Matheson Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

217
Ts beag an rud a bheir duine do 'n chìll, 'n uair a bhios
a leannan innte.
It's a small thing that brings a man to the churchyard,
when his sweetheart is there.
Is beag an t-ioghnadh amadan a blii leannanachd ri
òinsich.
IVs no vjonder to see a fool courting an idiot.
Is beag cuid an latha fhlich dheth.
The rainy days share of it is small.
Meaning that little has been saved.
Is beag an ni nach deireadh a's t-Fhoghar.
It's a little thing that doesn't hinder in Autumn.
Is beag fios aig fear an tàimh air ànradh fear na mara.
Tiie household man knows little of the seaman's hardship.
Is beag 's is mor a th' eadar a' choir 's an eucoir.
There is little and much betwixt right and wrong.
Is beag a ta eadar an choir a's an eugcòir. — Ir.
'S mooar ta eddyr y chair as yn aggair. — Manx.
Ge mor an diùbhras beusan
Eadar eucoir agus coir,
Cha 'n eòl domh àite seasaimh,
Gun a chos air aon diubh dhò. — Roh Bonn.
Is beag orm an rud nach binn leara.
/ like not what I find not siveet.
Is beag orm troidh air ais an t-seann-duine.
I like not the old man's backward, step.
Al. Is coma learn fliein an rud a bhiodh ann, c^um air ais an
t-seann duine.
Said by young Eonald MacDonell of Strontian, at the battle
of Kin-Loch-Lociiy, 'Blàr nan Leine' (1544), on seeing his father
give way after receiving a wound in the head from 'RaonuU
Gallda '. The remark was suggested by that of his father, on
seeing his son for the first time for several years, after having
been deserted by him in the hoixr of need, "S coma leam fhein an
rud a bhiodh ann, armachd a' ghill' ùig, 's e 'teicheadh— 7 don't
care for the arming of the youth who runs aiouy\ Young Ronald
is said to have added to the above remark, ' Seo mar bu choir a
bhi, am mac a dhol 'an iouad an athar — This is as it ought to he
— the son in the place of the father' ; and rushed upon the enemy,
whom he overcame. There is something wildly noble, though
unpleasant in this. See Guairtear, Dec. 1841, pp. 282-3.