A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs
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Un bon renard ne mange pas les poules de son voisin. A good fox does not eat his neighbour’s fowls.
Un bon repas doit commencer par la faim. A good repast ought to begin with hunger.
Un brochet fait plus qu’une lettre de recommandation. A jackfish does more than a letter of recommendation.
Un cerveau ne vaut guère sans langue. A brain is worth little without a tongue.
Un chien regarde bien un évêque. A dog may look at a bishop.
Un clou chasse l’autre. One nail drives out another.
Un coup de langue est pire qu’un coup de lance. The tongue wounds more than a lance.
Un courtisan doit être sans humeur et sans honneur. A courtier should be without feeling and without honour.
Une chandelle à Saint Michel et une à son diable. One candle for St. Michael, and another for his devil.
Une conscience pure est un bon oreiller. A clear conscience is a good pillow.
Une faute niée est deux fois commise. A fault denied is twice committed.
Une femme ne cèle que ce qu’elle ne sait pas. A woman conceals only what she does not know.
Une fleur ne fait pas une guirlande. One flower does not make a garland.
Une fois n’est pas coutume. Once is no custom.
Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps. One swallow does not make a spring.
Une once de faveur vaut mieux qu’une livre de justice. An ounce of favour goes further, or is worth more, than a pound of justice.
Une poule aveugle peut quelquefois trouver son grain. A blind hen can sometimes find her corn.
Une science requiert tout son homme. An art requires a whole man.
Une tromperie en attire une autre. One deceit brings on another.
Un fou avise bien un sage. A wise man may learn of a fool.
Un fou fait toujours commencement. A fool is always beginning.
Un homme averti en vaut deux. A man warned is as good as two.
Un homme bien monté est toujours orgueilleux. A man well mounted is always proud.
Un homme de paille vaut une femme d’or. A man of straw is worth a woman of gold.
Un homme mort n’a ni parents ni amis. A dead man has neither relations nor friends.
Un homme, nul homme. One man, no man.
Un homme qui se noie s’attache à un brin d’herbe. A drowning man clings to a blade of grass.
Un homme riche n’est jamais laid pour une fille. A rich man is never ugly in the eyes of a girl.
Un jour en vaut deux pour qui fait chaque chose en son lieu. One day is as good as two for him who does everything in its place.
Un malheur ne vient jamais seul. Misfortunes never come single.
Un marteau d’argent rompt une porte de fer. A silver hammer breaks an iron door.
Un mauvais accommodement vaut mieux qu’un bon procès. A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
Un moineau dans la main vaut mieux qu’une grue qui vole. A sparrow in the hand is better than a crane on the wing.
Un noble prince ou roy n’a jamais pille ne croix. A noble prince or king never has a coin to bless himself.
Un petit homme projette parfois une grande ombre. A little man sometimes casts a long shadow.
Un peu d’absence fait grand bien. A little absence does much good.
Un peu d’aide fait grand bien. A little help does a great deal.
Un peu de fiel gâte beaucoup de miel. A little gall spoils a great deal of honey.
Un seigneur de paille mange un vassal d’acier. A lord of straw devours a vassal of steel.
Un seul homme ne peut suffire à tout. No living man all things can.
Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l’admire. One fool always finds a greater fool to admire him.
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras. One take-this is better than two thou-shalt-haves.
Un ver se recoquille quand on marche dessus. Tread on a worm and it will turn.
Un vieux four est plus aisé à chauffer qu’un neuf. An old oven is easier to heat than a new one.
V
Vache de loin a lait assez. A cow from afar gives plenty of milk.
Vache ne sait ce que vaut sa queue jusqu’à ce qu’elle l’ait perdue. A cow does not know what her tail is worth until she has lost it.
Valet devant, maître derrière, en pont, en planche, en rivière. At a bridge, a plank, a river, the servant foremost, the master behind.
Vent au visage rend un homme sage. Adversity makes a man wise.
Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreilles. A hungry belly has no ears.
Ventre plein conseille bien. A full belly counsels well.
Veux-tu meilleur pain que de froment? Do you want better bread than wheaten?
Viande d’ami est bientôt prête. A friend’s meat is soon ready.
Vides chambres font femmes folles. Empty rooms make giddy housewives.
Vie de pourceau, courte et bonne. A pig’s life, short and sweet.
