Part 16
Zu Hof giebt man viel Händ’, aber wenig Herzen. At court there are many hands, but few hearts.
Zu Nacht sind alle Katzen grau. At night all cats are grey.
Zu Sanct-Nimmerstag. When two Sundays come together.
Zu spät ist es, am Ende zu sparen. ’Tis too late to spare when the pocket is bare.
Zum Fasse sehen, wenn der Wein im Keller fließt. When the wine runs to waste in the cellar, he mends the cask.
Zum Lernen ist Niemand zu alt. No one is too old to learn.
Zum Reiten gehört mehr denn ein Paar Stiefeln. More belongs to riding than a pair of boots.
Zusagen macht Schuld. Promises make debts.
Zu vie Demuth ist Hochmuth. Too much humility is pride.
Zu viel muß bald brechen. Too much will soon break.
Zu viel Weisheit ist Narrheit. Too much wisdom is folly.
Zwei Augen, zwei Ohren, nur ein Mund. Two eyes, two ears, only one mouth.
Zwei harte Steine mahlen nicht reine. Two hard flints never grind well.
Zwei Hunde an einem Bein, kommen selten überein. Two dogs over one bone seldom agree.
Zwei Katzen und Eine Maus, zwei Weiber in Einem Haus, zwei Hund’ an einem Bein, kommen selten überein. Two cats and one mouse, two women in one house, two dogs to one bone, will not agree long.
”Zwinge mich, so thu’ ich kein Sünde,” sprach das Mädchen. “Force me, and I shall commit no sin,” said the girl.
Zwischen Amboß und Hammer. Between the hammer and the anvil.
Zwischen eines Weibes “Ja” und “Nein” läßt sich keine Nadelspitze stecken. Between a woman’s “Yes” and “No” there is no room for the point of a needle.
Zwischen Nachbars Garten ist ein Zaun gut. Between neighbours’ gardens a hedge is not amiss.
SPANISH PROVERBS.
A.
Abad avariento por un bodigo pierde ciento. _A coveteous abbot for one offering loses a hundred._
Abad de Carçuela, comistes la olla, pedis la caçuela. _Abbot of Carçuela, you eat up the pot and ask for the pipkin._
Abajanse los adarves y alzanse los muladares. _Walls sink and dunghills rise._
A barba de necio aprenden todos á rapar. _On a fool’s beard all learn to shave._
Abiendo escalera por do bajar, buscais soga para os colgar. _With a staircase before you, you look for a rope to go down by._
Abrenuncio Satanas, mala capa llevarás. _Renounce the devil, and thou shalt wear a shabby cloak._
A buen compañon buena compañia. _For a good companion good company._
A buey haron poco le presta el aguijon. _A lazy ox is little the letter for the goad._
A buey viejo no le cates abrigo. _No need to seek shelter for an old ox._
A cabo de cien años todos seremos calvos. _A hundred years hence we shall all be bald._
A cada malo su dia malo. _To every evil doer his evil day._
A cada necio agrada su porrada. _Every fool is pleased with his bauble._
A calças cortas abugeta largas. _Short hose must have long points._
A carne de lobo, diente de perro. _To wolf’s flesh dog’s tooth._
A casa de tu hermano no irás cada serano. _Go not every evening to your brother’s house._
A casa de tu tia, mas no cada dia. _Go to your aunt’s house, but not every day._
A cavallo comedor cabedro corto. _A short halter for a greedy horse._
A cavallo dado no le miren el diente. _Look not a gift horse in the mouth._
A celada de bellacos, mejor es el hombre por los pies que por los manos. _At an ambuscade of villains a man does better with his feet than his hands._
Achaques al viernes por no le ayunar. _Friday pretexts for not fasting (meaning pleas of indisposition for not eating fish)._
A chico pajarillo, chico nidillo. _Little bird, little nest._
A clérigo hecho de fraile, no le fies tu comadre. _Trust not your gossip to a priest who has been a friar._
A cuentas viejas, barajas nuevas. _Old reckonings make new disputes._
