French Proverbs from 1611: Proverbs with English equivalents

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These proverbs all include mentions of English equivalents: "we say..."


Abandon fait larron; [Prov.] Things carelesly left, layd vp, or looked vnto, make them theeues that otherwise would be honest: we say, fast bind fast find.
[Abandon fait larron:] [Prov.] [Things left at randon cause true men turne theeues.]


[`A bon demandeur bon refuseur:] [Prov.] A bold asker is best matched by a resolute denier.
[`A bon demandeur bon refuseur:] [Prov.] Wee say, shamefull crauing must haue a shamefull nay.


[`A bon iour bon oeuvre, & bonnes paroles:] [Pro.] A good day would be solemnized with good works, and good words.
[`A bon iour bon oeuvre, & bonnes paroles:] [Prov.] [Good workes, and words are fittest for good dayes.]
[`A bon iour bon oeuvre:] [Prov.] [A goodlie act on a godlie day;] or, as we say, the better day the better work; [(tis also taken Ironically, and in a contrarie sence)] he hath honoured so good a day with a goodlie act indeed; [(of one that on a holy day commits a haynous deed.)]


[`A la faim il n'y a point de mauvais pain:] [Prov.] [Hunger makes any thing tast well.]
[`A la faim il n'y a point de mauvais pain:] [Prov.] To him thats hungrie any bread seemes good; we say, hungrie dogs loue durtie puddings.


[`A longue corde tire qui d'autruy mort desire:] [Prov.] Hee that longs for another mans death, hath a long (or a cold) suit of it; We say, he that waits for dead mens shoone shall goe long barefoot.


[Asseurement chante qui n'a que perdre:] [Pro.] [And who doth sing so merrie a note as he that cannot change a grote?]
[Asseurement chante qui n'a que perdre:] [Prov.] He boldly chaunts it that hath naught to loose; wee say; and who doth sing so merrie a note as he that cannot change a groat? {Ravenscroft reference?}


[Assez a qui se contente:] [Pro.] He hath ynough thats pleased.
[Assez a qui se contente:] [Prov.] Contentment is treasure ynough; nor needs he more thats pleased with what he hath.
[Assez a qui se contente:] [Prov.] We say, a contented mind is a great treasure; or, is worth all.


[Assez boit qui a dueil:] [Pro.] He drinks ynough that mournes; (yet we say, Sorrow is drie.)
[Assez boit qui a dueil:] [Pro.] Sorrow is dry, say we;
[Assez boit qui a dueil:] [Prov.] He hath drinke ynough that hath sorrow ynough;


[Assez parens assez tourmens:] [Prov.] [Many kinsmen much affliction.]
[Assez parens, assez tourmens:] [Prov.] [Many kinsmen much trouble;] [we say (with some difference)] [many kinsmen few friends.]
[Assez parens assez tourmens:] [Prov.] The more kinsmen the more afflictions.


[Au chat cendreux iamais ne tombe rien en gueule:] [Prov.] An idle house-doue neuer gets preferment.
[Au chat cendreux jamais ne tombe rien en gueule: &, à regnard endormi rien ne chet en la gueule:] [Prov.] [Sluggish, or idle people neuer get any thing to purpose;] we say, of idlenesse comes no goodnesse.


[Au fol la marotte:] [Prov.] [The foole would haue a bable.]
[Au fol la marotte:] [Prov.] We say also, Giue the foole his bable; or, whats a foole without a bable?


[Aujourd'huy en chere demain en biere:] [Prov.] To day glad, to morrow dead.
[Aujourd'uy en chere, demain en biere:] [Pro.] To day a man, to morrow none; (say we.)


[Au plus debile la chandelle en la main:] [Prov.] (We say) he that worst may holds the candle.


[Aux bons meschet il:] [Pro.] [The best men (commonly) haue the worst fortune; whereupon we say, The honester man the worse his lucke.]
[Aux bons meschet il:] [Prov.] The honester man the worse lucke.


[Avaller gros, & mascher dru:] [Prov.] (As we say,) to stumble at a straw, and leape ouer a blocke.


[Bon gré mal gré va le Prestre au Sené:] [Prov.] [Needes must he goe whom the Diuell (necessitie) driueth.]
[Bon gré mal gré va le prestre au Sené:] [Prov.] [(Some will expound this by a prouerbe of ours;] he must needs go whom the diuell driues.)


