Erasmus, Adagia 1.38
WITH A THICKER MUSE
Παχύτερα Μούσῃ, that is, with a thicker Muse. Quintilian brought out the same phrase in the first book of his Institutio Oratoria:
It is pleasing because of some less experience people to take away the doubt about this utility with a thicker Muse, as they say.
Sometimes among some not inadequate writers it is found with a richer formula for it, which is: more plainly and more intelligibly. Sometimes people said to speak Latin in place of that phrase, which was meant to signify:: openly and simply. Cicero writes in Against Verres:
Understand that I am speaking Latin, not Accusationese.
He also writes in his Philippics:
…but as is the custom with those, who speak plainly and in Latin.
In the Priapeia:
It is much simpler to say ‘let me fuck you in the ass’ in Latin.
1.38 CRASSIORE MVSA
Παχύτερα Μούσῃ, id est Crassiore Musa. Eandem paroemiam sic extulit Quintilianus Institutionum oratoriarum libro i.:
Libet propter quosdam imperitiores etiam crassiore, vt vocant, Musa dubitationem huius vtilitatis eximere.
Inuenitur aliquoties apud scriptores non inidoneos pinguiore formula pro eo, quod est: planius atque intelligibilius. Dictum est et Latine loqui pro eo, quod est: aperte et simpliciter. M. Tullius in Verrem:
Latine me scitote, non accusatorie loqui.
Idem in Philip.:
Sed vt solent ii, qui plane et Latine loquuntur.
In Priapeiis:
Simplicius multo est, da paedicare, Latine/Dicere.
