... Epitome troporum ac schematum et grammaticorum & rhetorum, ad authores tum prophanos tum sacros intelligendos non minus utilis quam necessaria

Why figures are devised and from what causes they are sought.

First, by reason of necessity. Thus, the use of the gemma bud/jewel (as a metaphor for rhetorical ornament) is Latin and Greek, οὐδάλμον non-entity/nothing, which the Germans also imitate, and this is because a proper term is lacking. For in the beginning, necessity gave birth to figures. Second, by reason of emphasis, even if a proper term exists; thus Cicero, for avaram avaritiam greedy avarice, said caram avaritiam dear avarice, for something great and acknowledging no reason of honesty. Third, for the sake of beauty and ornament. Thus Catullus: "O flower of the young men." Fourth, for the sake of decency. Thus Virgil: "Dido led [him] to the cave and the Trojan [Aeneas] went to the same."

A figure is understood by most in a double sense, as Fabius referring to Quintilian, Institutio Oratoria reports in book 3, chapter 1. First, and improperly, for any form of speaking that deviates from vulgar and simple speech: and thus it relates generally to tropes and figures. Second, [as] Cicero and properly, for that manner of speech in which it is expressed as if for the sake of grace, while the meaning of the words is not changed, which the Greeks call σχήμα schema/figure.

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...of words... truly... Rhetoricians... & make... easily... and how easily... done, Tropes... expose... they neglect... is said, of words... [I]... of the oration... formerly to my [students]... everything... more elegant... with a finger... I read out.