A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

El hombre propone, y Dios dispone. Man proposes, and God disposes.

El huego y el amor no dicen: Vate á tu lavor. Fire and love do not say “Go to your work.”

El huesped y el pez á tres dias huele. A guest and a fish stink in three days.

El hurtar es cosa linda, si colgasen por la pretina. Stealing would be a nice thing, if thieves were hanged by the girdle.

El infierno está lleno de buenas palabras. Hell is full of good intentions.

El invierno es ido, y el verano venido, mal haya quien bien nos hizo. The winter is gone, the spring is come, a fig for those who us good have done.

El judío échase á perder con pascuas, el moro con bodas, y el cristiano con escrituras. The Jew ruins himself with passovers, the Moor with wedding feasts, and the Christian with lawsuits.

El lobo do halla un cordero, busca otro. Where the wolf gets one lamb it looks for another.

El lobo do mane daño no hace. The wolf commits no mischief at home.

El lobo hace entre semana por donde no va el Domingo á misa. The wolf does that in the course of the week which hinders him from going to mass on Sunday.

El lobo pierde los dientes, mas no los mientes. The wolf loses his teeth, but not his inclinations.

El lobo y la vulpeja ambos son de una conseja. The wolf and the fox are both in one story.

El mal de milano, las alas quebradas y el pico sano. The kite’s malady, its wings broken and its beak sound.

El mal entra á brazadas, y sale á pulgaradas. Ill luck enters by fathoms and departs by inches.

El malo siempre piensa engaño. The bad man always suspects knavery.

El mal que de tu boca sale, en tu seno se cae. The evil which issues from thy mouth falls into thy bosom.

El mal que no tiene cura es locura. Folly is the most incurable of maladies.

El marido antes con un ojo que con un hijo. A husband with one eye rather than with a son.

El mejor lance de los dados es no jugarlos. The best cast at dice is not to play.

El mejor pienso del cavallo es el ojo de su amo. The best feed of a horse is his master’s eye.

El melon y la muger malos son de conocer. A melon and a woman are hard to know.

El mentir no tiene alcabala. There is no tax upon lying.

El mentir y el compadrar ambos audan á la par. Lying and gossipping go hand in hand.

El mozo perezoso por no dar un paso da ocho. The lazy servant to save one step takes eight.

El mur que no sabe mas de un horado, presto le toma el gato. The mouse that knows but one hole is soon caught by the cat.

El oficial que no miente, sálgase de entre la gente. The official who can’t lie may as well be out of the world.

El ojo del amo engorda el caballo. The eye of the master fattens the steed.

El ojo limpiale con el codo. Wipe your eye with your elbow.

El pan comido, la compañía deshecha. The bread eaten, the company departed.

El perro del herrero duerme á las martilladas, y despierta á las dentelladas. The smith’s dog sleeps at the noise of the hammer, and wakes at the grinding of teeth.

El perro del hortelano ni come las berzas, ni las deja comer al estraño. The gardener’s dog neither eats greens nor lets any one else eat them.

El perro del hortelano, ni hambriento ni harto. The gardener’s dog, neither full nor hungry.

El perro viejo, si ladra, da consejo. When the old dog barks he gives counsel.

El pie del dueño estierco para la heredad. The master’s foot is manure for the estate.

El porfiado albardan comerá de tu pan. The busy fly is in every man’s dish.

El puerco sarnoso revuelve la pocilga. A measly hog infects the whole sty.

El que á su enemigo popa, á sus manos muere. He who trifles with his enemy dies by his hand.

El que es enemigo de la novia, como dirá bien de la boda? How shall the enemy of the bride speak well of the wedding?

El que está en el lodo querria meter á otro. He who is in the mud likes to get another into it.

El que está en la aceña muele, que no el que va y viene. He who remains in the mill grinds, not he who goes to and fro.

El que fué monacelo, y despues abad, sabe lo que hacen los mozos tras el altar. He who has been first a novice and then an abbot, knows what the boys do behind the altar.

El que ha ovejas, ha pellejas. He who has sheep has fleeces.

El que ley establece, guardarla debe. He who makes a law should keep it.

El que no duda, no sabe cosa alguna. He who doubts nothing knows nothing.

El que no tiene casa de suyo, vecino es de todo el mundo. He who has no house of his own is everywhere at home.

