Select Observations of Roman Emperors, Proverbs
Select and Choice FRENCH PROVERBS, Some of which were collected out of Gruterus, de la Noue, Meurier and other Authors, divers observed by my self when I was in France, Alphabetically disposed and englished, and compared also sometimes with the Refranes or Spanish.
ABandon fait larron, ou autrement, or otherwise, Loccasion fait le larron.
The sense in English, Fast bind, saft find.
Qui fait nopces & maison il met lesen en abandon.
The buildings of Houses, and making of Feasts are unlimitted wasters of a mans substance.
Chien qui abbaye ne mord pas.
The barking dog bites little, or, be that sayeth most, commonly does least.
Il abbaye contre le lune.
He barks at the Moon.
Qui sert commun, nul ne le paye, & sil defaut chacun labbaye.
He that serves a Commonalty is controlled by every one, rewarded by none.
Saccomoder au tems.
To serve the time, or to do as others do.
Mieur vaut estre seul, que mal accompagne.
It is better to be alone, than with idle, or ilsorted company.
Deur chiens ne saccordent point a un os.
Two cats and a mouse, two wives in one house, two dogs and a bone, never agree in one.
Aller ou le Roy va a pied.
1. To the Stool.To go where the King goes on foot.
Aller sur la Hacquenee des Cordeliers.
To go upon the Franciscans Hackney, 1. to go a foot.
Aimer n'est pas sans amer.
Love is foreign a bitter sweet.Love is not without bitterness.
Ainsi va le monde.
So the world goeth.
Amasser en saison, despencer par raison, font la bonne maison.
A seasonable gathering, and a reasonable spending make a good house-keeping.
Amiens fut prinse en Renard, reprinse en Lion.
Amiens was taken by the *Because the Arch-Duke took it by a stratagem, and Henry the 4. regained it by force.Fox, retaken by the Lion.
Amour peut moult, argent peut tout.
Love can do much, silver can do all.
Amour, toux, fumee & argent, on ne peut cacher longuement.
Love, the cough, smoke and money, cannot long be hidden by any.
L'on d'it ausfi
L'amour, la tousse, & la galle ne se peuuent celer.
We say, Love and the cough cannot be hidden.
A Pere, à Maistre, à Dieu tout puissant,
Nul ne peut rendre l'equivalent.
To Father, Master, and God Al-sufficient,
None can render equivalent.
A petit Mercier, petit panier.
A little Pedlar, a little pack.
Moutarde apres disner.
After dinner mustard.
Apres la mort le Medecin.
After death the Doctor.
Apres la pluye *Post nubila Phoebus.vient le beau temps.
After rain comes fair weather.After a storm comes a calm.
A quoi pensez vous, quand vous ne pensiez rien?
A vous respondre, quand vous me demandez rien.
On what think you when you think on nothing?
To answer you, when you ask me nothing.
Argent contant porte medicine.
Ready money is a ready medicine.
A rude Chien faut dur lien.
A curst Dog must be tyed short.
Attente tourmente.
Expectation torments.
Au jourdhuy marrie, demain marri.
Married to day sad tomorrow.
A un bon Entendeur ne faut que demy mot.
Half a word is enough *Verbums sapienti.to an understanding Hearer.
Autant de Pais, autant de coustumes.
So many Countries, so many customes.
B
COmmander a baguette.
To command absolutely, or with authority.
Si tu veux cognoistre un villain, baille lui la baguette en main.
The way to discern a Knave or Clown, is to give him authority.
Bailler de lavoine, pour du foin.
To return a benefit with usurie.
Bailler du foin, a la mule.
To deceive or beguile.
Bailler surle nez du Roy.
To coin false money.
Bailler du plat de la langue.
To smooth or flatter.
Baiser le babouin.
Basely to submit himself.
Grand bandon, grand larron.
Great liberty breeds much thievery, or much liberty brings men to the gallows.
Apres grand banquet, petit pain.
After feasting, fasting.
Il nest banquet que d'homme chiche.
There is no feast to the Misers (and by a Misers feast we mean) a plentiful, though a rare one.
Beau parler n'escorche pas la langue.
Good *We say, Good words cost nothing. The Spaniards say, It is much worth and costs little, to give to evil words a good answer, Refranes d' Oudin.speech fleas not the tongue.
Beau…è sans bonte est comme vin esventé.
Beauty without goodness is like wine that hath taken wind.
Belles filles se trouent au bourdeau, & les beaux hommes es mains du Boureau.
