Chapter V (2)

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._

Bien vengas, mal, si vienes solo. _Welcome, misfortune, if you come alone._

Bocado comido no gana amigo. _A morsel eaten selfishly does not gain a friend._

Boca que dice de sí, dice de no. _The mouth that says yes says no._

Bofeton amagado, nunca bien dado. _A buffeting threatened is never well given._

Buen abogado, mal vecino. _A good lawyer, a bad neighbour._

Buena es la gallina que otro cria. _Good is the fowl which another rears._

Buena fama hurto encubre. _A good name covers theft._

Buen amigo es el gato, sino que rascuña. _The cat is friendly, but scratches._

Buenas palabras y ruines hechos engañan sabios y locos. _Good words and bad deeds deceive both wise and simple._

Buena vida arrugas tira. _A good life defers wrinkles._

Buen corazon quebranta mala ventura. _A good heart breaks bad fortune._

Buen jubon me tengo en Francia. _I have a good jacket in France._

Bueno, bueno, bueno, mas guarde Dios mi burra de su centeno. _Good, good, good, but God keep my ass out of his rye._

Buen principio, la mitad es hecho. _Well begun is half done._

Buen siglo haya quien dijó bolta. _Blessings on him that said, Face about._

Buey viejo, sulco derecho. _An old ox makes a straight furrow._

Burla burlando vase el lobo al asno. _All in the way of joke the wolf goes to the ass._

Burlaos con el asno, daros ha en la cara con el rabo. _Play with an ass and he will flirt his tail in your face._

Burlaos con el loco en casa, burlará con vos en la plaza. _Play with the fool at home, and he will play with you abroad._

Burlas de manos, burlas de villanos. _Manual jokes are clowns’ jokes._

Buscais pan de trastrigo. _You want better bread than wheaten._

Buscar cinque pies al gato. _To look for five feet in a cat._