A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs Comprising French, German, Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese and Danish, with English Translations and a General Index

Part 27

Chapter 274,217 wordsPublic domain

Voor stroom en wind is goed zeilen. _It is good sailing with wind and tide._

Voorzigtigheid is de moeder der fijne bierglazen. _Caution is the parent of delicate beer-glasses._

Vrienden kost is haast gereed. _A friend’s dinner is soon dressed._

Vroeg gras, vroeg hooi. _Soon grass, soon hay._

Vroeg of laat komt de waarheid aan den dag. _Sooner or later the truth comes to light._

Vroeg rijp, vroeg rot; vroeg wijs, vroeg zot. _Soon ripe, soon rotten; soon wise, soon foolish._

Vroeg vuur, vroeg asch. _Soon fire, soon ashes._

W.

Waar de bije honig uit zuigt, zuigt de spin venijn uit. _Where the bee sucks honey, the spider sucks poison._

Waar de dijk (of dam) het laagst is, loopt het water ’t eerst over. _Where the dike (or dam) is lowest the water first runs over._

Waar de hegge het laagste is, wil elk er over. _Where the hedge is lowest every one goes over._

Waar de vlijt de deur uit gaat, komt de armoede het venster in. _When industry goes out of the door, poverty comes in at the window._

Waar men vruchtboomen zet valt niet op vruchten te rekenen. _He who plants fruit-trees, must not count upon the fruit._

Waar niet is, verliest de keizer zijn regt. _Where there is nothing, the emperor loses his right._

Wacht u voor een’ man met twee aangezigten. _Beware of the man of two faces._

Wanneer de wijn is in de man, dan is de wijsheid in de kan. _When the wine is in the man, the wit is in the can._

Wanneer dieven kijven bekomen vrome lieden hare goederen. _When thieves fall out, honest men come to their goods._

Wanneer een boom ter aarde zijgt, maakt ieder dat hij takken krijgt. _When the tree falls every one runs to cut boughs._

Wapenen, vrouwen, en boeken, behoeven dagelijksche behandeling. _Arms, women, and books should be looked at daily._

Was, vlas, en tin; voor groot geld klein gewin. _Wax, flax, and tin; much out and little in._

Wat de nuchtere denkt, dat spreekt de dronkaard. _What the sober man thinks, the drunkard tells._

Wat de ouden zingen, piepen de ijongen. _The old ones sing, the young ones pipe._ (Or, _As the old cock crows, the young cock learns._)

Water in eenen korf putten. _To put water into a basket._ (_To pour water into a sieve._)

Water in de zee brengen. _To carry water to the sea._

Wat gij den armen geeft, leent gij den Heer. _He who giveth to the poor lendeth to the Lord._

Wat het oog niet en ziet, dat begeert het herte niet. _What the eye sees not, the heart craves not._

Wat horens heeft wil steken. _What has horns will gore._

Wat in ’t gebeente gegroeid is, wil uit het vleesch niet. _What is bred in the bone won’t out of the flesh._

Wat niets en kost en deugd niet. _What costs nothing is worth nothing._

Wat u niet brand, dat koel niet. _That which burns thee not, cool not._

Wat van daag onregt is, is morgen geen regt. _What is wrong to-day won’t be right to-morrow._

Weinig gezegd is haast verbeterd. _The less said the sooner mended._

Weinig houts veel vruchten. _Little wood, much fruit._

Weinig met eer, wat behoef je meer. _With honour and store, what would you more._

Wel voorgaan doet wel volgen. _Good leading makes good following._

Werelds goed is eb en vloed. _Worldly good is ebb and flood._

Wie de roos wil plukken moet de doornen niet ontzien. _He who would gather roses, must not fear thorns._

Wie een’ schalk wil vangen, moet achter de deur staan. _He who would catch a rogue must watch behind the door._

Wie geen dorst heeft, wat doet hij bij de fontein. _Who has no thirst has no business at the fountain._

Wie in zijn 23^e jaar niet sterft, in zijn 24^e niet verdrinkt, en in zijn 25^e niet wordt verslagen, die mag wel spreken van goede dagen. _He who dies not in his twenty-third year, drowns not in his twenty-fourth, and is not slain in his twenty-fifth, may boast of good days._