The fairest woman in the Stews, and the hansom'st man at the Gallows.
Bon marché tire l'argent de la bourse.
Good cheap commodities are notable pick-purses.
Bon sang ne peut mentir.A worthy nature cannot conceal itself.
Good blood cannot ly.
Bonne renommee vaut mieux que ceinture doree.
A good renown is better than a golden girdle.See Prov. 22.1. This Proverb is well explained by Bodin de Repub. l. 5. c. 3. and Pasquier de Recherches de la France, l. 6. c. 11. Some make it all one with that Proverb, The hood or habit makes not the Monk, others say, that only women of a good name and not whores were suffered to wear a golden girdle. The Spanish Proverb is, He that hath lost his renown, is dead in the world. The English is, He who hath an ill name is half hanged.
Bonne Terre mauvais Chemin.
Bon Advocat mauvais Voisin.
Bonne Mule mauvaise beste.
Bonne Femme mauvaise teste.
Good Country and bad way.
Good Lawyer and bad Neighbour.
Good Mule and a bad beast.
Good woman and a bad head.
Borgne est Roy entre les aveugles.
He that hath one eye is a King among the blind.
C
MAl est caché a qui lon void le dos.
He ill conceals himself that shews his back.
Mieux vault estre oiseau de bois que de cage.
The difference between liberty and thraldome.
Fol a 25 carats.
A fool beyond all proportion. (The finest Gold being but of 24 carrats.)
Au jourd huy caissier, demain cassé.
To day cash-keeper, to morrow cassed. We say, To day in request, to morrow cassed.
La langue humaine, na point d'os.
Et casse poictrine et dos.
A Proverb expressing the force of a malicious, enraged, or infected tongue.
Qui a des noix il en casse, & qui nen a il sen passe.
Many when they have superfluities, can use them, and when they have none, can want them.
Tel a bonne cause, qui est condemné.
A good cause, often speeds but badly.
Au chat cendreux jamais ne tombe rien en gueule.
The idle house-dove never getteth ought.
Ce qu'on apprend au bers, dure jusques aux vers.
That which one learns in youth, will continue till old age.
C'est la Philosophie de Quenoville.
It is the Philosophy of the Distaff.
C'est un mouton *It is the custome of the Shepheards of that Province in France so to mark their Sheep, therefore if in brabling or otherwise one hath received a blow on the nose and it appears, then men merrily say so.de Berri, il est marque sur le nez.
It is a sheep of Berrie it is marked upon the nose.
C'est un bon harquebusier,See l' Etimologie des Proverbes Francois, l. 3. c. 25. il vise aux talons & frappe le nez.
*They speak merrily of a fart.It is a good Harquebusier, it aims at the heels and hits the nose.
C'est une toux de renard, qui nous menera au terrier.
It is a cough of the fox which will bring us to the grave. Bochart saith this is a Proverb usual among them.
Chair de Mouton manger de Glouton.
Flesh of Mutton is meat for a Glutton.
Chascun a son tour,
Le devise du Mounsieur de Guise.
Every one hath his turn,
The devise of the Duke of Guise.
Chascun est Roy en sa maison.
Every one is King in his own house.
Commun n'est pas comme un.
The publick is not as private.
Courte messe, & long disner.
Short Mass, and long dinner.
D
DAme qui trop se mire peu file.
She that heeds her beauty much, tends her benefit but little. A proud and a good Housewife are incompatible.
En moissons dames chambrieres sont.
While harvest lasts, all fell…ws
Chacun nest pas aise qui danse.
Every one is not merry that dances. Of such a one, we say; His heart is not so light as his heels.
Nimium altercand… veritas amittitur.Partrop d…batre le verite se perd.
By too much arguing truth is lost.
Denier sur denier bastit le maison.
One penny after another builds the house, or by little a…d little great matters are effected.
Un jour juge de lautre, & le dernier juge de tous.
One day rules another, but the last overrules all.
Deux loups mangent bien vne brebis.
Two Wolves can make good shift with one poor sheep.
Deux orgucilleux ne penuent estre portes sur un asne.
One simple Ass cannot bear two proud persons.
D'eau benite le moius suffit.
Of holy-water the less sufficeth.
De fol Juge brieve sentence.
We say, A fools bolt is soon shot.From a foolish Iudge a quick sentence.
De la pance vient la dance.
Dancing follows a full belly.
De mauvais payeur il faut prendre paille.
Of an ill pay-master take any thing.
Depuis que Decret a prins ailes,
Et les gendarmes portent malles.