Acuestate sin cena, y amanecerás sin deuda. _Go to bed supperless and you will wake without debt._
A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando. _Praying to God and hitting with the hammer._
A Dios te doy, libreta, bevida, y por hilar. _God take you, pound (of flax), drunk out and not yet spun._
A dos pardales en una espiga nunca hay liga. _Two sparrows on one ear of corn never agree._
Adó pensas que hay tocinos, no hay estacas. _Where you think there is bacon, there are not even hooks for it._
Adó sacan y non pon, presto llegan al hondon. _Always taking out and never putting in, soon reaches the bottom._
Adonde vas, mal? Adonde mas hay. _Whither goest thou, misfortune? To where there is more._
Adonde yrá el buey, que no are? _Whither shall the ox go where he will not have to plough?_
Adó vas, duelo? Adó suelo. _Whither goest thou, sorrow? Whither I am used to go._
A fuer de Aragon, buen servicio, mal galardon. _According to the custom of Aragon, good service, bad guerdon._
Agora que tengo oveja y borrego, todos me dizen: En hora buena estais, Pedro. _Now that I have an ewe and a lamb, every one says to me: Good morrow, Peter._
A gran salto, gran quebranto. _A great leap gives a great shake._
Agua passada no muele molino. _Water past will not turn the mill._
A hija casada salen nos yernos. _When our daughter is married sons-in-law are plenty._
Ahorrar para la vejez, ganar un maravedi y bever tres. _To save for old age, earning a maravedi and drinking three._
A idos de mi casa, y que quereis con mi muger? no hay que responder. _There is no answer for Get out of my house, and What have you to do with my wife?_
Alábate, cesto, que venderte quiero. _Praise yourself, basket, for I want to sell you._
A la boda de Don Garcia lleva pan en la capilla. _Carry bread in your hood to Don Garcia’s wedding._
A la burla, dejarla quando mas agrada. _Leave the jest at its best._
A la cabeça, la comida la endereça. _Eating sets the head to rights._
Al agradecido, mas de lo pedido. _To the grateful man give more than he asks._
A la longa el galgo á la liebre mata. _In the long run the greyhound kills the hare._
A la luna el lobo al asno espulga. _The wolf picks the ass’s fleas by moonlight._
A la muger y á la picaza, lo que dirias en la plaza. _To a woman and a magpie tell your secrets in the marketplace._
A la primera azadonada quiere sacar agua. _He expects to find water at the first stroke of the spade._
A las barbas con dineros honra hacen los caballeros. _To beards with money cavaliers pay respect._
A las burlas así ve á ellas que no se salgan de veras. _Jest so that it may not turn to earnest._
Al asno muerto, la cebada al rabo. _The ass dead, the barley at his tail._
A las malas lenguas, tixera. _For evil tongues, scissors._
A las veces do cazar pensamos, cazados quedamos. _When we think to catch we are sometimes caught._
A las veces lleva el hombre á su casa con que llore. _A man may hap to bring home with him what makes him weep._
A la vulpeja dormida, no le cae nada en la boca. _Nothing falls into the mouth of a sleeping fox._
Al buen pagador, no le duelen prendas. _A good paymaster needs no security._
Alcança, quien no cansa. _He who does not tire, achieves._
Al desdichado poco le vale ser esforzado. _It little avails the unfortunate to be brave._
Alegrias, antruejo, que mañana serás ceniza. _Be merry, Shrovetide, for to-morrow thou wilt be ashes._
Al enemigo, si vuelve la espalda, la puente de plata. _Make a bridge of silver for the flying enemy._
Al enhornar se tuerce el pan. _It is in putting it into the oven that the loaf is made crooked._
Al envidioso afilásele el gesto y crécele el ojo. _The envious man’s face grows sharp and his eyes big._
