Three things are not easily restrained: the flow of a torrent, the flight of an arrow, and the tongue of a fool.
This form is a classic Triad in Celtic literature (Welsh and Irish in particular). Some of them became double-triads, when they realised that there were more than three similar things. They were used for proverbs and aphorisms, and were probably originally passed verbally (certainly some of them were used in songs). Some became double triads, with the first line of the second worded slightly differently ("cannot be retrieved" / "there is no recall" for example).
I haven't heard that the four item[1] versions ever got a specific name, or were as formalised, there seem to be lot more variations.
[1] It is generally accepted that a set of five or more items tend to be forgotten, three is the classic number and grouping things in threes often gets applause (think of Churchill's "blood, sweat and tears" and other famous speeches).
no subject
This form is a classic Triad in Celtic literature (Welsh and Irish in particular). Some of them became double-triads, when they realised that there were more than three similar things. They were used for proverbs and aphorisms, and were probably originally passed verbally (certainly some of them were used in songs). Some became double triads, with the first line of the second worded slightly differently ("cannot be retrieved" / "there is no recall" for example).
I haven't heard that the four item[1] versions ever got a specific name, or were as formalised, there seem to be lot more variations.
[1] It is generally accepted that a set of five or more items tend to be forgotten, three is the classic number and grouping things in threes often gets applause (think of Churchill's "blood, sweat and tears" and other famous speeches).