Wie is ’t die zonder op-spraak blijft, die voor de wereld spreekt of schrijft? _Who can escape envy and blame, that speaks or writes for public fame?_

Wie loopt, die wordt gejaagd. _Who runs is followed._

Wie op twee hazen te gelijk jaagt, vangt geen van beide. _He who hunts two hares at once, catches neither._

Wie pepers te veel heeft die pepert zijne boonen. _Who has plenty of pepper may pepper his beans._

Wie tegen wind spuwt, maakt zijn baard vuil. _Who spits against the wind, fouls his beard._

Wie veeltijds spiegelen, zelden spinnen. _They who are often at the looking-glass seldom spin._

Wie zich onder den draf mengt, dien eten de zwijnen. _He who mixes himself with the draff will be eaten by the swine._

Wie zijn buren beledigt, maakt het zich zelven daarna zuur. _He who slanders his neighbour makes a rod for himself._

Wie zijn kind straft, die heeft eere van hem; wie het niet straft, die zal schande beleven. _Who chastises his child will be honoured by him, who chastises him not will be shamed._

Wie zonder eten gaat te bed, dien wordt het slapen ligt belet. _Who goes fasting to bed will sleep but lightly._

Wij appelen zwemmen, zei de paardenkeutel. _How we apples swim! said the horse-t—d._

Wijsheid in mans, geduld in vrouwen, dat kan het huis in ruste houen. _Wisdom in the man, patience in the wife, brings peace to the house, and a happy life._

Wijst mij een’ leugenaar, en ik wijs u een’ dief. _Show me a liar, I’ll show you a thief._

Wil men alle dingen met goede oogen aanzien dan moet men staâg door de vingeren kijken. _Who would regard all things complacently must wink at a great many._

Z.

Zaai geen geld op zee: ’t moet zinken. _Sow not money on the sea, lest it sink._

Zacht gaan en verre zien. _Go softly and look afar._

Zachte meesters maken stinkende wonden. _Tender surgeons make foul wounds._

Zachtzens en soergens gaat verre. _Soft and fair goeth far._

Zegt ons met wie dat gij verkeert, en heb ik uwen raad geleerd. _Tell me the company you keep, and I’ll tell you what you are._

Zelfs lief niemands lief. _Self-love nobody else’s love_.

Zet u teeringe, na u neeringe. _Set thy expense according to thy trade._

Zich bij den neus laten leiden. _To be led by the nose._

Zij bijten niet al die haar tanden laten zien. _All do not bite that show their teeth._

Zij leven te zamen als honden en katten. _They agree like cats and dogs._

Zijn geld bekleed bij hem de plaats van wijsheid. _His money takes the place of wisdom._

Zij steekt den bezem uit. _She hangs out the broom (wants a husband)._

Zij verstaan elkander als dieven op eene kermis. _They understand one another like thieves in a fair._

Zij zijn niet allen gelijk die met den keizer rijden. _All are not princes who ride with the emperor._

Zoo de gekken geen brood aten, het koren zogoed koop zijn. _If fools ate no bread, corn would be cheap._

Zoo gewonnen, zoo geronnen. _So got, so gone._

Zoo gij een gek de vingers bied, ’t is vreemd neemt hij de vuisten niet. _Offer a clown your finger, and he’ll take your fist._

Zoo gij zaait zoo zult gij maaien. _As you sow you shall reap._

Zoo pot, zoo deksel. _Like pot, like cover._

Zoo veel hoofden, zoo veel zinnen. _So many men, so many minds._

Zuinigheid is een groote rente. _Economy is a great revenue._

Zulk begin, zulk einde. _So begun, so done._

Zulke heer, zulke knecht. _Like master, like man._

Zware beurzen en ligte harten kunnen veel verzetten. _Heavy purses and light hearts can sustain much._

Zweegen de dwazen zij waren wijs. _Were fools silent they would pass for wise._

Zwijgen antwoordt veel. _Silence answers much._

DANISH PROVERBS.

A.

