LIST OF SONNETS. Abel, . Enoch-Zoroaster, Abraham-Semiramis, . Joseph-Moses, David-Solomon, Homer-Isaiah, Solon-Æsop, Sappho Pythagoras,. Confucius-Pindar, Herodotus-Hippocrates, Aristotle-Phocion, Horace-Mary the Virgin, The Topstone-St. John, 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 800 301 302 303 304 AN ESSAY ON THE PHILOSOPHY OF PROVERBS. BY AN AMERICAN. THE term PROVERB (Heb., Mashál; Gr., Paroimia; L., Proverbium; It., Proverbio; Fr., Proverbe; Ger., Sprüchwort ; Belg., Spreeäwoort; Hungar., Belda bezed; Pol., Przi powiesc : Sp., Elrezran; Sw., Saga; Dan., Saug; Wel., Rheol; Port., Regoa; Celt., Reol; Goth., Lagyan; Pers., Sachan; Sans., Wartha; Arab., Mathal; Sax., Saga,) is of Latin origin, coming from Proverbium, which last, again, is derived from pro and verbum. Some difficulty has occurred in the definition. Proverbs must be distinguished from proverbial phrases and sententious maxims; but, as proverbs have many faces, from their miscellaneous nature, the class itself scarcely admits of any definition. JOHNSON's definition does not designate the vital qualities of a proverb, nor include those not always circulated among, nor even belonging to, the populace. The pithy quaintness of old HOWEL has admirably described the ingredients of an exquisite proverb to be sense, shortness, and salt. A proverb is distinguished from a maxim or an apothegm, by that brevity which condenses a thought or metaphor, where one thing is said and another is to be applied; this often produces wit, and that quick pungency which excites surprise but strikes with conviction: this gives it an epigrammatic turn. HERBERT entitled his collection "Jacula Prudentum," Darts or Javelins! something hurled and striking deep—a characteristic of a proverb. A maxim is an established principle or proposition; an |