The Apophthegmata of Erasmus were first published, I believe, in 1531, in six books. I have an edition printed by Frobenius, at Basle, in 1538, in which two more books are added; and, in an epistle prefixed to the seventh book, Erasmus says,—
"Prodiit opus, tanta aviditate distractum est, ut protinus à typographo coeperit efflagitare denuo."
He names twenty-one ancient Greek and Latin authors from which the apophthegms had been collected; and, with regard to what he has taken from Plutarch, he mentions the licence he has used:—
"Nos Plutarchum multis de causis sequi maluimus quam interpretari, explanare quam vertere."
It is from this book of Erasmus that the worthy Nicolas Udall selected his Two Bookes of Apophthegmes; and he tells his readers,—
"I have been so bold with mine author as to make the first booke and second booke, which he maketh third and fowerth."
Udall has occasionally added further explanations of his own to those translated from Erasmus. He promises, in good time, the remaining, books, but says,—
"I have thought better, with two of the eight, to minister unto you a taste of this bothe delectable and fruitefull recreation."
Those who are desirous of knowing at large the course pursued by Erasmus in the compilation of this amusing and once popular work, will find it fully stated in his preface; one passage of which will show the large licence he allowed himself:—
"Sed totum opus quodammodo meum feci, dum et explanatius effero qua Graece referuntur, interjectis interdum quæ apud alios autores additur comperissem," &c.