Aaret har en vid Mund og en stor Mave. _The year has a wide mouth and a big belly._

Adam fik en Hak og Eva fik en Rok, deraf er al vor Adels-Flok. _Adam got a hoe, and Eve got a spinning-wheel, and thence come all our nobles._

Af Falsk og Svig vorder ingen riig. _Deceit and treachery make no man rich._

Af Læp vorder Hund læderaadig. _By gnawing skin a dog learns to eat leather._

Af liden Gnist kommer ofte stor Ild. _A large fire often comes from a small spark._

Af Ögler komme Ögleunger. _Vipers breed vipers._

Af Skade bliver man klog, men sielden rig. _Damage suffered makes you knowing, but seldom rich._

Af to onde Kaar skal man vælge det bedste. _Of two evils choose the least._

Alderdom er ond Reisebroder. _Age is a sorry travelling companion._

Alderdom giör mangen hvidere, men ikke bedre. _Age makes many a man whiter, but not better._

Aldrig er Fugl saa liden, söger jo eget Bo. _A bird may be ever so small, it always seeks a nest of its own._

Aldrig er saa gammel en Kiærling, kommer der Ild i hende hun springer jo. _A woman may be ever so old, if she takes fire she will jump._

Aldrig læges Saar saa vel, at Arret jo synes. _A wound never heals so well that the scar cannot be seen._

Aldrig var færre Adel, end naar hver vil være det. _There were never fewer nobles than when all would be so._

Alle Baader hiælpe, sagde Soen, hun greb et Myg. _Every little helps, said the sow, when she snapped at a gnat._

Alle Nögle ere ei bundne ved en Kones Laar. _All keys hang not at one woman’s girdle._

Alle Qvinder ere gode lutherske de prædike heller end de höre Messe. _All women are good Lutherans, they would rather preach than hear mass._

Alle see hans bolde Arm, ingen seer hans slunkne Tarm. _Every one sees his smart coat, no one sees his shrunken belly._

Alle ville længe leve, men Ingen vil gammel hedde. _All wish to live long, but none to be called old._

Almisse tömmer ei Pung, og ei Messe Dagsfærd. _Alms do not empty the purse, and a mass does not exhaust the day’s duty._

Alting har en Ende—uden Pölsen, den har to. _Everything has an end—except a sausage, which has two._

Altid at spare, er altid at fattes. _Always to be sparing is always to be in want._

Alt leer folsk Mand, naar Anden leer. _A fool laughs when others laugh._

Alt Vand vil til Strand, og Pengene til rig Mands Haand. _As water runs towards the shore, so does money towards the rich man’s hand._

Alt voxer Rakketand, mens gammel Hund bider Been. _The teeth of the puppy are growing, while the old dog is gnawing bones._

Alvor og Gammen kunne bedst sammen. _Earnestness and sport go well together._

Anden Tid giver andet Folk. _Other times, other folk._

Arbeide har en bitter Rod, men söd Smag. _Labour has a bitter root, but a sweet taste._

Arm er den Muus som kun har et Hul. _It is a poor mouse that has but one hole._

Armod og Kiærlighed ere onde at dölge. _Love and poverty are hard to conceal._

Arne Bande bider bedst. _The curse on the hearth wounds the deepest._

Arrig Quinde og bidsk Hund vogte Huset. _A cross-grained woman and a snappish dog take care of the house._

At bede og smöre sinker ei at kiöre. _To bait and to grease does not retard a journey._

At bie og lide, stiller mangen en Qvide. _To wait and be patient soothes many a pang._

At sige Daaren Raad, det er som at slaae Vand paa en Gaas. _To give counsel to a fool is like throwing water on a goose._

At skære i fremmed Öre er ikke anderledes end i Filtehat. _To cut into another man’s ear is like cutting into a felt hat._

At tie Sandhed, er at begrave Guld. _To withhold truth is to bury gold._

At vide Lov og giöre Ret er tvende haande. _To know the law and do the right are two things._

Ave er god naar hun kommer i Tide. _Correction is good when administered in time._

Avind kommer ikke i öde Huus. _Envy does not enter an empty house._

Avindsyg er sin egen Böddel. _Envy is its own torturer._

Avind var aldrig god Talsmand. _Envy was never a good spokesman._

Ærlig Mand er ei disværre, at en Hund göer ad ham. _An honest man is not the worse because a dog barks at him._

B.

