A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

Por un punto se pierde un zapato. For want of a nail the shoe is lost.

Por viejo que sea el barco, pasa una vez el vado. Old as is the boat it may cross the ferry once.

Por vuestra alma vayan esos pater nosters. Let those pater nosters be for your own soul. (Ironical, against swearing).

Pregonar vino, y vender vinagre. To cry up wine, and sell vinegar.

Prenda que come, ninguno la tome. Let no one take a pawn that eats.

Primero son mis dientes que mis parientes. My teeth before my relations.

Posesion, y buena razon, y lanza en puño. Possession and good right, with lance in hand.

Potros cayendo, y mozos perdiendo, van asesando. Colts by falling, and lads by losing, grow prudent.

Puerco fiado, gruñe todo el año. A pig bought on credit grunts all the year.

Puerco fresco, y vino nuevo, Christianillo al cimenterio. Fresh pork and new wine, send a Christian to the churchyard. (Kill a man before his time.)

Puerta abierta al santo tienta. An open door tempts a saint.

Puesque la casa se quema, calentémonos todos. Since the house is on fire, let us warm ourselves.

Pues tenemos hogaças, no busquemos tortas. Since we have loaves let us not look for cakes.

Puridad de dos, puridad de Dios; puridad de tres, de todos es. A secret between two is God’s secret, a secret between three is everybody’s.

Puteria ni hurto nunca se encubren mucho. Whoredom and thieving are never long concealed.

Q

Qual el dueño tal el perro. As is the master, so is his dog.

Qual el tiempo, tal el tiento. As are the times, so are the manners.

Qual es el rey, tal es la grey. As is the king, so are his people.

Quando á tu hija le viniere su hado, no aguardes que venga su padre del mercado. When a good offer comes for your daughter, don’t wait till her father returns from market.

Quando ayunque, sufre, quando mazo, tunde. When you are an anvil, bear; when you are a hammer, strike.

Quando comieres pan reciente, no bebas de la fuente. When you eat new bread, don’t drink water.

Quando Dios amanece, para todos amanece. When God gives light he gives it for all.

Quando Dios no quiere, el santo no puede. When God will not the saint cannot.

Quando Dios quiere, con todos vientos llueve. When God pleases it rains with every wind.

Quando Dios quiere en sereno llueve. When God pleases, it rains in fair weather.

Quando el bazo crece el cuerpo enmagrece. When the spleen increases, the body diminishes.

Quando el cosario promete misas y cera, con mal anda la galera. When the corsair promises masses and candles, it goes ill with the galley.

Quando el diablo reza, engañarte quiere. When the devil says his prayers he wants to cheat you.

Quando el Español canta, ó rabia, ó no tiene blanca. When the Spaniard sings, he is either mad or has no money.

Quando el guardian juega á los naypes, qué haran los frayles? When the prior plays cards, what will the monks do?

Quando el hierro está encendido, entonces ha de ser batido. When the iron is hot, then is the time to strike.

Quando el necio es acordado, el mercado es ya pasado. When the fool has made up his mind the market is over.

Quando el rio no hace ruido, ó no lleva agua, ó va muy crecido. When the river makes no noise, it is either dried up or much swollen.

Quando el viejo no puede beber la huesa le pueden hacer. When an old man cannot drink, prepare his grave.

Quando el villano está en el mulo, ni conoce á Dios, ni al mundo. Set a peasant on horseback, and he forgets both God and man.

Quando el villano está rico, no tiene pariente, ni amigo. When a peasant gets rich, he knows neither relations nor friends.

Quando en verano es invierno, y en invierno verano, nunca buen año. When the summer is winter, and the winter summer, it is a sorry year.

Quando fueres á casa, agena llama defuera. When you go to a strange house knock at the door.

Quando fueres por camino, no digas mal de tu enemigo. When you are on the road speak not ill of your enemy.

Quando la criatura dienta la muerte la tienta. When the child cuts its teeth, death is on the watch.

Quando la mala ventura se duerme, nadie la despierte. When ill-luck sleeps, let no one wake her.

Quando llueve en Agosto, llueve miel y mosto. When it rains in August, it rains honey and wine.

Quando llueve en Febrero, todo el año es tempero. When it rains in February, it will be temperate all the year.

Quando no dan los campos, no han los santos. When the fields yield not, the saints have not.

