"It's a lightening before death ... This is generally observed of sick persons, that a little before they die their pains leave them, and their understanding and memory return to them; as a candle just before it goes out gives a great blaze."
— Ray [formerly Wray], John (1627-1705)
Place of Publication
Cambridge
Publisher
Printed by John Hayes for W. Morden
Date
1670, rev. 1678
Metaphor
"It's a lightening before death ... This is generally observed of sick persons, that a little before they die their pains leave them, and their understanding and memory return to them; as a candle just before it goes out gives a great blaze."
Metaphor in Context
She lives by love and lumps in comers.
Every one that can lick a dish; as much as to say, every one simpliciter, tag-rag and bob-tail.
It's a lightening before death.
This is generally observed of sick persons, that a little before they die their pains leave them, and their understanding and memory return to them; as a candle just before it goes out gives a great blaze.
(p. 59)
This is generally observed of sick persons, that a little before they die their pains leave them, and their understanding and memory return to them; as a candle just before it goes out gives a great blaze.
(p. 59)
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
