Skip to main content

Full text of "Gaelic proverbs and proverbial sayings, with English translations"

See other formats


Kd  z 


ft|r 


liiniDH  AW  LEABHAR  5Q 

HALum  MacUòid, 


#^''  \ 


hm% 


GAELIC    PROVERBS 


PROVERBIAL   SAYINGS 


Gaelic 
Proverbs 


AND 


PROVERBIAL  SAYINGS 


WITH   ENGLISH   TRANSLATIONS 


T.   D.   MACDONALD 

AUTHOR    OF    "the    LORDS    OF    LOCHABER,"     "CELTIC     DIALECTS,' 

"DÀIN    EADAR-THEANGAICHTK,"     "  DÀIN     AN    AM     A    CHOGAIDH,' 

*'  DÀIN    AN     DÈ1DH    A    CHOGAIDH,"    ETC. 


ENEAS   MACKAY 
STIRLING 


K'^^^''  o^ 


Printed  in  Great  Britain  by  Jamieson  &  Miinro,  Ltd.,  40  Craigs.  Stirling, 


CONTENTS. 

Faob 

IXTRODUCTIOX, xi. 

PART, 

I.      MlSCEI^LANEOUS,               25 

II.    Men,  Women,  Marriage,      67 

III.  Weather     and     Season     Lore,     Object 

Lessons  from  Nature,  The  Deity, 

The  Devil,       95 

IV.  Land  ajn'd  Labour, 117 

V.    The  Fingalians,         133 

VI.    St.  Columba  and  Other  Saints, 143 

VII.    Cla-ns  and  Clanship,            149 


GAELIC   PROVERBS 

AND 

Proverbial  Sayings 


INTRODUCTION 


INTRODUCTION 

IN  the  preface  to  Henderson's  "  Proverbs  of 
Scotland"  it  is  stated  that  "few  countries 
can  lay  claim  to  a  more  abundant  store  of 
these  pithy  sayings  than  our  own  ;  and  no  people 
were  at  one  time  more  attached  to  the  use  of 
these  significant  and  figurative  laconisms  than 
Scotsmen. ' '  On  the  other  hand,  there  are  writers 
who  say  that  the  Celtic  races  were  not  much 
given  to  proverbs,  and  the  explanation  given  is 
that  a  people  gifted  with  the  power  of  speech, 
like  the  Celts,  are  averse  to  their  too  frequent 
use.  A  proverb  clinches  the  argument  too 
abruptly,  and  gives  no  play  to  that  metaphysical 
science  said  to  be  so  dear  to  the  heart  of  every 
Scotsman.  The  present  writer  would  prefer  to 
accept  Mr.  Henderson's  opinion  on  the  matter. 
From  personal  experience  he  can  say  that  the 


XU.  INTRODUCTION. 

present-day  Highlander  finds  the  proverbs  very 
useful  in  conversation,  and  frequently  quotes 
them  to  good  purpose,  and  very  satisfied  with 
himself  does  he  look  when  he  can  introduce 
some  saying  or  proverb  with  good  effect.  The 
Highlander  has  great  regard  for  authority  that 
is  dignified  by  old  age  and  long  usage.  For 
this  reason  the  proverb  has  for  him  a  double 
claim  for  his  consideration  :  (i)  its  own  intrinsic 
worth,  and  (2)  its  association  with  the  past 
sages  of  his  race.  At  the  same  time  it  must  be 
admitted  that  we  cannot  compete  with,  say, 
the  Spaniards,  in  the  number  of  our  proverbs. 
As  regards  quality  we  can  hold  our  own,  not- 
withstanding the  reputed  genius  of  the  Spaniards 
for  pithy  sayings,  and  the  unusual  adaptability 
of  the  Spanish  language  in  the  use  of  them. 

It  is  said  that  the  proverbs  of  a  people 
**  contain  the  living  traits  of  a  peoples'  char- 
acter," its  grave  and  its  gay  sides,  and  yet  the 
definition  of  a  proverb  has  puzzled  men  from 
the  time  of  Aristotle  to  the  present  day.  lyord 
Bacon  described  proverbs  as  *'  the  genius,  wit 
and  spirit  of  a  nation."  lyord  John  Russell 
defined  the  proverb  as  "  the  wisdom  of  many 
and  the  wit  of  one."  Cervantes,  the  Spaniard, 
is  comprehensive  but  vague  when  he  says  that 
the  proverb  is  "  a  short  sentence  drawn  from 


INTRODUCTION .  XUl . 

long  experience."  Better  than  any  one  of  these 
is  the  definition  of  another  Spanish  writer, 
Capriano  de  Valera,  where  he  describes  it  as 
"a  short  sentence,  sententious  and  true,  long 
since  accepted  by  common  consent."  By  this 
it  will  be  seen  that  all  proverbial  sayings  in  the 
wider  sense  are  not  proverbs  in  the  real  sense 
of  the  term.  While  it  is  true  that  "  both  the 
proverb  and  the  mere  saying  receive  their 
authority  and  their  dignity  from  the  same  source, 
that  is,  old  age  and  long  usage,  the  mere  saying 
lacks  the  terseness,  the  pungency,  and  the 
general  applicabihty  of  the  true  proverb."  The 
saying  : 

He    who    runs    may    read, 

would  not  be  always  applicable.  Of  far  more 
general  application  is  the  Gaelic  proverb  which 

says  : — 

Is   mall    a    mharchdaicheas 
Am  fear  a  bheachdaicheas. 
He  rides  slowly  who  observes. 

"  The  true  proverb  is  never  parochial,  it  has 
not  any  local  patriotism,  caring  no  more  for  one 
parish  than  another.  It  has  neither  father 
nor  mother,  and  takes  delight  in  shrouding  its 
origin  in  mystery."  Mere  sayings,  on  the  other 
hand,  are  frequently  localised,  applicable  only 


XIV.  INTRODUCTION. 

when  associated  with  a  particular  localit3^  or 
the  prototype  of  a  particular  individual.  It  is 
proposed  to  give  selections  from  both  in  the 
following  pages. 

Matthew  Arnold  says  that  the  sensibility 
of  the  Highlander  gives  him  a  peculiarly  near 
and  intimate  feeling  with  nature.  This  is  true; 
the  Highlander  seems  in  a  special  way  attracted 
by  the  secret  of  natural  beauty  and  natural 
magic  ;  he  feels  close  to  it,  he  half  divines  it. 
Behind  the  visible  he  sees  the  invisible  ;  he 
creates  the  latter  in  his  mind's  eye,  his  prophetic 
imagination  travelling  to  the  unseen  beyond 
mountain,  and  torrent  and  loch.  Science  and 
modern  thought  "  tell  us  of  an  all-pervading 
order,  unchangeable  amid  the  mutations  of  the 
things  that  are  seen."  It  is  felt  by  the  sensitive 
Celt  as  a  power  irresistible  and  omnipotent, 
governing  and  controlling  all  things.  The  Celtic 
character  is  made  for  devotion,  and  loyalty  and 
obedience.  He  is  easily  led,  but  cannot  be 
driven.  He  craves  for  a  leader,  one  in  whom 
he  can  implicitly  trust,  and  having  found  him, 
he  will  follow  him  to  the  gates  of  death.  For- 
lorn causes  have,  as  a  consequence,  found  him, 
perhaps  too  often,   their  staunchest  adherent. 

It  is,  however,  a  mistake  to  suppose,  as  is 
too  often  glibly  asserted,  that  he  always  allows 


INTRODUCTION.  XV. 

sentiment  to  run  away  with  him.  He  can  be 
as  practical  as  most  mortals  when  he  likes,  and 
many  of  his  proverbs  give  ample  demonstration 
of  this,  and  these  particular  proverbs  show  every 
evidence  of  their  having  been  composed  by  men 
of  humble  life.  As  Sheriff  Nicolson  says,  they 
are  the  product  of  the  thatched  cottages,  and 
not  of  the  baronial  or  academic  halls  ;  poor  in 
position,  but  rich  in  mother  wit,  reflecting  a 
high  moral  standard,  with  an  intelligence  shrewd 
and  searching  ;  a  singular  sense  of  propriety 
and  grace,  and  a  distinct  sense  of  humour  never 
found  among  savages  and  clodhoppers. 
Nature's  appeal  to  him  is  pointedly  illustrated 
in  his  proverbs. 

There  is  a  beautiful  combination  of  sub- 
stance and  humility  conveyed  to  us  by  the 
following  object  lesson  : — 

Is  Ì  'n  dias  is  truime  is  isle  'chromas  a  ceann. 
The  heaviest  ear  of  corn  bends  its  head  the 
lowest. 

while  the  opposite  is  aptly  portrayed  thus  : — 

A  chuiseag  a  dh'  fhàsas  as  an  òcrach 

'si  's  aird'  a  thogas  a  ceann. 
The  weed  that's  on  the  dunghill  growiyig 
Will  its  head  he  highest  showing. 

and  there  is  some  fine  philosophy  in  the  next : — 


XVI.  INTRODUCTION. 

A  bheinn  is  àird'  a  th'anns  an  tir, 

'S  ann  oirr'  is  trie'  a  chithear  an  ceo. 

The  highest  mountain  in  the  land 

Is  oftenest  covered  with  mist. 

The  pointed  truth  in  the  following  is 
thoughtful  to  a  degree  : — 

Is  sàmhach  an  obair  dol  a  dholaidh. 

Going  to  ruin  is  silent  work. 
Truly  one  might  almost  think  that  the  noise 
accompanying  the  mere  threats  of  revolution 
may  not  be  so  terrible  after  all.  I^ike  the  pain 
felt  in  a  part  of  the  human  body  helping  to  locate 
the  disease,  and  so  leading  to  its  diagnosis, 
and  the  resulting  cure,  a  noise  in  the  body- 
politic  draws  an  attention  that  brings  remedial 
or  counteracting  steps,  with  equally  happy 
results.  But  the  process  of  a  silent  decay,  like 
that  of  a  painless  disease,  is  apt  to  be  undetected 
until  too  late. 

It  has  been  truly  said  that  "  in  the  eternal 
relations  of  mankind,  and  their  indestructible 
passions  and  feelings,  the  proverbs  of  all  nations 
present  a  striking  uniformity,"  while  "  in  other 
relations  they  illustrate  the  individual  char- 
acteristics of  the  different  races.  Before  letters 
were  invented  wisdom  was  abroad  in  the  world. 
Proverbs  were  the  germ  of  moral  and  political 
science.     Things   that    marble   and   brass   and 


INTRODUCTION.  XVll. 

other  devices  of  human  invention  have  allowed 
to  perish,  proverbs,  floating  upon  the  living 
voices  of  the  people,  have  perpetuated." 

Paradoxical  as  it  may  seem,  it  has  been 
truly  said  that  "  there  is  no  surer  sign  of  the  oral 
knowledge  of  a  people  being  on  the  wane  than 
the  attempt  to  secure  it  from  oblivion  by  collect- 
ing its  fragments  and  printing  them  in  books." 
With  the  strenuous  life  of  our  present-day 
industrial  civilisation  oral  transmission  from 
mouth  to  mouth,  "on  the  living  voices  of  the 
people,"  ceases  to  be  the  rule.  To-day,  trans- 
mission, incision,  and  fruition  in  such  matters 
depend  upon  the  written  or  printed  word, 
figure,  or  date. 

A    bhliadhn'    a    chaidh    am    bunt  at'    a 

dhoilaidh. 
The  year  of  the  potato  famine, 

is  not  now  the  epoch  from  which  so  many  subse- 
quent events  are  calculated. 

If  there  is  one  medium  more  than  another 
that  will  perpetuate  for  us  the  wit  and  wisdom 
of  our  forefathers,  who  belonged  to  a  time  when 
mother  wit  and  native  shrewdness  took  the 
place  of  present-day  sharpness,  that  medium  is 
the  proverb. 

There   are   substantial   reasons   to   believe 


XVIU.  INTRODUCTION. 

that  there  is  more  than  the  common  passions 
and  feehngs  of  mankind  to  account  for  the 
similarity  of  many  of  our  GaeHc  proverbs  with 
those  of  other  nations.  Our  Churchmen  who 
received  their  education  in  the  Scots  Colleges  at 
Madrid,  Paris  and  Rome  ;  our  Scottish  soldiers 
of  fortune,  notably  those  with  the  famous 
Gustavus  Adolphus  ;  and  in  a  general  way  the 
well-known  wandering  habits  of  the  Scots,  in 
the  famous  days  of  old,  as  soldiers,  scholars,  or 
merchants,  would  have  brought  our  countrymen 
into  contact  with  the  peoples  of  other  countries. 
They  easily  assimilated  with  them,  they  quickly 
learned  their  language,  they  appropriated  their 
thought,  and  returning  would  bring  home  with 
them  a  treasure  more  enduring  than  silver  or 
gold,  in  the  form  of  foreign  culture. 

But  deduct  these  proverbs  that  are  common 
to  other  peoples,  and  we  still  have  a  considerable 
number  that  are  characteristically  Highland ; 
that  cannot  be  understood  apart  from  the 
Highlands  and  the  Highland  people.  But  while 
the  bulk  of  our  proverbs  are  the  product  of  the 
thatched  cottages,  and  not  of  the  baronial  halls, 
a  considerable  number  are  as  evidently  the 
product  of  the  better-to-do  of  the  days  of  old. 
In  the  Highlands,  in  the  days  of  the  Clan  System, 
class  distinctions  were  not  so  hard  and  fast  as 


INTRODUCTION.  XIX. 

they  were  under  the  autocracy  of  Norman  and 
Tuetonic  feudahsm.  Quiet  humour,  shrewd 
insight,  and  homely  truths  with  a  large  measure 
of  deductive  philosophy  are  enshrined  in  the 
proverbs,  and  it  is  a  pity  that  along  with  the 
decline  of  oral  transmission,  already  referred  to, 
all  our  printed  collections  are  out  of  print.  The 
first  of  these,  known  as  M'Intosh's  Collection, 
appeared  in  1785,  and  it  contained  1305  Gaelic 
proverbs  and  proverbial  sayings.  A  second 
edition  appeared  in  1819,  in  which  the  number 
was  increased  to  1538,  while  the  late  Sheriff 
Nicholson's  more  pretentious  collection, 
published  1882,  contained  no  less  than  3900. 
The  latter  included  the  whole  of  M'Intosh's, 
and  the  additional  2392  indicated.  0\\dng  to 
the  present  cost  of  production  and  the  consequent 
prohibitive  selling  price  at  which  it  could  be 
offered,  there  is  no  attempt  in  this  volume  to 
equal,  much  less  to  improve  upon  the  worthy 
Sheriff's  patriotic  achievement.  But  this  volume 
is  indebted  to  him  to  a  considerable  extent, 
while  not  always  accepting  his  renderings  of 
the  original  Gaelic,  of  which  there  are  several 
current  variants  of  some  of  them.  The  English 
equivalents  adopted  are  also  different  in  many 
cases.  The  exhaustive  list  given  in  the  late 
Dr.  Cameron  of  Brodick's  "  Reliquiae  Celticse  " 


XX.  INTRODUCTION. 

has  also  been  largely  drawn  upon,  as  has  also 
Professor  Magnus  Macl^ean's  "  L^iterature  of  the 
Scottish  Highlands,"  and  also  the  original  of 
all  collections  of  Gaelic  proverbs,  that  of  the 
Rev.  Donald  Macintosh,  already  referred  to. 
For  a  few  hitherto  unpublished  proverbs  and 
sayings,  the  writer  is  indebted  to  Mr.  John  N. 
Maclvcod,  The  Schoolhouse,  Kirkhill,  and  Mr. 
Donald  Sinclair,  Manchester,  both  well-known 
workers  in  the  field  of  Gaelic  activities.  To 
the  Rev.  Alex.  MacDiarmid,  late  of  Morven, 
the  writer  is  indebted  for  encouragement  and 
advice. 

Out  of  nearly  4000  Gaelic  proverbs  and 
proverbial  sayings,  known  as  current  in  the 
Highlands,  including  native  and  borrowed,  the 
number  included  here  is  necessarily  limited. 
This  is  on  account  of  the  exigencies  of  space 
in  a  volume  intended  for  issue  at  a  popular  price. 
For  the  opportunity  to  do  even  this  much, 
gratitude  must  be  expressed  to  Mr.  Mackay, 
of  the  firm  of  Mr.  Bneas  Mackay,  publishers. 
Stirling,  who  is  worthily  upholding  his  late 
father's  zeal  in  regard  to  Gaelic  or  Highland 
book  undertakings,  which  appeal  to  so  widely 
scattered  and  to  not  too  numerous  a  constituency. 

Opinions  may  differ  as  regards  many  of  the 
proverbs  here  included,   in  preference  to   the 


INTRODUCTION.  XXI. 

many  others  that  might  have  been  preferred 
from  the  large  available  stock.     But — 

Cha  dean  duine  dona  ach  a  dhichioll. 
A  poor  fellow  can  do  but  his  best. 

T.  D.  M. 
February,  1926. 


PART  I. 

MISCEI.I/ANEOUS. 


MISCKI^IyANEOUS. 

1  Anail  a  Ghaidheil,  air  a  mhullach  ! 

The  Gael's  breathing  place — on  the  stimmit  I 

2  Abair  ach  beagan  is  abair  gu  math  e. 
'^Say  but  little  and  say  it  well. 

3  Abair   sin,    nuair   a   chaitheas   tu    cruacli 

mhòine  comhla  ris. 
Say  that,   when  you  have  spent  a  stack  of 
peats  along  with  it. 

4  A  bhliadhn'  is  gainne  a  mhin, 
Dean  fuine  mliòr  aineamh. 
During  the  year  when  meal  is  scarce 
Let  big  bakings  be  few. 

5  A'chungaidh    leighis    is    goirte, 
'Si  is  moth'  tha  deaneanih  feum. 

The  medicine  [or  liniment)  that  hurts  the  most 
Is  generally  the  best  healer. 

6  A  cur  suas  inisg,  sa  bun  aig  a  bhaile. 
Spreading  a  fama,  and  its  root  at  home. 

7  A  ghaoth  ag  iarraidh  na'm  port. 
The  wind  seeking  the  harbours. 

8  A  h-mle  cù  air  a  chù  choimheach. 
All  dogs  down  on  the  strange  dog. 

25 


26  GAKWC    PROVERBS. 

9  A  sgaoladh  na'n  sguab  's  a  trusadh  na'n 
siobag. 
Scattering    the    sheaves    and    gathering    the 
straws. 

