Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

107
Es fàllt keine Eiche vom ersten Streiche.— (Ten?i.
Al primo colpo non cade I'albero. — It.
All premier coup ne chet pas I'arbre. — Fr.
To hfvbpov fxè n'lav TreXeKfiài/ bèv K6(f)TfTai. — Mod. Gr.
Chan atharraich caraid. gniiis caraid.
A friend toont change a friencVs countenance.
Cha'n aotruim' or na 'clmdtlirom.
Gold is no lighter than its weight.
Cha'n e 'm beagan an gràn-lagain, ma ghabhas e togail.
The grain that falls is n/)t trifling if it can be lifted.
The ' gràn-lagain ' is the grain that falls through the straw
when it is put on the kiln.
Cha 'n e 'm bòrd a theirig dhut, ach am beagan
fearainn.
Not your mould-hoard was done, hut your little land.
The moukl-board of the old plough was made of wood, like all
the rest of it, except the share. But the failing of the plough
was a small matter, compared with want of land to plough.
Cha'n e an ro-chabhag a's fhearr.
Great haste is not hest.
The more haste, the worse speed. — Eng., Scot.
Hoe meerder haast, hoe minder spoed. — Dutch.
Qui nimis propere minus prospere.— -Lai.
Plus on se hate, moins on avance.— i^r.
Chi va piano, va sano, e va \onta.no. —Ital.
Quien mas corre, menos \uelsL.— Spa7i.
Cha 'n e ciad sgeul an t-sagairt bu choir a chreidsinn.
It is not the priest's first story that should he helieved.
This is probably a very old saying, and it quite accords with
the strain of the Ossianic ballads narrating iSt. Patrick's attempts
to convert Ossian. The Celt is not easily convinced of anything
new, or opposed to his old beliefs, but once he believes, he believes
intensely.
Cha'n e cruadhachadh na h-àtha sealltainn foipe.
Looking under the kiln won't dry the grain.
Cha'n e dubh a dh'fhuathaicheas, 's cha'n e geal a
ghràdhaicheas.
Hate comes not of black, nor love of white.
Cha 'n e faighinn na feudalach a 's miosa, ach a
cumail 'an deaghaidh a faotainn.
The getting of the cattle is not so Jiard, as the keeping
after getting.