A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

Ao Rey pertence usar de franqueza, pois tem por certo naõ cahir em pobreza. It befits the king to be liberal, for he is sure of never falling into poverty.

Aos parvos apparecem os santos. Saints appear to fools.

A outro perro com esse osso. Throw that bone to another dog.

A paõ duro, dente agudo. A sharp tooth for hard bread.

A pedra, e a palavra naõ se recolhe depois de deitada. A word and a stone once let go cannot be recalled.

A perda, que teu visinho naõ sabe, naõ he perda na verdade. The loss which your neighbour does not know is no real loss.

A pouco paõ, tomar primeiro. Where there is little bread, cut first.

Aquella ave he má, que em seu ninho suja. It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest.

Aquella he bem casada, que naõ tem sogra, nem cunhada. She is well married who has neither mother-in-law nor sister-in-law.

Aquelle he teu amigo, que te tira do arroido. He is your friend who gets you out of a scrape.

Aquelles saõ ricos, que tem amigos. They are rich who have friends.

A quem dizes tua puridade, dás tua liberdade. Where you tell your secret you surrender your freedom.

A raposa dormida, naõ lhe cahe nada da boca. Nothing falls into the mouth of a sleeping fox.

Arrenego de grilhões, ainda que sejaõ de ouro. I hate fetters though they be of gold.

Arrenego de tigelhina de ouro, em que hei de cuspir sangue I renounce the golden basin in which I have to spit blood.

Arrenego do amigo que come o meu comigo, e o seu comsigo. I renounce the friend who eats what is mine with me, and what is his own by himself.

Arrufos de namorados saõ amores dobrados. Lovers’ quarrels are love redoubled.

As molheres, onde estaõ, sobejaõ, e onde naõ estaõ, faltaõ. Women are supernumerary when present, and missed when absent.

Asno contente vive eternamente. A contented ass enjoys a long life.

Asno de muitos, lobos o comem. The ass of many owners is eaten by wolves.

Asno máo, junto de casa corre sem páo. A dull ass near home trots without the stick.

Asno morto, cevada ao rabo. The ass dead, the corn at his tail.

Asno, que entra em deveza alhea, sahirá carregado de lenhá. The ass that trespasses on a stranger’s premises will leave them laden with wood (i. e. cudgelled).

Asno, que tem fome, cardos come. The ass that is hungry eats thistles.

As paredes tem ouvidos. Walls have ears.

Assaz caro compra, quem roga. He buys very dear who begs.

As sopas, e os amores, os primeiros saõ os melhores. Of soup and love, the first is the best.

As tripas estejaõ cheias, que ellas levaraõ as pernas. Let the guts be full, for it is they that carry the legs.

Até á morte, pé forte. Foot firm till death.

A teu amigo dize-lhe mentira, se te guarda puridade, dize-lhe verdade. Tell your friend a lie; if he keeps it secret tell him the truth.

A teu amigo ganha-lhe hum jogo, e bebe-o logo. Win a bet of your friend, and drink it on the spot.

A torto e a direito, nossa casa até ao tecto. Right or wrong, our house up to the roof.

A verdade, e o azeite andaõ de cima. Truth, and oil come to the surface.

A viuva rica, com hum olho chora, e com outro repica. A rich widow weeps with one eye and laughs with the other.

Azeite, vinho e amigo, o mais antigo. Of oil, wine, and friends, the oldest.

B

Bácoro fiado, bom inverno, e máo veraõ. A pig on credit makes a good winter and a bad spring.

Barba remolhada, meia rapada. A beard lathered is half shaved.

Barriga quente, pé dormente. The belly warm, the foot at rest.

Beijo-te, bóde, porque has de ser odre. I kiss thee hide, because thou art to be a wine-bag.

Bem ama, quem nunca se esquece. He loves well who never forgets.

Bem canta Martha, depois de farta. Martha sings well when she has had her fill.

Bem canta o Francez, papo molhado. The Frenchman sings well, when his throat is moistened.

Bem cheira a ganancia, donde quer que vem. Gain has a pleasant odour, come whence it will.

Bem estou com meu amigo, que come o seu paõ comigo. I am on good terms with the friend who eats his bread with me.

Bem parece o ladraõ na forca. The thief becomes the gallows well.

Bem perdido, he conhecido. A good thing is known when it is lost.

Bem sabe o asno, em cuja casa rosna. The ass well knows in whose house he brays.

Bem sabe o gato, cujas barbas lambe. The cat well knows whose beard she licks.