Bag efter kommer tyndt Öl. _Small beer comes the last._

Bande bider ei Öie ud, uden Næven fölger med. _A curse will not strike out an eye, unless the fist goes with it._

Bange Hierte vandt aldrig fager Mö. _Faint heart never won fair lady._

Barneryg vil böies i Tide. _A child’s back must be bent early._

Barn skal krybe til det lærer at gaae. _A child must creep until it learns to walk._

Barne Sorg varer stakket. _A child’s sorrow is short-lived._

Bær Asenet en Guldsæk, det æder dog Tidsel. _Though the ass may carry a sack of gold, it nevertheless feeds on thistles._

Beder Gud dig drage, han faaer dig vel Reb; beder han dig ride, han faaer dig vel Hest. _If God bids thee draw, he will find thee a rope; if he bids thee ride, he will find thee a horse._

Bedre Ægget i Dag end Hönen i Morgen. _Rather the egg to-day than the hen to-morrow._

Bedre at Barn græder end at Moder sukker. _Better the child cry, than the mother sigh._

Bedre at blæse hart end at brænde sig. _Better blow hard than burn yourself._

Bedre at gaae en liden Krog end at væde sin Brog. _Better make a short circuit than to wet your hose._

Bedre at komme seent til Kirke end aldrig. _Better come late to church than never._

Bedre at spare paa Bredden, end paa Bunden. _Better spare at the brim than at the bottom._

Bedre at være fri Fugl end fangen Konge. _Better to be a free bird than a captive king._

Bedre brænder den vaade Green end den törre Steen. _The wet branch burns better than the dry stone._

Bedre een Fugl i Haanden end to paa Taget. _One bird in the hand is better than two on the roof._

Bedre en salt Sild over sit eget Bord, end en fersk Giedde over et fremmed. _Better a salt herring on your own table, than a fresh pike on another man’s._

Bedre er aaben Fjende end Hykle-Ven. _Better an open enemy than a false friend._

Bedre er at Barn græder, end gammel Mand. _Better the child cry than the old man._

Bedre er at gaae fri i en grön Eng, end at være bunden til en Tornebusk. _Better walk unshackled in a green meadow, than be bound to a thorn-bush._

Bedre er at lide for Sandhed, end at Lönnes for Lögn. _Better suffer for truth, than prosper by falsehood._

Bedre er at stemme Bækken end Aaen. _It is easier to stem the brook than the river._

Bedre er at tinge ved Busken end ved Boien. _It is better to make conditions in the bush than in prison._

Bedre er at Verden veed du er en Synder end at Gud veed du er en Hykler. _Better the world should know you as a sinner than God know you as a hypocrite._

Bedre er Bröd end Fuglesang. _Bread is better than the song of birds._

Bedre er den Green der böier, end den der brister. _Better is the branch that bends, than the branch that breaks._

Bedre er dyrt at kiöbe, end ilde at svelte. _It is better to buy dearly than to hunger direly._

Bedre er een Ko med Ro end syv med Uro. _Better one cow in peace than seven in trouble._

Bedre er et magert Forliig, end en fed Trætte. _A meagre compromise is better than a fat lawsuit._

Bedre er et Ord for, end ti Ord efter. _One word beforehand is better than ten afterwards._

Bedre er grov Traad, end bart Laar. _Better coarse cloth than naked thighs._

Bedre er heelt end med Guld bödet. _Better whole than patched with gold._

Bedre er Held end hundrede Mark. _Luck is better than a hundred marks._

Bedre er liden Nagle for Huus end slet ingen. _A small bolt to the house is better than none at all._

Bedre er selv at have, end Söster at bede. _Better to have something yourself, than to beg of your sister._

Bedre er snild Tunge, end kæmt Haar. _A smooth tongue is better than smooth locks._

Bedre er strax at nægte, end længe at love. _Better to deny at once, than to promise long._

Bedre er svang Hest end tom Grime. Bedre er halvt Bröd end Alt mist. Bedre er lidet Boskab end tomt Huus. _Better a poor horse than an empty stall. Better half a loaf than none at all. Better a little furniture than an empty house._

Bedre er tiende Ord end tarvlös Tale. _Speaking silence is better than senseless speech._

Bedre er tösser maalt, end eengang og galt. _Better twice measured than once wrong._