El que no tiene muger, cada dia la mata; mas quien la tiene, bien se la guarda. He who has no wife, is for thrashing her daily; but he that has one, takes care of her.

El que tarda, recauda. He who delays, gathers.

El que tiene tejados de vidrio, no tire piedras al de su vecino. He whose house is tiled with glass should not throw stones at his neighbour’s.

El rayo y el amor, la ropa sana y quemado el corazon. With lightning and with love, the clothes sound, the heart burned.

El rey va hasta do puede, y no hasta do quiere. The king goes as far as he can, not so far as he would.

El ruin barbero ni deja pelo ni cuero. The bad barber leaves neither hair nor skin.

El sol me luzga, que de la luna no he cura. Let the sun shine on me, for I care not for the moon.

El tocino de paraiso para el casado no arrepiso. The bacon of paradise for the married man that does not repent.

El tramposo presto engaña al codicioso. The sharper soon cheats the covetous man.

El usar saca oficial. Practice makes perfect.

El viejo en su tierra y el mozo en la agena, mienten de una manera. The old man at home, and the young abroad, lie after the same fashion.

El viejo por no poder, y el mozo por no saber, dejan las cosas perder. The old for want of ability, and the young for want of knowledge, let things be lost.

El vientre ayuno no oye á ninguno. A hungry belly listens to no one.

El vino anda sin calças. Wine wears no breeches.

El vino bueno no ha menester pregonero. Good wine needs no crier.

En arca abierta el justo peca. The righteous man sins before an open chest.

En boca cerrada no entra mosca. No fly gets into a shut mouth.

En buen dia buenas obras. The better day the better deed.

En cada tierra su uso. Every country has its custom.

En casa del ahorcado no se ha de mentar la soga. Never speak of a rope in the house of a man who was hanged.

En casa del gaitero todos son danzantes. In the bagpiper’s house they are all dancers.

En casa del herrero cuchillo de palo. In a smith’s house the knife is wooden.

En casa del moro no hables algarabía. Do not talk Arabic in the house of a Moor.

En casa de muger rica, ella manda siempre, y él nunca. In the rich woman’s house she always commands; he never.

En caza y en amores, entras quando quieres, y sales quando puedes. In hunting and in love you begin when you like and leave off when you can.

Encomendar las ovejas al lobo. To commit the sheep to the care of the wolf.

En el almoneda tien la boca queda. At an auction keep your mouth shut.

En el mejor paño cae la raza. The best cloth has uneven threads.

En el paño mas fino se ve mas la mancha. A spot shows most on the finest cloth.

En el rio do no hay pezes por demas es echar redes. It is in vain to cast nets in a river where there are no fish.

Engáñame en el precio, y no en lo que merco. Cheat me in the price and not in the goods.

En hora buena vengais, mal, si viens solo. Welcome, misfortune, if thou comest alone.

En la boda quien menos come es la novia. At the wedding-feast the least eater is the bride.

En quanto fué nuera, nunca tuve buena suegra, y en quanto fuí suegra, nunca tuve buena nuera. As long as I was a daughter-in-law I never had a good mother-in-law, and as long as I was a mother-in-law I never had a good daughter-in-law.

En salvo está el que repica. He is out of danger who rings the alarm-bell.

En tiempo helado el clavo vale un caballo. In frosty weather a nail is worth a horse.

Entienda primero, y habla postrero. Hear first, and speak afterwards.

En tierra de ciegos el tuerto es rey. The one-eyed man is a king in the country of the blind.

En tierra seca el agua salobre es buena. On dry land even brackish water is good.

Entre dos amigos un notario y dos testigos. Between two friends a notary and two witnesses.

Entre dos muelas molares nunca metas tus pulgares. Never put your thumbs between two grinders.

Entre tanto que cria, amamos el ama; pasado el provecho, luego olvidada. Whilst the nurse suckles, we love her; when she is of no further use, she is forgotten.

En voto del conde no mates al hombre. Don’t kill the man at the count’s desire.

Esa es buena que está al fuego y no se quema. She is good who is close to the fire and does not burn.

Esa es buena y honrada que es muerta y sepultada. She is good and honoured who is dead and buried.

Escrive antes que des, y recibe antes que escrivas. Let there be writing before you pay, and receipt before you write.

