Inquiry has been often made as to the origin of this proverb. Alciatus
is referred to generally as the authority whence it was derived. I
think, however, it may be traced to Publius Syrus, who lived about
forty-four years before Christ. It is equally probable, from the
peculiar species of composition in which the thought, if not the exact
words are found, that the proverb was derived from another and an
earlier source. The object of mimic exhibitions is to impress the mind
by imitation. Human life is burlesqued, personal defect heightened and
ridiculed; character is never represented in degree, but in extremes.
The dialogue of satirical comedy assumes naturally the form of the
apophthegm--it is epigrammatic and compressed that it may be pungent
and striking. Hence, no species of writing is more allied to or more
likely to pass into household words, and to become proverbs among a
people of quick retentive powers, such as the Greeks were, to whom we
are perhaps indebted for this. I send you the extract from Alciatus;
_Emblemata_, No. 162. Antverpiæ, 18mo. 1584. Apud Christophorum
Plantinum.
"Tres Charites Veneri assistunt, dominamque sequuntur:
Hincque voluptates, atque alimenta parant;
Lætitiam Euphrosyne, speciosum Aglaia nitorem;
Suadela est Pithus, blandus et ore lepos.
Cur nudæ? mentis quoniam candore venustas
Constat, et eximia simplicitate plucet.
An quia nil referunt ingrati, atque arcula inanis
Est Charitum? qui dat munera, nudus eget.
Addita cur nuper pedibus talaria? _Bis dat_
_Qui citò dat_--Minimi gratia tarda pretî est.
Implicitis ulnis cur vertitur altera? gratus
Fenerat: huic remanent una abeunte duæ.
Jupiter iis genitor, coeli de semine divas
Omnibus acceptas edidit Eurynome."
Now here we have the proverb clearly enough.