The Proverbs of Scotland Part 93

has been told.

The less wit a man has, the less he kens the want o't.

The loudest b.u.mmer's no the best bee.

The lucky pennyworth sells soonest.

The mair cost the mair honour.

The mair dirt the less hurt.

The mair mischief the better sport.

The mair the merrier; the fewer better cheer.

The mair ye steer the mair ye'll sink.

The maister's brither's an ill servant.

The maister's ee maks the horse fat.

A fat man riding upon a lean horse was asked how it came to pa.s.s that he was so fat while his horse was so lean? "Because," said he, "I feed myself, but my servant feeds the horse."

"The master's eye puts meat on the horse's ribs."--_Irish._

The maister's foot's the best measure.

The man may eithly tine a stot that canna count his kine.

Or the man who does not know his business cannot look properly after it.

The man wha sits on the silk goun-tail o' the wife wha's tocher bought it, never sits easy.

The maut's abune the meal.

"Donald Bean Lean, being aware that the bridegroom was in request, and wanting to cleik the cunzie (that is, hook the siller), he cannily carried off Gilliewhackit ae night when he was riding _dovering_ hame (wi' the maut rather abune the meal), and with the help of his gillies he gat him into the hills with the speed of light, and the first place he wakened in was the Cove of Vaimh an Ri."--_Waverley._

"The meal cheap and shoon dear," quo' the souter's wife, "I'd like to hear."

The miller mouters best wi' his ain hand.

The morn's the morn.

"When northern blasts the ocean snurl, And gars the heights and hows look gurl, Then left about the b.u.mper whirl, And toom the horn; Grip fast the hours which hasty hurl, The morn's the morn."--_Allan Ramsay._

The moudiwart feedsna on midges.

Them that canna get a peck maun put up wi' a stimpart.

A "stimpart" is the fourth part of a peck. They who cannot obtain luxuries must content themselves with necessaries.

Them that canna ride maun shank it.

"'To shank,' to travel on foot."--_Jamieson._

Them that likesna water brose will scunner at cauld steerie.

"'_Cauld steerie_,' sourmilk and meal stirred together in a cold state."--_Jamieson._

Used as a taunt to those who complain of common food.

Them that winna work maun want.

Them that's ill fleyed are seldom sair hurt.

Them that's slack in gude are eydent in ill.

The muck midden is the mither o' the meal kist.

Them wha gae jumpin' awa aft come limpin' hame.

Them wha stand on a knowe's sure to be noticed.

Or they who elevate themselves to a public position are sure to be conspicuous.

Then's then, but noo's the noo.

"'Weel, Lindy man,' says Colin, 'that's a' true, But then was then, my lad, an' noo is noo; 'Bout then-a-days, we'd seldom met wi' cross, Nor kent the ill o' conters or a loss.

But noo, the case is altered very sair.'"--_Ross's Helenore._

The name o' an honest woman's muckle worth.

The nearer e'en the mair beggars.

A jocular salutation to those who drop in to visit a friend.

The next time ye dance, ken wha ye tak by the hand.

"Spoken to them who have imprudently engaged with some who have been too cunning or too hard for them."--_Kelly._

The peasweep aye cries farthest frae his ain nest.

The piper wants muckle that wants the nether chaft.

"Spoken when a thing is wanting which is actually necessary."--_Kelly._

The poor man is aye put to the warst.

The poor man pays for a'.