Escuchas al agujero, oirás de tú mal y del ageno. If you listen at a hole, you will hear ill of yourself as well as others.

Ese es mi amigo el que muele en mi molinillo. He is my friend who grinds at my mill.

F

Fiar de Dios sobre buena prenda. Trust in God upon good security.

For secreto, lo fumo lo descovre. Secret fire is discovered by its smoke. (Catalan.)

Fraile que pide por Dios, pide por dos. The friar who begs for God begs for two.

Frailes sobrand’ojo alerte. Where friars abound keep your eyes open.

Frailes, viver con ellos, y comer con ellos, y andar con ellos, y luego vendellos, que así hacen ellos. As for friars, live with them, eat with them, and walk with them; then sell them as they do themselves.

Fuego, fuego, muchas ollas y un garbanzo en todas. Fire, fire, many pots on, and one pea in them all.

G

Galgo que muchas liebras levanta, ninguna mata. The greyhound that starts many hares kills none.

Gana tiene de coles quien besa al hortelano. She is fond of greens who kisses the gardener.

Gato escaldado del agua fria ha miedo. The scalded cat dreads cold water.

Gato maullador nunca buen cazador. A mewing cat is never a good mouser.

Gloria vana florece, y no grana. Vainglory blossoms, and bears no fruit.

Goza tú de tu poco, mientras busca mas el loco. Enjoy your little whilst the fool is seeking for more.

Grano no henche harnero, mas ayuda á su compañero. A grain does not fill a sieve, but it helps its fellow.

Gran sabor es comer y no escotar. It is very savoury to eat scot free.

Grano á grano hinche la gallina el papo. Grain by grain the hen fills her crop.

Guárdete Dios de hecho es. God keep you from “It is too late.”

Guayas! padre, que otra hija os nasce. Alas! father, another daughter is born to you.

H

Habla poco y bien, tenerte han por alquien. Talk little and well, and you will be looked upon as somebody.

Habla de la caza, y cómprala en la plaza. Talk of sporting, and buy game in the market.

Habló el buey y dijó Mu. The ox spoke and said “Moo.”

Hacer la cuenta sin la huéspeda. To reckon without the hostess.

Hágase el milagro, y hágalo el diablo. Let the miracle be wrought, though it be by the devil.

Halagar con la cola, y morder con la boca. To fawn with the tail, and bite with the mouth.

Hambre y frio entregan al hombre á su enemigo. Hunger and cold give a man up to his enemy.

Harto es ciego quien no vee por tela de cedazo. He is blind enough who cannot see through a sieve.

Harto es necio y loco, quien vacue su cuero por henchir el de otro. He is a great simpleton who starves himself to feed another.

Hay buena cuenta, y no paresca blanca. The account is correct, but not a sixpence appears.

Haz buena harina, y no toques bocina. Make good flour, and do not blow the trumpet.

Haz lo que bien digo, y no lo que mal hago. Do what I say well, and not what I do ill.

Haz lo que dice el fraile, y no lo que hace. Do what the friar says, and not what he does.

Herradura que chacotea, clavo le falta. The horseshoe that clatters wants a nail.

Hidalgo honrado antes roto que remendado. A true gentleman would rather have his clothes torn than mended.

Hijo del alcalde con todo sale. The magistrate’s son gets out of every scrape.

Hijo no tenemos, y nombre le ponemos. We have no son, and yet are giving him a name.

Hilo y aguja, media vestidura. Needle and thread are half clothing.

Hizonos Dios, y maravillámonos nos. God made us, and we admire ourselves.

Hombre apercebido vale por dos. A man forewarned is as good as two. (Forewarned is forearmed.)

Hombre harto no es comedor. A man that has had his fill is no eater.

Hombre pobre todo es trazas. A poor man is all schemes.

Hombre que no tiene cabeza no ha menester bonete. He who has no head wants no hat.

Huéspeda hermosa mal para la bolsa. A handsome hostess is bad for the purse.

Huir y correr no es todo uno. To flee and to run are not all one.

Humo y gotera, y la muger parlera, echan al hombre de su casa fuera. Smoke, a dripping roof, and a scolding wife, are enough to drive a man out of his life.

