1607. Dekker, Northward Hoe, Act i., p. 8. If a man be deuorst, whether may he haue an action or no, gainst those that make horns at him. Ibid, iv., p. 54. This curse is on all letchers throwne, They give horns and, at last, hornes are their owne.
1608. Rowlands, Humor's Looking Glass, p. 22. Besides, shee is as perfect chast as faire. But being married to a jealous asse, He vowes shee horns him.
1609. Jonson, Epicæne, iii., i. By that light you deserve to be grafted, and your horns reach from one side of the island to the other.
1616. Jonson, Devil's an Ass, v., 5. And a cuckold is, Wherever he puts his head, with a wannion, his horns be forth, the devil's companion.
1613. Samuel Rowlands. The Night Raven, p. 25. 'Tis this bad liver doth the horne-plague breed, Which day and night my jealous thoughts doth feed.
1623. Cockeran, Eng. Dict. s.v. Sargus, an adulterous fish which goes on the grassie shore, and hornes the hee Goates that had horns before.
1627. Drayton. Agincourt and Other Poems, p. 174. Some made mouthes at him, others as in scorne With their forkt fingers poynted him the horn.
1629. Davenant, Albovine, ed. 1673, p. 436. 'Twas a subtle reach to tell him that the King had horn'd his brow.
1633. Rowley, Match at Midnight (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiii., 40). Horning the headman of his parish and taking money for his pains.
1633. Ford, Love's Sacrifice, iii., 3. Fernando is your rival, has stolen your duchess's heart, murther'd friendship; horns your head, and laughs at your horns.
1637. Beaumont and Fletcher, Elder Brother, iv., 4. I shall have some music yet At my making free o' th' company of horners.
1640. Rawlins, The Rebellion, i., I. (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 15). Fresh as a city bridegroom that has signed his wife a for the grafting of horns.
1643 Brome, A New Diurnal. (Chalmers, Eng. Poets, 1810, vi, 667). Prince Rupert, for fear that his name be confounded, Will saw off his horns, and make him a Roundhead.
1647. Beaumont and Fletcher, Women Pleased, v. 3. I shall then be full of scorn, Wanton, proud (beware the horn).
1653. Middleton and Rowley, The Spanish Gypsy, iii., I. Beggars would on cock-horse ride. And boobies fall a-roaring, And cuckolds though no horns be spied, Be one another goring.
1653. Davenant, The Siege of Rhodes, p. 34. It stuffs up the marriage bed with thorns, It gores itself, it gores itself with imagined horns.
1657. Middleton, Women, Beware of Woman (1657), iii., 2. Cuckolds dance the hornpipe, and farmers dance the hay. Idem., iv., 2. Go, lie down, master; but take care your horns do not make holes in the pillow-beers.
1659. Lady Alimony, i., 2 (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 280). My scene, Trillo, is horn alley. Ibid., iii., 6 (p. 340). Doubt nothing, my fellow Knights of HORNsey.
1661. Webster, Cure for a Cuckold (1661), v., 2. He that hath horns thus let him learn to shed.
1663. Killigrew, The Parson's Wedding, iv., I (Dodsley, Old Plays, 4th ed., 1875, xiv., 473). I hope to exalt the Parson's horn here. Ibid., (p. 477). Only to fright the poor cuckholds and make the fools visit their horns. Ibid., v., 4 (p. 519). Methinks my horns ache more than my corns. Ibid, ib (p. 520). I have seen a cuckold of your complexion: if he had lent as much hoof as horn, you might have hunted the beast by the slot.
1664. Butler, Hudibras, II., ii. For when men by their wives are cowed, Their horns of course are understood.
1668. L'Estrange, Visions of Quevedo, p. 251 (ed. 1708). He that marries, ventures fair for the horn, either before or after.
1672. Ray, Proverbs (in Bohn, 1889), s.v. He had better put his horns in his pocket than wind them. Idem. (p. 184). Horns and gray hairs do not come with years. Idem. id., Who hath horns in his pocket let him not put them on his head.
1675. Wycherley, Country Wife, v., 4. Epilogue: Encouraged by our woman's man to-day, a horner's part may vainly think to play. Ibid, i., I. I make no more cuckolds, sir. [MAKES HORNS.] Ibid., iv., 3. If ever you suffer your wife to trouble me again here, she shall carry you home a pair of horns.
1677. Wycherley, Plain Dealer, iv., 1. First, the clandestine obscenity in the very name of Horner.