Bem toucada naõ ha mulher feia. No woman is ugly if she is well dressed.

Bésteiro que mal atira prestes tem a mentira. The archer that shoots badly has a lie ready.

Bezerrinha mansa todas as vaccas mamma. The gentle calf sucks all the cows.

Boa he atardança, que assegura. Good is the delay which makes sure.

Boa meza, máo testamento. Good table, bad will.

Boas palavras, e máos feitos, enganaõ sisudos, e nescios. Good words and bad acts deceive both wise and simple.

Boca de mel, coraçaõ de fel. Mouth of honey, heart of gall.

Bocado comido naõ ganha amigo. A morsel eaten gains no friend.

Boca fechada, tira-me de baralha. A shut mouth keeps me out of strife.

Boca que diz sim, diz naõ. The mouth that says “Yes,” can say “No.”

Bole com o rabo o caõ, naõ por ti, senaõ pelo paõ. The dog wags his tail for your bread, not for you.

Bolsa vasia, e casa acabada, faz o homem sisudo, mas tarde. An empty purse, and a finished house, make a man wise, but too late.

Bom amigo he o gato, senaõ que arranha. The cat is a good friend, only she scratches.

Bom coraçaõ quebranta má ventura. A stout heart breaks ill fortune.

Bom entendedor, poucas palavras. A word to the wise.

Bom principio, he ametade. Well begun is half done.

Bom saber he calar, até ser tempo de fallar. It is well to know how to be silent till it is time to speak.

Bons, e máos mantem cidade. Good and bad make up a city.

Bons costumes, e muito dinheiro, faraõ a meu filho cavalleiro. Good manners and plenty of money will make my son a gentleman.

Boy que me escornou, em boa parte me deitou. The ox that tossed me threw me into a good place.

Boy velho, rego direito. An old ox makes a straight furrow.

Brincai com o asno, dar-vos-ha na barba com o rabo. Play with an ass, and he will slap your face with his tail.

C

Cabra manca naõ tem sésta. The lame goat does not take a siesta.

Cacarear, e naõ pôr ovo. To cackle and lay no egg.

Cada bofarinheiro louva seus alfinetes. Every pedlar praises his needles.

Cada cabello faz sua sombra na terra. Every hair casts its shadow.

Cada carneiro por seu pé pende. Let every sheep hang by its own leg.

Cada cousa a seu tempo. Everything has its time.

Cada cuba cheira ao vinho, que tem. Every cask smells of the wine it contains.

Cada dia tres, e quatro, chegarás ao fundo do sacco. Three or four daily will bring you to the bottom of the sack.

Cada formiga tem sua ira. Every ant has its ire.

Cada hum canta como tem graça, e casa como tem ventura. Every one sings as he has the gift, and marries as he has the luck.

Cada hum colhe, segundo semea. Every one reaps as he sows.

Cada hum em sua casa he Rei. Every one is a king in his own house.

Cada hum estenda a perna até onde tem a cuberta. Every one stretches his leg according to his coverlet.

Cada hum falla como quem he. Every one speaks as he is.

Cada hum falla da festa, como lhe vai nella. Every one speaks of the feast as he finds it.

Cada hum se contente com o que Deos lhe dá. Let every one be content with what God has given him.

Cada hum trate de si, e deixe os outros. Let every man mind his own business, and leave others to theirs.

Cada hum veja o paõ, que lhe ha de abastar. Let every man look to the bread upon which he must depend.

Cada mosca faz sua sombra. Every fly has its shadow.

Cada porco tem seu S. Martinho. Every pig has its Martinmas.

Cada qual com seu igual. Every one to his equal.

Cada qual em seu officio. Every man to his trade.

Cada qual por si, e Deos por todos. Every one for himself, and God for us all.

Cada qual sabe para seu proveito. Every one is wise for his own profit.

Cada qual sente o seu mal. Every one knows where his own shoe pinches him.

Cada terra com seu uso, cada roca com seu fuso. Every land its own custom, every wheel its own spindle.

Cahir da certã na braza. Out of the frying-pan into the fire.

Cale o que deo, e falle o que recebeo. Let the giver be silent and the receiver speak.

Caminha pela estrada, acharás pousada. Follow the road and you will reach an inn.

Canta Marta depois de farta. Martha sings well when she has had her fill.

Cantaro que vai muitas vezes á fonte, ou deixa a aza, ou a fronte. The pitcher that goes often to the well leaves its handle or its spout there.

Caõ de palheiro nem come, nem deixa comer. A dog in the manger, that neither eats nor lets others eat.

