J. F. Campbell Collection > Collection of Gaelic proverbs and familiar phrases

vjìien sense was being shared. Your grandmother's death is long
in your memory. Better 'Heyday!' than 'Alas!' Pity
him wlw would put you in the ship's bow ! It's a big beast tliat there
isn't room for outside. An inch off a man's nose is a great deal.
He is lucJcy to whom you would promise the gallows. Geese under-
stand eacli other. ' There's meat aiid music here,' as the fox said
when he ran away with tlie bagpipe. The fish in the sea liix us
mortals be. You spoiled a divarf, and didn't make a man. Even a
haggis will run down hill. Tivo loill have peace to-night, myself
and the wliite horse, as the wife said wJien her husband died. LiJce
tJie white horse at the mill-door, thinicing more than he said. Like the
the old cow's tail, always last. It's not easy to put trews on a cat.
You may be a good man, as Neil of the Mountain said to the cat, but
you haven't the face of one. Pity your siveet mouth should ever go
under ground. Women's patience — up to three. The sod is a good
mother-in-law. The sea will settle xoiten it marries.
Poetical sayings. — Among purely poetical and
pretty sayings, the Gaelic ones take a liigh place.
Here are a few examples, in addition to some already
given.
Blue are the hills that are far from us. Niglit is a good herd-
man; she brings all creatures home. The tiaee prettiest dead, a child,
a salmon, and a black-cock. The sea likes to be visited. Tiiy heart's
desire to thy pulse ! There is no smoke in the lark's house. Black is
the berry but sweet ; black is my lassie but bonnie. ' / tvill keep to
my sweetheart,' said the girl, 'a mouth of silk, and a heart of hemp.'
High is ilie stag's head on the mountain crags. Pretty is the mouse
in the corn-plat. The ocean hides mucli. Like stone sent iqjhill is
tlie long Spriììg evening, like stone running down glen is soft Autumn
evening.
It now becomes me to mention those to whom I have
been most indebted for their contributions to this col-
lection, and their help in other ways. The largest and
best collections were received from the Eev. J. G.
Campbell of Tiree, and Mr. A. A. 'Carmichael, North
Uist. Both came unasked, and were supplemented, as