10  Aithnichear    an    leomhan    air    scriob    de 

iongann. 
The  lion  is  known  hy  the  scratch  of  his  claw. 

11  An  ràmh  is  fhaisg  air  laimh,  iomair  leis. 
The  oar  that's  nearest  at  hand,  row  with  it. 

12  An  neach  nach  cinn  na  chadal, 
Cha  chinn  e  na  dhuisg. 

He  who  will  not  prosper  in  his  sleep. 
Will  not  prosper  when  awake. 

13  A  mheud  'sa  gheibh  thu  gu  math, 
Se'n  lughad  a  gheibh  thu  de  'n  olc. 
The  more  you  get  of  what's  good, 
The  less  you  will  get  of  what's  bad. 

14  Am  fear  is  fliuche,  rachadh  e  do'n  tobair. 
He  who  is  wettest,  let  him  go  to  the  well. 

15  An  luigh  nach  fhaighear  cha'n  ì  a  chobhras. 
The  herb  that  cannot  be  found  will  not  give 

relief. 

16  A  taomadh  na  mara  le  cliabh. 
Bailing  the  sea  with  a  creel. 

17  A  h-uile  rud  ach  an  rud  bu  choir. 
Everything   but   the   right   thing. 

18  Adhaircean  fada  air  a  chrodh  a  bhios  anns  a 

cheò. 
Long  horns  on  the  cattle  that  are  seen  through 
the  mist. 


MISCEr<I.ANEOUS.  27 

19  Air  gnothaich  na  cuthaig. 
On  the  cuckoo's   business. 

Al. — ^A  chuir  a  ruith  na  cuthaig. 

Sent  to  chase  the  cuckoo. 
S.P. — A  gowk's  errand. 

20  An  ceòl  air  feadJi  na  fidhle 
The  music  throughout  the  fiddle. 

21  An  làmh  a  bheir  'si  a  gheibh, 
Mar  a  d'thugar  do  dhroch  dhuin'  e. 

The  hand  that  gives  is  the  hand  that  will 

receive, 
Except  when  given  to  a  had  man. 

22  Am  fear  is  fhaide  chaidh  bho'n  bhaile, 
Chual  e'n  ceòl  bu  mhilse  leis  nuair  thill  e 

dhachaidh. 
Who  farthest  away  e'er  did  roam 
Heard  the  sweetest  music  on  returning  home. 

2'3  A  lion  beag  is  bheagan,  mar  a  dh'  ith  an 
cat  an  t-iasg. 
Little  by  little,  as  the  cat  eat  the  fish. 

24  An  rud  a  nithear  gu  math, 

chithear  a  bhuil. 
What  is  well  done  will  be  shown  by  restdts 

25  A  chuid  de  Fhlaitheanas  dha. 
His  share  of  Paradise  to  him. 

"  Flaitheanas,"  according  to  our  etomologists,  is  from 
"  Flath  Innis,"  "  The  Isle  of  Heroes,"  the  heaven  of  Celtic 
Mythology.  Here  the  souls  of  the  brave  (none  other  were 
deserving),  went  for  eternal  and  blissful  repose,  at  the  end 
of  their  warrior-careers.  Cowardice  was  deemed  a  sin 
that  barred  the  guilty  from  entering  that  coveted  place. 
The  other  place,  in  those  days,  was  not  the  brimstone-fueled 


28  GAEI.IC    PROVERBS. 

fire  of  later  beliefs,  but  a  desolated  area  of  ice  aud  snow  ; 
cold,  not  heat,  was  the  meted  punishment. 

26  Am  facal  a  thig  a  Ifrinn — 

Se  a  gheibh,  ma  's  e  's  mo  bheir. 
The  message  from  hell — 
Give  to  the  highest  bidder. 

27  An  rud  a  theid  fad  o'n  t-sùil 
Thèid  e  fad  o'n  chridhe. 
What  goes  far  from  the  eye 
Will  go  far  from  the  heart. 

E.P. — Out  of  sight  out  of  mind. 
But  even  proverbs  may  be  mistaken  sometimes,  as  for 
instance  : — 

"  Kind  eyes  may  speak  the  heart's  desire, 
When  heart  for  heart  doth  heat, 
But  fond  hearts  will  commimicate 
When  the  eyes  cannot  meet." 

38  An  turadh,  an  t-anmoch,  am  muir-làn,   's 
an   Dòmhnach. 

Fair  weather,  the  evening,  high  water,  and 
the  Sabbath. 
Does  this  imply  a  choice  of  circumstances  ? 

29  An  uair  a  bhios  sinn  ri  orach 
Bidheadhmaid    ri    orach ; 
'S  nuair  a  bhios  sinn  ri  maorach, 
Bidheadhmaid    ri    maorach. 
When  we  are  seeking  gold,  let  us  be  seeking 

gold  ; 
And  when  we  are  seeking  bait  let  us  be  seeking 
bait. 

E.P. — One  thing  at  a  time,  and  everything  in  its 
own  time. 


MISCHLI^ANEOUS.  29 

30  An  uair  a  chluinneas  tu  sgeul  gun  dreach 

na  creid  i. 
When  you  hear  a  tale  that  is  not  pleasant,  do 
not  believe  it. 

This  means  that  one  should  turn  a  deaf  ear  to 
scandal  mongering. 

31  Am  fear  nach  gheidh  na  h-airm  'nam  na 

sith, 
Cha  bhi  iad  aige  'n  am  a  chogaidli. 
Who  keeps  not  his  arms  in  times  of  peace, 
Will  have  no  arms  in  times  of  war. 

32  An  car  a  h'  anns  an  t-seana  mliaide, 
Is  duilich  a  thoirt  as. 
Straightening  the  bend  in  old  wood 

Is  a  difficult  job. 

33  Air  rèir  do  mheas  ort  fliein  ^ 
'S  ann  a  mheasas  each  thu. 

According  as  thou  esteemest  thyself 
Others  will  esteem  thee. 

34  Am  boll  'air  an  sgillinn 
Is   gun    an    sgillinn    ann. 
The  boll  {of  meal)  at  a  penny 
And  no  penny  in  hand. 

35  A  eheud  sgeul  air  fear  an  taiglie, 
Is  sgeul  gu  lath'  air  an  aoidh. 
The  first  story  from  the  host, 

And  tales  till  morning  from  the  guest. 

This  one  recalls  old  Highland  manners  and 
customs,  with  an  "  Arabian  Nights  "  atmos- 
phere about  them. 


30  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

36  Am  fear  a  bhios  fad  aig  an  aiseig 
Gheibh    e   thairis   uaireigin. 

He  that  waits  long  at  the  jerry 
Will  get  across  sometime. 

E.P. — Everything  comes  to  him  that  waits. 

37  Am  fear  nach  seall  roimhe 
Seallaidh  e  as  a  dheigh. 

He  who  will  not  look  before  him 
Will  look  behind  him. 

38  An  triuir  nach  fuiling  an  cniodachadli, 
Seann  bhean,  cearc,  agus  caora. 

Three  that  won't  bear  caressing, 

An  old  woman,  a  hen,  and  a  sheep. 

39  A  bheairt  sin  a  bhios  cearr, 

'Se  foighidinn  is  fhear  a  dheanamh  ris. 
The  loom  {or  engine)  that  has  gone  wrong 
Patience  is  best  for  putting  it  right. 

40  An  ràthad  fada  glan,  is  an  ràthad  goirid 

salach. 
The  long  clean  road,  and  the  short  dirty  road. 
The  latter  is  taken  by  those  who  are  in  a  hurry  to 
get  rich,  irrespective  of  the  means  adopted. 

41  A  bhò  is  miosa  'th'  anns  a  bhuaile 
'Si  is  cruaidh  ni  gèum. 

The  worst  cow  in  the  fold 
Lows  the  loudest. 

42  An  rud  nach  gabh  leasachadh, 
'S  fheudar  cur  suas  leis. 

What   cannot   be   helped 
Must  be  put  up  with. 

E.P. — Crying  over  spilt  milk,  etc. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  31 

43  An  ni  's  an  teid  dàil  theid  dearmaid. 
What  is  delayed  will  he  forgotten. 

44  An  rud  is  fhiach  a  ghabhail,    's   fhiach  e 

iarraidh. 
//  it  is  worth  taking,  it  is  worth  asking  for. 

45  An  rud  a  thig  gu  dona  falbhaidh  e  leis  a 

ghaoith. 
What  is  got  by  guile  will  disappear  with  the 
wind. 

46  A  mire  ri  cuilein,  cha  sgur  e  gus  an  sgal  e. 
Playing  with  a  pup  ends  in  a  howl. 

47  Be  sin  an  conadh  a  chuir  do  'n  choille. 
That  were  sending  fuel  to  the  wood. 

E.P. — Sending  coals  to  Newcastle. 

48  Bu  mhath  an  sgàthan  sùil  caraid. 

A  friend's  eye  is  a  good  looking-glass. 

49  Buinidh  urram  do'n  aois. 
Honour  belongs  to  old  age. 

50  Bheir  an  èigin  air  rud-eigin  a  dheanamh. 
Necessity  will  get  something  done. 

E.P. — Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention. 

51  Bheirear  comhairle  seachad  ach  cha  toirear 

giùlan. 
Council  can  be  given,  hut  not  conduct. 

52  Bheir  duine  beath'  air  èigin,  ach  cha  toir 

e  rath  air  èigin. 
A  man  may  force  a  livelihood,  but  he  cannot 
force  fortune. 


32  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

53  Bheir  aon  fhear  each  gu  uisge 
Ach  cha  toir  a  dhà-dheug  air  òl. 

One  man  can  lead  a  horse  to  the  water, 
But  twelve  cannot  make  it  drink. 
Ae  man  may  lead  a  horse  to  the  water, 
But  ane  and  twenty  winna  gar  him  drink. 

— Allan  Ramsay's  Proverbs. 

54  Bior  a  d'  dhòrn  na  fàisg  ; 
Easbhuidheachd  ri  d'   namtiaid  na  ruisg  ; 
Ri  gearradh-sgian  a  d'  fheol  na  èisd  ; 
Beisd  nimheil  ri  d'  bheò  na  duisg. 

A  thorn  in  your  grasp,  do  not  squeeze  ; 
Thy  wants  to  thine  enemy  do  not  hare  ; 
The  dagger's  point  to  your  flesh  do  not  hear  ; 
A  venomous  reptile  do  not  rouse. 

55  Bu  mhath  impidh  a  choilicli  mu  shiol  a 

thoirt  do  na  cearcan. 
Well  was  the  cock's  petition  for  corn  for  the 
hens 

56  Be  sin  im  a  chuir  do  thaigh  àraich. 

That  were  sending  butter  to  the  farmhouse. 

57  Bithidh  bean-mliuinntir  aig  an  fheannaig 

's  an  Fhoghar, 
The  crow  has  her  maid-servant  at  harvest  time. 

58  Beiridh  caora  dhubh  uan  geal. 
A  black  ewe  may  have  a  white  lamb. 

59  Beus  na  tuath,  far  am  bithear  se  nithear. 
The  manners  of  the  folk  where  thou  art  thou 

must  adopt. 
E.P. — When  in  Rome  do  as  the  Romans  do. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  33 

60  Balach,    is    balgaire    tighearna, 
dithis  nach  coir  a  leigeil  leòtha. 
A  conceited  fellow  and  a  laird's  tyke 
Two  who  should  not  be  allowed  their  own  way. 

i(6i)Buail  am  balach  air  a  charbad, 
Is  buail  am  balgair  air  a  shròin. 
Strike  the  knave  on  the  neck, 
And  knock  the  tyke  on  the  nose. 

62  Is  fhearr  a  bhi  sàmhach  na  droch  dhàn  a 

ghabhail. 
Better  he  silent  than  sing  a  had  song. 

63  Bithidh  sonas  an  lorg  na  caitheamh. 

Felicity  follows  generosity. 

64  Bhiodh  sonas  aig  an  strodhaire 
Na'm  faigheadh  e  mar  a  chaitheadh  e. 
The  squanderer  would  be  happy  were  he  to 

get  as  he  squandered. 

65  Bithidh  cron  duine  cho  mòr  ri  beinn  mas 

leir  dha  fhèin  e. 
A  mans  faults  will  be  as  large  as  a  mountain 
ere  he  himself  sees  them. 

66  Bithidh  na  gabhair  bodhair  's  an  fhoghar. 
The  goats  will  be  deaf  at  harvest  time. 

E.P. — There  are  none  so  deaf  as  those  who  tejill  not 
hear. 

67  Brisidh  an  teanga  bhog  an  cneath. 
A  smooth  tongue  will  blunt  wrath. 

E.P. — A  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath. 

— Solomon. 

68  Bithidh  an  osnaich  dheireanach  cràidhteach. 
The  last  sigh  will  be  painful. 

c 


34  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

69  Biodh  earlas  meirleach  agad  air  gach  neach, 
Ach  na  dean  meirleach  de  neach  idir. 
Have  the  caution  of  a  thief  over  every  one, 
But  make  no  one  a  thief. 

70  Bha  iasad  ga  ghabhail  's  ga  thoirt  riamh  air 

feadh  an  t-saoghal. 

Borrowing    and    lending    have    always    been 
world-wide   habits. 

71  B'  olc-an-airidh  gun  deanadh  aimsir  thioram 

dolaidh. 
'Twere  a  pity  that  dry  zueather  should  do  harm. 

72  Bòidheach,  cha'n  ann  dàicheil. 

Pretty,  7iot  plausable. 

73  Beiridh  am  beag  trie  air  a  mhòr  ainmig. 
The  little  frequent  will  overtake  the  infrequent 

large. 

74  B'i  sin  reul  's  an  oidhche  dlioilleir. 
That  were  a  star  on  a  dark  night. 

75  B'fhearr   a   bhi   gun   bhreith   na   bhi   gun 

teagasg. 
Better  be  without  beiiig  than  without  instruc- 
tion. 

76  B'fhearr    gun    tòiseachadh    na    sguir    gun 

chriochnachadh. 
Better  not  to  begin  than  stop  without  finishing. 

yy  Bheir  eu-dochas  misneachd  don  ghealtair. 
Desperation  will  give  courage  to  a  coward. 

78  Bidh  an  ùbhal  is  fhearr  air  a  mheangan  is 
àirde. 
The  best  apple  will  be  on  the  highest  bough. 


MISCELI.ANEOUS.  35 

79  Clia  bhi  am  bochd-soghail  saoibhir. 

The  luxurious  poor  will  not  be  rich. 
An  apt  companion  to  the  above  is  : — 
So  Cha  bhi  aon  duine  crionna 

'A  measg  mi  lie  amadan. 

There  will  not  he  one  wise  man 

Among  a  thousand  fools. 

8 1  Cha  tig  as  a  phoit  ach  an  toit  a  bhios  innte. 
No  fumes  from  the  pot,   hut  from  what  it 

contains. 

82  Cha  bhi  luathas  agus  grinneas  an  cuideachd 

a'  chèile. 
Quick  and  fine  don't  combine. 

^2>  Cha  d'thug  gaol  luath 
Nach  d'thug  fuath  clis. 
Quick  to  love,  quick  to  hate. 

84  Cha  do  chuir  a  ghuallainn  ris  q 
Nach  do  chuir  tùr  thairis.  u^r^-  , 
None  ever  set  his  shoulder  to 

That  did  not  what  he  sought  to  do. 

85  Cha  toir  an  uaisle  goil  air  a  phoit. 

Gentility  will  not  boil  the  pot. 

86  "  Cha'n  eil  mi  na  m'  sgoileir,  's  cha'n  àill 

leam  a  bhi," 
Ma'n    d'thuairt    a    mhadadh-ruadh    ris    a 

mhadadh-allaidh. 
"  /  am  not  a  scholar,  and  don't  wish  to  be," 

As  the  fox  said  to  the  wolf. 

There  are  several  versions  of  the  stor}-  from  which  the 
above  saying  originated.  Campbell's  "  West  Highland 
Tales,"    and    Nicholson  give  slightly    different    versions. 


> 


36  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

The  following  is  one  : — ^The  fox  and  the  wolf,  walking 
together,  came  upon  an  ass  quietly  grazing  in  a  meadow. 
The  fox  pointed  out  an  inscription  on  one  of  the  ass's  hind 
hoofs,  and,  addressing  the  wolf,  said  :  "Go  you  and  read 
that,  you  are  a  scholar  and  I  am  not."  The  wolf,  flattered 
by  the  request,  went  proudly  forward,  and  coming  too  close 
to  the  ass,  got  knocked  in  the  head,  leaving  the  fox  to 
enjoy  their  common  spoil. 

87  Cha'n  i  a  mliuc  is  sàimliche 
Is  lugh  a  dh'itheas  de'n  drabh. 

It  is  not  the  quietest  sow  that  eats  the  least. 

88  Ceud  mille  fàilte. 

A  hundred  thousand  welcomes. 

89  Cha  robh  naigheachd  mhòr  riamh 
Nach  robh  na  chall  do  dhuin'-eigin. 
There  never  was  great  news 

But  was  a  loss  to  somebody. 
Rather  the  opposite  of  the  English  proverb,  which  says  : 
"  'Tis  an  ill  wind  that  blows  nobody  any  good."     But 
the  import  is  the  same  in  both. 

90  Chaidh  theab  le  creag, 

Is  theab  nach  deachaidh. 
"  Almost  "  went  over  a  rock, 
And  almost  didn't. 

91  Cha'n  aithnich  thu  duine 
Gus  am  bi  do  ghnothaich  ris. 
You  will  never  know  a  man, 
Until  you  do  business  with  him. 

92  Cha'n  fhiach  gille  gun  char, 
'S  cha'n  fhiach  gille  nan  ear. 

The  man  without  a  turn  is  worthless, 
And  the  man  of  many  turns  is  worthless. 
The  man  of  many  turns  implies  a  "  twister." 


MISCEl.I,ANEOUS.  37 

93  Cha'n  eil  mòran  lochd  's  an  crldh  a  bhios 

a  gabhail  òran. 
There  is  not  much  guile  in  the  heart  that  is 
aye  singing  songs. 

94  Cha'n  eil  ùaill  an  aghaidh  tairbh. 
Pride  is  not  against  profit. 

95  Cha'n  eil  bàs  fir  gun  ghràs  fir. 

There   is   no   man's   death   without   another 
mans  gain. 