Caõ que lobos mata, lobos o mataõ. The dog that kills wolves, is killed by wolves.

Caõ que muito ladra, nunca bom para a caça. The dog that barks much is never good for hunting.

Caõ que naõ ladra, guarda delle. Beware of the dog that does not bark.

Caõ que muito ladra, pouco morde. The dog that barks much, bites little.

Capaõ de oito mezes, para a meza de Reis. A capon eight months old is fit for a king’s table.

Carne magra de porco gordo. Lean meat from a fat pig.

Casar, casar, e que do governo. Marry, marry, and what about the housekeeping.

Casar, casar, soa bem, e sabe mal. Marry, marry, sounds well but tastes ill.

Casa o filho quando quizeres, e a filha quando puveres. Marry your son when you please, your daughter when you can.

Casarás, e amansarás. Marry, and grow tame.

Castiga o bom, melhorará; castiga o máo, peorará. Chastise the good man, he will grow better; chastise the bad, and he will grow worse.

Cavallo formoso de potro sarnoso. A ragged colt may make a handsome horse.

Cavallo, que voa, naõ quer espóra. A fast horse does not want the spur.

Cerra tua porta, farás tua visinha boa. Shut your door, and you will make your neighbour good.

Cesteiro que faz hum cesto, fara cento. He who makes one basket can make a hundred.

Chover no molhado. To rain upon the wet.

Cobra boa fama, e deita-te a dormir. Get a good name and go to sleep.

Com agoas passadas naõ moe o moinho. The mill does not grind with water that is past.

Coma o máo bocado, quem comeo o bom. Let him eat the tough morsel who eat the tender.

Come com elle, e guarte delle. Eat with him, and beware of him.

Come do teu, e chama-te meu. Eat of your own, and call yourself mine (i. e. Be my servant and find yourself).

Como criaste tantos filhos? Querendo mais aos mais pequeninos. How did you rear so many children? By being fondest of the little ones.

Como me tangerem, assim bailarei. As they pipe to me, I will dance.

Conta de perto, amigo de longe. Short reckonings make long friends.

Contas na maõ, e o demonio no coraçaõ. Rosary in hand, the devil at heart.

Coraçaõ determinado, naõ soffre conselho. A resolute heart endures no counsel.

Coraçaõ partido, sempre combatido. Faintheart is always in danger.

Coraçaõ sem arte, naõ cuida maldade. An innocent heart suspects no guile.

Corpo bem feito naõ ha mester capa. A well-formed figure needs no cloak.

Corvos a corvos naõ se tiraõ os olhos. Crows do not peck out crows’ eyes.

Couces de egoa, amores para rocim. The mare’s kicks are caresses to the colt.

Cuidando donde vás, te esqueces donde vens. Thinking of where you are going, you forget whence you came.

Cuidar muitas cousas, fazer huma. Think of many things, do one.

Cuidar naõ he saber. Thinking is not knowing.

Curtas tem as pernas a mentira. A lie has short legs.

Cutelo máo corta o dedo, e naõ corta o páo. A bad knife cuts one’s finger instead of the stick.

D

Dá Deos a roupa segundo he o frio. God gives clothes according to the cold.

Dá Deos nozes a quem naõ tem dentes. God has given nuts to one who has no teeth.

Dádivas quebrantaõ penhas. Gifts break rocks.

Dai-me dinheiro, naõ me deis conselho. Give me money, not advice.

Dai-mo pobre, dar-vo-lo-hei lisonjeiro. Show me a poor man, I will show you a flatterer.

Da ma molher te guarda, e da boa naõ fies nada. Beware of a bad woman, and put no trust in a good one.

Da maõ a boca se perde a sopa. Between the hand and the mouth the soup is lost. (Between the hand and the lip the morsel may slip.)

Darei a vida, e alma, mas naõ a albarda. My life and soul at your service, but not the pack-saddle.

Dar he honra, e pedir deshonra. To give is honour, to beg is dishonour.

Debaixo de boa palavra, ahi está o engano. Under fair words beware of fraud.

Debaixo de huma ruim capa jaz hum bom bebedor. Under a shabby cloak may be a smart drinker.

Debaixo do sahal, ha al. Under the sackcloth there is something else.

De bons propositos está o inferno cheio. Hell is paved with good intentions.

De casa do gato, naõ vai o rato farto. The rat does not leave the cat’s house with a bellyful.

De casta lhe vem ao galgo ter o rabo longo. It is the nature of the greyhound to carry a long tail.