[Bon guet chasse malaventure:] [Pro.] Good watch preuents misfortune; (fast bind fast find, say we.)
[Bon guet chasse malaventure:] [Prov.] [Good heed preuents misfortunes, (or expells them.)]
[Bon guet chasse malaventure:] [Prov.] [Hee that would euer be well must euer looke well about him.]


[Bonne beste s'eschauffe en mangeant:] [Prov.] [A good beast eates till he sweat againe; or, eates that he sweat withall; we say, good at meat good at worke.]
[Bonne beste s'eschauffe en mangeant:] [Prov.] A good beast eats apace; or, as we say, good at meat good at worke.
[Bonne beste s'eschauffe en mangeant:] [Prov.] [A good beast heates it selfe while it eates; viz. eates hard, feeds heartily.]


[Bon vin mauvaise teste:] [Pro.] [Good wine breeds many a brable.]
[Bon vin mauvaise teste:] [Pro.] Strong wine makes a weake braine; or, makes a man apt to brabble; [(for we say of those that after drinking fall to swagger; their wine begins to worke.)]


[Celuy gouverne bien mal le miel qui n'en taste:] [Prov.] [Hee's but an ill cooke that licks not his owne fingers;] One may say, he is vnwise, who in the managing of publicke businesse addes not somewhat vnto his priuate.
[Celuy gouverne bien mal le miel qui n'en taste, & ses doigts n'en leche:] [Prov.] we say, he is an ill Cooke that lickes not his owne fingers; One may say, he is vnwise, who in the managing of publicke businesse addes not somewhat vnto his priuate.


[C'est trop aimer quand on en meurt:] [Pro.] [He loues too much that dyes for loue.]
[C'est trop aimer quand on en meurt:] [Prov.] [They loue too much who dye for loue; We say, loue me little and loue me long.]


[C'est vne Chasse ou le veneur est prins:] [Pro.] [Said of the ill (but deserued) successe of a false Accusation; or of any Enterprise, that proues hurtfull to the vndertaker, or deuiser of it;] we say of such a one; hee hath made a rod for his owne tayle.


[Chantez à l'asne il vous fera des pets:] [Prov.] The ignorant blockhead scornes both Musicke, and the Muses; or, as wee say, Claw a churle by the breech, and he will beray your fist.
[Chantez à l'asne, il vous sera des pets:] [Prov.] Sing you to an Asse, and he will fart vnto you; bestow any good thing on a churle, and if he do requite it, it shall be in one filthie manner or other.


[Chascun n'est pas aise qui danse:] [Prov.] Euerie one is not merie that dances (viz. that seemes merie)
[Chascun n'est pas aise qui danse:] [Prov.] Euerie one is not merrie that daunces; of such a one wee say, his heart is not so light as his heeles.


[Chien sur son fumier est hardi:] [Prov.] A dog [(we say, a cocke)] is valiant on his owne dung-hill.]
[Chien sur son fumier est hardi:] [Prov.] [We say the same of a Cocke.]


[De doux arbre douces pommes:] [Prov.] Such as the tree such is the fruit; sweet th'one, sauorie th'other; (yet we say, that many a good cow hath but an euell calfe.)


[De jeune Angelot vieux diable:] [Prov.] We say, a young Saint an old diuell.


[De l'arbre d'un pressoir le manche d'un cernier:] [Prov.] [(Like our)] from a mill-post to a pudding-pricke.
[De l'arbre d'un pressoir le manche d'un cernoir:] [Prov.] [To make of a verie great, a verie small, thing, by often handling, or altering, & euer cutting away, some peece or other, of it.]
[De l'arbre d'un pressoir le manche d'un Cernoir:] [Prov.] [(We say of one that hath squandered away great wealth) hee hath thwitten a mill-post to a pudding pricke.]


[De qui ie me fie dieu me garde:] [Pro.] [(For, in trust is Treason, say we.)


[Deux chiens ne s'accordent point à vn os:] [Prov.] [Two dogs, and a bone, agree not in one.]
[Deux chiens ne s'accordent point à vn os:] [Prov.] Two dogs neuer agree about one bone; churles will not part, nor part with, any thing.
[Deux chiens ne s'accordent point à vn os:] [Prov.] We say, Two cats and a mouse, two wiues in one house, two dogs and a bone, neuer agree in one.