96  Cha  sheas  càirdeas  air  a  lèth-chois. 
Friendship  will  not  stand  on  one  leg. 

97  Coin  bhadhail  is  clann  dhaoin  eile  ! 
Stray   dogs   and   other  people  s   children ! 

98  Cha'n    fheum    an    ti   a    shealbhaicheas  an 

toradh  am  blàth  a  mhilleadh. 
He  who  would  enjoy  the  fruit  must  not  spoil 
the  blossom. 

99  Cha'n  fhiach  bròn  a  ghnàth, 

'S  cha  'n  fhiach  ceòl  a  ghnàth. 

Sorrowing  always  is  not  good, 

And  music  {mirth)  always  is  not  good. 

100  Cha  cheòl  do  dhuin'  a  bhròn  nil'  aithris. 
It  is  no  music  to  a  man  to  recite  all  his  woe. 

CJ    loi  Cha   toir   muir   no   mònadh   a   chuid   bho 

dhuine  sona,  / 

.j^'^  Ach  cha  ghleidh  duine  dona  allt.  f 

'Neither  main  nor  mountain  can  deprive  a 

prosperous   man   of   his   possessions, 
But   the   unfortunate   man   cannot   retain   a 
rivulet. 


38  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

102  Cha  do  bhris  deagh  urram  ceann  duine  rianili, 
Agus  is  mòr-am-beud  a  bhi  uair  's  am  bitli 

as  aonais. 
Due  civility  never  broke  a  man's  head, 
And  great  the  pity  to  he  at  any  time  without  it. 

103  Cha  chuirear  gad  air  gealladh. 

A  promise  can  never  he  tied  [or  tethered.) 

104  Cha'n    eil    fealladh    ann    cho    mòr    ris    an 

gealladh  gun  choimhlionadh. 
There  is  no  deceit  so  great  as  a  promise  u  11  f til- 
filled. 

105  Cluinnidh  am  bodhar  fuaim  an  airgead. 
The  deaf  will  hear  the  clink  of  money. 

106  Cha  dean  cridh  misgeach  breug. 
The  inebriated  heart  will  not  lie. 

107  Cha  robh  na  sgeulaiche  nach  robh  breugach. 
There  ne'er  was  a  tale-bearer  hut  z&as  un- 
truthful. 

108  Cha'n  uaisle  duine  na  cheird.       <^-  *^(?'f  ^f3. 
No  man  is  above  his  trade. 

The  tradition. associated  with  the  above  is  that,  when 
Alastair  MacColla  (Alexander  MacDonald),  the  Great 
Montrose's  principal  lieutenant,  foutid  himself  pent  up  with 
a  handful  of  followers,  surrounded  by  the  Covenanters,  a 
tinker  of  the  name  of  Stewart,  from  Athol,  made  his  appear- 
ance among  MacDonald's  men,  and  with  his  claymore 
hewed  down  the  Covenanters  till  but  few  were  left.  Mac- 
Donald,  astonished  at  the  timely  succour  and  the  successful 
onslaught  of  the  unknown  warrior,  bade  him  be  called  to 
his  presence  after  the  fray,  and  asked  him  who  and  what  he 
was.  The  tinker  modestly  replied  that  he  was  but  a  tinker, 
and  hardly  deserved  to  be  named  among  men,  far  less 


MISCEIJ.ANEOUS.  39 

among  such  brave  men  as  were  then  present.  MacDonald, 
turning  round  to  bis  followers,  proclaimed  tbe  beroic 
tinker's  praise,  citing  tbe  words  quoted,  and  wbicb  are 
now  a  proverb,  as  above. 

109  Cuiridh  aon  bheart  as  an  duine  gu  lorn,  is 
gun  bhonn  fo  cheill. 
Is  cuiridh  heart  eil'  e  ann,  ach  a  ghahhail 

na  am  fein. 
One  hapless  act  may  undo  a  man, 
And  one  timely  one  will  re-establish  him. 

no  Cumaidh  a  mhuc  a  foil  fhein  glan. 
The  pig  will  keep  its  own  stye  clean. 

111  Cha  toill  iarratas  achmhasan. 
A  request  merits  no  reproof. 

1 12  Cha  bhi  fuachd  air  ualachan  air  fuaraid  an 

làtha. 
The  coxcomb  feels  no  cold  no  matter  how  cold 
the  day. 

113  Cha  mhisde  sgeul  mhath  aithris  da  uair. 

A  good  tale  is  not  the  worse  of  being  twice  told. 

114  Ceannaich  mar  t-fheum, 
Is  reic  mar's  àill  leat. 

Buy  according  to  your  needs, 
And  sell  as  you  may  desire. 

115  Cha  deanar  buanachd  gun  chall. 
There  is  no  profit  without  loss. 

116  Cha  d'  dhùin  dorus  nach  d'fhosgail  donis. 
No  door  closes  withotit  opening  another  door. 

117  Còrdadh  a  reubeadh  reachd. 
Agreements  breaking  the  law. 


40  GAEUC    PROVERBS. 

ii8  Ceilichidh   seirc   aineamh. 

Friendship   conceals   blemishes. 

119  Cha  d'thainig  eun  glan  riamh  a   nead   a 
chlamhain. 

There  ne'er  came  a  clean  bird  out  of  a  kites 
nest. 

120  Cha  bhi  uaill  gun  dragh. 
Vanity  is  not  without  trouble. 

121  Cha  bhris  mallachd  cnaimh. 
A  curse  breaks  no  bones. 

122  Cha  bheathaich  beannachd  neach  's  am  bi. 
A  blessing  feeds  no  one. 

123  Cha'n  fhaighear  math  gun  dragh. 
Good  is  not  obtained  without  trouble. 

124  Cha'n  eil  cleith  air  an  ole, 
Ach    gun    a    dheanamh. 
There  is  no  concealment  of  evil 
But  by  avoiding  it. 

125  Cha'n  eil  saoi  gun  choimeas. 
There  is  no  hero  without  compare. 

126  Cha  bhi  luathas  is  grinneas  còmhla. 

"  Quickness  and  neatness  do  not  go  together. 

E.P. — The  more  hurry  the  less  speeed. 

127  Cha'n  eil  air  a  mheirleach  ach  da  shùil, 
Ach  tha  dà-shìùl-dheug  ga  fheitheamh. 
The  thief  has  only  two  eyes, 

But  there  are  a  dozen  eyes  watching  him. 

oJjSsuii^L    128  Cha  robh  ceileach  nach  robh  breugach. 
*^%nMMU-       There  ne'er  ivas  reticent,  but  was  untruthful. 


.11. 


MISCEI.I.ANEOUS.  41 

129  Cruinneachadh  cruaidh  is  sgapadh  farsuinn. 
Hard  gathering  and  wide  scattering. 

130  Cha  dean  duine  dona  ach  a  dhichioll. 
A  poor  fellow  can  do  hut  his  best. 

131  Co  air  bith  a  phàigheas  math  le  olc 
Thig  an  t-olc  air  fhein. 

Whoever  'pays  good  with  ill 
Bringeth  ill  upon  himself. 

132  Cha  sgeul  ruin  e  is  fios  aig  triuir  air. 
It  is  no  secret  when  three  know  it. 

133  Dean  tàir  air  do  sheana  bhrògan 
Nuair  a  gheibh  thu  do  bhiògan  ùire. 
Despise  your  old  shoes  when  you  get  your  new 

ones. 

134  Deireadh  feile  fag. 
Leave  the  fag-end  of  a  fair. 

135  Diolaidh  saothair  ainfhiach. 
Industry  pays  debt. 

136  Dleasaidh  airm  urram. 
Arms  merit  honour. 

137  Eallach  mhòr  an  duine  leisg. 

The  heavy  burden  of  the  lazy  man. 

138  Badraiginn  nan  ceaird. 
Going  between  tinkers. 

139  Biridh  tonn  air  uisge  balbh. 

Waves  will  rise  on  silent  water. 

140  Bug  is  imrich  a  dhearbhas  taigheadas. 
Death  and  flitting  are  hard  on  house-keeping. 


42  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

141  "  Dheanadli  e  rud-eigin  do  dh'aon  fhear 
Ach's  beag  a  chuid  do  dhithis  e," 

Mar  a  thuirt  Alasdair  Mòr  mu'n  an  t- 
saoghal. 
"  It  would  be  something  for  one  man, 

But  a  small  portion  for  two," 
As  Alexander  [the  Great)  said  about  the  world. 

142  Duine  mòr  beag,  is  duine  beag  mòr. 
A  big-little  man,  and  a  little-big  man. 

143  Dh'  fheòirich  i  de'n  ghaoithe 

"Ma  chailleas  mi  thu  càit'  an  am  faigh  mi 

thu?" 
A  ghaoth — "  Air  mullach  na'n  earn." 
Dh'fheòirich  i  de'n  cheò — "  Ma  chailleas  mi 

thu,  càit'  am  faigh  mi  thu  ?  " 
A  cheò — "  Air  mullach  nam  beann." 
Dh'  fheòirich  mi  bho  ChHii — "Ma  chailleas 

mi  thu,  càit'  am  faigh  mi  thu  ?  " 
'Cliù — "Caill  mise  aon  uair,  's  cha'n  fhaigh 

thu  gu  brath  tuilleadh  mi." 
She  asked  of  the  wind — "  //  /  lost  you,  where 

could  I  find  you  ?  " 
The  wind — "  On  the  top  of  the  cairns." 
She  asked  of  the  mist — "  //  /  lost  you,  where 

could  I  find  you  ?  " 
The  Mist — "  On  the  top  of  the  mountains." 
She  asked  of  Fame — "  //  /  lost  you,  where 

could  I  find  yoii  ?  " 
Fame — "  Lose  me  once,  and  you  will  never 

find  me  again." 

144  Eug  is  imrich  a  chlaoidheas  taigheadas. 
Death  and  flitiings  the  bane  of  good  husbandry. 


MiscEi.r.ANEOus.  43 

145  Esan  nacli  fuilig  dochainn,  cha'ii  fhaigh  e 

socair. 
He  who  cannot  suffer  pain  will  not  get  ease. 

146  Faodar  an  t-òr  fhèiti  a  cheannach  tuille  is 

daor. 
Gold  itself  may  he  too  dearly  bought. 

147  Fialachd  do'n  fhògarach, 

Is  cnaimhean  brist'  do'n  èiicoireach. 

Hospitality  to  the  exile, 

And  broken  hones  to  the  oppressor. 

148  "  Falbhaidh  mis'  a  màireach,"  ars'  an  righ  ; 
"  Fanaidh  tu  riumsa,"  ars'  a  ghaoth. 

"/  will  go  to-morrow,"  said  the  king; 
"  You  will  wait  for  me,"  said  the  wind. 

149  Fanaidh  duine  sona  ri  sith, 

Ach  bheir  duine  dona  dubh-leum. 

The  fortunate  man  waits  for  peace, 

And  the  unfortunate  takes  a  leap  in  the  dark. 

150  Far  is  sàimhche  an  uisge, 
'S  ann  is  doimhne  e. 

Where  the  water  is  stillest  it  is  deepest. 
E.P. — Still  waters  run  deep. 

151  Far  is  tainne  an  abhain 
'S  ann  is  mo  a  fuaim. 
Where  the  river  is  shallowest 
It  will  make  the  most  noise. 

152  Fq^daidh  cat  sealltainn  air  an  righ. 
The  cat  may  look  at  the  king. 

The  writer  recalls  hearing  this  proverb  quoted  by  a 
woman  to  her  husband,  when  his  quick  retort  was  : — 

Faodaidh  an  righ  na  sùilean  a  chuir  as  a  chat.       i^ 
The  king  may  put  the  eyes  out  of  the  cat.         *~ 


44  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

153  Furan  an  t-aoidh  a  thig,  greas  an  t-aoidh 

tha  falbh. 
Welcome  the  coming,  speed  the  parting  guest. 
The  above  has  its  counterparts  in  many  languages. 

154  Fuachd  caraid  is  fuachd  ainairt, 
Cha  do  mhair  iad  fada  riamh. 

The  coldness  of  a  friend,  and  the  coldness  of 

linen, 
They  never  lasted  long. 

155  Far  am  bi  toil  bidh  gniomh. 

Where  there's  a  will  there  will  he  deeds. 
E.P. — Where  there's  a  will  there's  a  way. 

156  Fear  a  cheud  riarachaidh,  cha  robh  e  riamh 

falamh. 
The  first  served  was  never  empty. 

157  Fior  no  breuge,  millear  bean  leis. 
True  or  false,  'twill  injure  a  woman. 

A  reproof  to  scandal  mongering  and  meddlesome 
tattling. 

158  Feiich  gu  bheil  do  theallach  fhein  sguaibte 
Ma's  tog  thu  hiath  do  choimhearsnaich. 
See  that  your  own  hearth  is  swept. 

Before  you  lift  your  neighbour  s  ashes. 

159  Faodaidh  breith  hiath  a  bhi  lochdach. 
A  hasty  judgment  may  he  harmful. 

160  Feumaidh  gach  beò  a  bheathachadh. 
All  living  creatures  must  he  fed. 

161  Feumaidh  na  fithichean  fhein  a  bhi  beò. 
Even  the  ravens  must  live. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  45 

This  last  would  make  the  motto  for  a  "  Red  Army," 
but  its  significance  goes  deeper  than  any  superficial  inter- 
pretation. 

162  Feitheamh   an   t-sionnaich    ri   sithionn    an 

tairbh. 
The  fox's  waiting  for  the  bull's  flesh. 

163  Feumaidh  am  fear  a  bhios  na  eigin 
Beart  air  chor-eigin  a  dheanamh. 

He  who  is  in  straits  mitst  make  a  shift  some 
way. 

164  Fhuair  e  car  t-roimhn  deathaicli. 
He  got  a  turn  through  the  smoke. "^ 

165  Gun  gleidheadh  an  Tighearna  a  ghealach 

bho  na  coin. 
May  the  Lord  preserve  the  moon  from  the  dogs. 

166  Gleidhidh  aire  innleachd  ged  nach  gleidh  i 

oighreachd. 

Necessity    incites    inventiveness    although    it 
may  not  win  a  fortune. 

167  Glòir  mhòr  a  cholainn  bhig. 

Great  praise  {sound)  from  a  little  body. 

168  Gabhaidh  gach  dath  dubh, 
Ach  cha  ghabh  dubh  gach  dath. 
Any  colour  will  take  black, 

But  black  will  not  take  any  colour. 


*Founded  on  a  very  old  custom  of  putting  a  newly 
christened  child  in  a  basket,  and  handing  it  over  and  round       >/* 
the  fire  in  order  to  counteract  evil  spirits.  I     , 


46  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

169  Glac  ciall,   gabh    biadh,    iarr    Dia's   cha'n 

eagail  duit. 
Have  sense,  take  food,  seek  God,  and  there's 
no  fear  of  you. 

170  Gluais  faicilleach  le  cupau  Ian. 
Move  warily  with  a  full  cup. 

171  Gheibh  loman  an  dorus. 
The  nÌPGard  will  he  dismissed. 


172  Gum  bidheadhmaid  air  ar  gleidlieadh  \ 
Bho  lagli's  bho  lighichean. 

May  we  be  preserved  from  lawyers  and  from 
doctors. 
Truly  a  verj'  ferveut  wish,  this  one. 

173  Gheibh  thu  e,  nuair  a  gheibh  thu  nead  na        -] 

cuthaig.  ■ 

You  will  get  it  when  you'll  find  the  cuckoo's         < 

nest.  ;: 

It  is  well-known  that  the  cuckoo  never  makes  a  nest  I 

for  itself.     A  Scots  parallel  is  : —  \ 

It  is  ill  to  take  the  breeks  off  a  Hielan'  man.  \ 

This  Lowland  saying  had  force  only  when  all  High- 
landers wore  the  kilt.  In  this  connection  the  fact  may  be 
recalled  that  it  required  an  Act  of  Parliament  to  take  the 
kilt  off  the  Highlander,  and  another  Act  of  Parliament  to 
repeal  the  previous  one.  In  this  respect  the  Highland  garb 
is  unique.  The  Irish  National  dress  was  prohibited  b}--  an 
Act  of  the  English  Parhament,  and  this  Act  has  never  been 
repealed,  although  now  dead  from  inanition. 

174  Gheibh  foighidinn  furtachd.     >  ^  i^isi^L  <i^^  ^^ 
Patience  will  he  comforted. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  47 

175  Gheibh  an  t-uaibhreach  leigeadh  an  uair  is 

àirde  e. 
The  proud  will  get  a  fall  when  at  their  highest. 

176  Glòir  mhillis  a  mheallas  an  t-amadan. 
Sweet  words  beguile  a  fool. 

177  Ged  is  beag  an  dreathan-donn  ni  e  fuaim. 
Although  the  wren  he  small  it  will  make  a  noise. 

178  Gheibh  baoth  baobh  a  guidhe 
Ged  nach  fhaigh  a  h-anam  tròcair. 
A  wicked  woman  will  get  her  wish 
But  her  soul  will  not  get  mercy. 

iy(^  Ged  a  bheirteadh  a  bhò  do'n  an  dorus  mhòr, 
Reachadh  i  fhein  do'n  bhàthaich. 
Though  a  cow  he  taken  to  the  mansion  door, 
She,  herself,  will  go  to  the  byre  door. 

180  Ged  is  àird  'oscionn  nam  bochd 
*      A  sheallas  an  saibhir, 

Bidh  iad  an  cuideachd  a  a  chèile  fhàthast. 
Though  high  above  the  poor  the  rich  may  look. 
They  will  he  all  together  yet. 

181  Gealladh  gun  a  choimhghealladh, 
Is  miosa  sin  na  dhiultadh. 
Promising  but  not  fulfilling, 

Is  worse  than  refusing. 

182  Ged  is  grinn  an  sioda 

Is  coma  leis  co  air  am  bi  e. 
Though  the  silk  be  fine. 
It  cares  not  who  wears  it. 


48  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

183  Is  sleamhain  an  leac  aig  dorus  an  taighe 

mhòr. 
Slippery   is   the   flagstone    [doorstep)    at   the 
mansion  house  door. 

A  hint  of  the  uncertainty  of  depending  on  favours  from 
those  in  high  places,  and  that  one's  own  efforts  should  be 
depended  upon  as  the  means  to  success.  There  are,  how- 
ever, exceptions  to  this  as  to  every  other  rule,  note,  for 
instance,  the  following  — 

Is  fhearr  caraid  's  a  chùirt  na  crùu  's  an  sporran. 
A  friend  at  Court  is  better  than  a  crown  in  the  purse. 