Quando os pedimos, Dueña os decimos; quando os tenemos, como queremos. When we ask a favour, we say, Madam; when we obtain it, what we please.

Quando pobre, franco; quando rico, avaro. When poor, liberal; when rich, stingy.

Quando te dieren el anillo, pon el dedillo. When they offer you a ring, hold out your finger.

Quando te dieren la vaquilla, acude con la soguilla. When they give you the calf, be ready with the halter.

Quando todos te dijeren que eres asno, rebuzna. When every one says you are an ass, bray.

Quando una puerta se cierra, ciento se abren. When one door shuts, a hundred open.

Quando un lobo come á otro, no hay que comer en el soto. When one wolf eats another, there is nothing to eat in the wood.

Quando uno ne quiere, dos no barajan. Two cannot fall out if one does not choose.

Quando vieras tu casa quemar, llegate á escalentar. When thou seest thy house in flames, go warm thyself by it.

Quando zuga el abeja miel torna, y quando el araña ponzoña. When the bee sucks, it makes honey, when the spider, poison.

Quan léjos de ojo, tan léjos de corazon. Out of sight, out of mind.

Quanto sabes no dirás, quanto vés no juzgarás, si quieres vivir en paz. Tell not all you know, nor judge of all you see, if you would live in peace.

Quatro cosas sacan al hombre de tino, la muger, el tabaco, naypes y vino. Four things put a man beside himself – women, tobacco, cards, and wine.

Quebrarse un ojo para sacar à otro los dos. To lose one eye that you may deprive another of two.

Quebrasteme la cabeza, y ahora me untas el casco. You have broken my head and now you bring plaister.

Quebreme el pie, quizá por bien. I broke my leg, perhaps for my good.

Quem jugata co ferro, jugata co demo. He who plays with a sword plays with the devil. (Galician.)

Quem mal quer os seus, no querrá ben os alleus. He that is unkind to his own will not be kind to others. (Galician.)

Queso de ovejas, leche de cabras, manteca de vacas. Cheese from the ewe, milk from the goat, butter from the cow.

Qui barat, el cap se grat. He who hunts after bargains will scratch his head. (Catalan.)

Qui de tot es moll, de tot es foll. Who is tender in everything is a fool in everything. (Catalan.)

Quien abrojos siembra espinas coje. He who sows brambles reaps thorns. (As you sow, so you shall reap.)

Quien acecha por agujero, ve su duelo. He who peeps through a hole will discover his dole. (Harm watch, harm catch.)

Quien adelante no mira, atras se queda. He who does not look before lags behind.

Quien á dos señores ha de servir, al uno ha de mentir. He who has two masters to serve must lie to one of them.

Quien al cielo escupe, en la cara le cae. He who spits above himself will have it fall on his face.

Quien á los veinte no entiende, á treinta no sabe y á quarenta no tiene, ruin vejez le espera. He who at twenty understands nothing, at thirty knows nothing, and at forty has nothing, will lead a wretched old age.

Quien amaga y no da, miedo ha. He who threatens to strike, and does not, is afraid.

Quien a mano agena espera, mal yanta y peor cena. He who lives in hopes, breakfasts ill and sups worse.

Quien á muchos amos sirve á alguno ha de hacer falta. He who serves many masters must neglect some of them.

Quien anda al reves, anda al camino dos veces. He who takes the wrong road must make his journey twice over.

Quien á su enemigo popa, á sus manos muere. He who makes light of his enemy dies by his hand.

Quien á su muger no honra, á si mismo deshonra. He who does not honour his wife, dishonours himself.

Quien á su perro quiere matar, rabia le ha de levantar. He who wants to kill his dog has only to say he is mad.

Quien á treinta no asesa, no comprará dehesa. He who at thirty has no brains, will never purchase an estate.

Quien a veinte no es galan, ni á treinta tiene fuerza, ni á quarenta riqueza, ni á cincuenta esperiencia, ni será galan, ni fuerte, ni rico, ni prudente. He that is not gallant at twenty, strong at thirty, rich at forty, or experienced at fifty, will never be gallant, strong, rich, or prudent.

Quien bien ama, tarde olvida. He who loves well is slow to forget.

Quien bien ata, bien desata. He that ties well, unties well. (Safe bind, safe find.)

