De Abusu linguae Graecae

Than we marvel at a swollen throat in the Alps, or at
A greater breast on an infant in Meroë.
For then the caution of the regula Bartolica Bartolian rule reigned: "It is Greek, it is not read." And therefore the word "presbyter" was not said to owe its origin to Greece, but its etymo etymology was "providing a path for his own." Or, as others were jokingly paretymologountes falsely etymologizing, "drinking thrice before others." Whence someone, in a book inscribed "The Faithful Soul," complaining of the corruption of morals that existed at that time among presbyters, said: "Ah, that noble interpretation has perished today: Presbyter, as if 'Providing a path'. And it can be interpreted more rightly: 'Drinking thrice before others'." But whenever they could sniff out any Graecismus Greekism or Graecitas Greek-ness (as they used to speak), then indeed they would concoct an etymology worthy of themselves: for example, "Diabolus" Devil, from "Dia," that is "two," and "Bolus," that is "morsel," because the devil makes two morsels of a man: one of the body, and the other of the soul. Such things, I say, we should not marvel at, unless we think that light should be sought in the midst of darkness. But now, after those shadows have been dispelled, it is surprising to find those who disdain grammar, which shines before them, and the very usage of the language itself, and do not see that they are hyper ta eskammena pedan leaping beyond the dug-up lines/overstepping their bounds. This little book will be a most plentiful witness to this fact. Farewell.