FOOTNOTES:

FOOTNOTES:[256]Acheter le chat pour le lièvre.[257]Een kat in een zak koopen.[258]Non comprar gatta in sacco.[259]Nage toujours, et ne t'y fie pas.[260]Chi non vede il fondo, non passa l'acqua.[261]Stulti est dicere non putârim.[262]Esel singen schlecht, weil sie zu hoch anstimmen.[263]La nuit porte conseil. In nocte consilium. Guter Rath kommt über Nacht.[264]La notte è la madre di piensieri.[265]Dormireis sobre ello, y tomareis acuerdo.[266]Malum bene conditum ne moveris.[267]Quando la mala ventura se duerme, nadie la despierte.[268]Den Brunnen decken so das Kind ertrunken ist.[269]Recebido ya el daño, atapar el horado.[270]Rotta la testa, se mette la celata.[271]Qui répond, paye.[272]Qui vuol saper quel che il suo sia, non faccia mai malleveria.[273]Nequaquam recte faciet qui cito credit.[274]Fidati era un buon uomo. Nontifidare era meglio.[275]Quien bien ata, bien desata.[276]Mas val vuelta de clave que conciencia de frate.

[256]Acheter le chat pour le lièvre.

[257]Een kat in een zak koopen.

[258]Non comprar gatta in sacco.

[259]Nage toujours, et ne t'y fie pas.

[260]Chi non vede il fondo, non passa l'acqua.

[261]Stulti est dicere non putârim.

[262]Esel singen schlecht, weil sie zu hoch anstimmen.

[263]La nuit porte conseil. In nocte consilium. Guter Rath kommt über Nacht.

[264]La notte è la madre di piensieri.

[265]Dormireis sobre ello, y tomareis acuerdo.

[266]Malum bene conditum ne moveris.

[267]Quando la mala ventura se duerme, nadie la despierte.

[268]Den Brunnen decken so das Kind ertrunken ist.

[269]Recebido ya el daño, atapar el horado.

[270]Rotta la testa, se mette la celata.

[271]Qui répond, paye.

[272]Qui vuol saper quel che il suo sia, non faccia mai malleveria.

[273]Nequaquam recte faciet qui cito credit.

[274]Fidati era un buon uomo. Nontifidare era meglio.

[275]Quien bien ata, bien desata.

[276]Mas val vuelta de clave que conciencia de frate.

Patience and posset drink cure all maladies.Patience is a plaster for all sores.

Patience and posset drink cure all maladies.

Patience is a plaster for all sores.

We trace this proverb in an exquisite passage from "honest old Decker," as Hazlitt fondly calls him.

"Duke.What comfort do you find in being so calm?Candido.That which green wounds receive from sovereign balm.Patience, my lord! why, 'tis the soul of peace;Of all the virtues 'tis nearest kin to heaven:It makes men look gods. The best of menThat e'er wore earth about him was a sufferer,A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit—The first true gentleman that ever breathed.The stock of patience, then, cannot be poor;All it desires it has: what award more?It is the greatest enemy to strifeThat can be, for it doth embrace all wrongs,And so chains up lawyers' and women's tongues.'Tis the perpetual prisoner's liberty—His walks and orchards; 'tis the bondslave's freedom,And makes him seem proud of his iron chain,As though he wore it more for state than pain;It is the beggar's music, and thus sings—Although their bodies beg, their souls are kings.O my dread liege! it is the sap of blissBears us aloft, makes men and angels kiss;And last of all, to end a household strife,It is the honey 'gainst a waspish wife."

"Duke.What comfort do you find in being so calm?

Candido.That which green wounds receive from sovereign balm.Patience, my lord! why, 'tis the soul of peace;Of all the virtues 'tis nearest kin to heaven:It makes men look gods. The best of menThat e'er wore earth about him was a sufferer,A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit—The first true gentleman that ever breathed.The stock of patience, then, cannot be poor;All it desires it has: what award more?It is the greatest enemy to strifeThat can be, for it doth embrace all wrongs,And so chains up lawyers' and women's tongues.'Tis the perpetual prisoner's liberty—His walks and orchards; 'tis the bondslave's freedom,And makes him seem proud of his iron chain,As though he wore it more for state than pain;It is the beggar's music, and thus sings—Although their bodies beg, their souls are kings.O my dread liege! it is the sap of blissBears us aloft, makes men and angels kiss;And last of all, to end a household strife,It is the honey 'gainst a waspish wife."