Hurtar el puerco, y dar los pies por Dios. To steal the pig, and give away the pettitoes for God’s sake.

Huyendo del toro, cayó en el arroyo. Flying from the bull he fell into the river.

I

Id por medio, y no careis. Take the middle of the way and thou wilt not fall.

Iglesia, ó mar, ó casa real, quien quiere medrar. The church, the sea, or the royal household, for whoever would thrive.

Ira de hermanos, ira de diablos. The wrath of brothers is the wrath of devils.

Ir á la guerra ni casar, no se ha de aconsejar. Never advise a man to go to the wars, or to marry.

Ir por lana, y volver trasquilado. To go for wool and come back shorn.

J

Juego de manos, juego de villanos. Manual play, clowns’ play.

Jurado ha el vano de negro no hacer blanco. The bath has sworn not to whiten the blackamoor.

Juras del que ama muger, no se han de creer. The oaths of one who loves a woman are not to be believed.

Justa razon engañar el engañador. It is fair and just to cheat the cheater.

Justicia, mas no por mi casa. Justice, but not in my own house.

L

La bestia que mucho anda, nunca falta quien la taña. The beast that goes well is never without some one to try his paces.

La boca y la bolsa, cerrada. The mouth and the purse, shut.

La buena vida padre y madre olvida. Prosperity forgets father and mother.

La burla dineros cuesta. Jesting costs money.

La cabra de mi vecina mas leche da que no la mia. My neighbour’s goat gives more milk than mine.

La carcel y la quaresma para los pobres es hecha. Prison and Lent were made for the poor.

La caridad bien ordenada comenza de sí propia. Charity well regulated begins at home.

La casa quemada, acudir con el agua. To fetch water after the house is burned.

La codicia rompe el saco. Covetousness bursts the bag.

La costumbre es otra naturaleza. Custom is second nature.

La coz de la yegua no hace mal al potro. The mare’s kick does not harm the colt.

La cruz en los pechos, y el diablo en los hechos. The cross on his breast, and the devil in his acts.

La cuba huele al vino que tiene. The cask smells of the wine it contains.

La cuba llena, la suegra bevida. The cask full, the mother-in-law drunk.

Ládreme el perro, y no me muerda. Let the dog bark so he don’t bite me.

La espada y la sortija, en cuya mano estan. The sword and the ring according to the hand that bears them.

La espina quando nace, la punta lleva delante. The thorn comes into the world point foremost.

La gala del nadar es saber guardar la ropa. The secret in swimming is to know how to take care of your clothes.

La gallina de mi vecina mas huevos pone que la mia. My neighbour’s hen lays more eggs than mine.

La gente pone, y Dios dispone. Man proposes, and God disposes.

La gotera dando hace señal en la piedra. The gutter by dropping wears the stone.

La hogaça no embaraça. One’s prog does not clog. (Store is no sore.)

La horca lo suyo lleva. The gallows takes its own.

La justicia de Peralvillo que ahorcado el hombre le hace la pes quisa. Peralvillo justice: hang a man first and try him afterwards.

La lengua del mal amigo mas corta que cuchillo. The tongue of a bad friend cuts more than a knife.

La lengua luenga es señal de mano corta. A long tongue betokens a short hand.

La letra con sangre entra. The letter enters with blood.

La mala llaga sana, la mala fama mata. A bad wound may be cured, bad repute kills.

La mano cuerda no hace todo lo que due la lengua. The wise hand does not all that the tongue says.

La manzana podrida perde a su compaña. The rotten apple spoils its companion.

La mas cauta es tenida por mas casta. The most cautious passes for the most chaste.

La mas ruin oveja se ensucia en la colodra. The worst ewe dungs in the milking-pail.

La moça como es criada, la estopa como es hilada. The girl as she is taught, the flax as it is wrought.

La muger compuesta á su marido quita de puerta agena. The well-dressed woman draws her husband away from another woman’s door.

La muger del ciego para quien se affeyta? For whom does the blind man’s wife adorn herself?

La muger hermosa ó loca ó presuntuosa. A handsome woman is either silly or vain.

La muger polida, la casa sucia, la puerta barrida. The woman in finery, the house in filth, but the doorway swept.

La muger quanto mas mira la cara, tanto mas destruye la casa. The more a woman admires her face, the more she ruins her house.