Al fin se canta la Gloria. _At the end the Gloria is chanted._
Al gato por ser ladron, no le eches de tu mansion. _Don’t send away your cat for being a thief._
Algo va de Pedro á Pedro. _There is some distance between Peter and Peter._
Algun dia mande tanto Pedro como su amo. _Some day Peter will command as much as his master._
Al gusto dañado lo dulce le es amargo. _To a depraved taste sweet is bitter._
Al hacer temblar, y al comer sudar. _To shiver at work, and sweat at meals._
Al hijo de tu vezina quítale el mico, y cásale con tu hija. _Wipe the nose of your neighbour’s son, and marry him to your daughter._
Al hombre bueno, no le busques abolengo. _Ask not after a good man’s pedigree._
Al hombre osado, la fortuna le da la mano. _To the bold man fortune gives her hand._
Al hombre venturero, la hija le nace primero. _The lucky man has a daughter for his first-born._
Allá va la lengua, do duele la muela. _The tongue goes where the tooth aches._
Allá van leyes, do quieren reyes. _Laws go the way kings direct._
Al lavar saldrá la mancilla. _The spot will come out in the washing._
Allá vayas, mal, adó te pongan buen cabeçal. _Away with thee, sickness, to where they make a good pillow for thee._
Allegador de la ceniza y deramador de la harina. _He gathers up ashes and scatters flour._
Allégate á los buenos, y serás uno dellos. _Associate with the good, and you will be one of them._
Al llamado de quien le piensa viene el buey á la melena. _The ox comes to the yoke at the call of his feeder._
Al loco y al toro, darles corro. _Make way for a madman and a bull._
Al mas ruin puerco la mejor bellota. _The worst pig gets the best acorn._
Al médico, confesor, y letrado, no le hayas engañado. _Deceive not thy physician, confessor, or lawyer._
Al mozo mal mandado, ponle la mesa, y embiale al recado. _If you have a loitering servant, set his dinner before him and send him on an errand._
A lo que puedes solo, no esperes á otro. _Expect not at another’s hand what you can do by your own._
A los bobos se les aperece la Madre de Dios. _The Mother of God appears to fools._
A los osados, ayuda la fortuna. _Fortune aids the bold._
Al perro flaco, todo es pulgas. _The lean dog is all fleas._
Al puerco gordo, untarle el rabo. _To grease the fat pig’s tail._
Al que cueze y amasa no le hurtar hogaça. _Do not steal a loaf from him that kneads and bakes._
Al que dá el capon, dale la pierna y el alon. _To him who gives you a capon you may spare a leg and a wing._
Al que mal hace, nunca le falta achaque. _The wrong doer is never without a pretext._
Al que tiene muger hermosa, ó castillo en frontera, ó viña en carrera, nunca le falta guerra. _He who has a handsome wife, a castle on the frontier, or a vineyard on the roadside, is never without war._
Al que yerra, perdónale una vez, mas no despues. _Him who errs, forgive once, but never twice._
Alquimia provada, tener renta y no gastar nada. _It is approved alchemy to have an income and spend nothing._
Al raton que no tiene mas que un agujero, presto le cogen. _The rat that has but one hole is soon caught._
Al toro y al aire, darles calle. _Don’t stop the way of a bull or of a current of air._
Al villano dadle el pie, y tomarse ha la mano. _Give a clown your foot, and he’ll take your hand._
Al yerno y al cochino, una vez el camino. _To a son-in-law and a hog you need show the way but once._
Ama á quien no te ama, responde á quien no te llama, correrás carrera vana. _Love one that does not love you, answer one that does not call you, and you will run a fruitless race._
A maa veziña da agulla sin liña. _The bad neighbour gives a needle without thread._ (Galician.)
