PROVERBS.
From Co. Kerry.—Tionnlacaḋ na n-óinseaċ, two or more fools in company, or doing any act together. Fear na m-bróg bí amuiġ, the application is—all the rough, laborious work must be done by the hack or drudge. Biḋeann an raṫ a n-diaiḋ an ċeirniṁ, there is luck in complaining. Níor ċuaiḋ an duaṫal i muḋa air aoinne riaṁ, a person who does not know how to do a thing is sure to do it wrong. (Duaṫal for the more usual word tuaṫal=awkwardness). Ní ṫéiḋeann stoirm ṫar Doṁnaċ ná raḃarta ṫar Diaceadaoine, a storm does not go beyond Sunday, nor a spring-tide beyond Wednesday. Is feárr súil le glas ná súil le h-uaiġ, a person may be expected to return some time from a prison, or from a foreign country; but there are no expectations from the grave. ’Sé an ċóir a ḋeineann é, it is a sign of good feeding and care to see a cow or heifer jumping and running in a field, a horse prancing, &c. Taḃair rud do’n ġárlaċ agus tiocfaiḋ sé a m-báraċ, give to the child, and it will visit you again. Is mairg a ḃiḋeann síos an ċeud lá, woe to him who is down the first day (in a fight). Ní ceart an t-uisge salaċ a ċur amaċ, nó go d-taḃairfear an tuisge glan aisteaċ, throw not away even that which is bad, until you get something better. Caiṫfiḋ duine géilleaḋ dá ḃacaiġeaċt, one must yield to one's lameness. Smaċtfaḋ gaċ aoinne an ḃean ṁíonáireaċ aċt an té go m-biḋeann sí aige, everyone save he who has her would chastise the [ 14 ]shameless woman. An inġíon agus an ṁáṫair beirt a ḃiḋeann páirteaċ, the mothers and the daughters are generally on the same side. Is dearaṁaċ le suaiṁneas malairt gnóṫa, a change of business at intervals during the day is like a rest.
From Co. Cork.—Ní ḟuil gaol ag aon re saoi gan seun, nobody claims relationship with the unprosperous. Ní aṫruiġṫear gné an duiḃ-sméir, the aspect of the blackberry is not (cannot be) changed. Ní ḟuil fiaḋta aċt duine dona, only a bad person is peevish. Riaġail d’réir oideaċais, rule according to instruction. Rí míoḟoġlumṫa a’s asal corónta, an uneducated king is like an ass crowned. Soiġṫeaċ folaṁ is mó torann, empty vessels make the greatest sound. Glan a’s slán ḋealruiġeas éadaċ táir, clean and whole make poor clothes shine. Beaṫa ḋuine a ṫoil má ṡeaċnann se a aiṁleas, a man’s will is his life, if he avoids evil. Is feárr “so é.” ’Ná “cá ḃ-fuil sé,” “here it is” is better than “where is it?” Is fuar cumann caile, cold is the affection of an old hag. Foiġid leiġeas gaċ sean-ġalair, patience is the (best) cure for old diseases. Gan ċiste is fuar an ċlú, without treasure, repute is cold. Iomadúṁlaċd gaoil air ḃeagán ċarad, abundance of relatives but few friends. Is minic do ḃí gránda geanaṁail agus daṫaṁuil dona, the ordinary are often amiable, and the beautiful unfortunate. [Eudan gránda geanaṁail, eudan deas air ṁistire=“mitcher.”—Meath]. Mairg ṫréigeas a ḋuine gnáiṫ, air ḋuine ḋá ṫráṫ nó trí, woe to one who forsakes a tried acquaintance for one of two or three days. Ní’ ḟuil agam aċt an beagán ’s is folláin dam féin e, I have but little, and that is wholesome for myself. Caoṁnann dóċas an t-inġreamaċ, hope protects the oppressed. Ní ionnsuiġeann gaċ aon an t-anaċ cóir, all do not approach the just path.