God's club makes no noise.

(Persian).

This proverb refers to oppression that one has to endure from others, indicating that the cruelty and injustice that falls to one's lot should be borne with patience as the chastisement of God.

God's help is nearer than the door. (Irish).

Good words are like a string of pearls.

(Chinese).

Grey hairs are death's blossoms. (English, German). "Old age is a crown of nettles; youth a crown of roses. (Hebrew). “Hoary hairs are death's messengers.'

(Arabian).

Heaven is at the feet of mothers. (Persians).

Children who are obedient to their mothers will enter heaven.

He flings a noose on the star in heaven. (Osmanli).

Husband and wife in perfect accord are the music of the harp and lute. (Chinese).

In the hum of the market there is money, but under the cherry tree there is rest. (Japanese).

Kisses are the messengers of love. (Danish).

Life is a light before the wind. (Japanese).

"Man is a bubble." (Greek). "As wave follows
wave, so new men take old men's places." "Men
live like birds together in a wood; when the time
comes each takes his flight.' "A generation is
like a swift horse passing a crevice."
"When we
take off our boots and stockings today, that we
shall wear them tomorrow who can tell?" "Man's
life is like a candle in the wind or hoar-frost on

the tiles." (Chinese).

See Job vii : 6, 7; Ps. lxxviii : 39; ciii : 15, 16; James iv: 14.

"Look at the heavens, how they roll on,
And look at man, how soon he's gone;
A breath of wind and then no more-
A world like this should man deplore.”

Abul Kasim Mansur.

Life is like the moon; now dark, now full. (Polish).

Memory is a falcon, that, if it be caught, is not held; affection is a sparrow's nest, that, if it be crushed, is not made. (Osmanli).

Memory is soon lost; love is fragile and must be tenderly treated lest it be destroyed.

Mild speech enchains the heart.

(Arabian).

Nightly prayer makes the day to shine. (Arabian). "Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night." (English).

Patience is a tree whose root is bitter, but its fruit very sweet. (Persian, German).

"A moment's patience is a ten-years' comfort."
(Modern Greek). "An hour's patience will
procure a long period of rest." "The remedy for
hard times is to have patience.' (Arabian).
'Every misfortune is to be subdued by patience.'
'Patience is a plaster for all sores.' "Patience
conquers the world.' "Patience perforce is a
medicine for a mad dog." "Patient waiters are
no losers. "Patience is a flower that grows not
in every garden." (English). "Patience is the
greatest prayer." (Hindoo). "Patience is the
key of Paradise." (Persian, Turkish). "Patience
excels learning." "An ounce of patience is
worth a pound of brains.' "He that can be
patient finds his foe at his feet." (Dutch).
"Have patience, Cossack, thou wilt come to be
a hetman." (Russian). "He who ends with
patience is a conqueror." (Latin). "Patience
and the mulberry leaf becomes a silk gown."
(Chinese). "Patience devours the devil."
"Patience is a bitter plant but it has sweet fruit."
"Patience is a good plant but it doesn't grow in
my garden,' said the hangman." "Patience is the

door of joy." (German). "Patience, time, and money overcome everything.' "Who has patience sees his revenge.' (Italian). "To wait and be patient soothes many a pang. (Danish). "Verjuice with patience becomes wine, and the mulberry leaf becomes satin." (Turkish). "He that has patience has fat thrushes for a farthing." (English, Italian).

Prayer is the pillow of religion.

(Arabian).

Sacred is the earth when it comes over a grave. (Bul

garian).

Silence is the ornament of the ignorant.

(Sanskrit).

"Silence is the sweet medicine of the heart." "Silence is the cloak of ignorance." (Arabian).

Talent without virtue like silver without a master. (Chinese).

Tears of man for fear of God are the lustre of the eye. (Arabian).

The almond tree is in flower. (Hebrew).

The flower of the almond tree is used in referring to
the silver locks of the aged. The simile was prob-
ably borrowed from Eccles. xii: 5. The blossoms
which appear in midwinter after the leaves have
fallen, are from an inch to an inch and a half
broad. When the branches of the tree are leafless
and apparently dead and dry the flowers suddenly
make their appearance. They are at first tinged
with red or of a flesh color at the base, but are
white at the tips, and when full blown cover the
tree as with a massive bank of white that is both
beautiful and impressive. When the petals fall,
the ground beneath the branches is covered as
though a snow-storm had visited the spot.
The Hebrew word for almond signifies waker" or
"one who is sleepless." (Jer. i: 11, 12). As the
almond tree is the first tree to awake or put on
the appearance of life it is regarded as the
harbinger of spring.

66

"The hope in dreams of a happier hour,
That alights on Misery's brow,

Springs out of the silvery almond flower,
That blooms on a leafless bough."

The ardour of parental affection consumes the heart with its fire. (Arabian).

The bending of the humble is the graceful droop of the branches laden with fruit. (Persian).

"The heaviest ear of corn is the one that lowliest bends its head." (Irish). "Fruitful trees bend down; the wise stoop; a dry stick and a fool can be broken, not bent.' (Sanskrit). "The humble man is like the earth which alike kisses the feet of the king and of the beggar." (Persian).

The eye is a window that looks upon the heart. (Osmanli). "The eyes are a balance of which the heart forms the weight." (Turkish). "If the eye do not admire, the heart will not desire.' "The eve is blind if the mind is absent." (Italian). "The eye is the mirror of the soul." "The heart's letter is read in the eyes." "In the forehead and the eye the lecture of the mind doth lie." (English). "What the eyes see the heart believes.' (German).

The fall of a leaf is a whisper to the living. (Russian).
The fear of God makes the heart shine.

(Arabian).

The gravity of old age is fairer than the flower of youth. (Arabian).

The Great Way is very easy, but all love the by-paths. (Chinese).

The heart has its summer and its winter. (Osmanli).

The image of friendship is truth. (Arabian).

See Grouping Proverbs: "If a man commit these
three things, etc."

This proverb is Arabian though used in Egypt.
Referring to it J. L. Burckhardt said: "It is to be

wished that the Egyptians would take this maxim as their guide. Truth in friendship does not occur in the East. I can at least conscientiously declare that neither in Syria nor Egypt did any instance of its appearing under difficult circumstances ever come within my observation; but, on the contrary, numerous cases were those who called themselves friends, betrayed each other on the slightest prospect of gain or through fear or some other base motive."

The ladder of knowledge reaches beyond the ladder of life." (Arabian).

The lamp of a dark house: a son. (Hindustani).

"A good son is the light of his family." (Telugu). "Who has no son has no satisfaction." (Cingalese).

The nest of a blind bird is made by God. (Turkish). Sometimes the Turks in referring to strangers say, "God makes the nest of the bird from foreign parts."

The pine stands afar and whispers to its own forest. (Russian).

In this proverb one seems to hear the moaning of the wind among the pines, so familiar to the ears of the people of Russia.

The pious need no memorial; their deeds are their me

morial.

(Hebrew).

There is a road from heart to heart.

(Osmanli).

(Indian).

The sandal tree perfumes the axe that fells it.

This proverb is intended to inculcate the duty of returning good for evil.

The ship of him who confides in God founders not. (Osmanli).

The soul is the ship, reason is the helm, the oars are the soul's thoughts, and truth is the port. (Turkish).

The stars make no noise. (Irish).