προοίμιον
ἐὰν οὖν τὰ μαλακὰ σκληρῶς καὶ τὰ σκληρὰ μαλακῶς λέγηται, πιθανὸν γίγνεται → but if, as a result, gentle things are said harshly and harsh things gently, the result is unpersuasive
English (LSJ)
τό, Trag. contr. φροίμιον (v. infr.): (οἶμος):—
A opening, introduction; in Music, prelude, overture, Pi.P.1.4; in Ep. poems, proëm, preamble, Id.N.2.3, Ar.Eq.1343; in speeches, exordium, Critias 43 tit., Arist. Rh.1414b19, Phld.Rh.1.56S., Stoic.2.96, etc.; προοιμίοις ἡδονῆς with prefaces about pleasure, X.Mem.2.1.27. 2 metaph. of any prelude or beginning, φροίμιον χορεύσομαι A.Ag.31, cf. 829; φροιμίοις <δυσφροιμίοις> ib. 1216, cf. Th.7; λόγους . . μηδέπω 'ν προοιμίοις only just beginning, Id.Pr.741; εἴ τι τοῦδε φ. ματᾷ any part of this presage, Id.Eu. 142; ὁρῶ τάδε φροίμια . . πόνων Id.Supp.830 (lyr.), cf. E.Hipp.568, X. Mem.4.2.3; ἐγχέων π. Pi.Fr.78; π. δείπνου Alex.110.3; π. ἔχθρας Plb.22.4.15; ἀρχῆς Id.25.3.8 (pl.); δάκρυά μοι τὰ π. τῆς τέχνης Luc. Somn.3; of premonitory symptoms of disease, Orib.Syn.8.2. II hymn or short poem, such as those attributed to Homer, Ἀπόλλωνος Th.3.104, cf. Pl.Phd.60d, R.531d; φροίμιον Ἀντιλόχου (fort. Ἀρχιλόχου) Call.Fr.223.
