Thomas Tusser
Thomas Tusser
Thomas Tusserwas an English poet and farmer, best known for his instructional poem Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry, an expanded version of his original title, A Hundreth Good Pointes of Husbandrie, first published in 1557...
NationalityEnglish
ProfessionPoet
years shining age
For the first fourteen years for a rod they do while for the next as a pearl in the world they do shine. For the next trim beauty beginneth to swerve. For the next matrons or drudges they serve. For the next doth crave a staff for a stay. For the next a bier to fetch them away.
few lend
Who goeth a borrowing/ Goeth a sorrowing./ Few lend (but fools)/ Their working tools.
cow except forth ill none spring stands trees true turns wind yield
Yet true it is, as cow chews cud,/ And trees at spring do yield forth bud,/ Except wind stands as never it stood,/ It is an ill wind turns none to good.
both giveth god
God sendeth and giveth both mouth and meat.
fools-and-foolishness money
A fool and his money are soon parted.
affairs husbands weather
Some respite to husbands the weather may send,/ But housewives' affairs have never an end.
debate fool good hundred money points soon
A fool and his money be soon at debate (Five Hundred Points of Good Husbandry)
bear buying pig selling wit
In doing of either, let wit bear a stroke,/ For buying or selling of pig in a poke.
fool debate
A fool and his money be soon at debate
cheer merry-christmas winter
Sing hey! Sing hey! For Christmas Day; Twine mistletoe and holly. For a friendship glows In winter snows, And so let's all be jolly! At Christmas play and make good cheer, For Christmas comes but once a year
sadness misery borrowing
Who goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing.
peace integrity patriotic
Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man.
time trying
Time tries the troth in everything.
running sheep hands
Provide of thine own, to have all things at hand; Less work and the workman, unoccupied, stand. Make dry over-head both hovel and shack. Wash sheep (for the better) where water doth run; Let him go cleanly, and dry in the sun. Thy houses and and barns would be looked upon; And all things a[...]ed, ere harvest come on. At midsummer, down with the brambles and brakes; And after, abroad, with thy forks and thy rakes; Set movers a mowing, where meadow is grown; The longer now standing, the worse to be mown.