Candido.That which green wounds receive from sovereign balm.

Patience, my lord! why, 'tis the soul of peace;

Of all the virtues 'tis nearest kin to heaven:

It makes men look gods. The best of men

That e'er wore earth about him was a sufferer,

A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit—

The first true gentleman that ever breathed.

The stock of patience, then, cannot be poor;

All it desires it has: what award more?

It is the greatest enemy to strife

That can be, for it doth embrace all wrongs,

And so chains up lawyers' and women's tongues.

'Tis the perpetual prisoner's liberty—

His walks and orchards; 'tis the bondslave's freedom,

And makes him seem proud of his iron chain,

As though he wore it more for state than pain;

It is the beggar's music, and thus sings—

Although their bodies beg, their souls are kings.

O my dread liege! it is the sap of bliss

Bears us aloft, makes men and angels kiss;

And last of all, to end a household strife,

It is the honey 'gainst a waspish wife."

"Patience, time, and money overcome everything" (Italian).[277]"He who does not tire, tires adversity" (French).[278]"A stout heart breaks ill luck" (Spanish).[279]"The remedy for hard times is to have patience" (Arab).

Blaw the wind ne'er sae fast, it will lown at the last.—Scotch.After a storm comes a calm.

Blaw the wind ne'er sae fast, it will lown at the last.—Scotch.

After a storm comes a calm.

"After rain comes fine weather" (French).[280]

The longest day will have an end.Time and the hour run through the longest day.Be the day ne'er so long, at last comes even song.[281]

The longest day will have an end.

Time and the hour run through the longest day.

Be the day ne'er so long, at last comes even song.[281]

"The day will be long, but there will be an end to it,"[282]said Damiens of that dreadful day which was to witness his death by tortures which are the eternal disgrace of the French monarchy.

When one door shuts another opens.

When baffled in one direction a man of energy will not despair, but will find another way to his object.

There is more than one yew bow in Chester.A' the keys of the country hang na in ae belt.—Scotch.

There is more than one yew bow in Chester.

A' the keys of the country hang na in ae belt.—Scotch.

"There are hills beyond Pentland, and streams beyond Forth;If there's lairds in the lowlands, there's chiefs in the north;There are wild duinewassels three thousand times three,Will cry hoich for the bonnet of Bonny Dundee!"

"There are hills beyond Pentland, and streams beyond Forth;

If there's lairds in the lowlands, there's chiefs in the north;

There are wild duinewassels three thousand times three,

Will cry hoich for the bonnet of Bonny Dundee!"

It is a sore battle from which none escape.

One may suffer a great loss, and yet not be totally ruined.

There's as good fish in the sea as ever was caught.

A consolatory reflection for those who have missed a good haul. The question is, will they have industry and skill to do better another time? "If I have lost the rings, here are the fingers still," is a stout-hearted saying of the Italians and Spaniards.[283]

He that weel bides weel betides.—Scotch.

He that waits patiently comes off well at last, for "All comes right for him who can wait" (French).[284]"Sit down and dangle your legs, and you will see your revenge" (Italian);[285]that is, time will bring you reparation and satisfaction. "The world is his who has patience" (Italian).[286]"The world belongs to thephlegmatic" (Italian).[287]"Have patience, Cossack; thou wilt come to be hetman" (Russian).

Set a stout heart to a stae brae [a steep hill side].—Scotch.Set hard heart against hard hap.

Set a stout heart to a stae brae [a steep hill side].—Scotch.

Set hard heart against hard hap.

Go about a difficult business resolutely; confront adversity with fortitude.

"Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior itoQuam tua te fortuna sinit."

