"A mirk mirrour is a man's mind."

— Ray [formerly Wray], John (1627-1705)


Place of Publication
Cambridge
Publisher
Printed by John Hayes for W. Morden
Date
1670, rev. 1678
Metaphor
"A mirk mirrour is a man's mind."
Metaphor in Context
[...]
As many heads as many wits.
A blind man should not judge of colours.
As the old cock craws, the young cock leares.
A skabbed horse is good enough for a scald squire.
A mirk mirrour is a man's mind.
As meikle up with, as meikledown with.
An ill shearer gat never a good hook.
A tarrowing bairne was never fat.
A good cow may have an ill calf.
A cock is crouse in his own midding.
A new bissome soupes clean.
As fair sights wranes as cranes.
A yelt sow was never good to gryses.
As the carle riches he wretches.
A fool when he lies spoken hes all done.
An old feck craves meikle clouting.
An old feck is ay skailing.
A fair fire makes a room fiet.
An old knave is na bairne.
A good yeaman makes a good woman.
A man hath no more good than he hath good of.
A fool may give a wise man a counsel.
A man may speir the gate to Rome.
As long lives the merry man as the wretch for all the craft he can.
(p. 280)
Categories
Provenance
Searching in Google Books
Citation
Ray, John. A Collection of English Proverbs Digested into a Convenient Method for the Speedy Finding Any One upon Occasion: with Short Annotations (Cambridge: Printed by John Hayes for W. Morden, 1678). <Link to EEBO><Link to Google Books edition of 1768>
Date of Entry
06/28/2011

The Mind is a Metaphor is authored by Brad Pasanek, Assistant Professor of English, University of Virginia.