the account of the "four ages" from Ovid's Metamorphoses, etc. In Greek it will be well to have the exordia of the Odyssey and Iliad learned by heart; Greek gnomes are also χρυσἄ ἒπη, truly "golden words"; they may serve to fix easily certain important rules of syntax in the mind of the pupils. At the same time, they well illustrate – as in fact the adages and proverbs of every nation – the most common ethical and every day life principles. To make clear what we mean, we may be allowed to quote a few of these Greek gnomes; they should be compared with similar English proverbs, if such exist, or with those of other nations, or with the sayings of Scripture and great authors.
Ζἡσεις βίον κράτωτον, ἂν θύμου κρατᾑς.
'Εν ταἲς ἀνάγκαις Χρημάτων κρείττωυ φίλος
(A friend in need is a friend indeed.)
Οὔτοι ποθ' ἄψει τὢν ἀκρὢν ἄνευ πόνου.
(Per aspera ad astra — No pains no gains.)
ΞοΦίς Φθονήδαι μάλλον ή πλούτου καλόυ.
Κακοίς ὁμλών καύτὀς έκβήσει κακός
'Αρχἠν σοΦίας νόμςε τὀν θεού Θόβον.[1]
It is not necessary to give specimens from the English. In general, such passages should be chosen whose contents are worth remembering, be it from the ethical, aesthetical, poetical, or historical point of view. The most beautiful and most elevating thoughts from the world's literature, treasured up in the memory, will also afford considerable help for the writing of essays.
- ↑ The excellent Greek Exercise Book by Professor Kaegi (English edition by James Kleist, S. J. – Herder, St. Louis, 1902) contains a great number of such gnomes.
