Proverbs embrace the wide sphere of human existence, they take all the colours of life, they are often exquisite strokes of genius, they delight by their airy sarcasm or their caustic satire, the luxuriance of their humour, the playfulness of their turn, and even by the elegance of their imagery, and the tenderness of their sentiment. They give a deep insight into domestic life, and open for us the heart of man, in all the various states which he may occupy--a frequent review of proverbs should enter into our readings; and although they are no longer the ornaments of conversation, they have not ceased to be the treasuries of Thought! FOOTNOTES: [29] Taylor's Translation of Plato's works, vol v. p. 36. [30] Shakspeare satirically alludes to the quality of such rhymes in his _Merchant of Venice_, Act v. Sc. 1. Speaking of one "------ whose poesy was For all the world like cutler's poetry Upon a knife, _Love me, and leave me not_." [31] One of the _fruit trenchers_, for such these roundels are called in the _Gent. Mag._ for 1798, p. 398, is engraved there, and the inscriptions of an entire set given.--See also the Supplement to that volume, p. 1187. The author of the "Art of English Poesie," 1589, tells us they never contained above one verse, or two at the most, but the shorter the better. Two specimens may suffice the reader. One, under the symbol of a skull, thus morally discourses:-- "Content thyself with thine estate, And send no poor wight from thy gate; For why, this counsel I you give, To learne to die, and die to live." On another, decorated with pictures of fruit, are these satirical lines:-- "Feed and be fat: hear's pears and plums, Will never hurt your teeth or spoil your gums. And I wish those girls that painted are, No other food than such fine painted fare." [32] This constant custom of engraving "posies," as they were termed, on rings, is noted by many authors of the Elizabethan era. Lilly, in his "Euphues," addresses the ladies for a favourable judgment on his work, hoping it will be recorded "as you do the posies in your rings, which are always next to the finger not to be seene of him that holdeth you by the hand, and yet knowne by you that weare them on your hands." They were always engraved withinside of the ring. A MS. of the time of Charles I. furnishes us with a single posy, of one line, to this effect--"This hath alloy; my love is pure." From the same source we have the two following rhyming, or "double posies"-- "Constancy and heaven are round, And in this the emblem's found." "Weare me out, love shall not waste; Love beyond tyme still is placed."