The  proverb  notwithstanding,  money  talks  to-day  as 
it  never  did  before,  and  with  plenty  in  one's  purse,  one 
need  not  trouble  about  the  mansion  house's  slippery  door- 
step. Money  is  also  better  distributed  than  at  any  time 
before,  despite  the  clamour  by  some  seH-obsessed  folk 
against  so-called  Capitalists.  In  these  altered  circumstances 
the  more  general  application  of  some  old-wise  sayings  may 
have  lost  some  of  their  force,  but  they  still  retain  a  meaning 
and  a  moral  worthy  of  attention. 

184  Is  fhearr  na'n  t-òr  sgeul  air  inns'  air  choir. 
Better  than  gold  is  a  tale  well  told. 

185  Is  fhearr  bloigh  bheag  le  'bheannachd 
Na  bloigh  mòr  le  mallachd. 

Better  a  small  portion  with  a  blessing 
Than  a  large  portion  with  a  cursing. 

186  Is  fhearr  a  bhi  leisg  gu  ceannach 
Na  ruighinn  gu  pàigheadh. 
Hesitation  in  buying 

Is  better  than  delay  in  paying. 

187  Is  fhearr  an  cù  a  bhogas  earball 
Na  CÙ  a  chuireas  drang  air. 
Better  the  dog  that  dips  its  tail 
Than  the  dog  that  snarls. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  49 

i88  Is  laduma  gach  cù  air  a  shitig  fhein. 
Every  dog  is  bold  on  his  own  midden. 

189  "Is  bigead  e  sud,"  ars'  an  dreathan  donn, 
Nuair  a  thug  e  Ian  a  ghuib  a  loch  mòr  uisge. 
"  It  is  less  for  that,"  as  the  wren  said,  when 

it  took  the  full  of  its  hill  from  the  large  lake. 

190  Is  olc  an  t-iasad  nach  fhiach  a  chuir  dhach- 

aidh 
'Tis  a  had  loan  that's  not  worth  sending  home. 

191  Is  mòr  an  eire  an  t-aiueolas. 
Ignorance  is  a  great  burden. 

192  Is  fhearr  còmhairl  na  thrath,  na  tiodhlac 

fadalach 
A  timely  advice  is  better  than  a  late  gift. 

193  Is  fhearr  deagh  eiseamplair  na  cronachadh. 
Better  a  good  example  than  a  reproof. 

194  Is  uaisle  am  breid  na  toll. 

The  patch  is  more  respectable  than  a  hole 
{rent) . 

195  Is  cam  's  is  direach  an  lagh. 

Crooked  {uncertain)  and  straight  {sure)  is  the 
law. 

196  Is  e  eagail  an  Tigheama  toiseach  an  eòlais. 
The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  know- 

'  le. 


197  Is   bòidhche   leis   an   fhithich  a  garraiche- 
gorm  fein. 
The  raven  thinks  its  own  chic  the  prettiest. 

D 


H^ 


50  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

198  Is  i  a  chiall  cheannaichte  is  fhearr. 
Bought  wit  is  best. 

199  Is  trie  a  chaidh  feala-dhà  gu  fealla-rireadh. 
Jesting  frequently  turns  to  earnest. 

200  Is  mairig  a  dheanadh  èibhneas  ri  dubhachas 

fir  eile. 
Woe  to  him  who  would  make  light  of  another 
mans  grief. 

201  Is  ann  air  a  shon  fhein  an  ni  an  cat  crònan. 
It  is  to  please  itself  that  the  cat  croons. 

I  202  Is  fhearr  na'n  f-òr  sgeul  air  inns'  air  choir,  j 
L,       Better  thar^gold  is  a  tale  well  told.  ^ 

203  Is  sona  cuideaehd  aig  a  bhùird, 

Is  mairg  a  bhios  ri  bhiadh  na  aonar. 
'Tis  pleasant  with  company  at  the  table, 
Woe  to  him  who  feeds  alone. 

204  Is  fhearr  beagan  storais  na  mòran  chàirdean. 
Better  a  little  of  one's  own  than  many  friends. 

205  Is  fhearr  caitheamh  na  meirgeadh. 
Better  wear  than  rust. 

206  Innleachd  Shasuinn,  is  neart  Alba. 
England's  art,   and  Scotland's  force. 

207  Is  buan  gach  olc. 
Evil  is  lasting. 

208  Is  buaine  na  gach  ni  an  nàire. 
More  lasting  than  all  else  is  shame. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  51 

209  Is  fhearr  duine  na  daoine. 
A  man  is  better  than  men. 

In  this  is  heard  the  cry,  a  yearning  for  a  leader,  a  man 
for  the  moment ;  the  man  for  an  emergency,  when  quick 
decision  and  action  is  required.  There  are,  however, 
conceivable  circumstances  when  the  council,  or,  according 
to  the  terminology  of  present  day  politics,  the  Conference 
is  preferable,  and  so,  the  proverb  again  comes  in  : — 

Is  fhearr  da  cheann  na  aonan. 
Two  heads  are  better  than  one. 

210  Is  duine  coir  e,  ach  na  iarr  a  chuid. 

He  is  a  fine  man,  but  do  not  ask  of}  him. 

The  foregoing  shows  that  the  niggardly  were  the  butt 
and  scorn  of  the  good  old  folk  in  "  the  good  old  days." 

211  Is  fhearr  a  bhi  cinnteach  na  bhi  caillteach. 
Better  be  sure  than  be  a  loser. 

212  Is  miosa  droch  earbsa  na  bhi  gun  earbsa 

idir. 
A  shaken  trust  is  worse  than  no  trust  at  all. 

213  laUan  fada  a  leathar  chàich. 

Long  laces  from  other  people  s  leather. 

214  Is    math    an    seirbheiseach    teine, 
Ach's  olc  a  mhaighstir  e. 

Fire  is  a  good  servant,  but  a  bad  master. 

215  Is  leisg  le  leisgein  a  dhol  an  laidhe, 
Ach's  seac  leisg  leis  èiridh. 
Lazy  is  lazy  in  going  to  bed. 

But  seven  times  lazier  to  rise. 

216  Is  fhearr  greim  caillich  na  tagar  ri  h. 
Better  an  old  woman's  bite  than  the  craving 

of  a  king. 


52  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

217  Is  mòr  a  dh'  fhuilingeas  cridhe  ceart  mas 

bris  e. 

The  upright  heart  endures  a  great  deal  before 
it  breaks. 

218  Is  fhearr  diol  farmaid,  na  diol  truaighe. 
Better  the  recompense  of  envy  than  the  wages 

of  woe. 

219  Is    fhearr    a    bid    na    d'aonar    na'n    droch 

chuideachd. 
Better  be  alone  than  in  bad  company. 

220  Is  coma  leis  an  righ  Eoghann,  is  coma  le 

Eoghann  co-dhiù. 
The  king  doesn't  care  for  Ewen, 
And  Ewen  doesn't  care  a  straw. 

221  Is  math  am  buachaill'  an  oidhche, 

Bheir  e  dhachaidh  gach  beathach  is  duine. 
Night  is  a  good  shepherd,  it  bringeth  home 
man  and  beast. 

222  Is  minig  a  dh'fhosgail  b.eul  uaighe 
Taobh-cruaiche  do  fhear  eile. 

Opening  a  grave  has  frequently  been  another 

man's  opening  to  possession. 
Literally,  "  opening  to  a  stack's  side,"  stacks  of  corn 
being  the  sign  of  possessions  in  those  days,  when  all  wealth 
was  from  the  land. 

223  Is  mairg  a  shineadh  làmh  na  h-airce 
Do  chridh  na  circe. 

Woe  to  him  ivho  stretches  poverty's  hand 
To  the  hen-hearted. 

224  Is  trie  a  bheothaich  srad  bheag  teinne  mòr. 
A  small  spark  has  often  kindled  a  great  fire. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  53 

225  Is  ìonnan  a  bhi  ad'  thosd  ri  aideachadh.  - 

Silence    is    equivalent    to    confession. 

226  Is  dall  duine  an  cùisean  dhaoin  eile. 

A  man  is  blind  in  another  mans  concerns. 

227  Is  duilich  seann  cheann  a  chuir  air  guallain 

òga. 
'Tis  difficult  to  put  an  old  head  on  a  young 
shoulder. 

228  Is  labhrach  na  builg  fas. 
Empty  bladders  are  loquatious. 

E.P. — An  empty  pail  makes  most  noise. 

229  Is  mairg  air  nach  bi  eagal  na  breuge. 

Woe  to  him  who  is  not  afraid  of  falsehood. 

230  Is  e'n  cunntas  ceart  a  dh'fhàgas  càirdean 

buidheach. 
Correct  reckoniìig  satisfies  friends. 

2^31  Is  minig  a  bha  còmhairle  righ  an  ceann 
amadain. 
Counsel  fit  for  a  king  often  comes  from  a  fool. 

232  Is  fheirde  cù  cù  a  chronachadh. 

A  dog  is  the  better  of  another  dog  being  re- 
proved. 

233  Is  sona  cuid  an  comuinn, 

Ach  is  mairg  a  chromar  na  aonar. 
'Tis  enjoyable  to  share  in  company, 
But  'tis  wretched  to  be  partaking  alone. 

234  Is  ùasal  mac-an-t-iiasail  an  tir  na  meirleach, 
Ach  cha'n  ùasal  mach  an  t-ùasal  mar  bi  e 

treubhach. 


54  GAEUC    PROVERBS. 

Gentle  is  the  son  of  the  gentleman  among 

thieves, 
But  the  gentleman's  son  is  no  gentleman  if  he 

be  not  dexterous. 

In  the  olden  times  dexterit}''  in  action  was  deemed  the 
supreme  attainment.  It  was  frequently  so  necessary  if 
one  were  to  get  away  with  a  whole  skin. 

235  Is  cliùtach  an  onair  na  'n  t-òir. 
Honour  is  more  renowned  than  gold  is  precious. 

236  lyabhraidh    a    bheul,    ach    se'n    gniomh    a 

dhearbhas. 
The  mouth  will  speak,  hut  deeds  are  the  proof. 

237  lyàmh  fhad,  is  cead  a  sineadh. 

A  long  arm,  and  leave  to  stretch  it. 

238  lyionar  beam  mòr  le  clachan  beaga. 
Great  gaps  may  he  filled  with  small  stones. 

239  Leig  leis  na  marbh  laidhe. 
Let  the  dead  lie. 

240  Ivcaghaidh  a  choir  am  beul  an  anamhainn 
Justice   melts   in   the   motiths   of   the   faint- 
hearted. 

241  lyàmhan  leanabh  is  goile  seann  duine. 

A  child's  hands  and  an  old  man's  appetite. 
[Insatiahle.) 

242  Ivan  beòl  a  bhiadh,  is  Ian  bail'  a  nàire. 

A  7nouth  full  of  food  and  a  town  full  of  shame. 

243  Mar  comas  dhuit  teumadh,  na  ruisg  do  dh' 

eudadh. 
If  you  cannot  hite,  do  not  show  your  teeth. 
E.P. — Discretion  is  the  better  part  of  valour. 


MISCEIvI^ANEOUS.  55 

244  Muin  air  mhuin  thig  an  trioblaid,  j^  ^^^t — 
Miann  air  mhiann  thig  an  t-slàint.        '^• 
Troubles  come  one  by  one, 

Health  will  come  by  force  of  will. 

245  Mar  a  theil  agad  ach  aon  sùil 
Faic  leis  an  t-sùil  a  th'agad. 
//  you  have  but  one  eye 

Look  with  the  eye  youve  got. 

246  Meath  am  facal  ma'  leig  thu  'mach  e 

'S  cha  chuir  e  dragh  ort  fhein  no  air  duin'  eile. 
Temper  the  word  before  giving  it  utterance, 
And  it  will  not  trouble  yourself  or  any  other 
man. 

247  Mar  is  sine  'sann  is  miosa,  coltach  ri  cuil 

eanan  a  mtiadadh  ruaidh. 
The  older  the  worse,  like  the  fox's  cubs. 

248  Ma  's  ann  ortsa  tlia  feum, 
Bidheadh   an   t-saothair  ort. 

//  its  you  that's  needed, 
Let  the  labour  be  yours. 

249  Millidh  droch  comh-luadair  deagh  bheusan. 
Bad  conversation  spoils  good  manners. 

250  Mas  math  leat  sith,  càirdeas  agus  ckiain, 
Eisd,  faic,  is  fuirich  sàmhach. 

//  thy  wish   be  for  peace,   friendship,   and 

appeasement. 
Listen,  look,  and  keep  quiet. 

251  Ma  bhualas  tu  cù  na  balach,  bual  gu  math 

iad. 
//  you  strike  a  dog  or  a  lout,  strike  home. 


56  GAEWC    PROVERBS. 

252  Na  las  sop  nach  urrainn  duit  fein  a  chuir  as. 

Do  not  light  a  whisp    [a  fire)   you  cannot 
yourself  put  out. 
There  is  a  rebuke  here  to  the  foolhardy. 

253  Ni  èiridh   subhach  gnuis  shuilbhir. 

A  glad  heart  makes  a  cheerful  countenance. 

254  Ni  aire  innleaclid. 
Necessity  devises. 

255  Na  tog  toghail  air  an  aineoil. 
Do  not  quarrel  with  a  stranger. 

256  Na  toir  breith  air  reir  coltais, 

Faodaidh  cridh  beartach  a  bhi  fo  chòta 

bochd. 
Judge  not  by  appearances, 
A  rich  heart  may  he  under  a  poor  coat. 

257  Na  toir  iasad  air  an  iasad. 
Do  not  lend  a  loan. 

258  Na'n  deanadh  mo  làmh 
Mar  a  dh'  iarradh  mo  shtiil. 
//  my  hand  would  hut  do 

As  my  eye  would  desire. 

259  Na'm    faighteadh    ceud    sagairt    gun    'bhi 

sanntach  ; 
Ceud  tailleir  gun  'bhi  sunndaeh  ; 
Ceud   griasaiche   gun    'bhi    breugaeh ; 
Ceud  figheadair  gun  'bhi  bradach  ; 
Ceud  gobha  gun  'bhi  pàiteach  ; 
Is    ceud    cailleach    nach    robh    riamh    air 

chèiHdh, 
Chuireadh  iad  an  crùn  air  an  righ  gun  aon 

bhuille. 


MISCEI.I.ANEOUS.  57 

If  there  could  he  found  — 

A  hundred  priests  who  were  not  greedy  ; 

A  hundred  tailors  who  were  not  hilarious  ; 

A  hundred  shoemakers  who  were  not  un- 
truthful ; 

A  hundred  weavers  who  were  not  theivish ; 

A  hundred  blacksmiths  who  were  not  thirsty  ; 

And  a  hundred  old  women  who  were  never 
gossiping  ; 

They  could  put  the  crown  on  the  kings  head 
without  striking  a  blow 

260  Nuair  is  mo  a  fhuair  mi  'sann  is  lugha  bha 

agam. 
The  more  I  got,  the  less  I  had. 

261  Nuair  a  bhristeas  aon  bho  an  gàradh, 
Theid  a-dhà-dheug  a  mach  air. 
When  one  cow  breaks  the  dyke 

Twelve  will  go  through  {the  breach). 

1262  Ni  aire  innleachd. 
I  flt5'i»L       Necessity  will  find  a  way. 

E.P. — Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention 

263  Na  mol  neach  's  am  bith  tuilleadh  's  a  choir, 
Gus  nach  bi  rum  agad  a  chàineadh. 

Do  not  praise  any  one  too  much  ; 
Leave  room  to  decry  him. 

264  Na  spion  fiasaig  fir  nach  aithne  dhuit. 
Do  not  pluck  the  heard  of  a  stranger. 

265  Nuair  a  bhios  ni  aig  a  chat  ni  i  dùrsdan. 
When  the  cat  gets  anything  it  will  purr. 


.3 


58  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

266  Oran  na  circe  beadaidh. 
The  song  of  the  peri  hen. 

267  Ochain  an  aois,  is  fhaid'  i  na'm  bàs  ! 
Ochone  old  age,  His  longer  than  death ! 

268  Ruisgeadh  e  a  thaigh  fhein  a  thuathadh 

thaigh  a  choimhearsnaich. 
He  would  hare  his  own  house  to  thatch  his 
neighbours. 

This  last  illustrates  the  spirit  of  co-operation  that  was 
inherent  in  the  clan  system,  and  which  can  still  be  seen  and 
felt  wherever  is  found  a  community  of  the  old  stock  still 
settled  on  the  land.  This  was  the  spirit  that  made  possible 
the  economy  of  small  holdings.  In  most  rural  parts  to-day 
the  population  is  so  sparce,  and  among  the  few  that  are 
there  there  are  so  many  incomers  who  are  alien  to  the  old 
customs  and  habits,  with  the  result  that  the  old  spirit  is 
dying  out.  Life  on  the  land  is  becoming  more  prosaic, 
more  difficult,  less  pleasing  ;  hence  one  of  the  contributory 
causes  to  the  depopulation  of  the  rural  areas.  In  conjunc- 
tion with,  and  in  reality,  an  essential  part  of  the  old  spirit 
was  the  old  Highland  hospitality  which  had  become  pro- 
verbial. A  delightful  example  of  it  is  to  be  found  recorded 
in  the  late  Dr.  Charles  Fraser-MacKintosh's  book,  Inverness- 
shire,  Parish  by  Parish.  We  are  told  there  of  an  old  worthy 
of  the  Keppoch  Clan  who  had  been  out  in  the  Forty-five 
with  "  Prince  Charlie."  He  was  known  as  MacDonald  of 
TuUochchrom.  TuUochchrom  was  a  farm  within  the 
confines  of  Lochaber  and  Badenoch.  His  dwelling  was  on 
a  lonely  spot,  but  near  the  high  road,  which  could  be  seen 
for  a  considerable  distance  while  looking  either  to  the  right 
or  to  the  left  from  his  front  door.  In  the  evening  of  his 
days  he  would  sit  outside  watching  for  the  approach  of 
pedestrians,  and  on  seeing  one  he  would  at  once  repair 
inside  to  inform  his  wife,  and  preparations  would 
be  made  for  providing  the  wayfarer  with  a  meal.  No 
matter  who  he  might  be  he  must  needs  have  travelled  a 


MISCEI.I.ANEOUS.  59 

considerable  distance  before  passing  Tullochchrom.  Some- 
times it  happened  that  the  wayfarer  would  pass  without 
calling,  upon  which  the  old  worthy  would  wax  indignant, 
remarking  that  the  stranger  must  surely  be  "a  dog  at  his 
his  own  home  when  he  would  pass  another  man's  door 
without  calling." 