La muger vieja, si no serve de olla, serve de cobertera. The old wife, if she does not serve for a pot, serves for a cover.

La muger y el vidrio siempre estan en peligro. A woman and a glass are always in danger.

La muger y la salsa á la man de la lança. Your wife and the sauce at the lance hand (the right hand).

La muger y la tela, no las cates á la candela. Choose neither a woman nor linen by candlelight.

La mula y la muger por balagos hacen el mandado. A mule and a woman do what is expected of them.

La necesidad hace á la viega trotar. Need makes the old woman trot.

La occasion hace el ladron. Opportunity makes the thief.

La oveja harta, del rabo hace manta. The well-fed sheep makes a cloak of its tail.

La piedra es dura, y la gota menuda, mas cayendo de continuo, hace cavadura. The stone is hard and the drop is small, but a hole is made by the constant fall.

La pobreza no quita virtud, ni la riqueza la pone. Poverty does not destroy virtue, nor does wealth bestow it.

La primera muger escoba, y la segunda señora. The first wife is a broom, and the second a lady.

La quinta rueda al carro no hace sino embaraçar. A fifth wheel to a cart is but an encumbrance.

La sangre sin fuego hierve. Blood boils without fire.

Las llaves en la cinta, y el perro en la cocina. The keys at the girdle, the dog in the larder.

Las malas nuevas siempre son ciertas. Bad news is always true.

Las manos blancas no ofenden. White hands are no offence.

Las sopas y los amores, los primieros son mejores. Of soups and loves the first are the best.

Las tripas esten llenas, que ellas llevan á las piernas. Let the guts be full, for it is they that carry the legs.

La suegra ha de ser rogada, y olla reposada. The mother-in-law must be entreated, and the pot must be let stand.

La telaraña suelta al rato, y la mosca apana. The spider’s web lets the rat escape and catches the fly.

La tierra que el hombre sabe, esa es su madre. The land a man knows is his mother.

La traicion aplace, mas no el que la hace. The act of treachery is liked, but not he that does it.

La una mano á la otra lava, y las dos á la cara. One hand washes the other, and both the face.

La vaca harta de la cola haz brigata. The full-fed cow makes company of her tail.

Lavar la cabeça del asno perdimiento de javon. It is a loss of soap to wash the ass’s head.

La verdad, como el olio, siempre anda en somo. Truth, like oil, always comes to the surface.

La vida y el alma, mas no el alvarda. My life and soul (are at your service), but not my pack-saddle.

Lleva tu la arteza, marido, que yo llevaré el cedaço, que pesa como el diablo. Do you carry the trough, husband, and I will carry the sieve, which is as heavy as the devil.

Lo ageno siempre pia por su dueño. What is another’s always pines for its master.

Lo barato es caro. Bargains are dear.

Lo mio mio, lo de Juan mi hermano, suyo y mio. What is mine is my own; my brother Juan’s is his and mine.

Lo peor del pleito es, que de uno nacen ciento. The worst of a lawsuit is that out of one there grow a hundred.

Lo perdido vaya por amor de Dios. Let what is lost go for God’s sake.

Lo que come mi vicino no aproveche a mi tripa. What my neighbour eats does my stomach no good.

Lo que con los ojos veo, con el dedo lo adevino. What I see with my eyes I can guess with my fingers.

Lo que hace el loco á la derreria, hace el sabio á la primeria. What the fool does at last the wise man does at first.

Lo que hecho es, hecho ha de ser por esta vez. What is done, is done for this time.

Lo que la fuerça no puede, ingenio lo vince. What force cannot do ingenuity may.

Lo que la loba hace, al lobo aplace. What the she-wolf does pleases the he-wolf.

Lo que la muger quiere, Dios lo quiere. What a woman wills, God wills.

Lo que mucho se desea, no se cree aunque se vea. What is much desired is not believed when it comes.

Lo que mucho vale, de so tierra sale. What much is worth comes from the earth.

Lo que no acerta en un ano, acerta en un rato. What does not happen in a year may happen in a moment.

Lo que no lleva Christo, lleva el fisco. What Christ does not take the exchequer takes.

Lo que no quieres para ti, no lo quieras para mi. What you dislike for yourself do not like for me.

Lo que saben tres, sabe toda res. What three know, everybody knows.