Omens of mischance

Bourne wrote that omens were in everyone’s mouth though only country people heeded them, and that they directed many actions of life. George Wither mocked those whose mirth was spoiled by a few drops of blood from the nose, by a jay, a squirrel or a hare crossing their way, or by salt falling towards them at table. Gay’s fable of the farmer’s wife and the raven adds knife and fork laid crosswise, Friday, and a raven croaking on the left hand. Hone printed them together in The Year Book.