Paregmenon.
Paregmenon is a figure which of the word going before deriveth the word following.
An example of Esay: I will destroy the wisedome of the wise.
Another: “They have stumbled at the stumbling stone.”
Rom.9.
Another “The first man was of the earth earthy, the second man was the Lord from Heaven heavenly.”
1.Cor.15.45.
There are sometime three wordes of like affinity set in one sentence, thus Never marvel at that which is so little a marvel, except it were more marvellous.
Sometime there is a double Paregmenon in one sentence whereof this may be an example: He wished rather to a die a present death, then to live in the misery of life.
The use of this figure.
The use hereof is twofold, to delight the eare by the derived
sound, and to move the mind with a consideration of the nigh affinitie and concord of the matter.
The Caution.
The abuse which may be committed by this figure is, when
one of ye words of affinity is superfluous, as if one should say
Merrie mirth, mournfull mourning, friendly friendship. Secondly when the derviation is unapt, or not in use.