Bedre er tyndt Öl end tom Tönde. _Better weak beer than an empty cask._

Bedre er Venne-Napp, end Fiende-Klap. _Better a friend’s bite than an enemy’s caress._

Bedre i gammel Vogn end i nyt Skib. _Better in an old carriage than in a new ship._

Bedre ingen Lov, end uden Fremgang. _Better no law, than law not enforced._

Bedre lidt med Ro og Rette, end meget med Uro og Trætte. _Better a little in peace and with right, than much with anxiety and strife._

Bedre noget paa Armen end alt i Tarmen. _Better something on the arm than all in the stomach._

Bedre paa Træbeen at gaae, end paa Baar at bæres. _Better walk on wooden legs, than be carried on a wooden bier._

Bedre sildig end aldrig. _Better late than never._

Bedst brænder Ild paa egen Arne. _The fire burns brightest on one’s own hearth._

Bid byder anden. _One bite brings another._

Blind Due finder ogsaa stundom Hvedekorn. _A blind pigeon may sometimes find a grain of wheat._

Blodet er aldrig saa tyndt, at det jo er tykkere end Vand. _Let the blood be ever so thin, it is always thicker than water._

Blomster er Frugtens Fæstepenge. _Flowers are the pledges of fruit._

Bondens Fied giör Ageren fed. _The foot of the farmer manures the field._

Bön er dyrest Kiöb. _What is got by begging is dearly bought._

Börn er fattig Mands Rigdom. _Children are the riches of the poor._

Börn er vis Sorg, men uvis Glæde. _Children are certain sorrow, but uncertain joy._

Brændt Barn rædes gierne Ilden, og bidt Barn Hund. _A burnt child fears the fire, and a bitten child fears a dog._

Bugen vil intet borge. _The belly gives no credit._

D.

Daare lader Raad gaae ind ad det ene Öre, og ud ad det andet. _Advice to a fool goes in at one ear and out at the other._

Daarligt er at frygte det man ei kan flye. _It is folly to fear what one cannot avoid._

Da begynde Svanerne at synge, naar Raagerne tie. _When the rooks are silent the swans begin to sing._

Da er Ild god inde, naar Hunsegel hænger ude. _The fire is welcome within, when icicles hang without._

Dagen er aldrig saa hellig at jo Gryden vil syde. _The day is never so holy that the pot refuses to boil._

De ere ei alle Jægere, som blæse i Horn. _All are not hunters that blow the horn._

De ere ikke alle gode Stegere som bær lange Knive. _All are not good cooks who carry long knives._

De flye ei Alle, som vende Ryggen. _It is not all who turn their backs that flee._

De gamle Stude har de stive Horn. _Old oxen have stiff horns._

De Gamle til Raad—de Unge til Daad. _The aged in council—the young in action._

Deilig er Frugten som Dyden er i Træet. _As the virtue in the tree, such is the fruit._

Deilighed bær Medgiften i Ansigtet. _Beauty carries its dower in its face._

De lumske Sviin æde Masken, de galne löbe uden om. _The still swine eat the mash, the wild ones run past it._

Den Bænk er vel prydet (som) med gode Qvinder er sat. _That bench is well adorned that is filled with virtuous women._

Den Dag kommer vel, at Koen haver sin Hale behov. _The day is sure to come when the cow will want her tail._

Den der er slaaet til en Skilling bliver aldrig Daler. _That which is stamped a penny will never be a pound._

Den der har Glastag paa sit eget Huus, maa ikke kaste Steen paa andres. _He who has a glass roof on his own house, must not throw stones at others’._

Den der ikke sparer paa Skillingen, faaer aldrig Daleren. _He that does not save pennies, will never have pounds._

Den der jager to Harer af een Busk, faaer sielden nogen af dem. _He who hunts two hares from one bush, is not likely to catch either._

Den der tager en Enke med tre Börn, tager fire Tyve. _He who marries a widow with three children, marries four thieves._

Den der venter paa död Mands Skoe, kommer længe til at gaae barfodet. _He who waits for dead men’s shoes, may have to go long barefoot._

Den der vil have Hunden hængt, siger den bider Faar. _He that wants to hang a dog, says that it bites the sheep._

Den Ene jager, den Anden æder Haren. _One hunts the hare, and another eats it._

Den ene Ravn hugger ikke Öinene ud paa den Anden. _One raven does not peck out another’s eyes._

