Irisleabhar na Gaedhilge/Imleabhar 5/Uimhir 4/Popular Proverbs, Co. Kerry

[ 61 ]

POPULAR PROVERBS, CO. KERRY

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Collected and Translated by Mr. William Long, Ballyferriter, Dingle.

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Continued.

	[ 61 ] Translation.
[ 61 ]110. Stocaiḋe bána ar ṡálaiḃ dóiġte.	[ 61 ]110. White stockings on burnt heels (the poor should not ape the rich).
[ 61 ]111. An rud is measa do ḋuine ar doṁan n’ ḟeadair sé naċ ċun láir a leasa é.	[ 61 ]111. The thing that is the worst in the world (to happen) to a person may be to his benefit (lit., he does not know whether it is not for his benefit).
[ 61 ]112. ’Nuair is mó an anaiṫe (anfa) ’seaḋ is giorra an ċaḃair.	[ 61 ]112. When the tempest (or difficulty) is at its highest, ’tis then help is nearer.
[ 61 ]113. Má tá céad gnó againn tá céad lá againn.	[ 61 ]113. If we have a hundred businesses, we have a hundred days (an idler’s evidently).
[ 61 ]114. Buaċaill aige (ag) Móra a’s Móra ag iarraiḋ déirce.	[ 61 ]114. Móra having a servant, and Móra begging (poor enough to be your own servant).
[ 61 ]115. Síoda ar Ṡiuḃán ’s an plubán ar a h-aṫair.	[ 61 ]115. Silk on Johanna and the rag on her father (fair without and foul within).
[ 61 ]116. Ní cuiṁniġtear ar an arán tá iṫte.	[ 61 ]116. Eaten bread is not thought of.
[ 61 ]117. Is é dul ó ṫig an diaḃail go tig an deaṁain é.	[ 61 ]117. It is going from the devil's house to the demon’s house (from the frying-pan into the fire).
[ 61 ]118. ’Nuair ḃíonn an cupán lán (no líonta) ’seaḋ is giorra do é ḋórtaḋ.	[ 61 ]118. When the cup is full, it is then nearest to be spilt.
[ 61 ]119. Is minic ċailleann duine caoiriġ mar ġeall ar luaċ leaṫ-ṗingne (do) ṫeárra.	[ 61 ]119. A person often loses a sheep for (by) want of a ha’p’orth of tar (penny wise and pound foolish).
[ 61 ]120. Ní luġa sméar ’san ḃfoġṁar ’ná é.	[ 61 ]120. A [black]berry in the harvest-time is not less than it; said of a trifling matter.
[ 61 ]121. Is é an duine an t-eudaċ.	[ 61 ]121. The clothes are the man (fine feathers, &c.)
[ 61 ]122. Bíonn leacaċa sleaṁna i dtiġṫiḃ daoineaḋ uaisle.	[ 61 ]122. There are slippery flags in gentlemen’s houses.
[ 61 ] I. 123. Imeoġaiḋ a dtiocfaiḋ ’s a dtáinig riaṁ, Imeoġaiḋ an seanóirín beárrṫa liaṫ, Imeoġaiḋ an ḟuiseog dob’ áille ar ṡliaḃ, Imeoġaiḋ an fear óg is mó cáil ’na ndiaiḋ. II. Ní imeoġaiḋ na bánta ná an sliaḃ, Ní imeoġaiḋ an rae ná an ġrian, Ní imeoġaiḋ an sáile ó’n iasg, Ní imeoġaiḋ na grásta ó Ḋia.	[ 61 ] I.—(Four to quit). 123. All who are to come, or have to come, will go, The little old shaved gray man, will go, The lark most beautiful on a mountain will go, And the young man of great repute after them will go. [ 62 ] II. (Four not to go). The plains or the mountain will not go, The moon or the sun will not go, The sea-water from the fish will not go, Grace from God will not go.
[ 61 ]124. Bríste slán ar Ṡeaġán a’s gan faic na ngrás ar a aṫair.	[ 62 ]124. A sound breeches on John, and not a thing on his father.
[ 61 ]125. ’Sé an dul ag iarraiḋ olna ar ġaḃar duit é.	[ 62 ]125. It is your going asking; (or seeking) wool of a goat.
[ 61 ]126. Má’s peacaḋ ḃeiṫ buiḋe tá daoine damanta.	[ 62 ]126. If it is a sin to be yellow, there are people damned.
[ 61 ]127. Is minic deaṁraiḋeaċ cailleaṁnaċ.	[ 62 ]127. Likelies are often loselies.
[ 61 ]128. Ní measa cáċ ’ná Conċoḃar.	[ 62 ]128. Corney (Connor) is as bad as the other.
[ 61 ]129 Dá ġiorra do ḋuine a ċasóg (no ċóta) is giorrra ’ná sin do a léine.	[ 62 ]129. Though a person's coat is near him, his shirt is nearer.
[ 61 ]130. Bíonn blas ar an mbeagán.	[ 62 ]130. The little (quantity) tastes sweet.
[ 61 ]131. Blais an biaḋ a’s tiocfaiḋ dúil agat ann.	[ 62 ]131. Taste the food and you'll get a desire for it.
[ 61 ]132. Tá sé (no sí) coṁ h-aeḋearaċ le múil go mbéiḋeaḋ mairc uirrṫe.	[ 62 ]132. He (or she) is as jolly as a scarred mule.
[ 61 ]133. As a blaiseaḋ is feárr é.	[ 62 ]133. By its taste ’tis better.
[ 61 ]134. Tiġ ar ṫaoiḃ bóṫair ní aistear ga- ḃáilt ann.	[ 62 ]134. It's no journey to call to a house on the roadside.
[ 61 ]135. ’Nuair laḃairfiḋ an ċuaċ ar crann gan duille, a’s ṫuitfiḋ Doṁnaċ Cásga ar Lá ’lé Muire, díol do stoc a’s ceannaiġ lón.	[ 62 ]135. When the cuckoo coos (speaks) on a leafless tree, and when Easter Sunday falls on Lady Day (March), sell your stock and buy provision.
[ 61 ]136. Taḃair póg do ċosaiḃ an ġirrḟiaiḋ.	[ 62 ]136. Kiss the hare’s feet.
[ 61 ]137. Is minic a ṫagann gráinne ó’n sgillige.	[ 62 ]137. A grain often escapes the grinding (of a mill).

[ 62 ]

(To be continued.)

N.B.—In Nos. 61 and 96 aiṫneann should be aiṫniġeann, and in No. 59 read go h-eadarṫraċ.

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