Examples of unwisdom and incongruity sharpen the point of the proverb. Pouring vinegar upon nitre or potash utterly spoils it. The effervescence ca…

As vinegar upon nitre, by which the nitre is rendered useless.

Is he that singeth songs to an heavy he…

[As] he that taketh away a garment in cold weather
Either takes it off of himself, or another person, when it would …

We take a wrong course if we set out to relieve those in sorrow by endeavouring to make them merry.