A collection of English proverbs digested into a convenient method for the speedy finding any one upon occasion : with short annotations : whereunto are added local proverbs with their explications, old proverbial rhythmes, less known or exotick proverbial sentences, and Scottish proverbs / by J. Ray, M.A. and Fellow of the Royal Society.

Proverbs and Proverbial observations belonging to Health, Diet and Physick.

• ...AN Ague in the Spring is Physick for a King.

  That is if it comes off well. For an Ague is nothing else but a strong fermentation of the bloud; Now as in the fermentation of other liquors there is for the most part a separation made of that which is heterogeneous and unsociable, whereby the liquor becomes more pure and defae∣care, so is it also with the bloud, which by fermentation (easily excited at this time by the return of the Sun) doth purge it self, and cast off those impure heterogeneous parti∣cles which it had contracted in the winter time. And that these may be carried away, after every particular fermentati∣on or paroxysm, and not again taken up by the bloud, it is necessary or at least very useful, to sweat in bed after every fit. And an Ague-fit is not thought to go off kindly, unless it ends in a sweat. Moreover at the end of the disease it is con∣venient to purge the body, to carry away those more gross and seculent parts which have been separated by the several fermentations, and could not so easily be avoided by sweat, or that still remain in the bloud though not sufficient to cause a paroxysm. And that all persons especially those of years may be lessoned that they neglect not to purge their bodies after the getting rid of agues, I shall add a very material and useful observation of Doctor Sidenham's,

  Sublato morbe (saith he, speaking of Autumnal feavers) aeger sedulò pur∣gandus est; incredibile enim dictu quanta morborum vis ex∣purgationis defectu post febres Autumnales subnascatur. Mi∣ror

• ...

  tutem hoc à medicis minùs caveri, minùs etiam admoneri Quandocunque enim morborum alterutrum (Febrem t••rti∣anam aut quartanam) paulò provectioris aetatis hominibus ac∣cidisse vidi, atque purgationem etiam omissam; certò praedicere potui periculosum aliquem morbum eosdem postea adoriturum, de quo tamen illi nondum sòmniaverant, quasi perfectè jam sanati.

• Agues come on horseback, but go away on foot.
• A bit in the morning is better then nothing all day.
• Or, then a thump on the back with a stone.
• You eat and eat, but you do not drink to fill you.

  That much drinking takes off the edge of the Appe∣tite to meat, we see by experience in great drinkers, who for the most part do (as we say) but pingle at their meat and eat little. Hippocrates observed of old, that 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 A good hearty draught takes away hunger after long fasting sooner by far then eating would do. The reason whereof I conceive is, because that acid humour which by vellicating the membranes of the stomack causes a sence of hunger, is by copious ingestion of drink very much diluted, and its acidity soon taken off.

• ...An apple, an egg and a nut, you may eat af∣ter a Slut.

  Pomae, ova atque nuces, si det tibi sordida, gustes.

• ...Children an chicken must be always picking.

  That is, they must eat often, but little at a time. Often, because the body growing requires much addition of food; little at a time, for fear of oppressing and extin∣guishing the natural heat. A little oyl nourishes the flame, but a great deal poured on at once may drown and quench it. A man may carry that by little and little, which if laid on his back at once he would sink under. Hence old men,

• ...

  who in this respect also, I mean by reason of the decay of their spirits and natural heat, do again become children, are advised by Physicians to eat often, but little at once.

• Old young and old long.

  Divieni tosto vechio se vuoi vivere lungamente vec∣chio. Ital.

  Maturè sias senex si diu senex esse velis.

  This is alledged as a Proverb by Cicero in his book de senectu∣te. For as the body is preserved in health by moderate la∣bour or exercise, so by violent and immoderate it is impair∣ed and worn out. And as a great excess of any quality or ex∣ternal violence doth suddenly destroy the body, so a lesser excess doth weaken and partially destroy it, by rendring it less lasting.

• They who would be young when they are old must be old when they are young.
• ...When the Fern is as high as a spoon You may sleep an hour at noon.

  The custom of sleeping after dinner in the summer time is now grown general in Italy and other hot Countreys, so that from one to three or four of the Clock in the af∣ternoon you shall scarce see any one stirring about the streets of their cities. Schola Salernitana condemns this practise,

  Sit brevis aut nullus tibi somnus meridianus: Febris, pigrities, capitis dolor atque Catarrhus. Haec tibi proveniunt ex somno meridiano.

  But it may be this advice was intended for us English (to whose King this book was dedicated) rather then the Italians or other inhabitants of hot Countreys, who in the Summer would have enough to do to keep themselves waking after dinner. The best way at least for us in colder climats is altogether to abstain from sleep; but if we must needs sleep, (as the Italian Physicians advise) either to take a nod sitting in a chair, or if we lie down strip off our clothes as at night, and go into bed, as the present Duke of Tuscany himself practises and advises his subjects to do, but by no means lie down upon a bed in our clothes.

• ...