"Tu ne cede malis, sed contra audentior ito

Quam tua te fortuna sinit."

That you may not be easily discouraged, the French remind you that "One may go far after he is tired."[288]

He that tholes [endures] overcomes.—Scotch.The toughest skin holds longest out.—Cumberland.

He that tholes [endures] overcomes.—Scotch.

The toughest skin holds longest out.—Cumberland.

"He conquers who sticks in his saddle" (Italian).[289]"Hard pounding, gentlemen," said Wellington at Waterloo; "but we will see who will pound the longest." "Perseverance kills the game" (Spanish).[290]

Constant dropping wears the stone.[291]A mouse in time may bite in two a cable.

Constant dropping wears the stone.[291]

A mouse in time may bite in two a cable.

"With time and straw medlars ripen" (French).[292]"With time a mulberry leaf becomes satin" (Chinese).

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

This is an exact rendering of an ancient Greek adage, which is repeated with little variation in most modern languages. The Italians say, "A tree often transplanted is never loaded with fruit."[293]

A man may bear till his back breaks.All lay load on the willing horse.

A man may bear till his back breaks.

All lay load on the willing horse.

Patience may be abused. "Through much enduring come things that cannot be endured" (Latin).[294]"Make thyself a sheep, and the wolf is ready" (Russian). "Make yourself an ass, and you'll have every man's sack on your back" (German).[295]"If you let them lay the calf on your back it will not be long before they clap on the cow" (Italian).[296]"Who lets one sit on his shoulders shall presently have him sit on his head" (German).[297]"The horse that pulls at the collar is always getting the whip" (French).[298]

Daub yourself with honey, and you'll be covered with flies.

"The gentle ewe is sucked by every lamb" (Italian).[299]

FOOTNOTES:[277]Pazienza, tempo e denari vincono ogni cosa.[278]Qui ne se lasse pas lasse l'adversité.[279]Buen corazon quebranta mala ventura.[280]Après la pluie vient le beau temps.[281]Il n'est si long jour qui ne vienne à vêpres. Non vien di che non venga sera.[282]La journée sera longue, mais elle finira.[283]Se ben ho perso l'anello, ho pur anche le dite. Si se perdieron los anillos, aqui quedaron los dedillos.[284]Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.[285]Siedi e sgambetta, vedrai la tua vendetta.[286]Il mondo è di chi ha pazienza.[287]Il mondo è dei flemmatici.[288]On va loin après qu'on est las.[289]Vince chi riman in sella.[290]Porfia mata la caza.[291]Gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed sæpe cadendo.[292]Avec du temps et de la paille les nèfles mûrissent.[293]Albero spesso traspiantato mai di frutti è caricato.[294]Patiendo multa veniunt quæ neques pati.—Publius Syrus.[295]Wer sich zum Esel macht, dem will jeder seinen Sack auflegen.[296]Se ti lasci metter in spalla il vitello, quindi a poco ti metteran la vacca.[297]Wer sich auf der Achsel sitzen lässt, dem sitzt man nachher auf dem Kopf.[298]On touche toujours sur le cheval qui tire.[299]Pecora mansueta d'ogni agnello è tettata.

[277]Pazienza, tempo e denari vincono ogni cosa.

[278]Qui ne se lasse pas lasse l'adversité.

[279]Buen corazon quebranta mala ventura.

[280]Après la pluie vient le beau temps.

[281]Il n'est si long jour qui ne vienne à vêpres. Non vien di che non venga sera.

[282]La journée sera longue, mais elle finira.

[283]Se ben ho perso l'anello, ho pur anche le dite. Si se perdieron los anillos, aqui quedaron los dedillos.

[284]Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre.

[285]Siedi e sgambetta, vedrai la tua vendetta.

[286]Il mondo è di chi ha pazienza.

[287]Il mondo è dei flemmatici.

[288]On va loin après qu'on est las.

[289]Vince chi riman in sella.

[290]Porfia mata la caza.

[291]Gutta cavat lapidem non vi sed sæpe cadendo.

