when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?
- when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?
The rhyme is particularly associated with the itinerant preacher John Ball, a leader of the 1381 ‘Peasants’ Revolt’, who used it to incite the people against their feudal lords.
c 1340 R. ROLLE in G. G. Perry Religious Pieces (EETS) 88 When Adam dalfe [dug] and Eue spane..Whare was than the pride of man?
1381 in Brown & Robbins Index Middle English Verse (1943) 628 Whan adam delffid and eve span, Who was than a gentilman?
1562 J. PILKINGTON Aggeus & Abdias I. ii. When Adam dalve, and Eve span, Who was than a gentle man? Up start the carle, and gathered good, And thereof came the gentle blood.
1979 C. E. SCHORSKE Fin-de-Siède Vienna vi. When Adam delved and Eve span Who was then the gentleman? The question had ironic relevance for the arrivé.
Proverbs new dictionary.
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Gentleman — The term gentleman (from Latin gentilis , belonging to a race or gens , and man , cognate with the French word gentilhomme and the Italian gentil uomo or gentiluomo ), in its original and strict signification, denoted a man of good family,… … Wikipedia
Adam — Den alten Adam ausziehen (auch ersäufen): ein neuer Mensch werden. In seinen Briefen (Röm 6, 6; Eph 4, 22; Kol 3,9) spricht der Apostel Paulus von dem ›alten Menschen‹ als dem Urheber der Sünde und des Todes und dem ›neuen Menschen‹, d.h. dem in… … Das Wörterbuch der Idiome
gentleman — see when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman? an Englishman’s word is his bond it takes three generations to make a gentleman … Proverbs new dictionary
Adam — see when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman? … Proverbs new dictionary
Eve — see when Adam delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman? … Proverbs new dictionary
Span. — 1. Spaniard. 2. Spanish. * * * span1 «span», noun, verb, spanned, span|ning. –n. 1. a) the part between two supports: »The bridge crossed the river in three spans. b) … Useful english dictionary
Adam — 1. Adam hat das Obst gegessen und wir haben das Fieber davon. *2. Adam hat genascht verbotne Bissen und wir müssen dafür büssen. 3. Adam iss. – Agricola, 746. Von der Verführungsgewalt, welche das schwache Geschlecht seit Eva s Zeit über das… … Deutsches Sprichwörter-Lexikon
Peasants' Revolt — The Peasants Revolt, Tyler’s Rebellion, or the Great Rising of 1381 was one of a number of popular revolts in late medieval Europe and is a major event in the history of England. Tyler s Rebellion was not only the most extreme and widespread… … Wikipedia
John Ball (priest) — Infobox Politician name=John Ball imagesize=150pxJohn Ball (c. 1338 [cite book |title=Communism in History and Theory |last=Busky |first=Donald F. |year=2002 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=027597748X |pages=pg.33 ] 15 July 1381) was… … Wikipedia
John Ball (sacerdote) — Para otros usos de este término, véase John Ball. John Ball Grabado de John Ball … Wikipedia Español