Et les moines vont a cheual,
En tout le monde n'a que mal.
Since the Decree hath taken wings,
And the Soldiers carry males,
And the Monks go a horse back,
There is nothing but ill in all the world.
Desjuner de chasseurs, disner d' Advocats.
Souper de Marchands, & collation de Moines.
The Huntsmans breakfast, the Lawyers dinner.
The Merchants supper, and the Monks drinking.
De trois choses Dieu nous garde,
De Beuf sale sans Moutarde,
Dun Valet qui se regarde,
D'une Femme qui se farde.
From three things God keep us,
From powderd Beef without mustard,
From a Servant which vieweth himself,
From a Woman which painteth.
Du cuir d'autruy large courroye.
A large thong of anothers leather.
E
EAu benite de Cour.
Court holy-water;
Medecin deau douce.
A young or unexperienced Physitian.
Amener leau au moulin.
To draw in gain.
Pescher en eau troublè.
To seek for gain.
Qui mal entend mal respond.
He that understands wrong, answers awry.
A mal exploicter bien ecrit.
A fair pretence for a foul act. Good words after …vil deeds.
Tel sexcuse, qui saccuse.
Some when they mean to excuse, accuse themselves.
En gouttes Medicin ne voit Goutte.
The Physitian sees but little in the Gout.
En Orenge il n'ya point d'Oranges.
In Orange *The Prince of Orange his Country is fertil of all fruits save Oranges, whence came this Proverb, saith Iodocus Sincerus in his Itinerarium Galliae.there are no Oranges.
En Pont, en Planche, & en Riviere.
Valet devant Maistre derriere.
On Bridge, on Plank, and on River,
The Servant before, and Master *Like to this is the Spanish Proverb, Al gran arroyo passer postrero. At a great River one should pass last. Multa cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra.after.
Entre deux selles le cul a terre.
Between two stools the tail to the ground.
Entre la bouche & le verre,
Le vin sonvent tombe a terre.
Between the lip and the cup
The wine is often spilt.
Eschorcher le *To spue, cast, vomit, (especially upon excessive drinking) either because then one makes a noise like a Fox which barks, or because the slaying of so unsavory a beast will make any man vomit. See l' Etymologie des Proverbes Francois, l. 2. c. 33.Renard.
To flea the Fox.
Estre sur la bord de la fosse.
To be upon the brink of the pit.
Alterum pedem in cymba charon tis habere.
F
DU dire au faict, y a grand traict.
There is great difference between words and deeds.
Bien faict n'est jamais perdu.
One seldome loses by a good deeds doing.
Encor na pas faille qui a áruer.
He hath not mist that hath one throw to cast.
Il nest si bon qui ne faille.
The best men have their faults, the honestest their errors.
La faim chasse le loup hors du bois.
Hunger drives the Wolf out of the wood.
A la faim ni a point de mauvais pain.
To him that's hungry any bread seems good.
Fais ce que tu dois, advienne ce que pourra.
Do thou thy duty, happen what hap may.
Il fait asses qui fait faire.
He doeth hurt, or good enough, that makes it to be done.
La fin fait tout.
The end proves all, or is all in all.
Faire de Chasteaux en Espagne.
To build Castles in Spain.
We say, to build Castles in the air.
Faire de son Medecin son heritier.
To make his Physitian his heir.
Faire grand cas de peu de chose.
To make great account of a little thing.
Femme, argent & vin
Ont leur bien & leur venin.
Women, money and wine,
Have their good and their evil.
Femme rit quand elle peut & pleure quand elle veut.
A Woman laughs when she can, and weeps when she will.
Fille fenestriere & trotiere, Rarement bonne m…snagere.
Beneficium accepisti, libertatem vendidi isti. Terence.A gazing and gadding Maid seldome proves a good House-wife.
Fille qui donne s'abandonne.
Pitissando dolium exhauritur.A Maid which giveth is easily g…tten.
Fille qui prend son Corps vend.
A maid that takes sels her body.
Terence.Fille trope veue, robbe trop vestuë, n'est past chere tenue.
A maid often seen, a garment often worn,
Are disesteemed and held in scorn.
The Italian Proverb is: A woman that taketh is easily yielding.
Formage, poir, & pain,
Est repas de vilain.
Cheese, bread, and pear,
Is the Husbandmans fare.
Les plus courtes folies sont les mellieures.
The shortest follies are the best.
Fols sont sages quond ils se taisent.
Fools are wise men when they hold their *Prov. 17.28 Si sapiens stultus, si stultus sapiens.peace.