V    269  Ruigidh  each  mall  a  mhuilean, 
"^  Ach  cha  ruig  an  t-each  a  bhristeas  a  chnaim- 

hean. 
The  slow  horse  will  reach  the  mill, 
But  the  one  that  breaks  its  hones  will  not. 

270  Se  barail  an  duine  ghlic  is  tinne  theid  air 

an  fhirinn. 
The  wise  mans  opinion  comes  nearest  the 

truth. 

271  Cur  siod  air  cabar  is  bidh  e  breagh. 
Put  silk  on  a  stick  and  it  will  look  fine. 

272  Sionnach  ag  iarraidh  a  ruagaidh. 
The  fox  asking  to  be  chased. 

273  Sireadh  sop  an  cònlaich. 
Searching  for  a  whisp  among  straw. 

274  Sith  do  d'  anam,  is  Clach  air  do  Chàrn. 
Peace  to  your  soul,  and  a  stone  on  yoiir  cairn. 

"  Clach  air  do  chàrn  "  (a  stone  on  your  cairn)  is  one 
of  our  best-known  sayings,  and  it  is  founded  on  a  custom 
that  was  common  until  recent  years,  probably  still  practised 
in  some  parts.  At  funerals,  the  coffin  resting  on  bearers 
carried  in  relays  by  the  mourners,  sometimes  miles  having 
to  be  traversed  in  this  way,  there  were  certain  recognised 
stages  where  halts  were  made,  a  rest  and  refreshments 
taken.  A  cairn  was  erected  on  the  spot,  each  individual 
contributing  a  stone  to  the  erection,  being  synonymous 


6o  GAEWC    PROVERBS. 

with  a  stone  to  the  memory  of  the  deceased.  Any  friend 
unavoidably  absent  from  the  funeral  would  take  advantage 
of  the  first  opportunity  to  make  his  individual  contribution 
in  the  same  way.  Hence  the  origin  of  the  saying  :  "  A  stone 
on  your  cairn." 

275  Sliob  am  bodacli  is  sgròbaidh  e  thu  ; 
Bual  am  bodach  is  ni  e  ùmhlachd  dhuit. 
Stroke  the  churl,  and  he  will  scratch  you, 
Strike  him  and  he  will  do  obeisance  to  you. 

276  Suidh  gu  h-iosal  is  diol  gu  h-uasal. 
Sit  lowly  and  pay  nobly. 

277  Smaointich  gu  math  an  toiseach, 
Deanadar  an  sin. 

Consider  well  in  the  first  place, 
Then  act. 

278  Tha  thapadh  air  teanga   an  Eirionnaich, 
Ach  's  ann  an  dèigh  làimli  th'an  Gaidheal 

glic. 
The  Irishman's  wit  is   on   [the  tip  of)   his 

tongue, 
The  Gael  is  wise  after  the  event. 

v^      279  Tha  taobh  dubh  is  taobh  geal  air. 
Mar  a  bh'air  bàta  Mhic-Iain  Ghearr. 
He  has  a  white  side  and  a  black  side, 
Like  M'lan  Ghearr's  boat. 
The  M'lain  Ghearr  and  his  boat,  upon  whose  story  the 
foregoing  saying  is  based,  is  localised  in  different  localities 
by  different  versions  of  the  story.     The  substance,  how- 
ever,   is   the   same.      Mac-Iain-Ghearr     was     a     notable 
sea  rover  of  the  western  coast.     His  galley  was  painted 
white  on  one  side  and  black  on  the  other  side.    As  a  conse- 
quence, when  seen  on  the  way  to  harry  a  particular  locality, 
and  a  watch  was  set  for  his  return,  Maclain  Ghearr's  boat 


MISCElvLANEOUS.  6l 

having  a  different  appearance  on  his  return  journey,  was 
unsuspectingly  allowed  to  pass  without  challenge.  In 
this  manner  he  frequently  contri\ed  to  outwit  his  sorely- 
tried  enemies.  Hence  the  saying.  The  plan  of  cgmou- 
flaging  our  sea-craft  did  not  originate  with  the  Great  War. 

280  Tachraidh  na  daoine, 
Ach  cha  tachair  na  cnuic. 

Men  will  meet, 

But  the  hills  will  not. 

281  Tha  beagan  tròcair  aig  an  fhairge, 
Ach  cha'n  eil  tròcair  idir  aig  na  creagan. 
The  waves  have  some  mercy, 

But  the  rocks  have  no  mercy  at  all. 

282  Theid  aig  neach  air  e  fhein  a  ghleidheadh 

bho'n   mheirleach 
Ach  cha'n  urrainn  e  e  fhein  a  ghleidheadh 

bho'n  a  bhreugaidear. 
One  can  protect  himself  from  a  thief, 
But  not  from  a  liar. 

283  Tha'n  uaisle  mar  a  chumar  i. 
Nobility  is  as  it  is  kept. 

284  Tha'n  uaill  na  bleidire  cho  mòr  ris  an  eas- 

bhuidh, 
Agus  mòran  ni  's  uaibhriche. 
Pride  is  as  importunate  as  poverty, 
And  much  more  arrogant. 

I  285  Tha  mi  na's  eòlaiche  air  coille, 

/('        Na  bhi  fo  eagal  na  cailHch-oidhche. 

/  am  too  accustomed  to  a  wood 

To  he  afraid  of  an  owl. 


62  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

286  Tha  fios  fithich  agad. 

You  have  a  raven  s  knowledge. 

Supernatural  knowledge  was  attributed  to  the  raven 
by  both  the  Gael  and  the  Norse.  Tradition  records  that 
Odin,  the  hero-god  of  the  Norse,  was  kept  informed  of 
coming  events  by  two  ravens  in  his  possession. 

287  Tha  smùdan  fèin  an  ceann  gach  fòid 
Is  dòruinn  ceanagailt  ris  gach  math. 

Every  feat-end  has  its  own  smoke, 
And  there's  something  awanting  in  everything 
good. 

288  Tha  sealladh  dhiot  ua  leighis  do  shiiileau 

goirt. 
A  sight  of  you  is  a  cure  for  sore  eyes. 

289  Trod  chàirdean  is  sith  nàimhdean, 

Da  rud  air  nach  leigear  a  leas  feart  a  thoirt. 
Quarrelling  among  relatives  and  peace  among 

enemies. 
Two  things  that  need  not  be  considered. 

290  Tha  iongantas  air  a  chat  earball  a  bhi  air. 
The  cat  wonders  at  its  having  a  tail. 

291  "  Tha  biadh  is  ceòl  an  so,"  mar  a  thuirt  a 

mhadadh  ruadh, 
'S  e  ruith  air  falbh  leis  a  pliiob. 
There  is  meat  and  music  here, 
As  the  fox  said,  when  running  away  with  the 

bagpipes. 

292  Tilaidhidh  am   biadh   fiadh   na   beinne. 
Food  will  entice  the  mountain  deer. 


MISCELLANEOUS.  63 

293  Tagh  do  chomhluadar  ma'n  tagh  thu  do 

dheoch. 
Choose  your  company  before  you  choose  your 
drink. 

294  Taisg  bonn  is  cosg  bonn,  is  bidh  tu  sona  ; 
Taisg  bonn  's  na  cosg  bonn,  is  bidh  tu  dona. 
Save  a  coin  and  spend  a  coin,  and  you'll  he 

happy. 
Save  a  coin  and  spend  one  not,  unhappiness 
will  he  your  lot. 

295  Thig  crioch  air  an  saoghal,     ]  cf^Ì^  Ì  ^flL^ 
Ach  mamdh  gaol  is  ceol.       J  "J^t^  Xc,  m 

The  world  will  pass  away,  /   ^7/ 

But  love  and  music  last  for  aye. 

296  Tliig  math  a  mulad,  's  thig  sonas  a  suaimh- 

neas. 
Good  will  come  from  sadness,  and  happiness 
fro7n  quietness. 

297  Thig  eairleigeadh  air  na  righrean.  )C 
Exigencies  come  on  kings. 

298  Theid  seòltachd  thar  spionnadh. 

Cunning  overcomes  strength. 

299  Theid   an   t-anmhunn   dichiollach   thar   an 

làidir   leisg. 
The  diligent  weak  will  win  o'er  the  lazy  strong. 

300  Teisteanas  a  choimhearsnaich  air  gach  neach. 
The  testimony  of  neighbours  is  everybody's 

test. 


64  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

301  Thoir  an  tarbh  do'n  Tigh-mhòr, 
Is  iarraidh  e  do'n  bhàthaich. 
Take  the  hull  to  the  mansion, 
And  it  will  want  to  the  byre. 

>302  Trian  a  thig  gun  iarraidh 
Eagal,  iadach,  is  gaol. 
Three  that  come  unsought — 
Fear,    jealousy,    and   love. 

303  Truisidh  cnaimh  feòil  fhad's  is  beò  an  smior. 
Bones  will  gather  flesh  while  the  marrow  is 

sound. 

304  Theid  an  dichioU  thar  neart. 

Diligence  will  overcome  strength. 

305  Thoir  do  chuid  do  dhuine  falamh  is  gheibh 

thu  air  ais  e  diibailte. 
Give  to  the  needy,  and  you  will  get  it  hack 
douhle  fold. 

306  Uaisle  gun  chuid,   is  maragain  gun  gheir. 
Birth  without  means,  and  puddings  without 

suet. 

307  Urram  a  bhleidire  do'n  stràcair. 

The   sneak's   difference   to   the  swaggerer. 


PART  II. 

MEN,   WOMEN,   MARRIAGE. 


IVIEN,   WOMEN,   MARRIAGE, 

BURCKHARDT,  in  his  preface  to  his  not- 
able collection  of  Eg3^ptian  proverbs, 
makes  the  melancholy  observation 
regarding  them  that  he  found  only  one  proverb 
among  the  hundreds  recorded  by  him  that 
expresses  any  faith  in  human  nature.  Such  a 
comment  could  not  be  justifiably  made  about  our 
Gaelic  proverbs.  As  Sheriff  Nicolson  observes  : 
— their  view  of  human  nature  is  keen  but  kindly, 
critical,  but  not  contemptuous.  Our  proverbs 
truly  portray  the  character  of  the  Highland 
people  as  a  mixture  of  diverse  qualities,  some 
admirable,  some  not  so,  but  on  the  whole  very 
respectable ;  seldom  repulsive,  oftener  attractive, 
and  rarely  indicating  selfishness,  stupidity,  heart- 
lessness,  or  treachery.  Indeed,  such  faults  are 
repeatedly  reproved  in  our  proverbs  with  anti- 
pathy,  contempt,   and  abhorrence. 

On  the  other  hand,  all  the  virtues  of  Truth- 
fulness, Honestj^  Fidelity,   Self-restraint,   Self- 
esteem,    Sense   of   Honour,    Courage,    Caution, 
Generosity,  Hospitality,  Courtesy,  Peaceableness, 
67 


68  GAELIC    PROVKRBS. 

Ivove  of  Kindred,  Patience,  Promptness,  In- 
dustry, and  Providence  are  highly  commended. 
Manliness,  in  its  every  phase,  is  revered  in  our 
proverbs,  and  all  the  virtues  will  be  found 
prominently  in  such  proverbs  as  are  evidently 
native  to  the  soil,  that  smack  of  the  heather  and 
the  homely  hearth-fires  of  the  common  people. 

lyike  all  nations,  the  Celts  have  many  proverbs 
essaying  to  portray  the  "  unscrutable  "  ways  of 
woman.  But  unlike  most  nations  their  proverbs 
regarding  them  are  never  coarse  or  sensuous. 
Sarcastic  they  are  to  a  degree,  but  kindly  even 
in  their  sarcasm.  Matthew  Arnold  asserts  that 
there  is  something  feminine  in  the  character  of 
the  Celt,  and  that  to  this  affinity  to  the  feminine 
temperament  is  attributed  that  inborn  chivalry 
and  courtliness  admitted  to  be  characteristic 
of  the  race.  This  is  a  matter  upon  which  there 
may  be  two  opinions,  but  the  writer  believes 
that  Highlanders  would  prefer  to  admit  this 
alleged  feminine  trait  than  be  without  that 
chivalry  and  that  courtliness  said  to  be  the 
result  of  it. 

The  sacredness  of  marriage,  parental  control, 
and  the  dutiful  rearing  of  their  offspring ; 
homilies  for  the  education  of  the  child,  and  for 
the  conduct  of  the  adult,  between  man  and  man, 
and  between  the  individual  and  the  community, 


MEN,    WOMEN,     MARRIAGE  69 

are  given  in  that  terse  and  effective  language  so 
characteristic  of  the  proverb. 

There  is  also  a  vein  of  quiet  humour  throughout 
our  proverbs  which  satisfactorily  beUes  the 
charge,  too  widely  believed  in,  that  the  High- 
lander is  wanting  in  that  saving  grace. 


70  GAEIvIC    PROVERBS. 

308  Am  fear  a  bhios  beudach  e  fhein, 
Cha  sguir  e  a  dli'  èigneachadh  chàich. 
He  who  is  guilty  himself 

Will  always  he  urging  others. 

309  Am  fear  a  bhios  carach  's  a  bliaile  so  bidh  e 

carach  's  a  bhail'  ud  thall. 
He  who  is  tricky  in  one  place  will  he  tricky 
in  that  other  place. 

310  Am  fear  a  bhios  modhail, 

Bidh  e  modhail  ris  a  h-uile  duine. 
He   who   is   mannerly 
Will  he  mannerly  to  all. 

311  Am  fear  a  phòsas  air  son  earrais 
Tha  e  reic  a  shaorsa. 

He  who  weds  for  dower 
Resigns  his  power. 

312  Am  fear  a  labhras  olc  mu  mnai  tha  e  cuir 

mì-chUù  air  fhein. 
Who  speaks  ill  of  his  wife  dishonours  himself. 

313  An  duine  a  bhios  fada  gun  phòsadh  caillidh 

e  a  phròis. 
He  who  is  late  in  marrying  will  lose  his  pride. 

314  Am   fear   a   gheibh   ainm   na   moch-eiridh, 

faodaidh  e  cadal  fada. 
He  who  gets  the  name  of  heing  an  early  riser 
May  take  a  long  sleep. 

315  Am  fear  a  gleidheas  long 
Gheibh  e  la  ga  seòladh. 
He  who  will  keep  a  hoat 
Will  get  a  day  for  sailing  it. 


MEN,    \VOMEN,     MARRIAGE.  71 

316  Am  fear  a  sheallas  roimhe  cha  tuislich  e. 
He  who  looks  before  him  will  not  stumble. 

E.P. —  Look  tsfore  you  leap. 

317  Am  fear  is  isle  bruidhinn 
'Se  's  fhearr  a  chluinneas. 
He  who  speaks  the  lowest 
Hears  the  best. 

318  Am  fear  is  clis  gu  gealladh, 
'Se's  clis  gu  fealladh. 

He  who  is  quickest  to  promise 
Is  also  the  quickest  to  deceive. 

y-     319  Am  fear  nach  do  dh'ionnsaich  aig  a  ghlùn, 
Cha'n  ionnsaich  e  ris  an  uilean. 
He  who  has  not  learned  at  the  knee, 
Will  not  learn  at  the  elbow. 

320  Aithnichear  am  ballach  's  a  mhaduinn, 
Briste  e  barrall  a  bhròige. 

The  clown  is  known  in  the  morning 
He  ivill  break  his  shoe  lace. 

321  Am  fear  a  bhios  air  dheireadh  beiridh  a 

bheist    air. 
The  beast  will  overtake  him  who  is  last. 

322  Am  fear  a  bhios  air  thoiseach  theid  e'n  sàs 

arms  an  làthaich. 
He  who  is  first  will  stick  in  the  mud. 

E.P.'s—Slow  but  sure. 

The  more  hurry  the  less  speed. 
Fools   will    dare    where    angels   fear  to 
tread. 

323  Air  a  mhàgan  roimh  na  casan. 
Crawling  before  walking. 


72  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

324  Aithnichear   duine   air   a   chuideachd. 
A  man  is  known  by  his  company. 

S.P. — Tell  me  the  company  yon  keep, 
And  I'll  tell  you  your  character. 

325  Am  fear  a  bhios  fada  gun  èiridh, 
Bidh  e  na  leum  fad'  an  làtha. 
He  who  is  late  in  rising 

Will  he  in  a  hurry  all  day. 

326  Am  fear  a  gheibh    bàs    gach    làtha    'se's 

fhaide  bhios  beò. 
He  who  is  dying  every  day  will  live  the  longest. 

327  Am  fear  nach  cluinn  air  choir, 
Cha  fhreagair  e  air  choir. 

He  who  will  not  listen  right 
Will  not  reply  a-right. 

328  Am  fear  is  tiuighe  claigeann 
Se  's  lugha  eanchainn. 

He  who  has  the  thickest  skull 
Has  the  smallest  brain. 

A  companion  to  the  foregoing  is  : — 
Ceann  mòr  air  duine  glic 
Is  ceann  circ  air  amadan. 

A  big  head  on  a  wise  man, 
And  a  hen's  head  on  a  fool. 

The  latter  is  not  to  be  taken  too  literally,  as  witness  the 
one  immediately  preceding  it.  The  shape  of  the  head  is 
to  be  taken  into  account. 

l^i-l  329  Am  fear  a  thig  air  na's  leir  dha, 
Thig  e  air  na  's  nàir  dha. 
He  who  speaks  of  all  he  sees, 
Will  hear  what  will  shame  him. 


MEN,    WOMEN,    MARRIAGE.  73 

330  Am  fear  nach  gleidh  an  sgillinn 
Cha  bhi  an  guinea  aige. 

Who  will  not  keep  the  penny 
Will  not  possess  the  guinea. 

331  Am  fear  nach  teich,   teichear  roimh. 
Who  will  not  flee,  will  he  fled  from. 

Come  one,  come  all,  this  rock  shall  fly 
From  its  firm  base  as  soon  as  I. 

— Scott. 

332  Am  fear  a  ghleidheas  a  theanga 
Gleidhidh  e  a  charaid. 

He  who  holds  his  tongue  keeps  his  friend. 

333  Am  fear  nach  eil  olc  air  aire  cha  smaoinich 

e  olc  air  chàich. 
He  who  is  not  evil-minded  will  not  think  evil 
of  others. 

