CONCERNING PROVERBS.

even CHRIST himself was peculiarly delighted by it? Among the Greeks, philosophers and wise men responded with these. And no genre of learning was more ancient than that of proverbs.

To what matters the knowledge of proverbs is useful.

There is no less utility in proverbs than there was once dignity. For they are conducive not only to many other things, but especially to four: to persuasion, to philosophy, to the decorum and grace of oratory, and to understanding the best authors.

A commendation based on difficulty.

Just as it is no mediocre skill to fittingly set a small gem in a ring, and to interweave gold into purple, so it is not (believe me) for just anyone to insert a proverb into speech aptly and decently.

How far one should use adages.

First, it will be necessary to remember what Aristotle advised regarding epithets,