Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

edition is far worse than in the old, whicli, for tlie
period when it appeared, may be considered very
respectable.
A more remarkable defect in both editions is the
omission of many of the most familiar and popular
proverbs and phrases, such as, An la a chi 's nach
fhaic, Am fcxir a Ihios air dheircadh heiridh a' hhiast
air, An gad air an robli 'n t-iasg, Am fear a bhios gun
mhodh, saoilidh e, &c., Aisling caillich, &c., Oach dileas
gu deireadh, Is treasa tuath na tighcarna, Saoilidh am
fear a bhios 'n a thamh, &c., Tarruing am bleidir'
art, &c., &c.
These various defects in both editions, and the com-
parative rarity of the book, suggested the present
edition. The whole original collection has been trans-
lated anew, so far as that seemed necessary, and the
additions to it, through the kind assistance of numerous
friends, have trebled the number of proverbs and
phrases given by Macintosh. The number in the first
edition was 1305 ; in the second, 1538 ; in this edition
it exceeds 3900.
The coming in of fresh materials from time to time,
and the desire to make the collection as complete and
correct as possible, have delayed the publication to a
degree requiring some apology. Cha bhi luathas agus
grinneas, a very Celtic sentiment, has perhaps been too
'Tha 'n uaill an aghaidh an tairbh,' Pride is in the bull's front.
One specimen of Campbell's grandiloquence may suffice. 'Cha
'n ann do 'n ghuin an gàire,' is fairly rendered by Macin-
tosh, Smiles are not companions of pain. Campliell's improved
version is, The kmgh is not excited by the sharp lancinating pain of
a stitch.