Vulgar words in Notes and Queries, Number 208, October 22, 1853 - A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, - Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc (Page 1)
This book at a glance
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~ ~ ~ Sentence 33 ~ ~ ~
Commenting on the story of Balaam, our prophet says: "And now the world is grown so full of sin and wickedness, that if a dumb ass should speak with a man's voice, they would scarce repent:" and I conclude that the said statesmen and divines did not estimate these prophetic warnings much higher than the brayings of that quadruped which they turned out to be.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 79 ~ ~ ~
They believe that if a woman be delivered of seven male infants successively, the seventh, by an inexplicable fatality, becomes subject to the powers of darkness; and is compelled, on every Saturday evening, to assume the likeness of an ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 130 ~ ~ ~
_King John._-- "It lies as sightly on the back of him, As great Alcides' _shows_ upon an ass."
~ ~ ~ Sentence 135 ~ ~ ~
And thus the meaning of the passage seems to be: The lion's skin, which once belonged to Richard of the Lion Heart, is as sightly on the back of _Austria_, as were the mysteries of Hercules upon an ass.
~ ~ ~ Sentence 776 ~ ~ ~
"When Orpheus went down to the regions below, To bring back the wife that he lov'd, Old Pluto, confounded, as histories show, To find that his music so mov'd: That a woman so good, so virtuous, and fair, Should be by a man thus trepann'd, To give up her freedom for sorrow and care, He own'd she deserv'd to be damn'd.