[Douce parole n'escorche langue:] [Prov.] Wee say, good words breake no bones.


[Du dire au faict y a grand traict:] [Prov.] [Deeds and words dwell farre asunder: either because many things that are spoken are not intended to be done; or because few things will so quickly, or can so easily be done, as they are spoken.]
[Du dire au faict y a grand traict:] [Prov.] There is great difference betweene words, and deeds; [we haue an old, and triuiall rime somewhat to this purpose;] Saying, and doing end both with a letter; saying is good, but doing is better.
[Du dire au faict y a grand traict:] [Prov.] [There is 'tweene (most) mens word and deed, great space, and but a little speed.]


[Enfans deviennent grands gens:] [Pro.] Children, in time, grow men; or (as we say) boyes will be men one day.


[Enfans sont richesses de pauvres gens:] [Prov.] Children are poore mens riches: [(In other Countries, whose people are industrious, they may perhaps be so; but in ours, for the most part, store of children make poore men plaine beggers.)]


[Entre la bouche & le cueillier souvent advient grand destourbier:] [Prov.] Betweene the cup and the lip (say we, with the Latine Poet) many mischances happen.
[Entre la bouche, & la cuillier souvent advient grand destourbier:] [Prov.] Great lets oft thrust betweene the spoone and mouth; mischances happen when men thinke all sure.


[Fiens de chien, & marc d'argent seront tout vn au iour de iugement:] [Prov.] [All will be one at the later day (say we.)]


[Homme mort mord iusques, & par delà la mort:] [Prov.] [The bloud of the innocent cryes vnto God for vengeance, pursuing vnto, and stinging after, death the conscience of a murtherer: Howsoeuer some may flatter themselues with;] [Homme mort ne mord pas:] [Prov.] [A dead man;] [(or as we say], a dead dog) bites not.


[Homme mort ne fait guerre:] [Prov.] [A dead man deales no blowes.]
[Homme mort ne fait guerre:] [Prov.] [Dead men are quiet; the dead man makes no warre.]
[Homme mort ne fait guerre:] &, [Homme mort ne mord point:] [Prov.] [A dead man fights not;] we say; A dead dog bites not.
[Homme mort ne mord pas:] [Prov.] [A dead man;] (or as we say, a dead dog) bites not.


[Il fait beau pescher en eau large:] [Prov.] There is no fishing to the sea, say we.


[Il ne choisit pas qui emprunte:] [Prov.] Borrowers must not be chusers.
[Il ne choisit pas qui emprunte:] [Prov.] Borrowers we say beggers are no chusers.


[Il n'est banquet que d'homme chiche:] [Prov.] Wee say, there is no feast to the misers; [and by a misers feast we meane, a plentifull, though a rare, one.]


[Il n'est nager qu'en grand' eau:] [Prov.] The biggest waters are the best to swimme in.
[Il n'est nager qu'en grand eau:] [Prov.] [There is no swimming to the sea.]
[Il n'est nager qu'en grand eau:] [Prov.] [(We say)] [there is no fishing to the sea.]


[Il n'est pas tousiours feste:] [Prov.] Feasts last not alwayes; or, we must not alwayes thinke to feast it; euerie day is not Sunday (say we.)


[Il n'est vie que de coquins:] [Prov.] There's no life to the beggers;
[Il n'est vie que de coquins quand ils one assemblé leurs bribes:] [Prov.] There is no life (no mirth) to that of a company of beggers, hauing laied their scrips together.
[Il n'est vie que de coquins quand ils ont assemblé leurs bribes:] [Pro.] [Our countrey Fidlers haue a song which begins thus; Of all Occupations a beggar is the best, for when he is wearie, he may lay him downe and rest, & c.] {ed: this line appears in the middle of "The Jovial Begger", published in Playford's Choice Ayres, Songs, and Dialogues, 1676.}


[La faim chasse le loup hors du bois:] [Prov.] Hunger driues the wolfe out of the wood.
[La faim chasse les loups hors du bois:] [Prov.] Hunger driues wolues out of the wood; or (as we say) breaks downe stone walls.
[La faim chasse les loups hors du bois:] [Prov.] [Hunger makes men forgoe their safest holds.]


