Blair Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

325
Dihaoine cha 'n 'eil e buadhach,
'S cha dual dut falbh a màireach,
Go not 2cpo7i Monday,
Stir not wpon Tuesday,
Wednesday is nervous,
Thursday is dilatory,
Friday is not fortunate,
And 'tis not right for thee to go to-morrow.
This is called ' Triall a' bhoclaich as a tliigh,' a wife's reasons
for not letting her husband go away. Another version of the first
part is, —
Siubhal Dòmhnnich na toir bhuat,
Diluain na eirich moch,
lom-sgaradh Dimàirt,
Leig seachad na tri làithean sin.
ISTa feann am fiadh giis am faigh thu e.
Don't sJcin the deer till you get it.
First catch your hare. — Mrs. Meg Dods.
N"a gabh te air bith mar mhnaoi, ach tè air am bi
athais agad.
Take no woman for a wife in ivhom you cannot find a
flaw.
Na gabh bean gan locht — Take no faultless wife. — Ir.
This is an admirable saying, which I have not found in any
other language. The Irish version is more laconic.
He is lifeless that is faultless. — Eng.
Na gearr do sgòrnan le d' tbeanga fhein.
Cut not thy throat ivith thine oivn tongue.
Take heed that thy tongue strike not thy neck. — Arab.
Na gèill do gliis — cha gheill gis dhut.
Don't give in to spells — tJiey loon't give in to you.
Na innis do run do d' charaide gòrach, no do d' nàmh-
aid glic.
Tell not thy mind to thy foolish friend, nor to thy ivise
enciny.
Na innis d' uile inntinn do d' mhnaoi no do d' chomp-
anach.
Tell not all your mind to your wife or your companion.
Al. Na dean fear ruin dheth d' dhlùth chompanach.
Trust ye not in a friend ; . . keep the doors of thy mouth
from her that lieth in thy bosom. — AIicah vii, 6.