334  Am  fear  nach  fhreagair  athair  no  a  mhàthair, 
Freagairidhe  an  id  is  tàire  leis — craicionn 

an  laogh. 
He  who  will  not  list  to  father  or  mother, 
Will  listen  to  what  will  please  him  less,  the 

calf's  skin  (the  strap). 

335  Am  fear  a  laidheas  anns  an  pholl  togaidh 
e  an  làthaich. 

He  who  lies  in  the  mud,  part  of  it  will  stick 
to  him. 

336  Am  fear  nach  leir  leas,  is  mòr  de  chèiU  a 

chailleas  e  leis. 
He  who  sees  not  his  chance  loses  sense  and 
does  not  advance. 


74  GAETJC    PROVERBS. 

337  Am  fear  aig  a  blieil,  cumadh  e  ; 
Am  fear  aig  nach  eil,  tarruinneadh  e. 
He  who  has,  let  him  hold  ; 

He  who  is  without,  let  him  pull. 

The  good  old  rule,  the  simple  plan. 
That  he  should  take  who  has  the  power, 
And  he  should  keep  loho  can. 

— Wordsn'orth. 

338  Am  fear  is  fhaide  bha  beò  riamh  fhuair  e  'm 

bàs. 

The  oldest  man  that  ever  lived,  died  at  last. 

339  Air  cho  fada  'sa  theid  thu  o'n  taighe 

Na  toir  droch  sgeul  ort  fhèin  dhachaidli  leat. 

However  far  you  roam,  no  ill  report  of  yourself 
bring  home. 

340  Am  fear  nach  gutli  a  ghuth,  cha  rath  a  rath. 
Whose  word  is  not  his  bond,  his  luck  will  never 

stand. 

341  Am  fear  nach  eisd  ris  nach  toigh  leis 
Cha'n  fhaic  e  na  's  fhearr  leis. 

He  who  ivill  not  listen  to  what  he  does  not  like 
Will  not  see  what  will  please  him. 

342  Am  fear  nach  fosgail  a  sporran  fosgaiUdh  e  a 

bheul. 
He  who  does  not  open  his  pfirse  opens  his 
mouth. 

343  An  am  an  eigin  dearbhar  na  càirdean. 
In  time  of  need  friends  will  be  tested. 

E.P. — A  friend  in  need  is  a  friend  indeed. 


MEN,     WOMEN,     MARRIAGE.  75 

344  An  car  a  bliios  's  a  mhàthair  is  giiàth  leis  a 

bhi  's  an  nighean. 
The    mother's  failings  will  naturally  he  seen 
in  the  daughter. 

345  "  A  chaillich,  an  gabh  thu  'n  righ  ?  " 
"  Cha  ghabh,  's  nach  gabh  e  mi." 

"  Crone,  will  you  have  the  king  ?  " 
"  I  won't,  as  he  won't  have  me." 

346  Aisigidh   leannanachd   an  tochradh. 

Sweet-hearting    brings     the    tochar    {dower). 

347  Aisling  caillich — mar  a  dùrachd. 

An  old  wife's  dreams — according  to  her  desires. 

348  A  pògadh  an  leanabh  air  sgàth  na  banaltrum. 
Kissing  the  child  for  the  sake  of  {while  iiuooing) 

the  nurse. 

349  Aon  mhac  caillich,  agus  aon  mhart  muilleir. 
An  old  woman's  only  son,  and  a  miller's  one 

cow. 

350  Aon  mhac  na  truaighe, 

Is  dualach  gun  teid  e'  dholaidh. 
The  unfortunate  only  son, 
Naturally  goes  to  the  dogs. 

351  Aon  nighean  caillich, 
Aon  eun  teallaich. 

The  old  wife's  only  daughter, 
The  one  hearth  chicken. 

352  An  leanabh  a  dh'  fhàgar  dha  fhein. 
Cuiridh  e  air  a  mhàthair  nàire. 

The  child  that's  left  to  himself 
Will  put  his  mother  to  shame. 


76  GAEWC    PROVERBS. 

353  A  thoil  fhein  do  gach  duine, 
'S  an  toil  uile  do  na  mnathan. 
His  own  wish  to  every  man, 
And  all  their  wishes  to  the  women. 

354  Am  fear  a  phòsas  bean  pòsaidh  e  dragh. 
He  who  marries  a  wife  marries  trouble. 

Sheriff  Nicolson  says  :  "  I  have  found  no  Gaelic  proverb 
expressing  anything  more  unfavourable  to  marriage  than 
this  one,  which  is  more  than  can  be  said  of  the  proverbs 
of  any  of  the  greater  nations  of  Europe." 

355  Aithnichear  fear  domeisg  air  faire. 

The  slattern's  husband  is" known  from  afar. 

356  Aithnichear   leanabh    air    a   bheusan. 
A  child  will  be  known  by  its  manners. 

357  Aithnichear  duine  air  a  chuideachd. 
A  man  will  be  known  by  his  company. 

358  Beiridh  bean  mac,  ach  se  Dia  a  ni  an  t-oighre. 
A  woman  may  bear  a  son,  but  God  makes  the 

heir. 

359  Bidh  an  luairgean-luatha  na  uallachan  giUie. 
The  child  that  grovels  in  the  ashes,  will  become 

a  jaunty  lad. 

360  Cha'n  fhuirich  muir  ri  uallach  ; 
Cha  dean  bean  luath  maorach, 
Cha  dean  bean  gun  nàire  cugainn,   [ 

'S  cha  dean  bean^fhuaras  gudach.    ojo 
The  sea  ne'er  waits  for  a  burden  ; 
A  restless  woman  will  not  get  bait ; 
A  shameless  woman  no  kitchen  makes, 
And  a  leisureless  woman  no  sewing  can  do. 


MEN,     WOMEN,     MARRIAGE.  JJ 

361  Bheir  duine  glic  breith  bliadlina 
Air  fear  na  h-aon  oidhche. 

A  wise  man  will  form  a  years  judgment 
From  one  night's  knowledge  of  another  man 

362  Bheir  na  daoine  beaga  rud  as  an  speur 
Cho  luath  ris  na  daoine  mora. 

The  small  men  will  take  a  thing  from  the  sky 
As  soon  as  the  tall  men. 

363  Bu  àluinn  a  gnuis  na'm  b'iul-mhor  a  bheus. 
The    countenance    were    beautiful    were    the 

behaviour  good. 

364  Bean  ruadh,  dhubh-shiiileach  ; 
Cù  lachduinn,  las-shùileach  ; 

Fear  an  fhuilt  dhuibh  's  na  fiasaige  ruadh, — 
Na  tri  còmhlaichean  is  mios  air  bith. 
A    red-haired,    black-eyed   woman ; 
A   dun,   fiery-eyed  dog ; 
A    blackhhaired,    red-bearded    man — 
The  three  unluckiest  to  meet. 

365  Bidh  an  dnine  foghainnteach  beò 
Ged  a  b'e  a  chlobh  a  choir. 
The  able  man  will  make  a  living 
Had  he  be  a  tongs  to  start  with. 

366  Comhairle  caraid  gun  iarraidh, 

Cha  d'fhuair  i  riamh  a  mheas  bu  choir  d'i. 

A  friend's  counsel,  unasked. 

Is  never  esteemed  as  it  ought  to  be. 

367  Cha  robh  thu  's  an  taighe  nuair  a  bha  ciall 

ga  roinn. 
You  were  not  at  home  when  sense  was  being 
divided. 


78  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

368  Clia  deanar  beanasptaighe  air  11a  fraigheamli 

falamh. 
House-keeping    is    not    possible    on    empty 
shelves. 

369  Cha'n  eil  feum  air  gliocas  an  bhochd, 
Na  air  pàlein  am  fàsach. 

There  is  no  need  for  the  poor's  wisdom, 
Nor  for  a  palace  in  the  wilderness. 

370  Cha  tuig  òig  aìmheart,  's  cha  tuig  amadan 

aimhleas. 
Youth    perceives    not    poverty,    and    a    fool 
discerns  not  misfortune. 

371  Cha  do  leig  duine  dha  dheòiii  a  chòir-bhreith 

do  dhuine  beò. 
No  man  willingly  parts  with  his  birthright  to 
any  other  living  man. 

372  Cha   teich   ach   cladhaire, 
Cha'n  fhuirich  ach  seapaire. 
None  but  a  craven  will  flee, 
None  but  a  sneak  will  tarry. 

373  Cridh  drc'an  gob  na  h-airc. 

A  hen's  heart  goes  with  misery. 

374  Cha  dean  triirse  ach  truaghan, 

'S  cha'n  fhaigh  fear  an  lag  mhisnichidh  bean 

ghhc  gu  la  luan. 
Only  a  poor  creature  wails  ; 
And   the   non-courageous   will   never    get    a 

prudent    imfe. 

375  Cha  robh  math  na  olc  riamh  gun  mnai  uime. 
There  never  was  good  or  ill  without  a  woman 

being  concerned  in  it. 


MEN,     WOMEN,     MARRIAGE.  79 

376  Cha  leig  an  leisg  d'a  deòin  duine  air  slighe 

choir  am  feasd. 
Indolence  never  consents  to   a   man  rightly 
pursiiing  his  way. 

377  Ceist  bradaig  air  breugaig. 

Sly  hoot's  query  concerning  tell-tale. 

378  Cha'n  eil  an  uaill  's  an  endaidh, 
Ach  's  an  fhear  a  cheannaicheas  i. 
There  is  no  vanity  in  the  dress, 

But  in  the  one  who  buys  it. 

379  Cha'n  nàir'  do  dhuine  'bhi  lag, 
Ach  's  nàir'  dha  a  bhi  bog. 

No  shame  on  a  man  to  he  weak, 
But  shame  on  him  to  he  soft. 

380  Cha  bi  an  t-suiridh  bean  gun  chosdas. 
Wooing  is  a  costly  dame. 

381  Ccannsaichidh  a  h-iiile  fear  an  droch  bhean 
Ach  an  duin'  aig  am  bi  i. 

Everyone  can  rule  a  shrew 
Except  the  one  she's  married  to. 

^  382  Fear  dubh,  dàna  ;  fear  ban,  bleideil  ; 

Fear  donn,  dualach  ;    's  fear  ruadh  sgeigeil. 
A  dark  man,  hold ;    a  fair  man,  officious  ; 
A   hrown  man,  tortuous ;    and  a  red  man, 
scornful. 

383  Fear  am  bi  an  deagh  dhuine, 

Is  duin'  e  an  cuideachd  no  na  aonar. 
Where  a  good  man  is,  he  is  a  man,  in  company 
or  alone. 


8o  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

384  Faodaidh  duine  's  am  bith  gàir  a  dheanamh 

air  cnoc. 

Any  man  can  laugh  on  a  hillside. 

385  Faodaidh  fearg  sealltainn  a  stigh  air  cridh 

an  duine  ghlic, 
Ach  còmhnaichidh  i  an  cridh  an  amadain. 
Anger  may  look  in  on  a  wise  man's  heart, 
But  it  abides  in  the  heart  of  a  fool. 

386  Fàinne  mu'n  mheur  's  gun  snàithne  mu'n 

mhàs. 
A  ring  on  the  finger  and  no  clothes  on  the  loins. 

387  Fàgaidh  siod,  is  sròl,  is  sgàrlaid, 
Gun  teinne,  gun  tuar  an  fhàrdach. 
Silk  and  satin,  and  scarlet, 
Leave  a  fireless,  colourless  hearth. 

388  Feadaireachd  bhan,  is  gairm  chearc- 
Dà  nithean  tha  toirmisgte. 
Whistling  women,  and  cackling  hens, 
Two  things  forbidden. 

389  Far  am  bi  bo  bidh  bean, 

Is  far  am  bi  bean  bidh  buaradh. 
Where  there's  a  cow  there  will  be  a  woman, 
And  where  there's   a  woman  there  will  be 
trouble. 

390  Far  nach  bi  na  mic-uchda 
Cha  bhi  na  fir-feachda, 

Where  there  are  no  boys  in  arms. 
There  will  be  no  armed  men. 

Ill  fares  the  land  to  hastening  ills  a  prey, 
Where  wealth  accumulates  and  men  decay. 

— Goldsmith. 


MEN,    WOMEN,    MARRIAGE.  8 1 

391  Far  nach  bi  na  failleanan 
Cha  bhi  na  cnothan. 
Where  there  are  no  suckers 
There  will  he  no  nuts. 

The  foregoing  two  convey  the  same  idea. 

392  Fear  nach  reic  's  nach  ceannaich  a  choir. 
A  man  who  will  neither  sell  nor  buy  the  right. 

393  Fuihngidh  gach  beathach  a  bhi  gu  math 

ach  mac  an  duine. 
Every  creature  will  suffer  being  good  but  the 
son  of  man. 

The  Gaelic  proverbs  can  be  sarcastic  to  a  degree,  as 
for  instance : — 

394  Foighidinn  nam  ban — ach  an  ctmntar  a  tri. 

Woman's  patience — 'till  you  count  three. 

This  is  pointed,  and  pithy,  and  true — sometimes. 
It  bears  the  stamp  of  the  Gael's  manner  towards  women,  in 
so  much  that  it  indicates  tolerance,  without  being  coarse. 
Sentimental,  or,  say  amorous — an  amorousness  of  a 
romantic  kind — is  a  prominent  feature  where  the  proverbs 
of  other  nations  are  too  often  sensuous.  Hence  their 
trueness  of  spirit,  and  justness  of  appreciation. 

395  Ged  nach  duine  an  t-aodach, 
Cha  duin'  e  as  eugmhais. 

Though  the  raiment  be  not  the  man, 
He  is  no  man  without  it. 

396  Glas-labhradh  air  nighean  gun  fhios — 
Ach  lasar  na  sùil  ga  innse  chs. 

The  tongue-tied  maid — too  shy  to  speak, 
Bitt  'tis  told  by  the  eyes,  and  the  glance  so  meek. 

F 


82  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

397  Ged  is  dubh  an  dearcag,  is  milis  i ; 
Ged  is  dubh  mo  chaileag,  is  bòidheach  i. 
Though  black  the  berry,  'tis  sweet ; 
Though  black  my  lassie,  she's  bonny  and  neat. 

398  Gillie  firionn  's  e  fas 

Dh'  itheadh  e  mar  mheileadh  bràth. 
The  feeding  of  a  growing  boy 
Would  a  quern-mill  aye  employ. 

399  Gabh  duine  air  fhacal  agus  each  air  aghartas. 
Judge  a  man  by  his  word,  and  a  horse  on  its 

going. 

400  Is  fhearr  bean  ghlic  na  crann  is  fearann. 
Better  a  wise  wife  than  plough  and  land. 

401  Is  fhasa  deagh  ainm  a  chall  na  chosnadh. 
A  good  name  is  easier  lost  than  gained. 

402  Is  mòr  a  dh'  fhaodar  a  dheanamh  fo  laimh 

deagh    dhuine. 
Much  may  be  done  under  the  guidance  of  a 
good  man. 

403  Is  olc  a  thig  do  shaor  a  bhi  sàr-bhuileach  ; 
Do  ghobh'  a  bhi  crith-làmhach  ; 

'S  do  leigh  a  bhi  tiom-chridheach. 

It  ill  becomes  a  carpenter  to  be  heavy-handed  ; 

A  smith  to  be  shaky -handed  ; 

Or  a  physician  to  be  tender-hearted. 

404  Is  treise  dithis  a  dol  thar  an  atha,  na  fad'o' 

chèile. 
Two  are  stronger  together,  than  far  apart,  in 
crossing  a  ford. 


MEN,     WOMEN,     MARRIAGE.  83 

405  Is  trom  an  uallach  an  aois. 
Old  age  is  a  heavy  burden. 

Old  age,  thou  art  not  to  us  kindly, 
'Gainst  thee  there  is  none  can  hold  ; 
Thou  wilt  bend  the  straighest,  and  the 
Bravest  soldier  must  grow  old. 

406  Is  beo  duine  an  deidh  a  shàrachadh, 
Ach  cha  bheo  e'n  deidh  a  nàireachadli. 
A  man  may  live  after  being  harassed, 
But  not  after  being  disgraced. 

407  Is  e'n  t-ionnsachadh  òg 

An  t-ionnsachadh  bòidheach. 
The  learning  in  youth 
Is  the  pretty  learning. 

408  Is  dileas  lotan  caraid, 

Ach  's  mealltach  pògan  nàmhaid. 
Faithful  are  the  wounds  of  a  friend. 
But  an  enemy's  kisses  are  deceitful. 

409  Is  daoi  nach  gabh  còmhairle, 

Is  deamhain  nach  gabh  seòladh. 
He  is  wicked  who  will  not  be  advised, 
He  is  a  demon  who  will  not  be  guided. 

410  Is  fearr  a  bhi  'n  iomall  a  phailteas 
Na  'n  deis-meadhon  na  bochdainn. 
Better  be  bordering  on  plenty 

Than  be  in  the  very  middle  of  poverty. 

411  Is  lag  gualainn  gun  bhràthair, 
Nuair  a  thig  na  fir  a  làthair. 

Weak  is  the  shoulder  without  a  brother, 
When  men   come  against  one  another. 


84  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

412  Is  duilich  dtdn'  a  lorgachadh  troimli  abhainn. 
It  is  difficult  to  track  a  man  through  a  river. 

413  Is  mòr  le  doimeig  a  cuid  abhrais, 
Cha'n  e  a  mhothaid  ach  a  dhorad. 
Formidable  to  the  slut  her  possession  of  stuff — 
Not  the  quantity  of  it,  hut  the  trouble  of  it. 

This  was  first  said  in  reference  to  spinning,  in  the  days 
when  housewives  generally  excelled  in  home-carding, 
home-spinning,  and  home-weaving.  Darning,  it  is  pleasing 
to  say,  is  still  practised  by  all  good  housewives. 

414  Is  fhearr  a  bhi  marbli  na  bhi  na  d'  thràill 

reamhar. 
Better  be  dead  than  he  a  fat  slave. 

415  Is  minig  a  thug  teanga  duine  greim  mòr  ri 

chagnadh. 
A  man's  tongue  will  often  give  him  a  big  bite 
to  chew. 

416  Is  minig  a  bha  pòsadh  luath  na  pòsadh 

truagh. 
Is  am  posadh  mall  na  pòsadh  dall. 
The  hurried  marriage  is  often  a  tragedy, 
And  the  slow  to  marry  are  often  blind. 