[292]Avec du temps et de la paille les nèfles mûrissent.

[293]Albero spesso traspiantato mai di frutti è caricato.

[294]Patiendo multa veniunt quæ neques pati.—Publius Syrus.

[295]Wer sich zum Esel macht, dem will jeder seinen Sack auflegen.

[296]Se ti lasci metter in spalla il vitello, quindi a poco ti metteran la vacca.

[297]Wer sich auf der Achsel sitzen lässt, dem sitzt man nachher auf dem Kopf.

[298]On touche toujours sur le cheval qui tire.

[299]Pecora mansueta d'ogni agnello è tettata.

No pains, no gains.No sweat, no sweet.No mill, no meal.

No pains, no gains.

No sweat, no sweet.

No mill, no meal.

From the Latin, "Qui vitat molam, vitat farinam." "To stop the hand is the way to stop the mouth" (Chinese).

He that wad eat the kernel maun crack the nut.—Scotch.He that gapes till he be fed will gape till he be dead.Naethin is got without pains but dirt and lang nails.—Scotch.

He that wad eat the kernel maun crack the nut.—Scotch.

He that gapes till he be fed will gape till he be dead.

Naethin is got without pains but dirt and lang nails.—Scotch.

"Good luck enters by dint of cuffs" (Spanish).[300]Success in life is only to be won by hard striving.

"The nimble runner courses Fortune down,And then he banquets, for she feeds the brave."

"The nimble runner courses Fortune down,

And then he banquets, for she feeds the brave."

An idle brain's the deil's smiddy.—Scotch.An idle brain's the devil's workshop.

An idle brain's the deil's smiddy.—Scotch.

An idle brain's the devil's workshop.

"By doing nothing we learn to do mischief" (Latin).[301]"He that labours is tempted by one devil, he that is idle by a thousand" (Italian).[302]

Idle dogs worry sheep.Sloth is the key of poverty.Lazy folks take the most pains.

Idle dogs worry sheep.

Sloth is the key of poverty.

Lazy folks take the most pains.

"The dog in the kennel barks at his fleas; the dog that hunts does not feel them" (Chinese).

Who so busy as he that has nothing to do?

The Italians compare such a one to a pig's tail that is going all day, and by night has done nothing.

Seldom lies the deil dead by the dyke side.—Scotch.

You are not to expect that difficulties and dangers will vanish without any effort of your own.

FOOTNOTES:[300]A puñadas entran las buenas hadas.[301]Nihil agendo male agere discimus.[302]Chi fatica è tentato da un demonio, chi sta in ozio da mille.

[300]A puñadas entran las buenas hadas.

[301]Nihil agendo male agere discimus.

[302]Chi fatica è tentato da un demonio, chi sta in ozio da mille.

Cut your coat according to your cloth.

Let your expenditure be proportioned to your means. "Let every one stretch his leg according to his coverlet" (Spanish).[303]"According to the arm be the blood-letting" (French).[304]"Meditating upon general improvement, I often think a great deal about the climate in these parts of the world; and I see that, without much husbandry of our means and resources, it is difficult for us to be anything but low barbarians. The difficulty of living at all in a cold, damp, destructive climate is great. Socrates went about with very scanty clothing, and men praise his wisdom in caring so little for the goods of this life. He ate sparingly, and of mean food. That is not the way, I suspect, that we can make a philosopher here. There are people who would deride me for saying this, and would contend that it gives too much weight to worldly things. But I suspect they are misled by notions borrowed from eastern climates. Here we must make prudence one of the substantial virtues."—(Companions of my Solitude.)

A good bargain is a pickpurse.

Buy what you have no need of, and ere long you will sell your necessaries. "At a good bargain bethink you" (Italian).[305]"What is not needed is dear at a farthing" (Latin).[306]This very sensible proverb was bequeathed to us by the elder Cato; and a wiser man than Cato—Sydney Smith—has said, "If you want to make much of a small income, always ask yourself these two questions: first, do I really want it? secondly, can I do without it? These two questions, answered honestly, will double your fortune."

Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire.Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.

Silks and satins, scarlet and velvets, put out the kitchen fire.

Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them.

One of the neatest repartees ever made was that which Shaftesbury administered at the feast at which he entertained the Duke of York (James II.). He overheard Lauderdale whispering the duke, "Fools make feasts, and wise men eat them." Ere the sound of the last word had died away, Shaftesbury, responding both to the words and the sense, said, "Witty men make jests, and fools repeat them." "A fat kitchen has poverty for a neighbour" (Italian).[307]"A fat kitchen, a lean will" (German).[308]

Waste not, want not.Wilful waste makes woeful want.A small leak will sink a great ship.Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.A fool and his money are soon parted.He that gets his gear before his wit will be short while master of it.—Scotch.Gear is easier gained than guided.A fool may make money, but it needs a wise man to spend it.

Waste not, want not.

Wilful waste makes woeful want.

A small leak will sink a great ship.

Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

He that gets his gear before his wit will be short while master of it.—Scotch.

Gear is easier gained than guided.

A fool may make money, but it needs a wise man to spend it.

"Men," says Fielding (and he was an example of the truth he asserted), "do not become rich by what they get, but by what they keep." "Saving is the first gain" (Italian).[309]"Better is rule than rent" (French).[310]

A penny saved is a penny got.The best is cheapest.

A penny saved is a penny got.

The best is cheapest.

"One cannot have a good pennyworth of bad ware" (French).[311]"Much worth never cost little" (Spanish).[312]"Cheap bargains are dear" (Spanish).[313]

Misers' money goes twice to market.Keep a thing seven years and you'll find a use for it.Store is no sore.[314]

Misers' money goes twice to market.

Keep a thing seven years and you'll find a use for it.

Store is no sore.[314]

"He that buys by the pennyworth keeps his ownhouse and another man's" (Italian).[315]Partly for this reason it is that

A poor man's shilling is but a penny.A toom [empty] pantry makes a thriftless gudewife.—Scotch.Bare walls make giddy housewives.[316]All is not gain that is put into the purse.What the goodwife spares the cat eats.There was a wife that kept her supper for her breakfast, an' she was dead or day.—Scotch.

A poor man's shilling is but a penny.

A toom [empty] pantry makes a thriftless gudewife.—Scotch.

Bare walls make giddy housewives.[316]

All is not gain that is put into the purse.

What the goodwife spares the cat eats.

There was a wife that kept her supper for her breakfast, an' she was dead or day.—Scotch.

FOOTNOTES:[303]Cada uno estiende la pierna como tiene la cubierta.[304]Selon le bras la saignée.[305]A buona derrata pensavi su.[306]Quod non opus est, asse carum est.[307]A grassa cucina povertà è vicina.[308]Fette Küche, magere Erbschaft.[309]Lo sparagno è lo primo guadagno.[310]Mieux vaut règle que rente.[311]On n'a jamais bon marché de mauvaise marchandise.[312]Nunca mucho costó poco.[313]Lo barato es caro.[314]Abondance de bien ne nuit pas.[315]Chi vive a minuto fa le spese a' suoi e agli altri.[316]Vuides chambres font folles dames.

[303]Cada uno estiende la pierna como tiene la cubierta.

[304]Selon le bras la saignée.

[305]A buona derrata pensavi su.

[306]Quod non opus est, asse carum est.

[307]A grassa cucina povertà è vicina.

[308]Fette Küche, magere Erbschaft.

[309]Lo sparagno è lo primo guadagno.

[310]Mieux vaut règle que rente.

[311]On n'a jamais bon marché de mauvaise marchandise.

[312]Nunca mucho costó poco.

[313]Lo barato es caro.

[314]Abondance de bien ne nuit pas.

[315]Chi vive a minuto fa le spese a' suoi e agli altri.

[316]Vuides chambres font folles dames.

Enough is enough of bread and cheese.Enough is as good as a feast.

Enough is enough of bread and cheese.

Enough is as good as a feast.