Quien bien bayla, de boda en boda se anda. He who dances well goes from wedding to wedding.

Quien bien quiere á Beltran, bien quiere á su can. He who loves Bertrand loves his dog. (Love me, love my dog).

Quien bien quiere á Pedro, no hace mal á su perro. He who loves Peter won’t harm his dog.

Quien bien quiere, bien obedece. He who loves well, obeys well.

Quien bien quiere, de léjos ve. A well-wisher sees from afar.

Quien bien siembra, bien coge. He who sows well, reaps well.

Quien bien te hará, ó se te muere, ó se te va. He who does good to you either dies or goes away.

Quien bueyes ha perdido, cencerros se le antojan. He who has lost his oxen is always hearing bells.

Quien busca halla. He who seeks, finds.

Quien calla, otorga. Silence gives consent.

Quien calla piedras apaña. He who is silent gains store.

Quien canta, sus males espanta. Who sings, drives away care.

Quien come la carne que roa el hueso. He who eats the meat let him pick the bone.

Quien come y condensa, dos veces pone la mesa. He who eats and puts by, has sufficient for two meals.

Quien come y dexa, dos veces pone la mesa. A penny spared is a penny saved.

Quien compra cavallo, compra cuidado. He who buys a horse buys care.

Quien compra y vende lo que gasta no siente. He who buys and sells does not feel what he spends.

Quien con el viejo burló, primero rió y después lloro. He who made fun of the old man, laughed at first and cried afterwards.

Quien con lobos anda, á aullar se enseña. He who goes with wolves learns to howl.

Quien con perros se echa, con pulgas se levanta. He who lies down with dogs gets up with fleas.

Quien con ropa agena se viste, en la calle se queda en cuerpo. Who arrays himself in other men’s garments is stripped on the highway.

Quien con tosco ha de entender, mucho seso ha menester. He who has to deal with a blockhead has need of much brains.

Quien da lo suyo ántes de su muerte, que le den con un mazo en la frente. Who gives what he has before he is dead, take a mallet and knock that fool on the head.

Quien da presto, da dos veces. He gives twice who gives in a trice.

Quien de ageno se viste, en la calle le desnudan. He who dresses in others’ clothes will be undressed on the highway.

Quien del alacran está picado, la sombra le espanta. He who has been stung by the scorpion is frightened at its shadow.

Quien de locura enfermó, tarde sanó. Whoever falls sick of folly, is long in getting cured.

Quien desalaba la cosa ese la compra. He who finds fault wants to buy.

Quien desparte lleva la peor parte. He who divides gets the worst share.

Quien de todos es amigo, ó es muy pobre, ó es muy rico. He who is everybody’s friend is either very poor or very rich.

Quien dice lo que quiere, oye lo que no quiere. He who says what he likes, hears what he don’t like.

Quien dice lo suyo, mal callará lo ageno. He who tells his own secret will hardly keep another’s.

Quien dineros y pan tiene, consuegra con quien quiere. He who has both money and bread, may choose with whom his daughter to wed.

Quien echa agua en la garrafa de golpe, mas derrama que ella coje. He who pours water hastily into a bottle spills more than goes in.

Quien el aceyte mesura, las manos se unta. He who measures oil greases his hands.

Quien en la plaza á labrar se mete, muchos adestradores tiene. He who works on the highway will have many advisers.

Quien en un año quiere ser rico, al medio le ahorcan. He who wants to be rich in a year comes to the gallows in half a year.

Quien en una piedra dos veces tropieza, no es maravilla se quiebre la cabeza. No wonder if he breaks his head who stumbles twice over one stone.

Quien escucha, su mal oye. Listeners hear no good of themselves.

Quien esta en su tienda, no le achacan que se halló en la contienda. He that minds his business at home, will not be accused of taking part in the fray.

Quien estropieza y no cae, en su paso añade. He who stumbles and does not fall mends his pace.

Quién es tu enemigo? Hombre de tu oficio. Who is your enemy? A man of your own trade.

Quién es tu enemigo? El de tu oficio. Two of a trade can never agree.

Quien feo ama, hermoso le parece. She who loves an ugly man thinks him handsome.

Quien fia ó promete, en deuda se mete. He who pledges or promises runs in debt.

Quien guarda halla. He who saves, finds.

Quien guarda su poridad escusa mucho mal. He who keeps his own secret avoids much mischief.

