When hempe is spun, England is undone. (English). "The word hemp is formed of the letters H-E-M-PE, the initials of Henry, Edward, Mary, Philip, and Elizabeth, and supposed to threaten that after the reigns of those princes England would be lost-i. e., conquered. Fuller remarks that, to keep this saying in countenance, it may pretend to some truth, for, on the death of Elizabeth, and accession of King James I. the kingdom, by its junction with Scotland, took the title of Great Britain, by royal proclamation, and thereby the name of England was in one sense lost. Some interpreted this distich more literally, supposing it meant that, when all the hemp in England was expended, there would be an end of our naval force, which would indeed be fact, if no more could be procured."—Francis Grose.

When the way is long you shorten it with your feet, not with a hatchet. (Oji-West Africa).

This proverb contains a pun in the original and may be read in the two ways: "When the way is long you cut it off with your feet, not with a hatchet," and "When the way is long you pass over or through it with your feet, not with a hatchet."

Which is the fairest view of Scotland? (Scotch).
Answer-the road that leads out of it, or the road
that leads to England.

This old proverbial riddle is sometimes quoted by
Scotchmen as a reflection on the poverty of their
own land, and sometimes used as a sneer at other
Scotchmen who have left their homes to find
employment in England. Another proverb
often quoted in Scotland is, "England is fat
feeding ground for North Country cattle."
"I am to carry you to old Father Crackenthrop's,
and then you are within a spit and a stride of
Scotland, as the saying is. But mayhaps you
may think twice of going thither for all that;
for Old England is fat feeding ground for north
country cattle."-Sir Walter Scott.

"In all my travels I never met with any one Scotch

man but that was a man of sense. I believe

everybody of that country that has any, leaves it as fast as he can."-Francis Lockier.

White as a dove, black as pitch; it talks and has no tongue, it runs and has no feet. (Mexican).

The reference is to a letter written on white paper with black ink.

Who swims on sin shall sink in sorrow.

An alliteration.

Why does Peter stir the fire? (Spanish).

To warm himself.

(English).

Similar to the old English question asked children: "Why does a miller wear a white hat?" The answer being, "To keep his head warm.'

Without being a mule in the mill, I go with my eyes covered and feet apart. (Mexican).

A riddle referring to a pair of scissors.

You cannot spell Yarmouth steeple right. (English). John Ray declares that the saying is also applied to Chesterfield Spire in Derbyshire.

"This is a play on the word 'right.' Yarmouth spire is awry or crooked, and cannot be set right or straight by spelling. Some who choose to go further afield for a meaning consider the word 'spell' as a verb, signifying to conjure with spells, and make the meaning to be, You cannot, by any spell, set Yarmouth spire straight or upright."-Francis Grose.

You get gold out of earth and earth out of gold. (Telugu). Your land produces that which enriches you, and you buy more land with your wealth.

You have drawn the letter M. (Modern Greek).
This is equivalent to calling one a fool.

You have drawn, as in a lottery, the letter M, which
is the initial letter of Mupos-i. e., dull, stupid.

QUESTION AND ANSWER PROVERBS

A certain person tied an ox. some water upon him." 66 get some out of the (Arabian).

"Sprinkle

The animal fell. "Let us first," replied one, well to sprinkle upon him."

The picture that is presented in this saying is that of an ox fallen to the ground from exhaustion and overwork while he remains tied to a water wheel. A man stands near who is advising the owner of the ox to throw some water on the prostrate beast to refresh it, whereupon the owner answers "Let us first get some water out of the well to throw on it."

The saying is used in reference to people who give foolish advice.

A crow exclaimed "God is the truth"; "Then," quoth one, "the dirt scraper has become a preacher." (Arabian).

See Grouping Proverbs: "If your neighbour has made a pilgrimage to Mecca once, watch him; if twice, avoid his society; if three times, move into another street."

A monkey solicited hospitality from demons. "Young gentleman," they replied, "the house is quite empty of provisions. (Arabian).

Never seek benefits of those who are capable only of inflicting injury. It is useless to ask hospitality of the niggardly.

"Bridegroom salute!" ern Greek).

"May God be blessed!" (Mod

Addressed to one who has waited long for some benefit and whose patience is nearly exhausted.

"Cake! Why so insipid?"

worth of sugar."

(Tamil).

"Because I lack a cash

"The more

Crow, how goes it with your children?" they grow, the more they blacken." (Modern Greek). This may mean, as a child grows he will show more clearly the characteristics of his parents, or it may mean, the character of an evil-minded man becomes worse with advancing age.

"Father," he said, "the person who washes his hand, is he to eat with us?" "Neither he nor thou also,"

he replied. (Arabian).

It is a common practice in the East to wash the hands before eating. Sometimes the right hand only is washed, that being the one used in handling the food.

The proverb was used in referring to those who sought to prevent others from obtaining a benefit that they might secure it for themselves and found at last that neither of them were to have it. The proverb is now obsolete.

"Where

"Get up, youngster, and work." "I am weak and cannot." "Get up, youngster, and eat something.” is my big pot? (Kashmiri).

"Good day, John." "I am sowing beans." (Modern Greek).

Applied to people who are so engrossed in work

that they are inattentive to others who ask them questions, and give only irrelevant replies.

"He has seen pardon from a dry head." "What kind of pardon did he see?" (Osmanli).

Favours granted by a bad man are worse than no favours, for they are sure to injure the recipient rather than benefit him. "Even quarter granted by the vile, is vile."

"Wilt thou

"That is thy run away?" (Arabian).

He said, "O Slave, I have bought thee."
business," he replied.
"That is my business," he answered.

He said to him, "Why are you crying while I am your uncle?" He said to him, "I am crying because you are my uncle." (Arabian).

"I almost killed the bird!" "No one can eat almost in a stew." (Yoruba-West Africa).

The proverb represents a colloquy between a sportsman and a companion.

“Almost never killed a fly.” (German). “Almost kills no man." (Danish). A miss is as good as

a mile." (English).

I asked him about his father. "My uncle's name is Shayb," he replied. (Arabian),

Similar to "Good day, John.' 'I am sowing beans, being an irrelevant answer from one who is absorbed in some work.

"I renounce thee, Satan!" cloak." (Spanish).

"Thou shalt wear a shabby

The first part of the proverb is supposed to be
spoken by one who refuses to make money dis-
honestly. The second part is Satan's reply.
The saying is intended to indicate that, if a man
does not resort to fraudulent business practices
he cannot succeed—he will always remain poor.
It can be used of course only by those who esteem
money of greater value than integrity of character.

"It's a bauld moon," quo' Bennygask. "Anither pint,” quo' Lesley. (Scotch).

Used at a convivial party by one of the members who objects to the dispersing of his comrades. Alexander Hislop, in referring to the saying, says that it "has nothing to recommend it but its antiquity."

"Hout awa, Inverashalloch,' said Galbraith; 'Mind the auld saw, man: It's a bauld moon, quoth Bennygask; Anither pint, quo' Lesley. We'll no start for anither chappin.'

SIR WALTER SCOTT: Rob Roy.

It was asked of a woman, "Are you well?" She replied: "No, not at all. The child can just walk." (Kashmiri).