J. F. Campbell Collection > Mackintosh's collection of Gaelic proverbs, and familar phrases

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36 1 . It is easier to hold than to draw.
362. The roe's speed [in flight] is sufficient without
hounding her.
363. It is gradually that the Dun [castle] is built.
364. Hurtful is every nakedness.
365. Green are the hillocks that are far distant.
366. Heavy [sad] is the sea-song and the rowing, (j))
367. Better is one treasure than seven provisions.
36s. Long is the delay from the attempt.
369. A [bold] stroke is better than [mere] report.
370. Ofttimes a man chooses the worst for the best, (q)
371. It is difficult to make the best of the worst.
372. It is easy to dispossess a man of a house that is
not his own.
37s. A long thong off another's leather.
374. The king is a bad anti-friend.
370. The child is severely beat who may not com-
plain, (r)
376. It is the willing daughter that makes the lazy mo-
ther (s)
(p) The iorum, or boat-song, here alluded to, must be of a
wailing cast, corresponding to the double stroke of the oar, when,
most likely, the corpse of a Chief was conveyed to Iona, (the an-
cient place of interment on that sacred island), whence the Gael
and Scandinavians, Scoto and Anglo Saxons, received the light of
the Gospel.— Vide Bedes Eccl. Hist.
(9) " The best is behind, the worst is before :
Between both, beware drift to the worst shore.
The worst is behinde, but the way is not rough :
The worst will get before againe, time enough.*'
Heytuood's Epigr. on Prov.
(r) •* It is a sair dung bairn that mayna greet.^*^^ Bamsa^'s
Scott. Prov.
(s) This is the converse of '' A willing mother," &c.
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