There  seems  nothing  left  here  but  to  take  one's  chance, 
by  risking  it.  Note  the  following,  it  would  make  one  furiously 
to  think  ;  but  note  also  the  proverbs  immediately  following, 
and  the  risk  will  be  found  worth  taking. 

417  Is  diù  teine,  feani  ùr, 

Is  diti  an  duine,  mì-rùn  ; 

Is  diù  dìthe,  fion  sean  ; 

Ach's  diù  an  domhain  droch  bliean. 


/ 


MEN,    WOMEN,    MARRIAGE  85 

Worst  of  fuel,  alder  green  ; 
Worst  thing  human,  malice  keen  ; 
Worst  of  drink,  wine  without  life, 
But  worst  of  all  things,  a  had  wife. 

The  foregoing  singles  out  an  individual,  what  follows 
has  a  general  application. 

418  Is  mine  min  na  gran. 
Is  mine  mnai  na  fir. 
Meal  is  finer  than  grain, 
Women  are  finer  than  men. 

A  very  delicate  and  pretty  comparison,  characteristi- 
cally Celtic.     And  here  there  is  conveyed  a  lesson. 

419  Is  i  an  t-àilleantachd  maise  nam  ban. 
Modesty  is  the  beauty  of  women. 

The  Gael  regards  woman  as  of  finer  mould,  therefore 
he  is  courteous  towards  her  ;  she  is  of  more  tender  sensi- 
bility, therefore  he  is  deferential  towards  her.  He  is  not, 
however,  too  servile  in  his  admiration  of  her  ;  he  is  not 
insensible  to  her  faults,  and  he  does  not  hesitate  to  condemn 
them  in  his  proverbs.  The  more  exceptionable  they  be 
the  more  conspicuous  will  they  be,  and  hence  the  severity 
of  his  condemnation,  but  there  is  rarely  any  coarseness  in 
his  expression  of  it. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  pay  a  higher  compliment  to  the 
sex,  and  it  would  be/equally  difficult  to  do  it  more  forcibly 
than  in  the  following  : — 

420  Tagh  nighean  an  deagh  mhathair 
Ged  a  b'e  an  Diabhuil  a  h-athair. 
Choose  the  good  mother's  daughter 
Were  the  Devil  her  father. 

The   same   idea   is   more  tenderly   conveyed   in   the 
beautiful  Enghsh  proverb  : — 
The  hand  that  rocks  the  cradle  rules  the  world. 


86  GAEWC    PROVERBS. 

He  knows  nevertheless  that  perfection  is  not  to  be 
expected.  Burns'  "  I^ass  of  Ballochniyle  "  notwithstanding  : 
and  so  he  says  : — 

421  Na  gabh  te  air  bith  mar  mnai 
A  sheallas  i  fhèin  gun  mheang. 
Take  no  woman  for  a  wife 

Who  presents  herself  without  a  flaw. 
He  is  still  more  persistent  when  he  sa5'-s  : — 

422  Nuair  a  chi  thu  bean  oileanach, 
Beir  oirre,  beir  oirre  ; 

Mar  a  beir  thus'  oirre, 

Beiridh  fear  eil'  oirre. 

When  you  see  a  well-bred  womafi, 

Catch  her,  catch  her  ; 

If  you  don't  do  it, 

Someone  else  will  match  her. 

^      423  lyùb  am  fàillean  nuair  a  tha  e  maoth. 
Bend  the  sapling  while  it  is  young. 

424  Ivcig  leis  na  marbh  laidhe. 
Let  the  dead  lie. 

425  Mar  a  mheasas  duin'  e  fein, 
\S  ann  a  mheasas  each  e. 
As  a  man  esteems  himself 

So  will  he  he  esteemed  by  others. 

426  Mas  fearail  thu,  na  biodh  gruaim  ort. 
//  you  are  manly,  don't  be  gloomy. 

"b^X    427  Ma  dh'  innseas  duine  na's  lèir  dha 
Innsidh  e  na's  nàir'  dha. 
If  a  man  tells  all  he  sees,  he'll  tell  what  will 
shame  him. 


MEN,     WOMEN,     MARRIAGE.  87 

428  Ma's  math  leat  do  mholadh,  faigh  bàs  ; 
Ma's  math  leat  do  chàineadh  pòs. 

//  you  wish  to  he  praised,  die ; 
If  you  wish  to  he  decried,  marry. 

429  Mac  màthaireil,  is  nighean  àthaireil. 

A  son  like  the  mother,  and  a  daughter  like  the 
father. 

%   430  Mar  a  chaitheas  duin'  a  bheatha, 

Bheir  e  breith  air  a  choimhearsnaich. 
As  a  man  leads  his  own  life. 
So  will  he  judge  his  neighbours. 

>  431  Math  air  seann  duine,  math  air  feall  duine. 
Is  math  air  leanabh  beag,  trimaitheancaillte. 
Good  done  to  an  old  man,  good  done  to  a 

worthless  man. 
And  good  done  to  a  little  child,    three   goods 

thrown  away. 
Unless  there  be  some  hidden  philosophy  here,  the 
present  writer  would  question  the  truth  of  all  three  asser- 
tions. There  is  surely  a  balm  of  self-satisfaction,  a  joy  to 
one's  soul  in  doing  good  to  an  old  man  ;  doing  good  to  a 
worthless  fellow  may  not  be  so  good,  but  if  any  good  act 
can  do  even  a  worthless  fellow  good,  by  all  means  do  it. 
Nothing  can  be  good  if  it  cannot  do  good.  Doing  good  to  a 
little  child  is  surely  the  most  praiseworthy  act  conceivable, 

432  Measar  an  t-amadan  gHc  ma  chumas  e  a 

theanga. 
The  fool  may  pass  for  wise  if  he  holds  his 
t07igue. 

433  Miann  an  duine  lochdaich, 
Càch  uile  a  bhi  contrachd. 
The  wicked  man's  desire — 
Evil  to  all  others. 


05  GAEWC    PROVERBS. 

434  Mlllidh  bo  buaile,  mille  bean  baile. 

A  cow  will  spoil  a  fold,  a  woman  will  spoil  a 
township. 

The  following  shows  the  other  side  of  the  picture,  and 
proves  the  truth  of  another  saying  which  says  :  "  There 
are  two  sides  to  everything." 

435  **  Mo  chuid  fhein,"   "  mo  bhean  fhein," 
Is  "tiugainn  dhachaidh/'  na  tri  faclan  is 

blaisd'  a  th'  ann. 
"My  own  property,"  "my  own  wife,"  and 
"  come  home," 
The  three  sweetest  sayings  there  are. 

'Tis  the  true  pathos,  and  sublime, 

Of  human   life, 
To  make  the  home  fireside  chime, 

Wi  weans  and  wife. 

— Burns. 


The  comparisons  in  the  following  are  not  all  that  could 
be  desired,  but  who  will  deny  that  they  are  humorously 
truthful. 


436  Nàdur  circe,  nàdur  muice,  is  nàdur  mnatha — 
Gabhaidh  iad  an  doigh  fhein. 
The  nature  of  a  hen,  of  a  sow,  and  of  a  woman, 
To  take  their  own  way. 

E.P. — Convince  a  woman  against  her  will. 
She's  of  the  same  opinion  still  ; 
For  if  she  will,  she  will,  you  may  depend  on't  ; 
A  nd  if  she  won't,  she  won't,  and  there's  an 
end  on't. 


MEN,    WOMEN,    MARRIAGE.  OQ 

437  Na    tagh    Binneagag,    no    Grinneagag,    no 

Gaogag  ; 
Ach  ciarag  bheag  air  dhath  na  Inch,   na  sir, 

'snaseachani. 
Choose  not  the  smooth-tongued  one,  the  girning 

one,  or  the  squint-eyed  one ; 
But   the   little,    sallow,    mouse- coloured   one, 

neither  seek  nor  shun  her. 
It  looks  like  Punch's  advice  to  those  about  to  marry — 
"  Don't." 

438  Na  toir  bean  a  taigh  mòr, 
Na  bo  bho  ghàradair. 

Do  not  take  a  wife  from  a  mansion, 
Or  a  cow  from  a  gardener. 
The  idea  here  may  be  fairly  guessed,  but  one  need  not 
agree  with  it.  In  any  case  there  will  be  the  exceptions 
that  prove  the  rule.  In  giving  an  address  on  the  proverbs, 
and  quoting  this  one,  the  writer  was  reproved  by  one  of 
his  hearers  who  admitted  having  done  what  the  proverb 
advised  us  against  doing,  and  he  did  not  regret  his  action. 
There  is  nevertheless  a  good  deal  to  be  said  for  the  proverb's 
advice. 

439  Na  dean  tàir  chabhagach 
Air  giullan  luideagach, 
No  air  loth  pheallagach. 
Do  not  quickly  disparage 

A  ragged  laddie,  or  a  shaggy  filly. 

440  Ni  òigeir  leisg  bodach  brisg. 

A  lazy  youth  will  make  a  lively  old  man. 

441  Na  chi  na  bige  'se  ni  na  bige, 

Na  chluinneas  iad  'se  chanas  iad. 

What  the  little  ones  will  see  the  little  ones  will  do, 

And  what  they  hear  they  will  repeat. 


90  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

442  Na  dean  uaill  a  t-athair  no  a  do  mhàthair, 
Ach  dearbhadh  do  ghiùlan  fhèin 

Gur  duin'  uasal  thu. 

Do  not  boast  of  your  father,  or  of  your  mother, 
But  prove  by  your  own  conduct  that  you  are 
a  gentleman. 

443  Ni  màthair  iasgaidh  nighean  leisg. 

A  light-heeled  mother  makes  a  leaden-heeled 
daughter. 

444  Phòs  mi  luid  air  son  a  cuid, 

Dh'  fhalbh  a  cuid  is  dh'  fhan  an  luid. 
/  married  a  trollop  for  her  gear  ; 
Her  gear  has  gone,  but  she's  still  here. 

445  Sealladh  àrd  an  seann  mhaighdinn. 
The  disdainful  {high)  look  of  the  old  maid. 

446  Suiridhe  fada  bho  'n  taighe  is  pòsadh  am 

bun  an  doruis. 
Wooing  far  from  home  and  marrying  next  door. 

447  Socraichidh  am  pòsadh  an  gaol. 
Marriage  will  sober  love. 

448  Tha  'n  duin'  ionraic  ionraic  eadar  bhun  is 

bhàrr. 

The  upright  is  upright  from  head  to  foot. 

449  Theid  duine  gu  bàs  air  sgàth  an  nàire. 
A  man  will  die  to  save  his  honour. 

450  Treubhantas  an  duine  bhig — fead  is  fuaim. 
The  small  mans  valour — a  whistle  and  a  noise  ^ 

451  Tuigidh  bean  bean  eile. 

One  woman  understands  another. 


MEN,    WOMEN,    MARRIAGE.  9I 

452  Tha  breith  uasal  na  thogail  mùirneach, 
'S  tha  deagh  fhoghlum  taitneach  ; 

Ach  's  fhearr  an  cliù  a  chosnas  duine  dha 
fhein. 

Genteel  birth  is  good  rearing, 
And  a  good  education  is  desirable, 
But  better  the  good  name  earned  by  ones  self. 
When  birth,  rearing,  and  education  fails  to  make  a 
man,  then  comes  the  force  of  the  following  : — 

453  Tha  feum  aig  a  shròin  air  fuarachadh. 
His  nose  is  the  better  of  cooling. 

454  Tagh  do  bhean  's  a  currachd-oidhch'  oirre- 
Choose  your  wife  with  her  night-cap  on. 

455  Tapan  gòraig  air  cuigeal  criontag. 
The  foolish  ones  tuft  of  wool 

On  the  thrifty  ones  distaff. 

456  Tagh  eun  a  nead  glan. 

Choose  a  bird  from  a  clean  nest. 

457  Teagaisg   ga    thoirt   do    mhnaoi   bhuirb. 
Mar  bhuille  ùird  air  iarunn  fuar. 
Teaching  a  turbulent  woman  is  like  strokes  of 

hammer  on  cold  iron. 

458  Teinne  chaoran  is  gaol  ghiullan, 
Cha  do  mhair  iad  fada  riamh. 
Peat-fragment  fire  and  boy's  love 
Never  were  lasting. 

45,9  Thig  dànadas  gu  droch  òilean. 

Boldness  leads  to  bad  manners. 
460  Taigh  gun  chu,  gun  chat,  gun  leanabh  beag, 

Taigh  gun  ghean,  gun  ghàire. 

A  house  without  a  dog,  a  cat,  or  a  little  child, 

Is  a  house  without  joy  or  laughter. 


PART  III. 

WEATHER  AND  SEASON  LORE — OBJECT  LESSONS 
FROM  NATURE — THE  DEITY— THE  DEVIL. 


WEATHER  AND  SEASON  I.ORE— OBJECT 

IvESSONS  FROM  NATURE— THE  DEITY— 

THE  DEVIIy. 

INDUSTRIAL  communities,  whose  environ- 
ments, and  whose  whole  worldly  existence 
depend  upon  human  exertions  —  human 
handiwork  on  hard  materials,  and  according  to 
cold  material  laws,  to  such  communities,  through 
no  fault  of  their  own,  nature  is  almost  a  closed 
book.  This  is  generally  speaking.  There  are 
exceptions  to  all  rules.  It  is  otherwise  among 
rural  communities,  and  among  no  surroundings 
does  the  book  of  nature  appeal  so  strongly  as 
it  does  amidst  the  savage  grandeur,  the  sublime 
solitude,  and  the  giant  strength  of  the  mighty 
mountains.  Thus  it  is  that  the  people  of  moun- 
tainous countries  are  more  imaginative. 

Witness  that  natural  phenomenon  so  common 
in  such  parts,  when  distant  objects  seem  to  be 
creeping  nearer.  It  must  have  been  a  source  of 
wonder  and  awe  to  primitive  man.  lyong  usage 
to  it  taught  him  that  it  presaged  rainy  weather. 
He  probably  did  not  understand  that  the  change 
had  already  taken  place  with  the  advent  of  the 
phenomenon  thus  presented ;  that  the  atmosphere 
had  become  so  impregnated  with  floating  globu- 

95 


96  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

lar  particles  of  moisture,  collectively  acting  as 
magnifying  glasses,  thus  enlarging  those  distant 
objects,  and  making  them  appear  so  much 
nearer  to  the  view. 

"Mountains  are  the  great  cathedrals  of  the  earth, 
with  their  gates  of  rock,  pavements  of  clouds, 
choirs  of  stream  and  stone,  and  altars  of  snow," 
and  they  have  a  fascinating  glamour  that  is  up- 
lifting in  its  influence.  Among  them  the  mystery 
of  a  great  beyond  becomes  intensified.  Natural 
phenomena  of  every  kind  have  a  powerful 
influence  on  the  human  intellect  until  and  when 
that  intellect  becomes  so  obsessed  with  its  own 
powers  of  penetration  into  the  why  and  where- 
fore of  everything,  when  it  is  apt  to  go  to  a  too 
self-satisfied  extreme  in  the  opposite  direction. 

Primitive  man,  no  matter  how  savage,  and 
how  fearless  in  the  face  of  physical  pain  and 
danger  ;  no  matter  how  reckless  in  battle,  he  is 
timid  to  a  degree  when  faced  with  the  eruptions 
of  nature.  One  of  the  earliest  proverbial  sayings 
associated  with  the  Celts  is  recorded  in  the 
Third  Book  of  the  Ethics  of  Aristotle,  a  work 
dating  from  400  B.C.  Here  it  is  recorded  that 
it  was  even  then  a  proverbial  saying  of  the  Celts 
of  Asia  Minor,  that — 

They  feared  neither  an  earthquake 
Nor  a  storm  upon  the  sea. 


WEATHER    AND    SEASON    LORE.  97 

these  having  been,  apparently,  the  most  dreaded 
of  nature's  eruptions,  as  indeed  they  are  unto 
our  own  day. 

In  the  same  manner,  the  passing  of  the  seasons 
gave  food  for  thought  to  primitive  man,  and 
superstitions  took  shape  in  the  course  of  his 
thinking.  The  following  sounds  ominous  in  its 
eeriness  : — 

461  Nuair  is  ceud-aoineach  an  t-samhuinn, 
Is  iargaineach  fir  an  domhain. 

When  Hallowmas  falls  on  a  Wednesday, 
All  men  are  uneasy. 

Why  this  should  be  so  it  is  hard  to  guess. 
October  we  know  to  be  the  dusk  of  the  year,  and 
Hallowmas  was  taken  as  heralding  dreary  winter. 
An  old  saying  ran  : 

462  Is  Foghair  gu  NoUaig, 

Is  Geamhradh  gu  Fheill-Padruig, 
Earrach  gu  Fheill-Peadair, 

Is  Sarnhuinn  gu  Fheill-Martainn. 

Autumn  until  Christmas  Day, 

Winter   Hill  St.   Patrick's, 
Spring  until  St.  Peter's  Day, 

And  Summer  until  Martinmas. 

But  although  October  may  be  associated  with 
a  melancholy  feeling  owing  to  the  general  decay 
of  nature,  it  not  infrequently  includes  some  of 
the  finest  and  most  exhilarating  weather  of  the 


98  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

year.  Frosts  in  the  mornings  and  evenings  are 
common,  whilst  the  middle  of  the  day  is  enlivened 
by  all  the  sunshine  of  July  without  its  oppres- 
siveness, and  the  clearness  of  a  frosty  day  in 
January  or  December  without  its  piercing  cold. 
But  nearly  all  our  singing  birds  have  departed 
for  sunnier  lands  far  over  the  sea,  and  the 
swallows  are  preparing  to  follow  them,  while 
other  birds  visit  us  who  have  been  absent  all 
spring  and  summer.  These  habits  were  observed 
and  noted,  and  deductions  made  that  are 
perpetuated  in  our  proverbs. 

