In 1611, the Anglo-Italian linguist John Florio published Queen Anna's New World of Words in London, a revised and expanded edition of his earlier Italian-English dictionary. This work, dedicated to Queen Anne, contained a vast number of Italian and English entries and was notable for its inclusion of proverbs and idiomatic expressions. Florio, who served as a reader of Italian to the queen and was a friend of Shakespeare, was a key figure in the cultural exchange between England and Italy.

Florio's dictionary was an invaluable resource for English poets of the Shakespearean era, providing them with access to Italian literature and culture. Its inclusion of proverbs and idiomatic phrases enriched the vocabulary available to English poets, enabling them to craft more sophisticated and allusive verses. Florio's work also facilitated the translation of Italian poetry into English, contributing to the cross-fertilization of literary traditions.