Quote#Death
I'd rather die Maid, and lead apes in Hell
Quote byRichard Braithwaite · 1588–1673
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: The English Gentelman and Gentelwoman (1640), in a supplemental tract, The Turtle's Triumph. Phrase "lead apes in hell" found in his Drunken Barnaby's Journal...Bessy Bell (ed. 1716). Massinger, The City Madam, Act II, Sc. 2 · Shirley, The School of Compliments (1637) · Shakespeare, The Taming of th.
English (original)
I'd rather die Maid, and lead apes in Hell Than wed an inmate of Silenus' Cell.
— Richard Braithwaite
You may also like
A wily wench there was (as I have read) Who us’d to capricorn her husband’s head.
Skin more pure than Ida’s snow, Whiter far than Moorish milk, Sweeter than ambrosia too, Softer than the Paphian silk, Indian plumes or thistle-down, Or May-blossoms newly blown,
To Banbury came I, O profane one! Where I saw a Puritane-one Hanging of his cat on Monday, For killing of a mouse on Sunday.
But see! the pains begin to fly; Tho’ Venus bled she could not die: See the new phœnix point her eyes, And lovelier from her ashes rise.
Brighter from her disease she shines, As fire the precious gold refines. Thus when the silent grave becomes Pregnant with life as fruitful wombs; When the wide seas and spacious earth Resign us to our second birth;
'Tis the night—the night Of the grave's delight, And the warlocks are at their play! Ye think that without, The wild winds shout, But no, it is they—it is they!