Dedo de espada, e palmo de lança, he grã vantagem. A finger’s length in a sword, and a palm in a lance, are a great advantage.

De ferreiro a ferreiro naõ passa dinheiro. Between smith and smith no money passes.

De grande rio, grande peixe. From great rivers come great fish.

Deita-te sem cea, amanhecerás sem divida. Go to bed without supper, you will rise without debt.

Deita-te tarde, levanta-te cedo, veras teu mal, e o alheio. Go to bed late, rise early, you will see your own harm and that of others.

Deixar fazer a Deos, que he santo velho. He is an old saint, and may leave it in the hands of God.

De máo ninho naõ cries passarinho. Do not rear a bird of a bad breed.

De noite todos os gatos saõ pardos. At night all cats are grey.

Deos ajuda aos que trabalhaõ. God helps those that help themselves.

Deos consente, mas naõ sempre. God permits, but not for ever.

Deos he o que sara, e o mestre leva a prata. God heals, and the doctor gets the money.

Deos me dé contenda con quem me entenda. God grant me to dispute with those who understand me.

De pai santo, filho diabo. The father a saint, the son a devil.

Depois de rapar, naõ he que tosquiar. After shaving there’s nothing to shear.

Depois de vindimas, cavanejos. Baskets after the vintage.

De porta cerrada, o diabo se torna. From a closed door the devil turns away.

De rabo de porco, nunca bom virote. You can’t make a good shaft of a pig’s tail.

De ruim a ruim, quem acommette vence. Of two cowards, the one who attacks conquers the other.

Despreza teu inimigo, serás logo vencido. Despise your enemy and you will soon be beaten.

Dinheiro emprestaste, inimigo ganhaste. Money lent, an enemy made.

Dinheiro faz batalha, e naõ braço largo. Money wins the battle, not the long arm.

Dinheiro he a medida de todas as cousas. Money is the measure of all things.

Dize ao amigo teu segredo, e por-te-ha o pé no pescoço. Tell your friend your secret, and he will set his foot on your neck.

Dizei-lhe que he formosa, e tornar-se-ha douda. Tell her she is handsome, and you will turn her brain.

Dize-me com quem andas, dirte-hei que manhas has. Tell me with whom thou goest, and I’ll tell thee what thou doest.

Dizem os filhos ao soalheiro, o que ouvem dizer ao fumeiro. Children tell in the highway what they hear by the fireside.

Do bom, bom penhor, e do máo, nenhum penhor nem fiador. Of the good man a good pledge, and of the bad neither pledge nor surety.

Doce he a guerra, para quem naõ andou nella. War is sweet to him who does not go to it.

Do contado come o lobo. The wolf eats of what is counted.

Do fogo te guardarás, e do máo homem naõ poderás. You may keep yourself safe from fire, but not from a bad man.

Do mal o menos. Of evils, choose the least.

Donde fogo naõ ha, fumo naõ se levanta. Where there’s no fire there’s no smoke.

Donde foste pagem, naõ serás escudeiro. Where you were a page, be not an esquire.

Donde tiraõ, e naõ põem, cedo chegaõ ao fundo. Taking out without putting in, soon comes to the bottom.

Donde vas, mal? Onde ha mais mal. Whither goest thou, Misfortune? To where there is more.

Dôr de mulher morta, dura até a porta. Grief for a dead wife lasts to the door.

Do soldado que naõ tem capa, guarda a tua na arca. From the soldier who has no cloak, keep your own in your chest.

Duas aves de rapina naõ se guardaõ companhia. Birds of prey do not flock together.

Duro com duro naõ faz bom muro. Hard upon hard does not make a good wall.

E

Egoa cançada prado acha. The tired mare goes willingly to grass.

Elle tem cabeça, pois tambem hum alfinete a tem. He has a head, and so has a pin.

Em boca cerrada, naõ entra mosca. No flies get into a shut mouth.

Em bons dias, boas obras. The better day the better deed.

Em casa do ladraõ, naõ lembrar baraço. Never mention a rope in the house of a thief.

Emprestaste, e naõ cobraste; e se cobraste, naõ tanto; e se tanto, naõ tal; e se tal, inimigo mortal. You have lent and not recovered; and if recovered, not so much; and if so much, not such; and if such, a mortal enemy.

Em quanto ha vida, ha esperança. While there is life there is hope.

Em quanto a grande se abaixa, a pequena varre a casa. Whilst the tall maid is stooping, the little one sweeps the house.

Engana-me no preço, e naõ no que mereço. Cheat me in price, and not in the goods.

