Mind in your purse

Posted by Pamela on March 04, 2008 at 05:18:

In Reply to: Mind in your purse posted by pamela on March 04, 2008 at 05:17:

: : Does anyone know what the phrase "Mind in your purse" means?

:
: Well, if someone said "mind your purse" to me, I would think they were saying "keep an eye on your purse or someone might steal it". This seems to be a common understanding judging by a google search. I'm wondering if the "mind" has anything to do with the meaning of "mind" as "remember" (i.e. "mind your manners"). Byron, the poet, also had it as a line in a poem - I think in this context it may have meant be thrifty (with your passions) but I'm not sure. Here is the first and last part of the poem:

: GROWING OLD

: But now at thirty years my hair is grey--
: (I wonder what it will be like at forty?
: I thought of a peruke the other day--)
: My heart is not much greener; and, in short, I
: Have squandered my whole summer while 'twas May,
: And feel no more the spirit to retort; I
: Have spent my life, both interest and principal,
: And deem not, what I deemed, my soul invincible.
: No more--no more--Oh! never more on me
: The freshness of the heart can fall like dew,
: Which out of all the lovely things we see
: Extracts emotions beautiful and new;
: Hived in our bosoms like the bag o' the bee.
: Think'st thou the honey with those objects grew?
: Alas! 'twas not in them, but in thy power
: To double even the sweetness of the flower.
: No more--no more--Oh! never more, my heart,
: Canst thou be my sole world, my universe!

: ...

: What are the hopes of man? Old Egypt's King
: Cheops erected the first Pyramid
: And largest, thinking it was just the thing
: To keep his memory whole, and mummy hid;
: But somebody or other rummaging
: Burglariously broke his coffin's lid:
: Let not a monument give you or me hopes,
: Since not a pinch of dust remains of Cheops.
: But I, being fond of true philosophy,
: Say very often to myself, 'Alas!
: All things that have been born were born to die,
: And flesh (which Death mows down to hay) is grass;
: You've passed your youth not so unpleasantly,
: And if you had it o'er again--'twould pass--
: So thank your stars that matters are not worse,
: And read your Bible, sir, and mind your purse.

• Mind in your purse Baceseras 04/March/08
  • Mind in your purse RRC 04/March/08
    • Mind in your purse pamela 05/March/08
      • Mind in your purse RRC 06/March/08
        • Mind in your purse pamela 06/March/08