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A divine herbal together with a forrest of thorns In five sermons. ... By…A divine herball together with a forrest of thornes In five sermons. ... By…
A divine herbal together with a forrest of thorns In five sermons. ... By Tho. Adams.A divine herball together with a forrest of thornes In five sermons. ... By Tho. Adams.
London: printed by George Purslowe for John Budge, 1616London: printed by George Purslowe for Iohn Budge, 1616
Title page typeset from the transcription.
A DIVINE HERBAL, OR The praise of Fertility.A DIVINE HERBALL, OR The prayse of Fertillitie.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1. It brings forth. It is not barren like a dead ground that yields neither herbs nor weeds. This is no idle heart, that doth neither good nor harm; that like a mere spectator of the world, sits by with a silent contemplation for whom was made that Epitaph: Here lies he, was borne and cried, Lived threescore years, fell sick and dyed.
1. It brings forth. It is not barren like a dead ground that yeelds neither herbes nor weedes. This is no idle heart, that doth neither good nor harme; that like a meere spectator of the world, sits by with a silent contemplation for whom was made that Epitaph: Here lyes he, was borne and cryed, Liu'd threescore yeares, fell sicke and dyed.
Doing neither profit nor prejudice to the Country he lived in. Here is no such stupid neutrality, nor infructuous deadness. It brings forth.
Doing neither profit nor preiudice to the Countrey hee liued in. Heere is no such stupid neutralitie, nor infructuous deadnesse. It brings forth.
2. They are not weeds it produceth, but herbs. A man had as good do nothing, as do naughty things. It is less evil to sit still, then to run swift by in the pursuit of wickedness. They that forbear Idleness, and fall to lewdness, ⟨p. 35⟩mend the matter, as the Devil (in the tale) mended his dames leg; when he should have put it in joint, he broke it quite in pieces. It is not enough that this ground brings forth, but that it yields herbs. Of the two, the barren earth is not so evil as the wicked earth: that men pity, this they curse. It brings forth herbs.
2. They are not weedes it produceth, but herbes. A man had as good do nothing, as doe naughty things. It is lesse euill to sit still, then to runne swift by in the pursuite of wickednes. They that forbeare Idlenesse, and fall to lewdnesse,