He that keeps malice harbours a VIPER in his heart. (English). Sorrow is to the soul what the wORM is to wood. (Turkish). INSECTS INCLUDING SPIDERS "One grain-destroying insect will consume a BUGS are all the same whether they bite or not. (Tamil). What could the ANT do if it had the head of a bull? (German). From the same flower the BEE extracts honey and the wasp gall. (Italian). The BEETLE is a beauty in the eyes of its mother. (African). The COCKROACH is never in the right where the fowl is concerned. (Trinidad Creole). The light of the FIREFLY is sufficient for itself only. (Marathi). Nothing is ever well done in a hurry except fleeing from the plague or from quarrels and catching FLEAS. (Italian). A drop of honey catches more FLIES than a hogshead of vinegar. (German). GLOWWORMS are not lanterns. (Italian). When GNATS Swarm in January the peasant becomes a beggar. (Dutch). Like a GRASSHOPPER-fascinated by a lighted lamp. (Tamil). It is nonsense to set a LOUSE on a steel to bark at a tailor. (English). There is no cloth cut so fine but MOTH will eat it. (English). A carbuncle appeared on the back of a MOSQUITO. (Tamil). Friends tie their purses with SPIDER's thread. (Italian). Anger is a stone cast at a WASP's nest. (Malabar). CONTRADICTING PROVERBS A bird in the cage is worth a hundred at large. (Italian). This proverb is found in many lands and in various forms. Better be a bird in the wood than one in the cage. (Italian). "Better be a free bird than a captive king." (Danish). See Curious Objects Referred to in Proverbs: "A titmouse in hand is better than a duck in air." A black Christmas makes a fat churchyard. (English). A green Yule makes a fat kirkyard. (Scotch, English, Danish). Both proverbs express the same thought, though they seem to contradict each other in the use of the words "black" and "green." See Weather and Christmas Proverbs. A blind man may sometimes shoot a crow. (Dutch). "A blind pigeon may sometimes find a grain of wheat." (Danish). "A blind hen can sometimes find her corn." (French). "The blind man has picked up a coin." (Portuguese). The blind catch a flea! (Osmanli). An exclamation of surprise, that any one should suggest the possibility of such a thing. A friend is not known till he is lost. (English). "A friend is often best known by his loss." (Ger man). He never was a friend who has ceased to be one. (French). After dinner sleep awhile, after supper go to bed. (English). This receipt for health is contradicted by many proverbs that give different directions, as for example: After dinner rest, after supper walk. (Venetian). After eating walk a hundred paces. (Sanskrit). After eating stand or walk a mile. (Latin). After dinner you must stand awhile or walk a thousand paces. (German). After dinner sit awhile, after supper walk a mile. (English, Scotch). A... Alexander Hislop in referring to the Scotch form of the proverb says: "This advice is unfitted for the dining practices of the present day; but when our ancestors breakfasted at six, dined at eleven, and supped at four or five, the counsel may have been good enough." "The Normans were dainty eaters, epicures, and therefore their cooking was nice. Rich spices were plentifully used. Among the grand dishes provided on great occasions were the boar's head and the peacock, served to the blare of trumpets, with much ceremonial-of which more anon. A dish of cranes was a favourite dish on the table of a baron. Simnel and wastel cakes and spice bread were among the usual dainties. Wastel was a fine well baked white bread next in quality to simnel, a rich cake generally made in a threecornered shape. The daily routine of a Norman household is seen in the rhyme of the period: To rise at five and dine at nine, To sup at five, to bed at nine, This shows a remarkable change in manners because the Saxons had four heavy meals during the day. Frederick W. Hackwood in Good Cheer. A good horse often wants a good spur. (English). "A good horse and a bad horse need the spur; a good woman and a bad woman need the stick." (Italian). "The horse that draws best is most whipped." (French, Italian). "It is the bridle and spur that makes a good horse." (English). "One whip is good enough for a good horse, for a bad one, not a thousand." (Russian). A good horse has no need of the spur. (Italian). "It is "A gentle horse should be sindle spurr'd." (Scotch). A Januar' haddock, a Februar' bannock, and a March pint o' ale. (Scotch). This proverb is intended to indicate when the haddock, bannock, or home-baked flour cake, and ale are at their best. A cameral haddock's ne'er gude till it gets three draps of May flude. (Scotch, English). A cameral haddock is a very large, sometimes an ill-shaped haddock. A lie becomes true when one believes it. (German). Though a thing has been false a hundred years it cannot become true. (German). Always take the day of possession to ponder on the day of destitution; do not wait for the time of poverty to think of the time of plenty. (Chinese). |