Den ene Stodder lider ikke at den anden har to Poser. _One beggar likes not that another has two wallets._

Den er en Giek sig selv roser, og en Gal sig selv vil laste. _He is a fool that praises himself, and he a madman that speaks ill of himself._

Den er god at borge Byg som eier Havre. _It is safe to lend barley to him who has oats._

Den er ilde skikket til Bager, der har et Hoved af Smör. _He is little suited to be a baker, whose head is made of butter._

Den er ingen nyttig, som ei er sig selv nyttig. _He who is of no use to himself, is of no use to any one._

Den er ingensteds som allesteds vil være. _He who would be everywhere will be nowhere._

Den er let at lokke, som efter vil hoppe. _He is easy to lure, who is ready to follow._

Den er Mand, som giör Mands Gierning. _He is a man, who acts like a man._

Den er næst Gud som mindst behöver. _He is nearest to God who has the fewest wants._

Den er Tingen næst, som har den i Hænder. _He is nearest a thing, who has it in his hands._

Den er ung nok som er sund, og rig nok som er uden Gield. _He is young enough who has health, and he is rich enough who has no debts._

Den er værd det Söde som har smagt det Suure. _He is worthy of sweets, who has tasted bitters._

Den Fattige fattes meget, men den Gierrige alt. _The poor man wants much, the miser everything._

Den fede So veed ei hvad den sultne lider. _The fat sow knows not what the hungry sow suffers._

Den förste Fugl fanger det förste Korn. _The first bird gets the first grain._

Den Gaas kiækker höit, der har en god Gasse. _The goose that has a good gander cackles loudly._

Den Gaas kiækker ikke mere som Hovedet er af. _The goose that has lost its head no longer cackles._

Den Gamle skal man ære, den Unge skal man lære. _Honour the old, teach the young._

Den giemmer til Kat, som giemmer til Nat. _He who puts by for the night, puts by for the cat._

Den glæder sig meest, som selv qvæder. _He that sings himself is the best pleased._

Den har svært Löb, som nödes til at löbe. _He runs heavily who is forced to run._

Den Hund man skal nöde til Skovs, beder ikke mange Dyr. _The dog that is forced into the woods will not hunt many deer._

Den kan snarest spilde, som har Karret i Haand. _He is most likely to spill who holds the vessel in his hand._

Den Kloges Arv findes i alle Lande. _A clever man’s inheritance is found in every country._

Den Korset haver signer sig selv först. _He that bears the cross, blesses himself first._

Den lade Dreng og den varme Seng kunne ei vel skilles ad. _A lazy boy and a warm bed are difficult to part._

Den Lade faaer ingen Lön uden Last. _Blame is the lazy man’s wages._

Den leder ikke gierne bag Dören, som ei selv har staaet der. _A man does not look behind the door unless he has stood there himself._

Den leer bedst som leer sidst. _He who laughs last, laughs best._

Den lever ikke i al Verden, som kan flaae Huden af en Qvadsteen. _He does not live in this world that can skin a grindstone._

Den Milde giver sig rig, den Gierrige tager sig fattig. _The generous man grows rich in giving, the miser poor in taking._

Den Penge man sparer er saa god som den man avler. _Money saved is as good as money gained._

Den Pung er tom anden Mands Penge ligge udi. _That’s but an empty purse which is full of other men’s money._

Den Qværnsteen maler og, der under ligger. _The millstone that lies undermost also helps to grind._

Den raader for Hesten, der rider ham. _He who rides the horse is his master._

Den ræddes at komme i Sæk, som för har været i. _He fears the sack who has been in it._

Den sanker god Rigdom der varer sig for Skade. _He that keeps out of harm’s way will gather goodly riches._

Den sene Ko faaer det sure Græs. _The laggard cow gets the sour grass._

Den sidder vel, som kan selv reise sig. _He sits well who can rise without help._

Den skal ei være vaanden ad Svar, som giver andre onde Ord. _He who abuses others must not be particular about the answer he gets._

Den skal endnu födes, der kan befalde alle. _He is not yet born who can please everybody._

Den skal have en lang Skee, der vil söbe af Fad med Fanden. _He needs a long spoon that would eat out of the same dish with the devil._