[La Maison fait cognoistre le Maistre:] [Prov.] By the house one may ghesse at the owner; by the fashion, or gouernement thereof, what his abilitie, and humor is.
[La maison fait cognoistre le maistre:] [Prov.] [The house discouers the owner;] or, looke into a house, you discerne the owner.
[La maison fait cognoistre le maistre:] [Prov.] we say, the seluidge makes shew of the cloth.


[L'amour, la tousse, & la galle ne se peuvent celer:] [Pro.] We say, Loue, and the Cough cannot be hidden.
[L'Amour, la tousse, & la galle ne se peuvent celer:] [Prov.] Loue, scabs, and coughing will not bee concealed.
[L'amour, la tousse, & la galle ne se peuvent celer:] [Pro.] We say, Loue, and the Cough cannot be hidden.


[La nuict donne conseil:] [Prov.] [Like vnto our, take counsell of your pillow.]


[Le grand boeuf apprend à labourer au petit:] [Pro.] [The great Oxe learnes the little one to worke.]
[Le grand boeuf apprend à labourer au petit:] [Pro.] The old Oxe teaches the young to draw; wee say
[Le grand boeuf apprend à labourer au petit:] [Prov.] [The old Ox learnes the young to draw.]


[Le nuict donne conseil:] [Prov.] night giues aduise; We say, take counsell of your pillow.


[Le petit gain emplit la bourse:] [Prov.] Many a little makes a mickle; or, light gaines make heauie purses.
[Le petit gain emplit la bourse:] [Prov.] Wee say, light gaines make heauie purses.



[Les grands boeufs ne font pas les grandes iourné es:] [Pro.] The greatest Oxen rid not most worke; we say, the greatest crabs are not all the best meat.
[Les grands boeufs ne font pas les grandes iourné es:] [Prov.] [The greatest Ox rids not most worke.]


[Les mal vestus devers le vent:] [Pro.] [He that worst may the candle holdeth;]
[Les mal-vestus devers le vent:] [Prov.] [(Like our)] the weakest to the wall; those that worst may are euer put to the worst.


[Les paroles font le ieu:] [Prov.] [Words bind the gamester; make the game.]
[Les paroles font le jeu:] [Pro.] [Words make the game; Oxen by ropes, but men by words, are bound.]


[L'on endure tout fors que trop d'aise:] [Prov.] Wee say, all things may be suffered sauing wealth.


[Marchandise offerte est à demi venduë:] [Pro.] [Ware that is offered yeelds but halfe a price;] we say, proferred ware stinkes.


[Marchand qui perd ne peut rire:] [Pro.] [Can any man laugh that looses? can any man take pleasure in his losses?]
[Marchand qui perd ne peut rire:] [Prov.] [A Marchant loosing cannot laugh.]
[Marchand qui perd ne peut rire:] [Prov.] We say, they laugh that win.


[Mieux vaut avoir ami en voye qu'or n'argent en courroye:] [Prov.] A friend on the way is better than a penie in the purse.
[Mieux vaut avoir ami en voye qu'or ny argent en courroye:] [Pro.] We say (but with some difference) better a friend in court then a penny in the purse.


[Mieux vaut vn pied nud que nul:] [Pro.] [A bare foot is better then none.]
[Mieux vaut vn pied nud que nul:] [Pro.] [Better a naked, then no, foot.]
[Mieux vaut vn pied nud que nul:] [Prov.] [Better halfe a loafe then no bread.]


[Necessité est la moitié de raison:] [Prov.] [Necessitie hath halfe the force of a reason; a fault which must be made is halfe excused.]
[Necessité est la moitié de raison:] [Prov.] We say that necessitie hath no law.


[Necessité fait trotter les vieilles:] [Pro.] Need makes th'old wife trot [(say we.)]


[Oignez vilain il vous poindra:] [Prov.] [The base vnthankfull chuffe returnes bad offices for good.]
[Oignez vilain il vous poindra:] [Pro.] [(Applyable to the base ingratitude of a base chuffe, or churle.)]
[Oignez vilain il vous poindra:] [Pro.] [(Like our homelie one)] claw a churle by the breech, and he will shite in your fist.


[On a beau mener le boeuf à l'eau s'il n'a soif:] [Pro.] In vaine is an Oxe led to the water if he be not athirst; we say [(with some difference of sence)] a man may lead his horse to the water, but cannot make him drinke vnlesse he list.


