The Apophthegmata of Erasmus were first published, I believe, in 1531, in
six books. I have an edition printed by Frobenius, at Basle, in 1538, in
which two more books are added; and, in an epistle prefixed to the seventh
book, Erasmus says,--
"Prodiit opus, tanta aviditate distractum est, ut protinus a
typographo coeperit efflagitare denuo."
He names twenty-one ancient Greek and Latin authors from which the
apophthegms had been collected; and, with regard to what he has taken from
Plutarch, he mentions the licence he has used:--
"Nos Plutarchum multis de causis sequi maluimus quam
interpretari, explanare quam vertere."
It is from this book of Erasmus that the worthy Nicolas Udall selected his
_Two Bookes of Apophthegmes_; and he tells his readers,--
"I have been so bold with mine author as to make the first
booke and second booke, which he maketh third and fowerth."
Udall has occasionally added further explanations of his own to those
translated from Erasmus. He promises, in good time, the remaining, books,
but says,--
"I have thought better, with two of the eight, to minister
unto you a taste of this bothe delectable and fruitefull
recreation."
Those who are desirous of knowing at large the course pursued by Erasmus in
the compilation of this amusing and once popular work, will find it fully
stated in his preface; one passage of which will show the large licence he
allowed himself:--
"Sed totum opus quodammodo meum feci, dum et explanatius
effero qua Graece referuntur, interjectis interdum quae apud
alios autores additur comperissem," &c.
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