G
ASses gaigne qui malheur perd.
He gets enough that misses an ill turn.
Il nest marchand, qui toujours gaigne.
He trades not cunningly that alwaies gaineth.
Tel change, qui ne gaigne pas.
Some change for the worse.
H…di gaigneur, hardi mangeur.
They that work hard, eat hard.
Mieux vaut bon gardeur, que bon gaigneur.
A good keeper is better than a good gainer.
Ourrier gaillard cele son art.
The industrious workman prostitutes not his art.
Le petit gain emplit la bourse.
Light gains make heavy purses.
Goutte a goutte la Mer s' esgoutte.
By drop and drop the Sea runs out.
Homme chiche jamais riche.
A covetous man is never rich.Semper avarus eget.
Home roux & femme barbue,
De trente pas loin le salue,
Avecques trois pierres au poing,
Pour t'en aider a ton befoing.
Salute no red hair'd man, nor bearded woman nearer than thirty foot off, with three stones in thy fist to defend thee in thy need.
H
L'Habit ne fait pas le moine.
'Tis not the habit (but the heart) that makes a man religious.
Haine de Prince, signifie mort d'homme.
A Princes hate, imports the death of a man.
Nul bien sans haine.
No happiness without hatred.
Oncques n'ayma bien qui pour peu haït.
He never soundy loved that hateth for a toy.
Le cacque (ou la poche) sent toujours le harene.
The poke still of the herring smells.
Chien hargneux, a toujours les oreilles d'eschirees.
A brabling curre is never without torn ears
Qui trop se haste en cheminant en beau chemin se four voye souvent.
The more hast the worse speed, or,
They that make too much hast mistake the fairest way.
I
JEunesse oiseuse, vieillesse disetteuse.
An idle youth makes a needy old age.
The Italian Proverb is, A young man idle, an old man needy.
Il a tousiours une *This is spoken of one that hath a great appetite, the second small gut is named, Iei unum, because it is alwaies void, whence springeth this Proverb.aulne de boyaux vuides, pour festoyer ses amis.
He hath alwayes an ell *This is spoken of one that hath a great appetite, the second small gut is named, Iei unum, because it is alwaies void, whence springeth this Proverb.of empty guts to feast his friends withal.
Il est bien avance qui a bien commence.
He is well advanced who hath begun well.
Dimidium facti qui bene caepit, habet.
Il a beau mentir qui vient de loin.
A Traveller may lye by authority.
Il gaste comme le fange de Paris.
It staineth like the dirt of Paris, Lutetia à luto.
Il a la conscience large, comme la manche d'un Cordelier.
He hath a conscience as large as a Franciscans sleeve.Me quasi pilam habet Plautus.
Il joüe de moy a la pelotte.
He playes at foot-bal with me.
Il ment comme un Aracheur de dents.
He lyeth like a Tooth-drawer.
Il n'est eschappe qui traine son lien.
He is not quite got away who drags his chain after him.
Il n'est jamais feu sans fumée.
There is never fire without some smoak.
Il n'y a pire sourd que celuy qui ne veut oüir.
There is none so deaf as he that will not hear.
Il ny a tant des Moutons en Berry
There be not so many sheep in *There is such store of Sheep in that Province, that they have this by - word when they would taxe a fellow for his notable lying, and telling a greater number then the truth.Berry.
Il ni a que la premiere pinte chere.
The first pint is the dearest.
Il vaut mieux tard que jamais.
It is better late than never.
Ils ont du coeur, mais les jambes leur faillent.
They have more stomack than strength.
Qui na coeur ait jambes.
Let him that hath not a heart have heels.
Un vieil chien jamais ne jappe en vain.
An old dog never barks in vain. We say, the warning or advise of an old man is ever to some purpose.
Meschante parole jettee va par tout a la volee.
A bad word blurted out (soon) roaveth all a broad
A vray dire perd on le jeu.
By speaking truth men (often) lose their game.
Apres la feste & le jeu, les pois au feu.
Those that will make good shift, must after play use thrift,
Il fait bon laisser le jeu, qu'and il est beau.
Tis good leaving at play when it is at the fairest, or, Tis good to leave (when one hath got) at play.
Jeu, putain, & vin friand.
Font l'homme pauure en riand.
Play, a whore, and brisk wine make a man poor laughing.
The Italian Proverb (whence this seems to be borrowed) is, Play, women, and wine consume a man laughing.
L
L'Un a le bruit, lautre lave la laine.
The one gets the credit, the other takes the pains.
