Haue you not reason then to bee ashamed, and to forbeare this filthie noueltie, so basely grounded, so foolishly receiued and so grossely mistaken in the right vse thereof? In your abuse thereof sinning against God, harming your selues both in persons and goods, and raking also thereby the markes and notes of vanitie vpon you: by the custome thereof making your selues to be wondered at by all forraine ciuil Nations, and by all strangers that come among you, to be scorned and contemned. A custome lothsome to the eye, hatefull to the Nose, harmefull to the braine, dangerous to the Lungs, and in the blacke stinking fume thereof, neerest resembling the horrible Stigian smoke of the pit that is bottomlesse.H.M. James I of England (VI of Scotland) from his A Counter-Blast to Tobacco (AD 1604) .
I had to memorize this in the 10th grade but haven't remembered it in years. Thanks for recalling it to my memory.
ReplyDeleteWhat an odd thing to memorize. But perhaps more useful than all of the presidents in order.
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John
Fie, the outrage!
ReplyDeleteClearly he needs a better quality leaf and a nice pipe.
(`8^{R}>+
Egad!
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