The first chapter of History of Plymouth Plantation is an account of how the Reformation proceeded in England. Broadly, Bradford describes the struggle between Catholics, who he calls the "gross darkness of papacy," and what he calls "orthodox and true Christians" that took place across Europe. Focusing on events in England, he claims that Satan himself was at work during the reign of Catholic Queen Mary, who persecuted Protestants. Under Elizabeth, some reforms were instituted, but the Church retained some of the ceremonies (deemed impious by Calvinist-inspired Englishmen) in order, Bradford says, to "win the weak and ignorant." A group, known as Puritans for their desire to "purify" the Church emerged under James I, and these people were persecuted by the established Church of England. So they, as many dissenters had done under Queen Mary, decided in 1607 to leave England and seek asylum in the Netherlands. The crucial underlying theme established in this chapter is that Bradford and others like him believed themselves to be chosen by God, and that all of the trials and tribulations they faced were the work of Satan. Surmounting these challenges would bring the people closer to God.
Does anybody know the etymology of the phrase "sweet dreams"? I tried googling but did not find anything satisfying. Is this a relatively new phrase of the modern world or has this been in use for some time? I think it's the latter one. Answer The OED has the interjection as "a farewell to someone going to bed" from the 20th century: 1908 Sears Roebuck Catal. 198/1 Tenor Solos..Good Bye, Sweet Dreams, Good Bye. But it goes back until at least the 19th and possibly 18th centuries. John Wolcot, writing under the pseudonym of Peter Pindar, used it in his poem "Orson and Ellen; A Legendary Tale" published in 1801: Also from 1801 in The infernal Quixote (Page 287) by Charles Lucas: In the March 1776 of The Universal Magazine was published "The Serenade. A Pastoral Tale. From the German of Gesner" , where the shepherd Daphnis watches over his beloved as she sleeps and sings: The same tale appears in 1776's as Idyl XI, " Daphnis ...
Comments
Post a Comment