Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

245
Is fhearr deadli chainnt na h-asail no drocli fliacal
fàidh.
The good speech of an ass is letter than the lad word of
a pro2)het.
This of course refers to Balaam. It is the only Gaelic saying
in which the ass is mentioned. The animal was unknown in the
Highlands until modern times.
Is fhearr deadh earbsa na droch flioighidiun.
Full trust is better than iinjMticnce.
Is fhearr deathach an fhraoich na gaoth an reothaidh.
Better the smoke of heather than the wind of frost.
Is fhearr deireadh cuirme na toiseach tuasaid.
Better the end d a feast than the beginning a' a fray. —
Scot.
Al. Is fhearr teachd 'an deireadh — Better come at the end, d-c.
Fearr deire fleidhe 'na tus bruidhne. — Ir.
Is fhearr deireadh math, na droch thoiseach.
Better a good end than a lad leginning.
Macintosh translates this, ' The refuse of the good is preferable
to the best of the ill'.
Is fhearr dhiit do chuid fliàgail aig do nàmhaid, na
dol 'an innibh do charaide.
Better leave your goods luith an enemy, than go to ex-
tremes with your friend.
Lit., than go into the howels of.
Is fhearr diol-farmaid, na diol-truaighe.
Better le envied than pitied. — -Eng., Scot.
Al. Is fhearr ' Fire faire !' na ' Mo thruaighe !'
Better ^ Hey day!' than 'Alas!'
There is more wit in this version.
Is fearr diol tnu na did truaighe. — Ir.
^dovifcrdai Kpeaaov tariv rj oiKTelpecrdai. — Herod.
KtiXXta j;à crè ^rjXfvov, napà và a fXeuvv. — Mod. (rr.
So Fr., Ital., Germ., Dutch, &c.
Is fhearr dol a laidhe gun suipeir na eirigh ann am
fiachan.
Better go to led siipperless than rise in debt. — Eng.
Share goll dy Ihie fegooish (as aogais) shibber, na girree ayns
Ihiastynys (debt). — Manx.