"A bird can roost but on one branch; a mouse can drink no more than its fill from a river" (Chinese). "He is rich enough who does not want" (Italian).[317]But the difficulty is to determine to a nicety the point at which there is neither want nor surplus. Practically there is no such point, however it may exist in theory; for

There's never enough where nought is left.Of enough men leave.

There's never enough where nought is left.

Of enough men leave.

Where all is eaten up it is pretty certain that the commons were but short. "There is not enough if there is not too much" (French).[318]Beaumarchais makes Figaro, in speaking of love, to utter the charming hyperbole which has passed into a proverb, "Too much is not enough."[319]Even without being in love, everybody must agree with Voltaire in considering

"Le superflu, chose très nécessaire."Better leave than lack.All covet, all lose.Covetousness brings nothing home.

"Le superflu, chose très nécessaire."

Better leave than lack.

All covet, all lose.

Covetousness brings nothing home.

"It bursts the bag" (Italian).[320]Like the dog in the fable, it grasps at the shadow, and lets fall the substance. "He that embraces too much holds nothing fast" (Italian, French).[321]A statue was erected to Buffon in his lifetime, with the inscription,Naturam amplectitur omnem("He embraces all nature"). Somebody remarked upon this, "He that embraces too much," &c. Buffon heard of the sarcasm, and had the inscription obliterated.

It is hard for a greedy eye to hae a leal heart.—Scotch.

Covetousness is scarcely consistent with honesty.

Much would have more.A greedy eye never had a fu' weam [belly].—Scotch.

Much would have more.

A greedy eye never had a fu' weam [belly].—Scotch.

"The dust alone can fill the eye of man" (Arab);i.e., the dust of the grave can alone extinguish the lust of the eye and the cupidity of man. Among the Arabs, the phrase, "His eye is full," signifies he possesses every object of his desire. The Germans say, "Greed and the eye can no man fill."[322]The Scotch say of a covetous person,—

He'll get enough ae day when his mouth's fu' o' mools [mould].The greedy man and the gileynoar [cheat] are soon agreed.—Scotch.

He'll get enough ae day when his mouth's fu' o' mools [mould].

The greedy man and the gileynoar [cheat] are soon agreed.—Scotch.

"The sharper soon cheats the covetous man" (Spanish).[323]

The grace of God is gear enough.—Scotch.

This is the northern form of the proverb which Launcelot Gobbo speaks of as being well parted between Bassanio and Shylock. "You [Bassanio] have the grace of God, and he [Shylock] has enough."

Too much is stark nought.—Welsh.Too much of one thing is good for nothing.

Too much is stark nought.—Welsh.

Too much of one thing is good for nothing.

"One may be surfeited with eating tarts" (French).[324]"Nothing too much!" (Latin.)[325]

Better a wee fire to warm us than a meikle fire to burn us.—Scotch.

It is better to be content with a moderate fortune than attempt to increase it at the risk of being ruined. "Give me the ass that carries me, rather than the horse that throws me" (Portuguese).[326]

Little sticks kindle a fire, but great ones put it out.Fair and softly goes far in a day.Hooly and fairly men ride far journeys.—Scotch.

Little sticks kindle a fire, but great ones put it out.

Fair and softly goes far in a day.

Hooly and fairly men ride far journeys.—Scotch.

"Who goes softly goes safely, and who goes safelygoes far" (Italian).[327]"Take-it-easy and Live-long are brothers" (German).[328]

Fools' haste is no speed.The more haste the worse speed.

Fools' haste is no speed.

The more haste the worse speed.

This seems to be derived from the Latin adage,Festinatio tarda est("Haste is slow"). It defeats its own purpose by the blunders and imperfect work it occasions. A favourite saying of the Emperors Augustus and Titus was,Festina lente("Hasten leisurely"), which Erasmus calls the king of adages. The Germans have happily translated it,[329]and it is well paraphrased in that saying of Sir Amyas Paulet, "Tarry a little, that we may make an end the sooner." A thing is done "Fast enough if well enough" (Latin).[330]

Naething in haste but gripping o' fleas.—Scotch.Nothing should be done in haste except catching fleas.Haste trips up its own heels.