Qui na laine, boive a la fontaine.
Let him that hath not wool drink at the well.
On ne doit pas laisser bonne terre pour mauvais Seigneur.
Rich Land must not be left for a rigorous Land-Lord, nor a good Country quit because tis governed by a bad Prince.
Hardie langue, couarde lance.
Couragious language, a cowardly lance, or, those that brag most, execute least.
Longue Langue courte main.
Those that promise most, perform least.
Qui langue a, á Rome va.
He that knows what, and when to speak, may travel any whither.
Mieux vaut glisser du pied, que de la langue.
Better may a foot slip, then the tongue trip.
Longues paroles, font les jours courts.
Long discourses make short dayes.
La belle plume fait le bel oyseau.
The fair fair feathers make fair a fowl.*See l'Etymologie des Proverbes Francois. l. 1. c. 4.
L'appetit vient en mangeant, & la soif s'en va en beuvant.
The stomack comes by eating, the thirst is quencht by drinking.
L'asne du common est tousjours malbasté.
The common Asse is alwayes ill sadled.
La soye esteint la feu de la Cuisine.
Silk *Sumptuousness of apparel destroyes Hospitality and good House-keeping.doth quench the fire of this Kitchin.
La trop longue demeurer fait changer l'amy.
Too long abiding causeth a friend to change.
L'eau qui dort est pire qui celle qui court.
The standing water is worse than that which runs.
Le coust en fait perdre le goust.
The cost takes away the desire to the thing.
Le desir nous tormente & l'espoir nous contente.
Defire torments us, and hope comforts us.
Le maison est malheureuse & mechante,
Ou le Poul plus haute que le coq chànte.
The house is unhappy and wicked, where the hen cr…weth louder than the cock.
Le mari veut (& doit) estre maistre, la femme veut (& doit) estre maistresse, mais non pas de son mari.
The husband will and ought to be master, the wife will and ought to be mistris, but not of her husband.
Les mots termines en ique font au Medecin la nique.
The words ending in *Such be Hectique, Paralitique Apoplectique, Lethargique, because they are hardly or never cured.ique do mock the Physician.
Le plaisir engendre l'autre.
One good turn requires another.
Le Royaume du France ne tombe point en quenouille.
The Kingdom of France falls not to the distaffe.Lex salica Gallorum, imperii successor masculus esto.
Les Apprentiss ne sont pas incontinent maistres.
The Prentises are not presently Masters.
Les bons rendeurs font les bons presteurs
Good restorers make good lende…s
Le Soleil qui se leve matin,
La Femme qui parle latin,
L'enfant qui boit du vin,
Font rarement bonne sin.
The Sun which shineth early in the morning,
A Woman which speaketh Latin,
A Child that drinketh wine,
Seldom make a good end.
Le teste d'une Femme,
La corps d'un Serjeant,
Les jambes d'un Lacquai,
C'est un Diable parfaict.
The head of a Woman,
The body of a Serjeant,
The leggs of a Lackey
Make a Devil perfect.
Le vin se cognoist à la saveur, & le drap à la coleur.
Wine is known by its smell, and cloth by its colour.
Lire beaucoup & rien n'entendre,
C'est beaucoup chasser & rien prendre.
To read much and understand nothing,
Is to hunt much and catch nothing.
M
MA chemise blanche
Baise mon cu chaque dimanche.
My fair shirt kisse me behinde once a week.
Bonne la maille, qui sauve le denier.
Well is the half penny spent, that saves a penny.
Main lavee, moins levee.
The more good parts one hath, the less he should boast of them.
A main lavee Dieu mande la repuë.
God sends the upright all necessary food.
Pour laver les mains, on nen vend pas sa terre.
A clean washt hand, makes no man sell his Land.
De mains vuides, prieres vaines.
Empty hands (had Orators) make intreatie prove idle.
Vne main, lave lautre.
One hand washes the other; applyable to such as give upon assurance, or hope to be given unto; or vntounto such as any way serve one anothers turn.
Il faut acheter maison faitte, & femme a faire.
Purchase a house ready made, but let thy Wife be of thine own making.
Manger *It is spoken of those who in their youth have all prosperity, bu… in the end sorrow and care.son pain blanc le premier.
To eat his white bread first.
Mars venteux, & Auril pluvieux font le May gay & gracieux.
A windy March, and rainy April make a May trim and gay.
N
LE mal an entre en nageant.
The unseasonable year, begins with rain.
Celuy peut hardiment nager a qui lon soustient le menton.