[On ne peut d'un pigeon faire vn vif esparvier:] [Prov.] [The sillie Doue good Sparhawke nere will be;] [(Somewhat to which purpose we say)] a man cannot make a Cheuerill purse of a Sowes eare.


[On touche tousiours sur le cheval qui tire:] [Pro.] [The free drag-horse is alwayes ouerraught.]
[On touche tousiours sur le cheval qui tire:] [Prov.] [The forward horse is alwayes most put on.]
[On touche tousjours sur le cheval qui tire:] [Prov.] [We say, Seldome hath a good horse turned iade; a worthie fellow will neuer prooue coward, nor knaue; no age can weaken, no daunger appall, no paine afflict, no offer infect, him.


[Petite chose de loing poise:] [Prov.] [A little, or light thing farre carried proues heauie.]
[Petite chose de loing poise:] [Prov.] We say, Light burthen farre heauie; a little thing borne farre growes heauie.


[Petit fardeau poise à la longe:] [Prov.] We say, light burthen farre heauie.
[Petit fardeau poise à la longue:] [Prov.] [A light thing farre borne heauie growes.]


[Plus d'un asne à la foire a nom Martin:] [Prov.] We say (with a small resemblance of sence) there be more maids then Malkin, or, more maids then one be called Malkin.
[Plus d'vn Asne à la foire a nom Martin:] [Prov.] [If one will not another will; there be more wayes to the wood then one;]


[Pluye de Fevrier vaut esgout de fumier:] [Prov.] [Februarie raine is th'husbandmans gaine.]
[Pluye de Fevrier vaut esgout de fumier:] [Prov.] We say, Aprill showers bring in May flowers.


[Poisson, gorret, & cochin, vie en l'eau & mort en vin:] [Prov.] [(Such flegmaticke meates requiring much wine to be drunke with them.)]
[Poisson, gorret, & cochin, vie en l'eau, & mort en vin:] [Pro.] we say, fish must euer swimme twice.


[Pres de l'Eglise est souvent loing de Dieu.] [Prov.] The neerer to the Church, the further from God; (say we.)


[Quand il tonne en Mars, nous pouvons dire helas:] [Prov.] [(So euill a signe is that monethes thunder held.)]
[Quand il tonne en mars nous pouvons dire helas:] [Prov.] [We say that], Winters thunder is Summers wonder.


[Qui a à pendre n'a pas à noyer:] [Prov.] [Hee thats borne to be hanged needs feare no drowning.]
[Qui a à pendre n'a pas à noyer:] [Prov.] He thats ordaind to be hangd will neuer be drownd (say we.)


[Qui a besoing de feu le cerche avec le doigt:] [Prov.] He that wants necessaries must take any paines for them.
[qui a besoing de feu le cerche avec le doigt:] [Prov.] We say, (with some little difference) Let them that bee acold blow at the cole.


[Qui aime Bertrand aime son chien:] [Prov.] Loue me loue my dog (say we.)


[Qui a peur des fueilles ne doit aller au bois:] [Pro.] [Let him thats skar'd by leaues keepe from the Wood.]
[Qui a peur des fueilles ne doit aller au bois:] [Pro.] (like our) [let him that feares the wagging of feathers keepe from among wildfowle.]


[Qui bien fera bien se trouvera:] [Pro.] [We say of one that does a good and charitable deed,] He will find it in another world.
[Qui bien fera bien trouvera:] [Prov.] He that does well shall speed well.
[Qui bien fera bien trouvera:] [Prov.] Well thriues he that does well; or he that does well cheeues well.


[Qui est loing du plat est prez de son dommage:] [Prov.] [We say (more generally)] a man thats farre from his good is neere his harme.


[Qui glane il ne fait pas ce qu'il veut:] [Prov.] [Somewhat like our, Beggers must be no chusers.]


[Qui n'a cheual, ne chariot, il ne charge pas quand il veut:] [Prov.] He loads not when he lists that wants both horse, and cart.
[Qui n'a cheval ne chariot il ne charge pas quand il veut:] [Pro.] He cannot do what he would that wants wherewithall; beggers must not be chusers.
[Qui n'a cheval ne chariot, il ne charge pas quand il veut:] [Pro.] Hee often wants of his will, that wants wherewithall.


