Adagia in Latine and English containing five hundred proverbs : very profitable for the vse of those who aspire to further perfection in the Latine tongue.

TO THE READER.

I Know these will come vnder diuers constructions of Iudgements. Some finds no correspon∣dency, some no application: the one is too large, the other lacketh discretion. The Latine implyeth more, the English not fitting: he forgetteth the Allegorie, and the particular resemblance; if it lack∣eth in one, it halteth in another. Loe, some of thy thoughts. I will not here distinguish betwixt Pa∣raemia, Adagia, Gnome, Hyperbole, and Chria, which I haue indifferently vsed. I bring the Moderne Pro∣uerbe that goeth now, I affect an∣tiquity

as it was then; and some∣time I speak as my mother taught me. Iudiciously perpend my way in Logicall places, and in sense thou shalt finde not much amisse, and in meaning an euident con∣formity.

All ages are not alike, many words fall and dye, and daily o∣ther reuiue; all is one, if we speak as the now and then time affords. If Chaucer could arise, he should learne a new phrase, and scarsly could vnderstand, vnlesse he went to schoole againe. Wee borrow forraine colours of elegancy to dignifie and season our spee∣ches. Conquest often maketh va∣riety of tongues, but Autochth noi

and Aborigines must needs speake Greeke: albeit intermixed with many Dialects. And that Greeke (if God permit) which shall ac∣company this Latine and Eng∣lish, with the French, and both the Dutch, I meane the vpper and neather, specially that of the Low Countries, which Nation much delighteth it selfe in Laconicke speeches. Short words, subtill minds, when the vnderstanding is wandring, there is no congrui∣ty. These (I say) with vsus Ada∣giorum, & a thousand moe, which I haue vnder my pen, when I shal heare of thy good acceptation of these I will exhibit. And lest any should cauill at this manner of

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writing, let him remember that Salomon spake three thousand Prouerbs, 1. King. 4.32. and many Prouerbs I find in the holy Scrip∣ture mentioned, which were vsu∣ally in the Israelites mouthes, as Gen. 10.9. 1. Sam. 12.20 and 19.24. and 24.14. And to be breefe, how great store of Similies and Para∣bles are now, which haue great vicinity and kindred with Pro∣uerbs, but differ in forme of ex∣pressing, liuelinesse, and breuity. Which (with Gods assistance) I purpose to explaine, and conferre with Poeticall and Philosophical wits, both of the Graecians and Romanes, in the meane season, (gentle Reader) make vse of these.

B. R. M.