Naething in haste but gripping o' fleas.—Scotch.

Nothing should be done in haste except catching fleas.

Haste trips up its own heels.

"He that goes too hastily along often stumbles on a fair road" (French).[331]"Reason lies between the bridle and the spur" (Italian).[332]

Draw not your bow till your arrow is fixed.He that rides ere he be ready wants some o' his graith.—Scotch.

Draw not your bow till your arrow is fixed.

He that rides ere he be ready wants some o' his graith.—Scotch.

He leaves some of his accoutrements behind him. Perhaps one reason why "It is good to have a hatch before your door" is, that it may act as a check upon such unprofitable haste. Sydney Smith adopted a similar expedient, which he called ascreaming gate. "We all arrived once," he said, "at a friend's house just before dinner, hot, tired, and dusty—a large party assembled—and found all the keys of our trunks had been left behind. Since then I have established a screaming gate. We never set out on our journey now without stopping at a gate about ten minutes' distance from the house, to consider what we have left behind. The result has been excellent."

Two hungry meals make the third a glutton.

Excess in one direction induces excess in the opposite direction.

Soft fire makes sweet malt.More flies are caught with a drop of honey than with a tun of vinegar.

Soft fire makes sweet malt.

More flies are caught with a drop of honey than with a tun of vinegar.

"Gentleness does more than violence" (French).[333]"The gentle calf sucks all the cows" (Portuguese).[334]

Ower hot, ower cauld.—Scotch.

"It may be a fire—on the morrow it will be ashes"(Arab). Violent passions are apt to subside quickly. "Soon fire, soon ashes" (Dutch).

A man may love his house weel, and no ride on the riggin [roof] o't.—Scotch.

No one will believe that he loves it the more for any such extravagant demonstration.

Many irons in the fire, some will cool.Too many cooks spoil the broth.Ower mony greeves [overseers] hinder the wark.—Scotch.

Many irons in the fire, some will cool.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Ower mony greeves [overseers] hinder the wark.—Scotch.

"Too many tirewomen make the bride ill dressed" (Spanish).[335]"If the sailors become too numerous the ship sinks" (Arab).

A bow o'erbent will weaken.All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

A bow o'erbent will weaken.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

"This nation, the northern part of it especially, is given to believe in the sovereign efficacy of dulness. To be sure, dulness and solid vice are apt to go hand in hand. But then, according to our notions, dulness is in itself so good a thing—almost a religion. Now, if ever a people required to be amused, it is we sad-hearted Anglo-Saxons. Heavy eaters, hard thinkers, often given up to a peculiar melancholy of our own, with a climate that for months together would frown away mirth if it could—many of us with very gloomy thoughts about our hereafter. If ever there were a people who should avoid increasing their dulness by all work and no play, we are that people. 'They tooktheir pleasure sadly,' says Froissart, 'after their fashion.' We need not ask of what nation Froissart was speaking."—(Friends in Council.)

The mill that is always grinding grinds coarse and fine together.—Irish.

"The pot that boils too much loses flavour" (Portuguese).[336]

Play's gude while it is play.—Scotch.

Beware of pushing it to that point at which it ceases to be play. "Leave off the play (or jest) when it is merriest" (Spanish).[337]Never let it degenerate into horse play. "Manual play is clowns' play" (French).[338]

A man may make his own dog bite him.

It is not wise to overstrain authority, or to drive even the weakest or most submissive to desperation.

A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion.Put a coward on his mettle and he'll fight the devil.Make a bridge of gold for the flying enemy.Extremes meet.

A baited cat may grow as fierce as a lion.

Put a coward on his mettle and he'll fight the devil.

Make a bridge of gold for the flying enemy.

Extremes meet.

A proverb of universal application in the physical as well as the moral world. Every one knows the saying of Napoleon, "From the sublime to the ridiculous is but a step."

Too far east is west.No feast to a miser's.

Too far east is west.

No feast to a miser's.

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