[Qui ne s'adventure n'a cheual ny mule:] [Pro.] Nothing venture nothing haue, say we.
[Qui ne s'adventure n'a cheval ny mule:] [Prov.] He that hazards nothing winneth nothing; faint heart neuer got faire Ladie.
[Qui ne s'avanture n'a cheval, ni mule:] [Prov.] [We say], nothing aduenture nothing haue. [Qui trop s'avanture perd cheval, & mule:] [Prov.] [Venture too farre you loose all; (So the difference is, that the one wants but what he had not; the other looses what he had.)]


[Qui sç auroit les avantures il ne seroit iamais povre:] [Pro.] [(We say)] if a man knew when it would raine, he would make hay in faire weather.


[Qui trop se haste en cheminant, en beau chemin se fourvoye:] [Prov.] Hee that goes too fast failes in a faire way; we say, faire and softly goeth far.
[Qui trop se haste en cheminant en beau chemin se fourvoye:] [Prov.] The ouer-hastie traueller misses a plaine way; we say, the hastie man seldom wants woe (now a greater woe than the misse of way cannot befall him that hath cause to make hast.)
[Qui trop se haste en cheminant, en beau chemin se fourvoye souvent:] [Prov.] He that makes too much hast oft wanders in plaine way.
[Qui trop se haste en cheminant en beau chemin se fourvoye souvent:] [Prov.] [The more hast the worse speed; they that make too much hast mistake the fairest way.]


[Qui ueut batre son chien trouve assez de bastons:] [Prov.] [(Almost of the same sence; or as we say;)] Tis an easie matter to find a staffe to beat a dog withall.
[Qui veut batre son chien trouve assez de bastons:] [Prov.] It is an easie matter to find a staffe wherewith to beat a dog.


[Qui veut tenir nette maison, il n'y faut prestre, ny pigeon:] [Pro.] [He that in a neat house will dwell, must Priest and Pigeon thence expell.]
[Qui veut tenir nette maison il n'y faut prestre, ny pigeon:] [Pro.] [He that loues to haue a neat house must keepe neither Priest, nor Pigeon in it.]
[Qui veut tenir nette maison il n'y faut prestre ny pigeon:] [Prov.] For (we say) Priests, and Pigeons make foule houses.


[Secret de deux secret de dieu:] [Prov.] Yet wee say, that, two can keepe counsell when one is away.
[Secret de deux secret de Dieu, secret de trois secret de tous:] [Prov.] [We onely say, that three may keep counsell when two are away.]
[Secret de trois secret de tous:] [Prov.] [As good let all, as three, men know a thing.]


[Selon le pain il faut le cousteau:] [Prov.] [(Like our) the coat according to the cloth.]
[Selon le pain il faut le cousteau:] [Prov.] [We must proportion our expence by our meanes.]


[Telle racine telle fueille:] [Prov.] [Such root (we say, such tree) such fruit.]
[Telle racine telle fueille:] [Prov.] We say; such as the tree such is the fruit.


[Tel menace qui est batu:] [Prov.] One may threaten, and be well swindged when he hath done; (we say, threatened folkes liue long.)
[Tel menace qui est batu:] [Prov.] [Some threaten that are beaten.]


[Toute Chatte a son Fevrier:] [Prov.] Euerie dog hath his day (say we) or [(more properly) euerie woman hath her wanton fit.]


[Vin sur laict c'est souhait, laict sur vin c'est venin:] [Prov.] [Milke before wine I would twere mine, milke taken after is poisons daughter.]
[Vin sur laict c'est souhait, laict sur vin c'est venin:] [Prov.] Wash thy milke off thy liuer, [(say we.)]


[Vn Espagnol sans Iesuite est vne perdris sans orange:] [Prov.] A Spaniard without a Jesuite is (wee may say) cheese without mustard.


[Vn vieil chien iamais ne iappe en vain:] [Pro.] [An old dog barketh (we say biteth) sure.]
[Vn vieil chien iamais ne iappe en vain:] [Prov.] [An old dog neuer barkes in vaine; the warning, or aduise of an old man is euer to some purpose.]
[Vn vieil chien iamais ne jappe en vain:] [Prov.] The old dog neuer barketh (aged experience neuer aduiseth,) in vaine.


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