George Whetstone

George Whetstone (c. 1544 – 1587) was an English dramatist and author. Quotes What is this world, a net to snare the soule,A masse of sinne, a desart of deceipt,A momentes ioy, an age of wrecched dole:A lure from grace, for flesh a lothsome baite,Unto the minde a canker worme of care,Unsure, uniust, in rendring man his share. What is this world? A net to snare the soul,A mass of sin, a desert of deceit,A moment's joy, an age of wretched dole,A lure from grace, for flesh a loathsome bait:  Unto the mind a canker-worm of care,  Unsure, unjust, in rend'ring man his share. A Remembrance of the well imployed Life, and godly end of George Gascoigne Esquire who deceassed at Stalmford in Lincolne Shire the 7. of October (1577). Republished as "A Description of the World" in The Paradise of Daintie Devises (1585), n.p. Erroneously attributed to Gascoigne. See: Notes and Queries, ser. 11, vol. 3, no. 70 (29 April 1911), p. 323 The riche mans wealth, is moste enemye vnto his health. The rich man's wealth is most enemy unto his health. The English Myrror (1586), ch. 3, p. 14 Promos and Cassandra (1578) Byrds of a fether, best flye together. Birds of a feather best fly together. Phallax, act II, sc. iv Well, I wyll set a face of brasse on it. Well, I will set a face of brass on it. Phallax, act III, sc. i Whylst grasse, doth growe ofte sterues the seely stéede. Whilst grass doth grow, oft starves the silly steed. Cassandra, act V, sc. iii Again, in The Paradise of Daintie Devises (1585): To whom of old, this Prouerbe well it serues,While grass doth growe, the silly horse he sterues.To whom of old this proverb well it serves,While grass doth grow, the silly horse he starves. Compare: John Heywood, Proverbs (1562), pt. I, ch. 11: "While the grass groweth the horse sterveth." · Hamlet, act III, sc. ii, l. 359: "Ay, sir, but 'while the grass grows' — the proverb is something musty." External links