A favorite of the time, or of authority, may boldly swim where another would sink.
Il ne faut apprendre aux poissons a nager.
We must not teach a fish to swim; a Scholar to read, a Master to work.
Pour neant demande conseil, qui ne le veut croire.
In vain the incredulous councel asketh.
Pour neant recule, qui malheur attend.
They that ill luck attend, give back unto no end.
Pour neant va au bois, qui marrein ne cognoist.
To no purpose goes he, who knows not wood, unto the wood.
Necessite est lamoitié de laraison.
We say, That necessity has no Law.
Necessite fait trotter les vieilles.
Need makes the old wife trot (say we.)
Tel a necessité, qui ne s'en vante pas.
Some are in greater want, than they will vaunt of.
N'irritez point les chiens, au paravant que vos soies aux pierres.
Provoke not the Dogs before you be at the stones.
Nouer l'esguillette.
To tye the *A Charm which they use to hinder a man from accompanying with his wife.point.
Nourriture passe nature.
Nurture surpasseth nature.
Nul bien sans peine.
No good without pain and labour.
This Proverb is meant principally of vertue, it comes not without labour.
O
ALoeil malade la lumiere nuit.
An eye distemperd, cannot brook the light, or, sick thoughts cannot endure the truth.
Orgueil napas bon oeil.
Pride looks not well on any.
Qui na quun oeil bien legarde.
Let him that hath but one eye keep it well, or, Let him that hath but one help, strive to preserve it.
A tous oiseaux, leurs nids sont beaux.
To every bird her nest seems fair: or, Most men like houses of their own contriving.
Vieil oiseau, nese prend a reths.
The old (in experience) are not subject to surprisal.
Apres pasques, & rogation, fy, deprestre & d'oignon.
After the week of Easter, and rogation,
A Priest and onyons are abomination.
Si tu te trouues sans chapon sois content depain & d'oignon.
If thou want a capon, fall to bread and an onion; or let not the want of dainties discontent thee.
Oy, voy, & te tais, si tu veux vivre en pais.
Hear, see, and be silent, if thou wilt live in peace.
Audi, vide, tace, si vis vivere in pace.
Oignez vilain, il vous poindra, poignez vilain il vous oindra.
Sooth a Clown and he will deal roughly with you, deal roughly with him, and he will speak you fair.
The Italian Proverb is, Do good to a Clown, he wisheth thee evil for it, do him an evil turn and he wisheth thee good for it.
On ne doit parler Latin devant les Clercs.
One must take heed to speaking Latine before Schollars.
On ne prend pas le lieure au son de Tambour.
Men catch not a Hare with the sound of a Drum.
On ne scait, que la chose vaut, jusqu' à tant qu'on l'ait perdue.
One knows not what a thing is worth till he have lost it.
The Spanish Proverb is, Buen perdido ay conocido. A good thing lost is known.
Bonum magis carendo quàm fruendo cognoscimus.
Oui dire va par ville.
Hear-say goes throughout the town.
P
PApe par voix, Roy par nature, Empereur per force.
The Pope comes by voices, the King by nature, the Emperor by force.
Pardon, on a pardon.
By a gift one obtains a pardon.
Par l'eschantillon on cognoist la piece.
By a pattern one knows the whole piece.
Petite pluye abbat grand vent.
A small rain allaies a great wind.
Poisson sans vin est poison.
Fish without wine is poison.
Pour un plaisir mille douleurs.
For one pleasure a thousand sorrows.
Qui tient la parlle par la queue, la tourne ou il ve…t.
He that holds a frying pan by the tail, may turn it which way he list.
La paelle se mocque du fourgon.
Said, When one friend or fellow derides another.
A telle paelle tel fourgon.
One sloven matcht with another.
Avec le temps & la peille l'on meure les mesles.
In time, and straw are medlers mellowed.
Nul grain, sans paille.
No corn without some chaff.
Pain, tant quil dure, vin a mesure.
Eat at pleasure, drink by measure.
Ou pain faut, tout est a vendre.
Where bread is wanting all is to be sold.
Croustes de pastes, valent bien pain.
Peeces of pie-crust are as good as bread; or, he doth not wrong that giveth cake for bread.
De tout s'avise, a qui pain faut.
Necessity invented all good Arts; Want, more than any thing, makes men industrious.
Q
QUand Italie sera sans poison, France sans trahison, Angleterre sans guerre, lors sera le monde sans cerre.
When Italy shall be without poison, France without treason, England without war, the World shall be without earth.
