Also 9 fool-paradise.

1

  1.  A state of illusory happiness or good fortune; enjoyment based on false hopes or anticipations.

2

1462.  W. Paston, in Paston Lett., No. 457, II. 109. I wold not be in a folis paradyce.

3

1477.  Norton, Ord. Alch., ii., in Ashm. (1652), 28.

        Of trust of this Arte riseth Joyes nice,
For lewde hope is fooles Paradice.

4

1528.  Roy, Rede me (Arb.), 86.

        Thus my lady not very wyse
Is brought in to foles paradyse.

5

1687.  Bp. Cartwright, in Magd. Coll. & Jas. II. (Oxf. Hist. Soc.), 189. Other men, who are led by populacy, which is the Fool’s Paradise.

6

1709.  E. W., Life of Donna Rosina, 148. Thus was an old experienc’d Villain brought into a Fool’s Paradice.

7

1806–7.  J. Beresford, Miseries Hum. Life (1826), XII. xxxii. While you have been revelling in a fool’s paradise of leisure.

8

1856.  Mrs. Browning, Aur. Leigh, IV. 341.

                        Love’s fool-paradise
Is out of date, like Adam’s.

9

  † 2.  (See quot.) Obs.

10

1644.  Digby, Nat. Bodies, I. xxix. 257. Those triangular glasses or prismes which some do call fooles Paradises.

11