Paroemia
Paroemia, called of us a Proverbe, is a sentence or forme of speech
much used, and commonly knowen, and also excellent for the similitude
and signification: to which two things are necessarily required, the
one, that it be renowned, and much spoken off, as a sentence in everie
mans mouth. The other, that it be witty, and well proportioned,
whereby it may be discerned by some speciall marke and note from
common speech, and be commended by antiquitie and learning.
Examples.
The tumbling stone doth seldome gather mosse: teaching that riches and
wealth are not gathered by wandering.
He that maketh his fire with hay, hath much smoke and litle heate:
meaning that many words and litle matter, make men wearie but never
the iser.
All are not theeves that dogges barke at: declaring that ill tongues
do as well slander good men, as speake truth of the evil.
One swallow maketh no sommer, that is, one uncertaine conjecture
proveth no veritie.
While the grasse groweth the steed starveth: signifying that present
neede requireth present helpe.
The sweetest rose hath his thorne, meaning the best man is not without
his fault.
It is good to strike with the hammer while the iron is hote: a
proverbe commending the benefit and goodnesse of oportunitie.
Many drops do pierce the marble stone: a singular proverbe declaring
the vertue of constancie and continuance.
The use of this figure.
Amongst all the excellent formes of speech there are none other more
briefe, more significant, more evident or more excellent, then apt
Proverbs: for what figure of speech is more fit to
1.The praise or commendation of Proverbs. |
teach,
more forcible to perswade, more wise to forewarne, more sharpe to
reprove, more strong to confirme, or more piercing to imprint?
Briefly, they are most profitable, and most pleasant, & may well be
called, The Summaries of maners, or The Images of humane life: for in
them there is contained a generall doctrine of direction, and
particular rules for all duties in all persons. Finally, for thier
perspecuitie they are like the most bright
2.Compared
to the brightest starres. |
and glorious starres of the
firmament, which as they are more excellent then others in brightnesse
and glorie, so are they more loelied upon, more admired, and more
beloved, and as they excell others in the dignitie of light, so are
they more distantly removed and more thinly dispersed. In like maner
ought Proverbes to be sparingly sprinkled, both in private speech, and
in publicke
orations, and
then not without some fit occasion to use them, for
Too often used looseth their grace. |
proverbs being
fitly applyed and duly placed, do extend their power and shew their
dignitie: otherwise they loose their grace, and the oration his
strength.
The Caution
There are diverse vices which ought to be avoyded & banished out of
Proverbs, strangenesse, unlikenesse, uncomelinesse, barrennesse, and
untruth. Strange Proverbes are those which
are either framed by similitudes of
strange things little known or taken from strange tongues disagreeing
to ours, when the Proverbes be translated.
Unlike Proverbs be those which are made of unfit similitudes.
Uncomely Proverbs are such as consist of
wanton, unchast, and
vile
similitudes, which proceed for the most part from unchast minds and
polluted mouthes.
Barren Proverbs are those which containe no pith or virtue,
whereby they should teach and delight.
Untrue and fasle Proverbes are such, as many instances may
reprove.
