Matheson Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

226
Every cock is proud on his own cUmghill. — Eng.
Every cock craws crousest on his ain midden. — Scot
Gallus in suo sterquilinio plurimum potest. — Seneca.
Cada gallo canta en su muladar. — Span.
Een haan is stout op zijn eigen erf. — Dutch.
Is dàna cuilean 'an uchcl trèoir.
Bold is the puppy in the lap of strength.
Al. Is làidir an lag — Bold is the weak, &c.
This is finely illustrated sometimes in cases of the Gives Eoma-
nus ; at other times more amusingly, or offensively, by puppies
* dressed in a little brief authority,' or representing a ' great party '.
Is dàna cluine 'n a cMil fhein. ^/^^ l i^^^^Q^L)
A man is hold in his oivn corner.
Diau cynnadl taiog o'id^ — Bold talks the boor at home. — Welsh.
Is dàna 'theid duine air a cliuid fhein.
A man is bold tuith ivhat's his own.
Al. Is leomhan gach duine, &c. — Every man is a lion, &c.
A man's aye crouse in his ain cause. — Scot.
Men's belief in their right to do what they like with ' their
own' sometimes makes them forget entirely that ' The earth is the
Lord'.s, and the fulness thereof.
Is deacair a' chaora 'ghoid làmh ri tigh a' mheirlich.
It's dijjicidt to steed the sheep near the thief s house.
Is diblidh ciochran gun mhàthair.
Helpless is the motherless sueMinrj.
Is dichiollacli duine air a shon fhein,
A man is diligent for himself
Is dileas duine dha fhein.
A mem is faithfid to himself.
Is diombuan an torn 'us teine ris.
Soon hums the hilloek on fire.
The allusion is to the burning of heather, called in the Low-
lands 'Muirburn'. — See Professor Veitch's Hillside Rhymes, p. 14.
Is diombuan gach cas air tir gun eòlas.
Fleeting is the foot in a streinge kind.
Very characteristic of Celts, in whom the love of home, however
far they may wander, is quite indestructible. 1/7/? ( ,\) ^ h- 1\
Is diù a' cheaird nach foghluimear. Wv^^t--^ [OUt^L)
It's a poor trade that is not learned. ^
A trade can't be worth mucii that is not pnpulnr. It may al.?o
mean that those who half-learn their trades are of little use.