A madrina, que eso yo me lo sabia. _Hush, brideswoman, I knew all that before._
A mal ñudo mal cuño. _To a hard knot a hard wedge._
A maravedi de pleyto, real de papel. _A lawsuit for a maravedi consumes a real’s worth of paper._
A Mari Ardida nunca le falta mal dia, á Mari Monton Dios se lo da, y Dios se le pon. _Mary Busybody never wants a bad day, and Hilary Drone has God to give and bring to her._
Amar y saber, no puede ser. _To love and be wise is impossible._
Ama, soys ama mientras el niño mama, y despues no nada. _Nurse, you are mistress whilst the child sucks, and after that nothing._
A mengua de carne, buenos son pollos con tocino. _When you can’t get meat, chickens and bacon are good._
A mengua de pan, buenas son tortas. _When you can’t get bread, oat-cakes are not amiss._
Amigo del buen tiempo mudará con el viento. _A fair-weather friend changes with the wind._
Amigo de pleitos, poco dinero; amigo de médicos, poca salud; amigo de frailes, poca honra. _Fond of lawsuits, little wealth; fond of doctors, little health; fond of friars, little honour._
Amigo do todos y de ninguno todo es uno. _Everybody’s friend and nobody’s friend is all one._
Amigo quebrado, soldado, mas nunca sano. _Friendship broken may be soldered, but never made whole._
Amigo reconciliado, enemigo doblado. _A reconciled friend is a double enemy._
Amigos y mulas fallescen á as duras. _Friends and mules fail in hard trials._ (Galician.)
Amistad de yerno, sol de invierno. _A son-in-law’s friendship is a winter’s sun._
Amor de niño, agua en cesto. _A boy’s love is water in a sieve._
Amor de padre, que todo lo otro es aire. _A father’s love, for all other is air._
Amores nuevos olvidan viejos. _New loves drive out the old._
Amores, dolores y dineros no pueden estar secretos. _Love, grief, and money cannot be kept secret._
Amor fa molt, argent fa tot. _Love does much, money does all._ (Catalan.)
Amor loco, yo por vos, y vos por otro. _Mad love—I for you, and you for another._
A moro muerto gran lanzada. _A great lance-thrust to a dead Moor._
A mucho hablar, mucho errar. _Much talking, much erring._
A muertos y á idos no hay mas amigos. _The dead and the absent have no friends._
A muger mala poco le aprovecha guarda. _There is little use in watching a bad woman._
A mula vieja cabezadas nuevas. _New trappings to an old mule._
Andando gana la hazeña, que no estándose queda. _The mill gains by going, and not by standing still._
Andando y hablando, marido, á la horca. _Talk as you go, husband, to the gallows._
Andar á caza con huron muerto. _To go rabbit catching with a dead ferret._
Andeme yo caliente, y riase la gente. _Let me go warm, and folks may laugh._
Animo vence en guerra, que no arma buena. _It is courage that vanquishes in war, and not good weapons._
Ante la puerta del rezador, nunca eches tu trigo al sol. _Never spread your corn to dry before the door of a saintly man._
Antes de casar, ten casas en que morar, y tierras en que labrar, y viñas en que podar. _Before you marry, have a house to live in, fields to till, and vines to cut._
Antes de la hora gran denuedo; venidos al punto, venidos al miedo. _Before the time great courage; when at the point, great fear._
Antes de mil años todos seremos calvos. _In less than a thousand years we shall all be bald._
Antes di que digan. _Say before they say._ (_Tell your own story first._)
Antes moral que almendro. _Rather mulberry than almond._ (_The almond-tree is in blossom earlier than the mulberry._)
Antes que cases, mira que haces, que no es ñudo que deshaces. _Before you marry, beware, for it is a knot difficult to untie._
Antes toman al mentiroso que al cojo. _The liar is sooner caught than the cripple._
A olla que hierve, ninguna mosca se atreve. _No flies light on a boiling pot._
A otro perro con ese hueso. _Throw that bone to another dog._
A padre guardador, hijo gastador. _After a thrifty father, a prodigal son._