• ... When the Fern is as high as a ladle, You may sleep as long as you are able.
• ...When Fern begins to look red Then milk is good with brown bread.

  It is observed by good housewives, that milk is thicker in the Autumn then in the Summer, notwithstanding the grass must needs be more hearty, the juice of it being better concocted by the heat of the Sun in Summer time. I con∣ceive the reason to be because the cattel drink water abun∣dantly by reason of their heat in Summer, which doth much dilute their milk.

• Every man is either a fool or a Physician after thirty years of age.
• ...After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile.

  Post epulas stabis vel passus mille meabis.

  I know no rea∣son for the difference, unless one eats a greater dinner then supper. For when the stomach is full it is not good to exer∣cise immediately, but to sit still awhile; though I do not allow the reason usually given viz. because exercise draws the heat outward to the exteriour parts, and so leaving the stomach and bowels cold, hinders concoction: for I believe that as well the stomach as the exteriour parts are hottest af∣ter exercise: And that those who exercise most, concoct most and require most meat. So that exercise immediately after meat is hurtful rather upon account of precipitating conco∣ction, or turning the meat out of the stomach too foon. As for the reason they give for standing or walking after meales, viz. because the meat by that means is depressed to the bot∣tom of the stomach; where the natural heat is most vigo∣rous, it is very frivolous, both because the stomach is a wide vessel, & so the bottom of it cannot be empty, but what falls into it must needs fall down to the bottom: And because most certainly the stomach concocts worst when it is in a pendulous posture, as it is while we are standing Hence, as the

• ...

  Lord Verulam truly observes, Gally slaves and such as ex∣ercise sitting, though they fare meanly and work hard yet are commonly fat and fleshy. Whereupon also he com∣mends those works or exercises which a man may perform sitting, as sawing with a hand-saw and the like. Some turn this saying into a droll thus.

  After dinner sleep a while, after supper go to bed.
• An old Physician, a young Lawyer.

  An old Physician because of his experience; a young Lawyer, because he having but little practise will have lei∣sure enough to attend your business, and desiring thereby to recommend himself and get more, will be very diligent in it. The Italians say,

  An old Physician, a young Barber.

• A good Chirurgion must have an Eagles eye, a Lions heart, and a Ladies hand.
• ...Good keal is half a meal.

  Keal, i. e. Pottage of any kind, though properly Keal be pottage made of Colewort, which the Scots call Keal, and of which usually they make their broth.

• ...If you would live ever, you must wash milk from your liver.

  Vin sur laict c' est souhait, Laict sur vin c' est ve∣nin. Gall.

  This is an idle old saw, for which I can see no reason but rather for the contrary.

• Butter is gold in the morning, silver at noon, lead at night.
• ...He that would live for ay must eat Sage in May.

• ...

  That Sage was by our ancestours esteemed a very wholesome herb, and much conducing to longevity ap∣pears by that verse in Schola Salernitana,

  Cur moriatur homo cui Salvia crescit in horto?

• After cheese comes nothing.
• An egg and to bed.
• You must drink as much after an egg as after an Ox.

  This is a fond and ungrounded old saying.

• Light suppers make clean sheets.
• He that goes to bed thirsty rises healthy. Gall.

  He that goes to bed thirsty, &c. I look upon this as a very good observation and should advise all persons not to go to bed with their stomachs full of wine, beer or any other liquour. For (as the ingenious Doctor Lower ob∣serves) nothing can be more injurious to the brain: of which he gives a most rational and true account, which take in his own words.

  Cùm enim propter proclivem cor∣por is situm urina à renibus secreta non ità facilè & promptè uti cùm erecti sumus in vesicam per uretcres delabatur. Cúmque vesicae cervix ex proclivi situ urinae pondere non aded gravetur; atque spiritibus per somnum in cerebrum aggregatis & quiescentibus, vesica oneris ejus sensum non ità percipiat, sed officii quasi oblita ed copid urinae aliquando distenditur, ut majori recipiendae spatium vix detur; inde fit ut propter impeditum per renes & ureteres urinae decursum, in totum corpus regurgitet, & nisi diarrhoea proximo mans succedat, aut nocturno sudore evacuetur in cerebrum depon•• debet. Tract. de Corde. cap. 2. pag. 141.

  Qui couche avec la soif se leve avec la santé.

• ...

• One hours sleep before midnight's worth two hours after.

  For the Sun being the life of this Sublunary world, whose heat causes and continues the motion of all terrestrial animals, when he is furthest off, that is about mid∣night, the spirits of themselves are aptest to rest and compose, so that the middle of the night must needs be the most proper time to sleep in, especially if we con∣sider the great expence of spirits in the day time, partly by the heat of the afternoon, and partly by labour and the constant exercise of all the sences; Wherefore then to wake is to put the spirits in motion, when there are fewest of them, and they naturally most slug∣gish and unfit for it.

• Who goes to bed supperless, all night tumbles and tosses.

  This is an Italian Proverb.