Vieilles amours et vieux tisons s’allument en toutes saisons. Old love and old brands kindle at all seasons.
Vieux amis et comptes nouveaux. Old friends and new reckonings.
Vieux b”oe]uf fait sillon droit. An old ox makes a straight furrow.
Vieux chien n’aboie pas en vain. An old dog does not bark for nothing.
Vilain affamé, demi enragé. A hungry clown is half mad.
Vilain enrichi ne connaît parent ni ami. A clown enriched knows neither relation nor friend.
Vilain ne sçait qu’esperon vaut. A churl knows not the worth of spurs (i. e. honour).
Ville qui parlemente est moitié rendue. The town that parleys is half surrendered.
Vin versé n’est pas avalé. Wine poured out is not wine swallowed.
Vivre au jour la journée. To live from hand to mouth.
Voix du peuple, voix de Dieu. The people’s voice, God’s voice.
Voler un voleur n’est pas voler. To rob a robber is not robbing.
Vouloir, c’est pouvoir. Will is power.
Vraie noblesse nul ne blesse. True nobility is invulnerable.
ITALIAN PROVERBS
A
Abbiamo pur fiorini che troveremo cugini. Let us have florins and we shall find cousins.
Abbi piuttosto il piccolo per amico, che il grande per nemico. Rather have a little one for your friend, than a great one for your enemy.
Abbondanza genera fastidio. Plenty makes daintiness.
A bisogni si conoscon gli amici. Friends are known in time of need. (Friends in need are friends indeed.)
A buona derrata pensaci su. At a good bargain pause and ponder.
A buon cavaliere non manca lancia. A good cavalier never lacks a lance.
A buon cavallo non manca sella. A good horse never lacks a saddle.
A buon cavallo non occorre dirgli trotta. No need to say “trot” to a good horse.
A buon intenditor poche parole. A word to the wise is enough.
A buon vino non bisogna frasca. Good wine needs no bush.
A cader va chi troppo in alto sale. He who climbs too high is near a fall.
A can che fugge, dagli, dagli. When a dog runs away, hit him! hit him!
A can che lecchi cenere, non gli fidar farina. The dog that licks ashes is not to be trusted with flour.
A cane scottato l’acqua fredda pare calda. A scalded dog thinks cold water hot.
A cattiva vacca Dio dà corte corna. God gives a curst cow short horns.
A cattivo cane corto legame. A mischievous dog must be tied short.
A causa perduta, parole assai. Plenty of words when the cause is lost.
A caval donato, non guardar in bocca. Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
A caval donato, non si mira il pelo. Never heed the colour of a gift horse.
A cavalli tristi o buoni, sempre porta i tuoi sproni. Be the horse good or bad always wear your spurs.
A caval magro vanno le mosche. Flies flock to the lean horse.
A cavar di casa un morto, ci voglion quattro vivi. It takes four living men to carry one dead man out of a house.
Accasca in un punto quel che non accasca in cento anni. That happens in a moment which may not happen in a hundred years.
Accenna al savio e lascia far a lui. Give the wise man a hint and leave him to act.
Accordatevi, dice Arlotto, ed io farò piovere. Agree between yourselves (as to the time), quoth Arlotto, and I will make it rain.
Accosta più la camicia che il giubbone. The shirt is nearer than the doublet.
Accostati a’ buoni e sarai uno di essi. Associate with the good and you will be one of them.
A chi compra non bastan cent’occhi, e à chi vende ne basta un solo. For the buyer a hundred eyes are too few, for the seller one is enough.
A chi dici il tuo secreto, doni la tua libertà. To whom you tell your secret you surrender your freedom.
A chi fa male, mai mancano scuse. The wrong-doer never lacks excuses.
A chi fugge, ogni cosa dà impaccio. The fugitive finds everything impede him.
A chi ha testa, non manca cappello. He who has a head won’t want for a hat.
A chi la riesce bene, è tenuto per savio. He who succeeds is reputed wise.
A chi non si lascia consigliare, non si può aiutare. There is no helping him who will not be advised.
A chi parla poco, gli basta la metà del cervello. Half a brain is enough for him who says little.
A chi piace il bere, parla sempre di vino. He who likes drinking is always talking of wine.
