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After spending several months in England, Erasmus returned to Paris in the winter of 1500 and set about compiling a small anthology of classical proverbs known as the
Adagiorum collectanea. This modest work became the basis for one of Erasmus’ best known and longest works, when it was expanded in 1508 into the far more substantial
Adagiorum chiliades. The essay that begins this introductory volume to the
Adages explores the development of the
Collectanea and its transformation into the
Adagiorum chiliades. It is followed by the first annotated translation into English of the
Collectanea.
The second part of this volume contains a series of indexes to all of the adages found in CWE volumes 31–36: Greek; Latin; Early Modern English proverbs with possible sources or parallels in Erasmus; Erasmus’ original topical index; and full indexes of all the proverbs and names mentioned by Erasmus. The
Prolegomena to the Adages is a much needed resource for Erasmus and Renaissance scholars alike and it continues the excellence in scholarship which defines the entire series.
Volume 30 of the
Collected Works of Erasmus series.
List of contents
Erasmus’ Adages by John N. Grant
The
Adagiorum collectanea Translation and annotation
Indexes to the Erasmus’ Adages
Works Frequently Cited
Short-title Forms for Erasmus’ Works
About the author
By Desiderius Erasmus
Translated by John N. Grant
Indexes by William Barker
Summary
The essay that begins this introductory volume to the Adages explores the development of the Collectanea and its transformation into the Adagiorum chiliades.