Quien hace lo que quiere, no hace lo que debe. He who does what he likes, does not what he ought.

Quien hace por comun, hace por ningun. He who gives to the public, gives to no one.

Quien hace un cesto, hará ciento. He that makes one basket can make a hundred.

Quien ha criados, ha enemigos no escusados. He who has servants has unavoidable enemies.

Quien ha de echar el cascabel al gato? Who is to bell the cat?

Quien ha de llevar el gato al agua? Who is to carry the cat to the water?

Quien la fama ha perdido, muerto anda en la vida. He who has lost his reputation is a dead man among the living.

Quien la miel menea, siempre se le pega de ella. He that stirs honey will have some of it stick to him.

Quien la raposa ha de engañar, cumplele madrugar. He who would cheat the fox must rise early.

Quien las cosas mucho apura, no tiene vida segura. Who is always prying into other men’s affairs, leads a dangerous life.

Quien las sabe, las tañe. Let him play the instrument who knows how.

Quien la vaca del rey come flaca, gorda la paga. He who eats the king’s cow lean, pays for it fat.

Quien lazo me armó, en él cayó. He who laid a snare for me has fallen into it.

Quien lejos va a casar, ó va engañado ó va á engañar. He who goes far from home to marry, goes either to deceive or be deceived.

Quien lengua ha, á Roma va. He who has a tongue goes to Rome.

Quien lleva las obladas que taña las campanas. He who receives the offerings let him ring the bells.

Quien madre tiene en villa, siete veces se amortaza cada dia. The servant wench that has a mother in town swoons seven times a day.

Quien mala cama hace, en ella se yace. As you make your bed so you must lie in it.

Quien mal anda en mal acaba. He who begins badly, ends badly.

Quien malas hadas no halla, de las buenas se enhada. He that has no ill luck grows weary of good luck.

Quien mal casa, tarde enviuda. He who marries ill, is long in becoming widowed.

Quien mas corre, menos vuela. The more haste the less speed.

Quien mas sabe mas calla. Who knows most says least.

Quien mas tiene, mas quiere. The more one has the more one wants.

Quien ménos procura, alcanza mas bien. He who asks the fewest favours is the best received.

Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta. He who grasps at much holds fast little.

Quien mucho duerme, poco aprende. He who sleeps much, learns little.

Quien mucho habla, en algo acierta. He who talks much is sometimes right.

Quien mucho habla, mucho yerra. Who talks much, errs much.

Quien no adoba gotera, adoba casa entera. He who does not repair his gutter has a whole house to repair.

Quien no alza un alfiler, no tiene en nada á su muger. He who does not pick up a pin cares nothing for his wife.

Quien no aprieta en vallejo, no aprieta en consejo. He who has no voice in the valley, will have none in the council.

Quien no castiga culito, no castiga culazo. He who does not whip the child does not mend the youth.

Quien no está enseñado á bragas, las costuras le hacen llagas. When a man is not used to breeches the seams gall him.

Quien no hace mas que otro, no vale mas que otro. He who does no more than another is no better than another.

Quien no miente, no viene de buena gente. He that does not lie, does not come of good blood.

Quien no parece, perece. He who does not show himself, is overlooked.

Quien no se aventura, no ha ventura. Who ventures nothing has no luck. (Nothing venture nothing have.)

Quien no te conoce te compre. Let him who does not know you buy you.

Quien no tiene mas de un sayo no puede prestarlo. He who has but one coat cannot lend it.

Quien no va á carava, no sabe nada. He who does not mix with the crowd knows nothing.

Quien ó A quien Dios no le dió hijos, el diablo le dió sobrinos. He to whom God gives no sons, the devil gives nephews.

Quien ó A quien no habla, no le oye Dios. He who does not speak, God does not hear.

Quien ó A quien pone los ojos en el suelo, no fies tu dinero. He who looks demurely trust not with your money.

Quien padre tiene alcalde, seguro va á juicio. He goes safely to trial whose father is a judge.

Quien peces quiere, mojarse tiene. He who wants to catch fish must not mind a wetting.

Quien pesca un pez, pescador es. He who catches one fish is a fisherman.

Quien poco sabe, presto lo reza. He who knows little soon tells it.