A chi ti dà un porco, tu gli puoi ben dar una carbonata. To him who gives you a pig you may well give a rasher.
A chi ti può torre ciò che hai, dagli ciò che ti chiede. To him who can take what thou hast, give what he asks.
A chi troppo ride gli duole il cuore. He who laughs overmuch may have an aching heart.
A chi veglia tutto si rivela. To him who watches, everything reveals itself.
A chi vuole, non è cosa difficile. Nothing is difficult to a willing mind.
A chi vuole, non mancano modi. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
A chi vuol fare, non manca che fare. To him who is determined it remains only to act.
A colomba pasciuta la vescia par amara. Vetches seem bitter to the full-cropped pigeon.
A conti vecchi contese nuove. Old reckonings, new disputes.
Acqua che corre non porta veleno. Running water carries no poison.
Acqua cheta vermini mena. Still water breeds vermin.
Acqua, fumo, e mala femmina, cacciano la gente di casa. Water, smoke, and a vicious woman, drive men out of the house.
Acqua lontana non spegne fuoco vicino. Water afar does not quench a fire at hand.
Acqua passata non macina più. Water past will not turn the mill.
Acqua torbida non fa specchio. Muddy water won’t do for a mirror.
Acqua torbida non lava. Dirty water does not wash clean.
Acquista buona fama e mettiti à dormire. Get a good name and go to sleep.
A cuor vile forza non giova. Strength avails not a coward.
Adagio a’ mal passi. Go softly at bad bits of road.
Ad albero caduto accétta, accétta. To the fallen tree, hatchets! hatchets!
Ad arbor che cade ognun grida dàgli, dàgli. When a tree is falling, every one cries, down with it.
Ad arca aperta il giusto pecca. At an open chest the righteous sins.
A dono nuovo non convien grazia vecchia. Old thanks are not for new gifts.
Ad occhio infermo nuoce la luce. The light is painful to sore eyes.
Ad ogni santo la sua torcia. To every saint his torch.
Ad ogni santo vien la sua festa. Every saint has his festival.
Ad ogni uccello suo nido par bello. Every bird thinks its own nest beautiful.
Ad ogni volpe piace il pollaio. Every fox likes a henroost.
Ad ognuno par più grave la croce sua. Every one thinks his own cross the heaviest.
Ad ora ad ora vola tutto il tempo. Hour by hour time departs.
Ad un cieco mal può mostrarsi il cammino. It is not easy to show the way to a blind man.
Ad un colpo non cade à terra l’albero. The tree is not felled at one blow.
Ad un popolo pazzo, un prete spiritato. A mad parish, a mad priest.
Ad un uomo dabbene avanza la metà del cervello; ad un tristo non basta neanche tutto. For an honest man half his wits are enough; the whole is too little for a knave.
A fiume famoso non andar a pesca. Don’t go a-fishing to a famous stream.
A gatta che lecca spiedo non fidar arrosto. A cat that licks the spit is not to be trusted with roast meat.
A giovane cuor tutto è giuoco. To a young heart everything is sport.
A giovano soldato vecchio cavallo. An old horse for a young soldier.
Agli uomini ogni peccato mortale è veniale, alle donne ogni veniale è mortale. In men every mortal sin is venial, in women every venial sin is mortal.
A goccia à goccia s’incava la pietra. Drop by drop wears away the stone.
A gran ruscello passate l’ultimo. At a great river be the last to pass.
A gran salita gran discesa. The higher the rise the greater the fall.
A grassa cucina povertà è vicina. A fat kitchen is next door to poverty.
Ai mali estremi, estremi rimedi. For extreme ills extreme remedies.
A la barba de’ pazzi il barbier impara a radere. On a fool’s beard the barber learns to shave.
Albero spesso trapiantato mai di frutti è caricato. A tree often transplanted is never loaded with fruit.
Al bugiardo non si crede la verità. The liar is not believed when he speaks the truth.
Al cattivo cane tosto vien la coda. A cur’s tail grows fast.
Al confessore, medico, e avvocato, non tenere il ver celato. Hide not the truth from your confessor, your doctor, or your lawyer.
Al fin del giuoco si vede chi guadagna. At the end of the game we see who wins.
Al ladro fa paura anche un sorcio. The thief is frightened even by a mouse.