Ensaboar a cabeça do asno, perda do sabão. To lather an ass’s head is a waste of soap.

Entrar por hum ouvido, e sahir pello outro. In at one ear and out at the other.

Erva má, naõ lhe empece a geada. Ill weeds are not hurt by frost.

Estar como o peixe n’agoa. To be like a fish in the water. (To live in clover.)

Este hé meu amigo, que móe no meu moinho. He is my friend who grinds at my mill.

F

Fallai no lobo ver-lhe-heis a pelle. Talk of the wolf and behold his skin.

Falla pouco, e bem, ter-te-haõ por alguem. Speak little and well, they will think you somebody.

Fallar, fallar, naõ enche barriga. Fine words don’t fill the belly.

Fardel de pedinte nunca he cheio. A beggar’s wallet is never full.

Faze a teu filho teu herdeiro, e naõ teu dispenseiro. Make your son your heir and not your steward.

Faze boa farinha, e naõ toques bosina. Make good flour and you need no trumpet. (So: Good wine needs no bush.)

Faze bem, naõ cates a quem. Do good and care not to whom.

Faze da noite, noite, e do dia, dia; viveras com alegria. Make the night night, and the day day, and you will live pleasantly.

Fazei-vos mel, comer-vos-haõ as moscas. Make yourself honey and the flies will eat you.

Faze mal, e espera outro tal. Do ill, and expect the like.

Fazenda herdada he menos estimada. An estate inherited is the less valued.

Fazer conta sem a hospeda. To reckon without one’s hostess.

Fazer de huma pulga hum cavalleiro armado. To make of a flea a knight cap-a-pie.

Faze-te morto, deixar-te-ha o touro. Feign death and the bull will leave you.

Feita a lei, cuidada a malicia. The law devised, its evasion contrived.

Ferro, que naõ se usa, enche-se de ferrugem. Iron that is not used soon rusts.

Fiandeira, fiai manso, que me estorvais, que estou rezando. Spinner, spin softly, you disturb me; I am praying.

Filhos casados, cuidados dobrados. Children married, cares increased.

Fome, e frio mette a pessoa com seu inimigo. Hunger and cold surrender a man to his enemy.

Fugir do fumo, e cahir no fogo. To get out of the smoke and fall into the fire.

Fugir do lodo, e cahir no arroio. To get out of the mire and fall into the river.

Fui para me benzer, e quebrei hum olho. I meant to cross myself and put out one of my eyes.

Furtar o carneiro, e dar os pés pelo amor de Deos. To steal a sheep and give away the trotters for God’s sake.

G

Galgo, compra-lo, e naõ cria-lo. Buy your greyhound, don’t rear him.

Galgo que muitas lebres levanta, nenhuma mata. The greyhound that starts many hares kills none.

Gallinha, que em casa fica, sempre pica. The hen that stays at home picks up the crumbs.

Gallo bom nunca foi gordo. A good cock was never fat.

Gato escaldado da agoa fria há medo. A scalded cat dreads cold water.

Graõ a graõ enche a gallinha o papo. Grain by grain the hen fills her crop.

Guai do filho, que o pai vai ao paraiso. Alas for the son whose father went to heaven.

Guardou-se da mosca, e comeo a aranha. He avoided the fly and swallowed the spider.

Guarte do homem que naõ falla, e do caõ, que naõ ladra. Beware of a man that does not talk, and of a dog that does not bark.

Guerra, caça, e amores, por hum prazer cem dores. In war, hunting, and love, for one pleasure a hundred pains.

H

Ha males, que vem por bem. There are ills that happen for good.

Hir-se-haõ os hospedes, comeremos o pato. The guests will go away, and we will eat the pasty.

Homem apaixonado, naõ admitte conselho. An angry man heeds no counsel.

Homem apercebido, meio combatido. He who is well prepared has half won the battle.

Homem atrevido, odre de bom vinho, e vaso de vidro pouco duraõ. A rash man, a skin of good wine, and a glass vessel, do not last long.

Homem de bem, tem palavra, como Rei. An honest man’s word is as good as the king’s.

Homem de palha val mais, que mulher de ouro. A man of straw is better than a woman of gold.

Homem de teu officio, teu inimigo. The man of your own trade is your enemy.

Homem farto, naõ he comedor. A full man is no eater.

Homem morto, naõ falla. A dead man does not speak. (Dead men tell no tales.)

Homem nescio, dá ás vezes bom conselho. Fools sometimes give wise men counsel.