Quand le danger est passe, le Sainct eff oublie.
When the danger is past the Saint is forgotten.
Quand le soleil est couché tons les bestes sont à l'ombre.
When the Sun is set all the beasts are in the shade.
Un quartier fait lautre vendre.
One quarter makes th' other to be sold.
A la quenoville le fol sa'genoville.
Fools kneel to Distaves, weak men unto women.
On ne doit point querir brebis qui ce veut perdre.
The sheep which will be lost must not be looked for.
La queue est le pire a escorcher.
The last is hardest to be done.
A la queue, gist le venin. Appliable to such as reserve the discovery, or execution of their villanous projects unto the conclusion of a business.
Le renard cache sa queue.
The cunning Knave conceals what would discover him.
Vache ne scait, que vault sa queue, jusques ace quelle lait perdue.
We know not the worth of things till we have lost them.
Quatres bonnes meres engendrent qua, tre mauvaises silles, Grande familiarite mespris, verite haine, vertu envie, richesse ignorance.
Four good mothers beget four bad daughters, great familiarity contempt, truth hatred, vertue envie, riches ignorance.
Qui a bon voisin, il a bon matin.
Est aliquod bonum propter vicinum bonumHe that hath a good neighbour hath a good morrow.
Qui a le bruit de se lever matin peut dormir jusques à disner.
He that hath the fame of rising early may sleep till dinnner.
Qui a terre il a guerre.
He that hath land hath also strife.
Qui monte plus haut qu'il ne doit, descend plus bas qu'il ne voudroit.
He that mounteth higher than he ought, shall descend lower than he would.
Matrem proles sequitur. See l'Etymologie des Proverbes Francois, l. 2. c. 15.Qui naist de geline il ayme a gratter.
He that comes from an Hen loves to be scratting.
Qui parle du loup, il en void la queue.
He that speaks of the *Like to which is both the Latine Proverb, Lupus in fabula, See Erasm. Adag. and the Arabick, Quando mentionem feceris lupi, praepara illi baculum.Wolf, sees his tail.
While the Shepherds talk of the Wolf he comes sometimes, so doth he often of whom we speak.
Qui regimbe contre l'aiguillon, merite d'en estre picque deux fois.
He that kicks against the pricks, deserves to be pricked twice.
Qui veut jeune chair & vieux poisson, se trove repugner la raison.
He that loves young flesh and old fish, loves contrary to reason.
Qui veut manger de noiaus, qu'il casse la no….
He that will eat the kernel, Qui vult nucleum, nucem frangat oportet.let him break the nut.
R
REmede contre la Peste par art.
Fuir tost & loing, retourner tard.Cito longe, tarde.
An artificial remedy against the Plague, to flie swift and far, and return slowly.
Rendre la pareille.Par pari referre.
To render the like.
Retournons a nous moutons.
Let us return to our sheep.
This Proverb is used when in some long discourse, one having made some digression from the matter, will return to the thing he first spake of.
The original of it is taken from Shepherds which sometimes leave their Sheep to solace themselves while they feed, but fearing danger to them, after say, Let us return to our Sheep.
Rouge soir & blanc matin.
C'est le plaisir du Pellerin,
The evening red and the morning gray,
Are hopeful signs of a fair day.See of the French Proverb l'Etymologie des proverbes Francois, l. 1. c. 6.
The Italian saith, The evening red, and the morning duskie joyeth the Traveller.
Telle racine, telle fueille.
Such root (We say, such tree) such fruit.
Qui veut tuer son chien, lui met la rage sus.
He that will hang his dog, pretends he is mad.
Apres raire, ny a que tonder.
Sheeres after shaving find no work to do.
A barbe de fol, on apprend a raire.
By trimming fools about the gill, or barbers prentice learn his skil: unseemly presidents are warnings to the wise.
Un barbier rait lautre.
One great man, rich man, cunning man, serves anothers turn.
Mets raison en toy, ou elle s'y mettra.
Let reason rule, or it will over-rule thee.
A barbe de fol, le raisoir est mol.
A goose will brooke any jeast, or put up any abuse.
Faire la barbe a quelqu'un sans vasoir.
To affront, brave, or abuse one.
S
SI l'espine non picque quand nal,
A peine que picque jamais,
A thorn unlesse at first it prick.
Will hardly ever pierce to th' quick.
Souvent & peu manger,
Ce faict l'homme engraisser.
Often and little eating makes a man fat.
D'un sac a charbon, ne peut sortir que de la poussiere noire.
