I took a practice quiz from an online site and I cant figure out these three quotes - the person they were said about is at the end of the quote.
1. This little proverb he would add thereto That if gold rust, then what will iron do?' parson
2. 'A thumb of gold, by God, to gauge an oat!'? miller
3. 'Woe to the cook whose sauces had no sting Or who was unprepared in anything!'? franklin
To understand the meaning behind these quotes and identify the person they were said about, we need to analyze the context and the literary devices used in each quote.
1. "This little proverb he would add thereto, That if gold rust, then what will iron do?" - This quote is from a parson and uses a proverb to make a point. The proverb suggests that if gold can rust, a precious metal, then iron, a less valuable material, will certainly rust as well. This proverb is likely used metaphorically to imply that if someone of high moral standing or reputation (compared to gold) can have flaws, then someone of lower moral standing (compared to iron) is even more likely to have flaws. This quote could be talking about a person who is morally compromised or has questionable integrity compared to the parson.
2. "'A thumb of gold, by God, to gauge an oat!'" - This quote is from a miller. The miller is using a colorful metaphor to express his admiration or appreciation for something. The idiom "a thumb of gold" suggests that the miller considers the object or subject he's referring to be valuable or exceptional. In this case, the quote is likely speaking about a person who the miller highly regards or finds praiseworthy.
3. "'Woe to the cook whose sauces had no sting, Or who was unprepared in anything!'" - This quote is from a Franklin, a member of the merchant class. The quote expresses the Franklin's dissatisfaction with a cook who lacks skills and preparedness in their craft. The mention of "sauces" with no "sting" implies that the Franklin appreciates the skillful use of spices and flavors in cooking. Therefore, this quote could be referring to a person, possibly a chef or a cook, who is criticized by the Franklin for their lack of competence in the culinary arts.
In summary, these quotes seem to be describing different individuals based on their qualities or actions as perceived by the parson, the miller, and the Franklin.