Was used to be said of any business not going on according to expectation; or from persons indulging hopes of advantage from ill-concerted or ill-matured projects, not likely to be successful; but rather «ad morem Mandrabuli», to become every day worse. It may be applied to those "who expect that age will perform the promises of youth; and that the deficiencies of the present day will be supplied by the morrow:" but who will most likely be disappointed.
Who Mandrabulus was is not known, but it is recorded of him, that having found a considerable treasure, in the fullness of his heart he presented at the altar of Juno a golden ram, meaning to make a similar offering every year; but repenting, as it would seem, of his liberality, the next year he offered only a ram of silver; and the following year, one of brass; and hence, that is, from the gift offered at the shrine of the goddess, having been thus every year lessened in its value, proceeds the proverb.
Fuente: Erasmo, 158.