Nought but black dust from Colliers sacks can come. A vicious man will be lewd in his talk.
Es petits sacs, sont les fines espiceries.
The little head, a dainty wit contains.
Avarice rompt le sac.
The miser coveting to make his bags hold over much breaks them.
Il ne peut sortir du sac, que ce quil y a dedans & on ne peut tirer du sac que ce quy est.
You can have no more of a cat but her skin; or, there can come no more (no other stuff) from a man that is in him.
Femme safre & yurongnesse, de son corps nest pas maistresse.
A wanton and win e-bibbing dame, her body yeilds to open shame.
Chascun est sage apres le coup.
An after wit, is every bodies wit.
Un sol advise bien un sage.
A fool may some times give the wise advise.
T
TAble d'abbé ou de prelat.
A plentiful, or well furnished boord.
Table sans sel, bouche sans salive.
An unlearned discourse is (commonly) as vain, as meat without salt is unsavory.
Table vaut escole notable.
Table discourse is an excellent School-Master.
Ronde table oste le debat.
Round tables take away contention.
De toute taille bon leurier.
There are good, and bad, valiant and cowardly, strong and weak, of all shapes and sizes.
Taire & faire sont requis par mer & par terre.
Be doing still, and cease to talk, Whether by sea or land thou walk.
Bien dire fait rire, bien faire fait taire.
Wee laugh at good words, but admire good deeds.
Tout ouir, tout voir & uien dire. (Ouse taire) merite on tout tems, qu'on ladmire.
To hear all, see all, and say naught, merits, eternal admiration.
Tel refuse qui apres muse.
He refuseth who after bethinks himself.
Tout se qui reluist n'est pas or,
All is not gold that glistereth.
Tost on tard, prez au loing,
Le fort du foible à besoign.
Soon or late, near or far, the strong hath need of the weak.
Trois choses sont d'un accord,
L'Eglise, la Court, & la Mort,
L'Eglise prend de vif & mort,
La Court prend le droict & le tort,
La Mort prend le foible & le fort.
Three things agree in the world; The Church, the Court, and Death, The Church takes the living and the dead, the Court right and wrong, Death the weak and strong.
The Italians have the like Proverb,
Three things are much of nature:
A Priest, an Atturney, and Death;
The Priest taketh from the living & the dead;
The Atturney right and wrong,
And death taketh along with it both weak and strong.
Trop grater cuist, trop parler nuist.
Too much scratching smarts, too much speaking hurts.
Tu as frappe au blanc.
Thou hast hit the white.Rem acu tetigisti.
Tu as memoire du Lieure ou Lapin, tu la pers en courant.
Thou hast as much memory as a Hare or Coney, The Cony by reason of his fear is very forgetful. whence came this Proverb,thou hast lost it in running.
V
AUssi tost meurt vache comme veau.
The skipping Calf, and wanton Lamb,
Are often kill'd before their dam.
Qui plus quil n'a vaillant despend;
I fait la corde a quoy se pend.
He that fears not to spend more than he hath;
Sets, at the least, one foot ith' Hangmans path.
Cheval fait & valet a faire.
Chuse a horse made, a servant to be made.
Apres grande vall ée, rude montee.
After great rest, much toyle, after much ease great pain.
Apres grande montee, grande vallee.
They that the highest climb, the lowest fall.
Un coup de langue nuist plus qu'un coup de lance.
A word hurts more then a wound.
Un grand Seigneur,
Un grand Clochier,
Une grande Riviere sont trois mauvais Voisins.
A great Lord,
A great Bell,
A great River are three ill Neighbours.
Une bonne femme est une mauvaise beste.
A good Wife is an ill beast.
Oftentimes in the contracted inscriptions of ancient Tombes these 2 capital letters, M. B. have been found which signify Mulier Bona in French Bonne Femme. Some Drollers finding that these 2 letters M.B. signifie as well Mala bestia as Mulier bona; thrice used this Proverb.
Un homme de paille vaut une femme d'or.
A man of straw is worth a woman of gold.
Un Ministre ne doit scavoir que sa Bible.That is, to teach or profess no more, 1 Cor. 2.2.
A Minister ought to know no more than his Bible.
Vouz mangez vostre chemin, par ou retournerez vous.
You eat your way, Mocking those that eat by the way.which way will you return?
FINIS.
These two, viz. Diadumenianus and Maximus being very comely persons, for the Readers satisfaction, are more exactly here presented to his view.
Diadumenianus.
Maximus.
End of the text · Edward Leigh, Select Observations of Roman Emperors (1664)