  Chi va à letto senza cena Tutta notte si dimena.

  That is, if a man goes to bed hungry, otherwise, He that eats a plentifull dinner may well afford to go to bed supperless, unless he hath used some strong bodily labour or exercise. Certainly it is not good to go to ones rest till the stomach be well emptied, that is if we eat suppers, till two hours at least after supper. For (as the old Physicians tell us) though the second and third concoctions be best performed in sleep; yet the first is rather disturbed and perverted. If it be objected, that labour∣ing people do not observe such rule, but do both go to bed presently after supper, and to work after dinner, yet who more healthful then they; I answer that the case is different, for though by such practise they do turn their meat out of their stomachs before full and perfect con∣coction, and so multiply crude humours, yet they work and sweat them out again, which students and sedentary persons

• ...

  do not. Indeed some men who have a speedy con∣coction and hot brains must to procure sleep eat some∣thing at night which may send up gentle vapours into the head, and compose the spirits.

  Chi ben cena ben dorme. Ital.

• ... Often and little eating makes a man fat.
• Fish must swim thrice.

  Once in the water, a second time in the sawce, and a third time in wine in the stomach.

  Poisson, gorret & cochin vie en l'eau, & morten vin. Gall.

  Fish and young swine live in water and die in wine.

• Drink wine and have the gout, and drink no wine and have the gout too.

  With this saying, intemperate persons that have or fear the gout, encourage themselves to proceed in drin∣king wine notwithstanding.

• ...Young mens knocks old men feel.

  Quae peccamus Juvenes ea luimus senes.

• Go to bed with the lamb, and rise with the lark.
• Early to go to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
• Wash your hands often, your feet seldom; and your head never.
• ...Eat at pleasure, drink by measure.

  This is a French Proverb,

  Pain tant qu'il dure, vin à mesure,

  and they themselves observe it. For no people eat more bread, nor indeed have better to eat: And for

• ...

  wine the most of them drink it well diluted, and never to any excess that I could observe. The Italians have this saying likewise,

  Pan mentre dura ma vin à mi∣sura.

• ...Cheese it is a peevish else, It digests all things but it self.

  This is a translation of that old rhythming Latin verse.

  Caseus est nequàm, quia digerit omnia se quàm.

• The best Physicians are Dr. Diet, Dr. Quiet and Dr. Merryman.

  This is nothing but that Distich of Schola Salernitana Englished.

  Si tibi deficiant medici, medici tibi fiant. Haec tria mens laeta, requies, moderata diaeta.

• ...Drink in the morning staring, Then all the day be sparing.
• Eat a bit before you drink.
• Feed sparingly and defie the Physician.
• Better be meales many then one too merry.
• You should never touch your eye but with your elbow.

  Non patitur ludum fama, fides, oculus.

To these I shall add a few French and Italian Proverbs.

• TEnez chaud le pied & la teste, Au demeurant viyez en beste.

  Which Mr. Cotgrave

• englishes thus,

  The head and feet kept warm, The rest will take no harm.

• ...

  Jeun chair & vieil poisson.

  i. e. Young flesh and old fish are best.
• Qui vin ne boit apres salade, est en danger estre malade. i. e. He that drinks not wine after sa∣lade, is in danger to be sick.

• Di giorni quanto voi, di notte quanto poi.

  i. e. Cover your head by day as much as you will, by night as much as you can.

• Il pesse guasta l'acqua, la carne la concia.

  i. e. Fish spoils water, but flesh mends it.
• ...

  Pome, pere & noce Guastano la voce.

  Apples, peares & nuts spoil the voice.
• ...

  Febre quartana Ammazza i vecchii, & i giovani risana.

• ...

  A Quartan Ague kills old men & heales young.

• ...

  Pesce, oglio & amico vecchio.

  Old fish, old oil and an old friend are the best.

• Vitello, pullastro & pesce crudo ingrassano i cimiterii.

  i. e. Raw pulleyn, veal and fish make the churchyards fat.
• ...

  Vino di mezo, oglio di sopra & miele di sotto.

  Of wine the middle, of oil the top, and of honey the bottom is best.

  Macrob Saturn. lib. 7. c. 12. Quaro igitur, Cur oleum quod in summo est, vinum quod in medio, mel quod in fundo optimum esse credantur. Nec cunctatus Disarius ait, Mel quod optimum est reliquo ponderosius est. In vase igitur mellis pars quae in imo est reliquis praestat pondere, & idco super∣nante

• ...

  pretiofior est. Contra in vase vini pars inferior ad∣mixtione faecis non modo turbulenta, sed & sapore deterior est, pars verò summa aeris vicinid corrumpitur, &c.

• Aria di finestra colpo di balestra.

  i. e. The air of a window is as the stroke of a cross∣bow.

• Asciuto il piede calda la testa, e dal resto vive da bestia,

  i. e. Keep your feet dry and your head hot, and for the rest live like a beast.

• Piscia chiaro & incaca al medico.

  i. e. Pisse clear and defie the physician.