A palabras locas orejas sordas. _To mad words deaf ears._
A pan duro diente agudo. _A sharp tooth for hard bread._
A pobreza no hay vergüenza. _Poverty is no sin._
A poca barba, poca vergüenza. _Little beard, little modesty._
Aprendiz de Portugal, no sabe cozer y quiere cortar. _A Portuguese apprentice who can’t sew, yet would be cutting out._
A presurosa demanda espaciosa respuesta. _To a hasty demand a leisure reply._
A puerta cerrada, el diablo se vuelve. _When the devil finds the door shut, he goes away._
A puerta de cazador nunca gran muladar. _There is never a great dunghill at a sportsman’s door._
A puñadas entran las buenas hadas. _Good luck makes its way in by elbowing._
Aquel es tu amigo que te quita de ruido. _He is your friend who gets you out of a fray._
Aquella ave es mala, que en su nido caga. _It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest._
Aquella es bien casada, que no tiene suegra ni cuñada. _She is well married who has neither mother-in-law nor sister-in-law._
Aquellos son ricos que tienen amigos. _They are rich who have friends._
Aquel pierde venta que no tiene que venda. _He loses his market who has nothing to sell._
A quien dan, no escoge. _Beggars must not be choosers._
A quien dices tu puridad, á ese das tu libertad. _You surrender your freedom where you deposit your secret._
A quien Dios quiere bien, la perra le pare lechones. _Whom God loves, his bitch litters pigs._
A quien hace casa, ó se casa, la bolsa le quede rasa. _He who builds a house, or marries, is left with a lank purse._
A quien madruga, Dios le ayuda. _God helps the early riser._
A quien miedo le han, lo suyo le dan. _He who is feared gets more than his own._
A quien no le basta espada y corazon, no le bastarán corazas y lanzon. _For whom sword and courage are not enough, corslet and lance will not be enough._
A quien no le sobra pan, no crie can. _Who has no bread to spare should not keep a dog._
A quien no mata puerco, no le dan morcilla. _They who don’t kill pigs must not expect black-puddings._
A quien no tiene nada, nada le espanta. _Who has nothing, fears nothing._
A quien tiene buena muger, ningun mal le puede venir, que no sea de sufrir. _He who has a good wife can bear any evil._
A quien tiene mala muger, ningun bien le puede venir, que bien se puede decir. _He who has a bad wife can expect no happiness that can be so called._
A quien vela, todo se le revela. _To him that watches, everything is revealed._
Ara bien y hondo, cogerás pan en abondo. _Plough deep and you will have plenty of corn._
Ara por enjuto ó por mojado, no besarás á tu vecino en el rabo. _Plough wet or dry, and you will not have to kiss your neighbour’s breech._
Arco siempre armado, ó flojo ó quebrado. _The bow that is always bent slackens or breaks._
Arde verde por seco, y pagan justos por pecadores. _The green burns for the dry, and the righteous pay for sinners._
Ares, no ares, renta me pagues. _Plough or not plough, you must pay your rent._
A rio revuelto, ganancia de pescadores. _It is good fishing in troubled waters._
Armas y dineros buenas manos quieren. _Arms and money require good hands._
Arremángose mi nuera, y trastornó en el fuego la caldera. _My daughter-in-law tucked up her sleeves, and upset the kettle into the fire._
Arrieros somos, y en el camino nos encontraremos. _We are both carriers, and shall meet on the road._
A salvo está el que repica. _He is in safety who rings the tocsin._
Así acontescen cosas récias, como ir á la plaza y venir sin orejas. _Such awkward things will happen as going into the great square and coming back without ears._
Así dijó la zorra á las uvas, no pudiendolas alcazar, que no estarvan maduras. _The grapes are sour, said the fox when he could not reach them._
Así está el pages entre dos advocats como el pagel entre dos gats. _A peasant between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats._ (Catalan.)
