may prevent and follow in our desires," &c.—Reed.
One of the Collects of the Church Service begins, "Prevent us, O Lord, in all our doings."—Collier.
[338] Alluding to the ancient aphorism, Ingratus si dixeris, omnia dixeris.
[339] [Possibly the author had in his recollection Wimbeldon's "Godlie Sermon," preached at Paul's Cross in 1388, and "found out hyd in a wall;" printed in 1584.]
[340] This is borrowed from the character of an Antiquary, in [Earle's] "Micro-Cosmographie, or a Piece of the World Discovered," 12o, 1628: "Printed books he contemnes as a novelty of this latter age; but a manuscript he pores on everlastingly, especially if the cover be all moth-eaten, and the dust make a parenthesis between every syllable."
[341] [The antiquary was fortunate in the possession of what is still unknown in a complete state. Fragments, recovered from a palimpsest, have been printed by Cardinal Mai.]
[342] [Old copy, Girmanus.]