He gave us also the example of the Philosopher, who, when he thought most seriously to have withdrawn himself unto a solitary Privacy, far from the rufling Clutterments of the tumultuous and confused World, the better to improve his Theory, to contrive, comment, and ratiocinate, was, notwithstanding his uttermost Endeavours to free himself from all untowards Noises, surrounded and environ'd about so with the barking of Curs, howling of Wolves, neighing of Horses, bleating of Sheep, barring of Elephants, hissing of Serpents, braying of Asses, chirping of Grasshoppers, cooing of Turtles […]
1737, François Rabelais, translated by Thomas Urquhart, The Complete Works of Doctor François Rabelais