Quien presta, no cobra; y si cobra, no todo; y si todo, no tal; y si tal, enemigo mortal. Who lends recovers not; or if he recovers, recovers not all; or if all, not such; or if such, a mortal enemy.

Quien primero viene, primero muele. He who comes first grinds first.

Quien promete, en deuda se mete. He who promises incurs a debt.

Quien quando puede no quiere, quando quiere no puede. He that will not when he can, cannot when he will.

Quien quiere medrar, iglesia, ó mar, ó casa real. He who would thrive must follow the church, the sea, or the king’s service.

Quien quiere tomar, conviénele dar. He who would take must give.

Quien quiere vivir sano, la ropa de invierno traiga en verano. He that would be healthy must wear his winter clothes in summer.

Quien quisiere muger hermosa, el sabado la escoja. He that would have a beautiful wife should choose her on a Saturday.

Quien quisiere mula sin tacha, ándese á pie. He who wants a mule without fault must walk on foot.

Quien quisiere vivir sano, coma poco y cene temprano. He that would be healthy, must eat temperately, and sup early.

Quien quita la ocasion, quita el pecado. He who avoids the temptation avoids the sin.

Quien ramo pone, su vino quiere vender. He who hangs out a branch wants to sell his wine.

Quien se fia de amigo no fiel, buen testigo tiene contra el. He that trusts a faithless friend, has a good witness against him.

Quien se guarda, Dios le guarda. God helps him who helps himself.

Quien se muda, Dios le ayuda. He who reforms, God assists.

Quien siembra abrojos, no ande descalzo. He who sows brambles must not go barefoot.

Quien siempre me miente, nunca me engaña. He who always tells me a lie never cheats me.

Quien sirve al commun, sirve á ningun. He who helps everybody, helps nobody.

Quien sirve no es libre. He who serves is not free.

Quien solo come su gallo, solo ensille su caballo. He that eats his fowl alone may saddle his horse alone.

Quien su carro unta, sus bueyes ayuda. He who greases his cart-wheels helps his oxen.

Quien te cubre te descubre. That which covers thee discovers thee.

Quien te da el capon, dale la pierna y el alon. To him who gives the capon you may spare a leg and wing.

Quien te hace fiesta que no te suele hacer, ó te quiere engañar, ó te ha menester. He that is more civil than usual, either wants to cozen you or has need of you.

Quien tiempo tiene y tiempo atiende, tiempo viene que se arrepiente. Who has time yet waits for time, comes to a time of repentance.

Quien tiene arte, va por toda parte. He who has a trade may travel through the world.

Quien tiene boca, no diga á otro, Sopla. Let him that has a mouth not say to another, Blow.

Quien tiene enemigos no duerma. He who has enemies, let him not sleep.

Quien tiene hijas para casar, tome vedijas para hilar. He who has daughters to marry, let him give them silk to spin.

Quien tiene quatro, y gasta cinco no ha menester bolsico. He who has got four and spends five, has no occasion for a purse.

Quien tiene tejado de vidrio, no tire piedras al de su vecino. He who has a glass roof should not throw stones at his neighbour’s.

Quien tiene una hora de espacio, no muere ahorcado. He that has an hour’s start will not be hanged.

Quien todo lo niega, todo lo confiesa. He who denies everything confesses everything.

Quien todo lo quiere, todo lo pierde. He who grasps all loses all.

Quien tras otro cabalga, no ensilla quando quiere. He who rides behind another does not saddle when he will.

Quien tuviere hijo varon, no llame á otro ladron. He who has a son grown up should not call another a thief.

Quien una vez hurta, fiel nunca. He who steals once is never trusty.

Quiéralo Dios, Matea, que este hijo nuestro sea. God grant, dear wife, that this son be ours.

Quieres buen mercado? Con el necio necesitado. Do you want to buy cheap? Buy of a needy fool.

Quieres hacer del ladron fiel? Fiate de el. If you would make a thief honest, trust him.

Quieres que te siga el can? Dale pan. If you would have the dog follow you, give him bread.

Quieres ver loba parida? Casa la hija. Do you want to see a wolf with young (i. e. an insatiable plunderer)? Marry your daughter.

Qui escudella daltri espera, freda la menja. He who waits for another’s platter has a cold meal. (Catalan.)

Quitáron me el espejo por fea, y dieronlo á la ciega. They took away the mirror from me because I was ugly, and gave it to the blind woman.