Al molino ed alla sposa, sempre manca qualche cosa. A mill and a wife are always in want of something.
Alla fama si va per varie strade. Various are the roads to fame.
All’amico mondagli il fico, all’inimico il persico. Peel a fig for your friend, a peach for your enemy.
Alla pace si può sacrificar tutto. Anything for a quiet life.
Alla pignatta che bolle non s’accostano le mosche. Flies don’t light on a boiling pot.
Alla porta chiusa il diavolo volge le spalle. The devil turns away from a closed door.
Alle belle donno le più volte toccano i brutti uomini. Handsome women generally fall to the lot of ugly men.
Alle volte più vale la feccia che il vino. Sometimes the lees are better than the wine.
Alle volte si dà un uovo per un bue. Sometimes an egg is given for an ox.
All’impossibile nessuno è tenuto. No one is bound to do impossibilities.
All’onor chi manca d’un momento, non lo ripara in anni cento. A hundred years cannot repair a moment’s loss of honour.
All’opera si conosce il maestro. The workman is known by his work.
All’orsa paiono belli i suoi orsatti. The she-bear thinks her cubs pretty.
Al lume di lucerna ogni rustica par bella. By lamplight every country wench seems handsome.
Al nimico che fugge il ponte d’oro. For the flying enemy a golden bridge.
Al più potente ceda il più prudente. The most prudent yields to the strongest.
Al più triste porco vien la meglior pera. The worst pig gets the best pear.
Al primo colpo non casca l’albero. The tree does not fall at the first stroke.
Altra cosa è il dire, altra il fare. Saying is one thing, doing another.
Altri tempi altri costumi. Different times different manners.
A Lucca ti vidi, a Pisa ti conobbi. I saw you at Lucca, I knew you at Pisa.
A lunga corda tira chi la morte altrui desidera. He hauls at a long rope who expects another’s death.
Al villano, se gli porgi il dito, ei prende la mano. Give a clown your finger he’ll grasp your fist.
Ama l’amico tuo col vizio suo. Love your friend with his faults.
A mal passo l’onore. At a dangerous passage yield precedence.
Amami, poco, ma continua. Love me little and love me long.
Amante non sia che coraggio non ha. Let him not be a lover who has not courage.
Amato non sarai, se à te solo penserai. You will not be loved if you think of yourself alone.
Ambasciator non porta pena. An ambassador beareth no blame.
Amicizia de’grandi vicinanza di leoni. The friendship of the great is fraternity with lions.
Amicizia riconciliata piaga mal saldata. Reconciled friendship is a wound ill salved.
Amico da sternuti, il più che se ne cava è un Dio ti aiuta. He’s a friend at sneezing-time, – the most that can be got from him is a “God bless you.”
Amico d’ognuno, amico di nessuno. Everybody’s friend, nobody’s friend.
Amico, e guardati. A friend, and look to thyself.
A molti puzza l’ambra. Many stop their noses at ambergris.
Amor dà per mercede gelosia e rotta fede. Love’s merchandise is jealousy and broken faith.
Amor è cieco ma vede da lontano. Love is blind but sees afar.
Amor è il vero prezzo con cui si compra amore. Love is the true price at which love is bought.
Amor e signoria non voglion compagnia. Love and lordship like not fellowship.
Amor non conosce travaglio. Love knows not labour.
Amor regge il suo regno senza spada. Love rules his kingdom without a sword.
Amor regge senza legge. Love rules without law.
Amor, tosse, e fumo malamente si nascondono. Love, a cough, and smoke, are hard to hide.
Amor vero non diventa mai canuto. True love never grows old.
Amor vuol fede, e fede vuol fermezza. Love demands faith, and faith firmness.
A nave rotta ogni vento è contrario. To a crazy ship every wind is contrary.
Anche delle pecore contate ne mangia il lupo. Even counted sheep are eaten by the wolf.
Anche delle volpi si pigliano. Even foxes are caught.
Anche i boschi hanno l’orecchie. Even woods have ears.
Anche il diritto ha bisogno d’aiuto. Even the just has need of help.
Anche il mar, che è si grande, si pacifica. Even the sea, great as it is, grows calm.
Anche il pazzo talvolta dice qualche parola da savio. Even the fool says a wise word sometimes.
Anche il sole passa sopra il fango, e non s’imbratta. The sun passes over filth and is not defiled.
