“By the vicar’s skirts the devil climbs up into the belfry.” – Spanish Proverb. Richard Chenevix Trench was born in Dublin in 1807 and held various ecclesiastical posts in England before being ordained as Anglican archbishop of Dublin in 1864. He was also a poet and expert in Philology (the study of words and language).   Proverbs and Their Lessons is a fascinating book in which Trench examines proverbs from around the world, and down through history; from Aristotle and the Bible to Shakespeare and the common proverbs of his own day. He looks at the origins of well-known proverbs, and the poetry and wisdom they contain. It is full of brilliant one-liners: ‘There is no worse robber than a bad book’ (from Italy). ‘More are drowned in wine and in beer than in water’ (German proverb). Published by Parker, London, 1857. Gilt lettering to spine. Good condition. Binding intact.  Clean pages.