Proverbial Wisdom in the Ysengrimus
Jill Mann
FROM antiquity to the present day, proverbs have formed an important part of oral culture. So deeply are they embedded in our habits thought and speech that we take them largely for granted, focusing on their existence only, say, when wish find own linguistic usages something comparable formulaic tradition. Tied no particular class or social group, embody a popular wisdom, based assumption common, shared experience, endlessly be repeated renewed. Absorbing as native tongue, later discover at one same time aptness individual situations lives comforting assurance such been similarly experienced by countless others. Individual experience is thus both sustained recognition this pool common which testify, itself contributes its increase, justifying anew. The force proverbial formulation, therefore, derives last resort from appeal experience; even if it system belief throws up axiom exhortation first place, form assumes enfranchisement system, transfer realm where only support speaker's willingness match with justification use. Proverbs must always had role traditionindeed, might see condition survival. But Middle Ages also written Both biblical classical literature provided models embodiment traditional wisdom proverb collection: hand, Solomonic books Bible-Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiasticus;' other, Distichs Cato collection maxims culled works Publilius Syrus.2 Such collections, well known, occupied position medieval education; Cato's were used Latin reader students who mastered basics grammar. With pedagogic aims view, writers compiled either relatively mechanical excerpting authors, manner ubiquitous florilegia, more independent recasting sayings. Egbert
New Literary History