Así me decis que en el monte hay lobos, y en el valle raposos. _So you tell me there are wolves on the mountain, and foxes in the valley._
Asna con pollino no va derecha al molino. _An ass with her colt goes not straight to the mill._
Asno con oro alcánzalo todo. _The golden ass passes everywhere._
Asno de muchos, lobos le comen. _The ass of many owners is food for wolves._
Asno sea quien á asno vocea. _An ass let him be who brays at an ass._
Assaz puede poco, quien no amenaza á otro. _He can do but little who cannot threaten another._
A su amigo el gato siempre le deja señalado. _The cat always leaves her mark upon her friend._
A tí lo digo, hijuela; entiéndelo tú, mi nuera. _I say it to you, daughter; hear it, daughter-in-law._
A todo hay maña, sino á la muerte. _There is a remedy for everything but death._
A tu amigo dile la mentira; si te guardare poridad, dile la verdad. _Tell your friend a lie; and if he keeps it secret, tell him the truth._
A tu amigo gánale un juego, y bévele luego. _Win a game of your friend, and drink the money on the spot._
A tu criado no le hartes de pan, no pedirá queso. _Do not stuff your servant with bread, and he won’t ask for cheese._
A tuerto ó á derecho, ayude Dios á nuestro concejo. _Right or wrong, God aid our purpose._
A tuerto ó á derecho, nuestra casa hasta al techo. _Right or wrong, ’tis our house up to the roof._
A tu hijo, buen nombre y oficio. _To your son give a good name and a trade._
Aun no asamos, é ya empringamos. _We are not yet roasting, and already we make sops in the pan._
Aun no ensillamos, é ya cavalgamos. _We have not yet saddled, and are already mounted._
Aunque el decidor sea loco, el escuchador sea cuerdo. _Though the speaker be a fool, let the hearer be wise._
Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona so queda. _A monkey remains a monkey, though dressed in silk._
Aunque manso tu sabueso, no le muerdas en el bezo. _Though your bloodhound be gentle, don’t bite him on the lip._
Aunque me veis con este capote, otro tengo en el monte. _Though you see me with this coat, I have another up the mountain._
Aunque mi suegro sea bueno, no quiero perro con concerro. _Though my father-in-law is a good man, I do not like a dog with a bell._
Aunque seas prudente viejo, no desdeñes el consejo. _Though you are a prudent old man, do not despise counsel._
A un traidor dos alevosos. _Two false men to one traitor._
Ausencia enemiga de amor; quan lejos de ojo, tan lejos de corazon. _Absence is a foe to love; away from the eyes, away from the heart._
A vaca que no come con os bois, ó come ante, ó come despois. _The cow that does not eat with the oxen, either eats before or after them._ (Galician.)
Ave con cuchar nunca entre en tu corral. _Let no shovel-beaked bird ever enter your yard._
Ave muda no hace agüero. _A mute bird makes no omen._
A volpe va por o millo e non come, mas dalle con o rabo e sacode. _The fox goes through the corn and does not eat, but brushes it down with his tail._ (Galician.)
Aya cebo en el palomar, que palomas ellas se vernán. _Let there be food in the pigeon-house, and the pigeons will come to it._
Ayer vaquero, hoy caballero. _Yesterday a cowherd, to-day a cavalier._
Ay te duele, ay te daré. _Where you smart there I will hit you._
Ay ten a gallena os ollos do ten os ovos. _The hen’s eyes are where her eggs are._ (Galician.)
Ayudándose tres, para peso de seis. _Three who help each other are as good as six._
Azotan á la gata, si no hila nuestra ama. _They whip the cat, if our mistress does not spin._
Azotenme en la plaza, que no lo sepan en mi casa. _Let them whip me in the market-place, provided it be not known at home._
B.
Barba bien remojada, medio rapada. _A beard well lathered is half shaved._
Barriga caliente, pie dormiente. _The paunch warm, the foot sleepy._
Barro y cal encubran mucho mal. _Clay and lime conceal much evil._
Bel hombre no es todo pobre. _A handsome man is not quite poor._
Bendita aquella casa que no tiene corona rapada. _Happy the home in which there is no shaven crown._
Bien ama quien nunca olvida. _He loves well who never forgets._
Bien cuenta la madre, mejor cuenta el infante. _The mother reckons well, but the child reckons better._
Bien merca á quien no dicen hombre bestia. _He buys well who is not called a donkey._
Bien ó mal, casado me han. _For letter for worse they have married me._
Bien perdido y conocido. _A good thing lost is a good thing valued._
Bien predica quien bien vive. _He preaches well who lives well._
Bien sabe el asno en cuya cara rebuzna. _The ass knows well in whose face he brays._
Bien sabe el huego cuya capa quema. _The fire well knows whose cloak burns._
Bien sabe el sabio que no sabe, el nescio piensa que sabe. _The wise knows that he does not know; the ignoramus thinks he knows._
Bien sabe la vulpeja con quien trebeja. _The fox knows well with whom he plays tricks._
Bien sé lo que digo quando pan pido. _I know well what I say when I ask for bread._