Anche la mosca ha la sua collera. Even a fly has its anger.
Anche la rana morderebbe se avesse denti. Even a frog would bite if it had teeth.
Anch’io so menar le oche a bere quando piove. I too can lead the geese to water when it rains.
Anco gli apostoli ebbero un Giuda. Even among the apostles there was a Judas.
Anco il cane col dimenar la coda si guadagna le spese. Even the dog gets bread by wagging his tail.
Anco il cavallo si stanca, sebben ha quattro piedi. Even a horse, though he has four feet, stumbles.
Ancor le volpi vecchie rimangono al laccio. Even old foxes are caught in the snare.
Anco trà le spine nascono le rose. Among thorns grow roses.
A nessun confortator mai duole la testa. No comforter’s head ever aches.
A nessuno piace la giustizia à casa sua. No one likes justice brought home to his own door.
Anni e peccati sempre sono più che non si dice. Years and sins are always more than owned.
A penna a penna si pela l’oca. Feather by feather the goose is plucked.
Aperta ha la porta chiunque apporta. Whoever brings finds the door open for him.
Apri bocca, e fa ch’io ti conosca. Open thy mouth that I may know thee.
Arco per rallentar, piaga non sana. Unbending the bow does not heal the wound.
Arditamente batte alla porta chi buone nuove apporta. He knocks boldly at the door who brings good news.
Arte o sorte ne cava macchia. Skill or fortune will efface the spots.
A’segnali si conoscono le balle. By their marks the bales are known.
Asino che ha fame mangia d’ogni strame. A hungry ass eats any straw.
Asino che ragghia poco fieno mangia. A braying ass eats little hay.
Asino punto convien che trotti. A goaded ass must needs trot.
A’sottili cascano le brache. Cunning men’s cloaks sometimes fall.
Aspetta il porco alla quercia. Look for the hog at the oak.
Aspettare e non venire, stare in letto e non dormire, ben servire e non gradire, son tre cose da morire. To expect what never comes, to lie in bed and not sleep, to serve well and not be advanced, are three things to die of.
Aspetta tempo e loco à far la tua vendetta, che la non si fa mai ben in fretta. Wait time and place to take your revenge, for it is never well done in a hurry.
Assai acqua passa per il molino, che il molinaio non se n’accorge. Much water passes by the mill that the miller perceives not.
Assai basta, e troppo guasta. Enough is enough, and too much spoils.
Assai ben balla à chi fortuna suona. He dances well to whom fortune pipes.
Assai dimanda chi ben serve e tace. Who serves well and says nothing makes claim enough.
Assai è ricco à chi non manca. He is rich enough who does not want.
Assai guadagna, chi vano sperar perde. He gains much who loses a vain hope.
Assai presto si fa quel che si fa bene. That is done soon enough which is well done.
Assai romor e poca lana, disse colui che tosava la porca. Great cry and little wool, as the man said who shaved the sow.
Assai sa, chi non sa, se tacer sa. He who knows nothing knows enough, if he knows how to be silent.
Assenza nemica di amore; quanto lontan dall’occhio, tanto dal cuore. Absence is a foe to love; out of sight out of mind.
A tal labbra, tal lattuga. Like lips, like lettuce.
A tal pozzo, tal secchio. Like well, like bucket.
A tal santo, tal offerta. Like saint, like offering.
A tavola non vi vuol vergogna. At table bashfulness is out of place.
A tela ordita Dio manda il filo. For a web begun God sends thread.
A torto si lamenta del mare, chi due volte ci vuol tornare. He ought not to complain of the sea who returns to it a second time.
Attacca il majo ad ogni uscio. He hangs the May-branch at every door. (Alluding to the Italian custom of young men hanging out May-branches overnight before the door of their mistress.)
A tutti non si adatta una sola scarpa. The same shoe does not fit every foot.
A un gran bugiardo ci vuol buona memoria. A great liar has need of good memory.
Aver sentito dire è mezza bugia. To have “heard say” is half a lie.
Aver un occhio alla gatta, e l’altro alla padella. To have one eye on the cat and another on the frying-pan.
A veste logorata poca fede vien prestata. A ragged coat finds little credit.
B
Baldezza di signor, cappel da matto. Faith in a lord, a cap for the fool.