When  the  occupations  of  a  people  are  almost 
wholly  pastoral,  both  the  vegetable  and  the 
animal  kingdoms  are  wide  fields  spread  by 
nature  before  them,  nor  was  a  knowledge  of  the 
mineral  world  entirely  absent.  An  observant 
people,  such  as  our  ancestors  really  were,  assimi- 
lated the  wisdom  thus  inculcated.  Before 
human  invention  acquired  the  knowledge  of 
letters,  and  sought  to  record  maxims  and  events 
on  marble  or  brass,  proverbs  perpetuated  the 
wisdom  thus  acquired.  There  is  thus  more  in 
the  eeriness  attributed  by  them  to  Hallowmas 
than  at  first  appears.  In  our  own  day  this 
time  of  the  year  enforces  its  depressing  thoughts. 
The  advent  of  November,  the  month  of  fogs  and 
of  Sittings,  the  severing  of  many  ties  all  making 


WEATHER    AND    SEASON    LORE.  99 

gloomier  a  gloomy  time  of  the  year.  Science 
had  its  beginnings  among  all  such  peoples.  Their 
deductions  and  conclusions  may  have  been 
primitive  in  the  light  of  the  more  advanced 
knowledge  of  our  own  day,  but  the  spiritual 
and  the  material  were  to  them  interdependent, 
a  happy  combination  in  which  the  spiritual 
remained  unchallenged  as  the  guiding  star  and 
motive  power.  To  their  receptive  senses  the 
beauties  of  nature  conveyed  meanings  and 
messages  unconceivable  to-day  to  all  but  the 
select  few  whose  opportunities  and  inclinations 
induce  them  to  revel  in  nature  studies.  In 
the  olden  times  such  knowledge  was  common  to 
all.     To    them— 

The  rainbow  in  the  morning 
Was   the   shepherd's   warning, 
The  rainbow  at  night 
The    shepherd's    dehght. 

Not  only  were  natural  objects  their  teachers, 
but  communings  with  nature  were  frequent  in 
their  philosophy,  and  so  - 

Thinkest  thou  how  that  low  sighing  heard 
By  Ossian,  when  the  wind  was  stirr'd. 
Filled  his  old  sightless  eyes  with  tears, 
His  soul  with  thoughts  of  other  years  ; 
The  spirit  of  the  men  he  mourned 
In  that  low  eerie  sound  return'd. 


100  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

Weather  signs,  season  lore,  and  the  object 
lessons  of  nature,  in  all  their  various  and  vaiying 
moods,  were  observed,  and  inwardly  read  with 
zest  and  to  good  purpose.  The  influence  of 
weather  conditions  on  plants  was  particularly 
noticed. 

Tha  seamrag  Muire  a  dtiineadh  a  sùil. 

Mary's  shamrock  is  closing  its  eye. 
This  small  flower,  known  in  GaeHc  as  "  Mary's 
Shamrock,"  is  the  common  wild  pimpernel, 
to  be  seen  in  much  more  profusion  in  England 
than  in  Scotland,  where  its  habits  w^ere  also 
noted.  In  rural  England  it  used  to  be  known 
as  "  the  poor  man's  weather  glass,"  and  also  as 
"  the  shepherd's  cloak."  These  native  names 
of  flowers,  whether  in  Gaelic  or  English,  are  full 
of  beauty  and  of  poetry,  frequently  descriptive 
of  some  healing  virtue,  or  some  natural  character- 
istics displayed  by  them  under  certain  weather 
conditions,  and  some  times  conveying  other 
meanings  and  associations  which  are  entirely 
absent  from  the  classical  names  imposed  upon 
us  to-day.  In  those  days,  when  people  read 
more  deeply  into  nature's  book  : 

A  yellow  primrose  was  to  them    . 
More  than  a  blossom  on  a  stem. 

Nature  worship  is  but  a  step  to  the  worship 


WEATHER    AND    SEASON    I,ORE.  lOI 

of  the  Deity,  and  is  the  very  antithesis  of  the 
materiahsm  becoming  so  prevalent  to-day  among 
our  huge  industrialised  communities.  Hence  is  it 
that  the  object  lessons  of  nature  are  so  beauti- 
fully inspiring. 

The  impress  of  the  Highlander's  religion  will 
be  found  prominently^  in  his  proverbs,  and,  as 
Nicolson  truly  says,  the  providence  and  the 
merciful  forbearance  of  the  Almighty  is  shown 
without  any  of  the  Jewish  notion  of  vengeance. 
On  the  other  hand,  such  references  as  are  made 
to  the  Devil  are  not  all  so  severe  as  might  be 
expected.  As  Professor  Maclycan  says,  tie 
general  conception  of  the  Devil  as  appearing  in 
our  Gaelic  proverbs  make  him  no  more  than  just 
"  a  tricky  rascal,  instead  of  the  incarnation  of 
evil."  His  Gaelic  cognominal  appellatives  are, 
to  say  the  least,  mild  : — 

463  Dòmhnull  Dubh, 

Black  Donald. 
463a  Maoisean. 

Nasty  felloiv. 

The  next  would  seem  to  be  pre-Christian  in  origin  ; 
indeed  a  few  others  would  indicate  in  the  same  direction. 

464  Is  ionnan  aithreachas  criche 

Ri  'bhi  cuir  siol  mu  Fheill-Màrtainn. 

Death-bed  repentance  is 

Like  sowing  seed  at  Martinmas. 

\T  ^ 


102  GAEUC    PROVERBS. 

This  is  not  in  keeping  with  the  belief  that  "  while  the 
lamp  holds  on  to  burn  the  greatest  sinner  may  return." 

The  necessitarian  point  of  view  of  the  world  is  rather 
prominent  in  our  proverbs,  probably  a  legacy  of  pagan 
times.  Many  such  beliefs  were  adopted  during  the 
transition  period  from  Paganism  to  Christianity,  much 
of  the  "  Conversion "  having  been  by  command,  as 
was  the  case  with  the  Saxon  King  of  Kent,  who  boasted 
of  his  having  made  ten  thousand  Christians  by  force 
majure.*  This  necessitarian  view  is  illustrated  by  sayings 
still  common  in  the  vocabulary,  such  as  : — 

465  Bha  e'n  dan  dha. 
It  was  his  fate. 

466  Bha  uair  ga  ruitli. 

His  hour  was  pursuing  him. 

But  more  prominent  in  the  Gael's  philosophy  was 
absolute  trust  in  the  Almighty,  his  necessitarian  view 
notwithstanding,  or,  perhaps,  on  account  of  it. 

467  An  ni  a  gheall  Dia,  cha  inheall  duine. 
What  God  has  promised  man  cannot  prevent. 

468  Am  fear  nach  teagaisg  Dia  cha  teagaisg 

duine. 
Whom   God  will  not  instruct,   man   cannot 
teach. 

469  Bidh  gach  ni  mar  is  àill  le  Dia. 

All  things  i&ill  be  as  God  will  have  them. 

The  object  lessons  of  nature  are  particularly 
noted,  and  the  beauty  of  the  expressions  in 
conveying  ideas  with  regard  to  them  are  very 
fine. 


♦Bede's  History  of  England. 


WEATHER    AND    SEASON    I,ORE.  I03 

470  A  bheinn  is  àird'  a  tli'  a  anns  an  tir, 
\S  ann  oirre  's  trie  a  chithear  an  ceo. 

The  highest  mountain  in  the  land 
Is   oftenest   covered   with   mist. 

The  philosophy  here  cannot  be  mistaken.     Nor  is  the 
adverse  side  less  trenchant. 

^     471  A  chuiseag  a  dh'  fhàsas  as  an  òcraich, 
'Si  is  àird'  a  thogas  a  ceann. 
The  weed  that  grows  from  the  midden 
Lifts  its  head  the  highest. 

And  then  : — 

472  Is  i'n  dias  is  truime  is  isle  ehromas  a  eeann. 
The  heaviest  ear  of  corn  bends  its  head  the 

lowest. 

Here    we    have    substance    and    humility    delicately 
portrayed,  as  has  already  been  observed. 

473  Aiteamh  na  gaoth  tuath, 
Sneach  is  reodhadh  anns  an  uair. 

The  thaw  that  comes  while  north  winds  blow 
Will  followed  be  by  frost  and  snow. 

474  Am  fear  nacli  cuir  's  a  mhairt 
Cha  bhuan  e  's  an  Fhoghair. 
Who  doesn't  sow  in  March 
Will  not  reap  in  Autumn. 

475  Am  feur  a  thig  a  mach  's  a  mhàrt 
Theid  e  stigh  's  a  Ghiblein. 
The  grass  that  grows  in  March 
Will  shrink  away  in  April. 


104  GAEUC    PROVERBS. 

476  Am  mios  buidh.     The  yellow  month  {July). 
Am  mios  dubh.    The  black  month  {November) . 
Na    miosan    marbh.     The    dead    months 
{December  and  January). 

^yy  An  sneacmnach  tig  mu  shamhuinn 
Thig  e  gu  reamhar  mu  Fheill-Brighde. 
The  snow  that  comes  not  at  Hallowmas, 
Will  come  thickly  at  Candlemas. 

478  A  cheud  la  de'n  mhàirt  leig  seachad  ; 
An  dara  la  ma's  fheudar, 
'San  treasa  làtha, 

Ged  nach  reachadh  clach  ceann  a  mheòir 
An  aghaidh  na  gaoth  tuath, 
Cuir  an  siol  anns  a  Mhairt. 
The  first  of  March  let  pass  ; 
The  second  of  March,  if  need  be  ; 
But  the  third  of  March, 
Thovigh  you  could  not  send  a  stone 
A  nail's  breadth  against  the  north  wind, 
Sow  your  seed  in  March. 

To  appreciate  the  full  force  of  this  saying,  we  must 
reckon  time  by  the  Old  Style.  The  first  week  of  April 
to-day  would  coincide  with  what  was  the  third  week  of 
March  then. 

It  is  here  implied  that  although  Spring  work  should 
be  urged  on  during  March,  much  growth  was  not  wished 
for  in  that  month.  The  seed  should  nevertheless  be  in  the 
ground,  ready  for  the  first  call  from  April's  sun  and  showers. 
In  many  parts  of  the  West  Highlands  and  Islands  Spring 
work  may  be  seen  in  our  day  in  active  operation  well  into 
the  month  of  May.  This  the  present  writer  believes  to  be 
a  very  bad  habit.  Given  a  too  dry  stunmer,  a  condition 
not  unknown  even  in  the  Highlands,  the  yet  red  ground, 
but  recently  sown  on  account  of  the  too  late  Spring  work. 


WEATHER    AND    SEASON    I.ORE.  105 

becomes  parched,  and  a  poor  crop  is  the  inevitable  result. 
Were  the  growth  far  enough  advanced  to  form  a  natural 
cover  and  shade  to  the  ground,  and  the  roots  already  gone 
deep  enough  in  the  soil,  a  subsequent  dry  summer  would 
not  be  so  harmful.  There  are  of  course  exceptions  to  be 
allowed  in  all  general  rules.  I,ow-lying  land  that  cannot 
be  effectively  drained  off  the  winter's  slush  and  wet  would 
necessarily  have  to  be  considered,  and  separately  treated  ; 
and  a  dry  summer  would  not  affect  such  land  to  the  same 
extent  in  the  manner  described. 

479  An  seanfhacal  fada,  fior  ; 

Cha  bhreugnaichear  an  seanfhacal. 
The  old  proverb,  long  proved  true, 
Shall  never  be  belied. 

480  An  Inid,  a  cheud  Dimàirt  an  deidh  an  solus 

Earraich. 
Shrovetide,   the  first  Tttesday  after  the  first 
spring  moon. 

481  B'fhearr  a  chreach  a  thighinn  do'n  tir 
Na  maduinn  mhin  's  an  Fhaoilteach  fhuar. 
Better  a  foray  o'er  the  land 

Than  a  mild  morning  in  cold  February. 

482  Breac  a  mhuiltein  air  an  àthar  - 
Bidh  la  math  a  màireach  ann. 
There  is  a  dappled  sky  to-day. 
There  will  be  a  good  day  to-morrow. 

483  BÌ  gu  subhach,  geamhnaidh, 
Moch-thrathach  'san  t-samhradh ; 
Bi  gu  currachdach,  brògach, 
Brochanach  's  a  Gheamhradh. 
In  Summertime  be  cheerful,  chaste. 
And  early  out  of  bed  ; 

In  wintertime,  well-capped  and  shod, 
And  be  on  porridge  fed. 


I06  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

The  above  advice  is  attributed  by  some  authorities 
to  the  Druids.  Others  give  it  a  later  origin,  ascribing  it 
to  the  famous  "  OUamh  Muileach,"  Dr.  John  Beaton  of 
Mull,  who  was  physician  to  the  MacLeans,  and  died  in 
1657.  The  name  Beaton  in  Mull  is  still  known  in  Gaelic 
as  Mac-an-leigh,  son  of  the  physician.  One  of  the  tribe 
settled  in  the  Island  of  lyismore,  and  his  family  became 
hereditary  Almoners  to  the  Bishops  of  Lismore  and  Argyle. 
At  a  later  date,  and  in  deference  to  their  then  Superior, 
James  Livingstone,  Keeper  of  the  Privy  Seal  of  Scotland, 
who,  in  1640,  received  from.  Charles  I.  a  fifty-seven  years' 
lease  of  the  temporalities  of  Argyle  and  the  Isles,  and  of 
the  tiends  of  the  Kirk  of  Kilespic-Kerral  in  Muckairn,  the 
"  Mac-an-leighs  "  assumed  the  name  "  Livingstone  "  as 
the  English  equivalent  of  their  name,  although  the  Gaelic 
"Mac-an-leigh"  and  the  Lowland  "Livingstone"  have 
nothing  in  common  as  regards  origin  and  meaning.  Hence 
the  numerous  Livingstones  in  the  district  of  Lorn,  Argyle. 
Off  these  Highland  Livingstones  was  descended  David 
Livingstone,  the  great  Missionary-Explorer,  whose  fame 
has  added  lustre  to  the  name. 

484  Cha  lugha   air  Dia   deireadh  an  làtha  na 

thoiseach. 
The  end  of  the  day  is  no  less  in  God's  sight 
than  the  beginning. 
484aCia  air  bith  mar  bhios  an  sian 
Cuir  an  siol  anns  a  Mhàirt. 
Be  the  weather  what  it  will 
Sow  the  seed  in  March. 

This  again  insists  on  an  earlier  spring  work  than  is 
sometimes  practised. 

485  Cha  do  chuir  Dia  riamh  beul  chum  an  t- 

saoghal 
Gun  a  chuid  fo  chòmhair. 
God  never  sent  a  mouth  to  this  world 
Without  its  portion  having  been  provided. 


WEATHER    AND    vSEASON    I.ORE.  IO7 

486  Cha  d'  òrdaich  Dia  do  '11  duine  bliochd 
Da  làtha  clio  olc. 

God  ne'er  fore-ordained  two  consecutive  days 
So  ill  for  the  poor  man. 

487  Cha'n  eil  port  a  sheinneas  an  Smeòracii  's  an 

Fhoilteach 

Nach  caoin  man  ruith  an  Earrach. 

For  every  song  the  mavis  sings  in  February 

She'll  repent  e'er  Spring  be  over. 

This  implies  that  too  early  a  Spring-like  weather 
forebodes  an  unseasonable  return  of  wintry  weather,  and 
the  consequent  destruction  of  a  too  advanced  growth. 
Quite  recently  an  old  man  and  a  young  man  were  listening 
to  the  merr>^  carolling  of  what  was  apparently  a  young 
mavis  of  the  previous  year's  brood.  It  was  early  in  Febru- 
ary', and  the  young  man  remarked  to  the  old  man  that  it 
was  strange  to  hear  such  merry  bird-singing  at  such  an 
unseasonable  time.  "  Tuts,"  replied  the  old  man,  "  that's 
only  a  j'oung  mavis  that  never  saw  a  spring  before  !  " 

488  Cha  tig  air  crannaibh  gu'n  tig  Càisg. 
No  tree  will  bloom  till  Easter  come. 

489  Cha  tig  fuachd  gu'n  tig  Earrach, 

Ive    gaoth-tuath    's    le    cruaidh    ghaillionn. 
Cold  will  not  come  till  Spring 
'     Its  north-wind  hurricanes  doth  bring. 

490  Cha  robh  Samhradh  riamh  gun  ghrian  ; 
Cha  robh  Geamhradh  riamh  gun  sneachd  ; 
Cha  robh  NoUaig  Mòr  gun  fheòil ; 

No  bean  òg  le  'deòin  gun  fhear. 
There  ne'er  was  summer  without  sun  ; 

There  ne'er  was  Winter  without  snow  ; 
No  Christmas  without  feast  and  fun, 

No  maid  co'itent  "mthout  her  beaii. 


I08  GAElylC    PROVERBS. 

491  Cha  do  sheid  gaoth  riamh  nach  robh  an  seòl 

cuideigin. 
No  wind  ever  blew  that  did  not  fill  someone  s 
sails. 
E.P. — 'Tis  an  ill  i&ind  that  blows  nobody  any  good- 

492  Cho  fad'  's  a  tlieid  a  ghaoth  anns  an  dorns 

la  Fheill-Brìghdè, 
Thèid  an  cathadh  anns  an  dorns  la  Fheill- 

Pàdruig. 
Just  as  far  as  the  wind  enters  through  the  door 

on  St.  Bride  s  Day, 
So  far  will  the  snow  drift  enter  on  St.  Patrick's 

Day. 

493  Karrach  fad  an  deigh  Chàisg, 
Fàgaidh  e  na  saibhlean  fas. 
A  long  Spring  after  Easter 
Will  leave  empty  hams. 

494  Eisd  ri  gaoth  nam  beann 
Gus  an  tràigh  na  h-uisgeachan. 
Listen  to  the  mountain  winds 
Until  the  streams  abate. 

495  Faoilteach,  faoilteach,   crodh  air  theas, 
Gal  is  gaoir  nitear  ris  ; 

Faoilteach,   faoilteach,   crodh   am   preas, 

Failte  's  faoilte  nitear  ris. 

February,  if  cows  in  heat, 

Wailing,   sorrowing,   folk   will  meet ; 

February,  if  in  woods  they  stay. 

Forward  look  to  Summer  gay. 

There  are  several  other  versions  with  the  same  import. 


we:ather  and  season  lore.        109 

496  Feath  Faoilteach  is  gaoth  luchair 
Cha  mhair  iad  fada. 

A  February  calm  or  a  Dog  Days'  wind 

Never  will  he  lasting. 
The  various  winds,  according  to  their  direction  on  the 
last  day  of  the  year  portended  the  weather  for  the  coming 
year  as  follows  : — 

497  Gaoth  deas,  teas  is  torradli ; 
Gaoth  an  iar,  iasg  is  bainne  ; 
Gaoth  tuath,  fuach  is  gailHonn  ; 

Gaoth  an  ear,  meas  air  chrannaibh.       oat-vtwj^/v 
To  south  winds,  heat  and  plenty  cling  ; 
West  winds  fish  and  milk  will  bring  ; 
North  winds  bringeth  ^ales  and  snoze^ ;         ■    /f  i 
East  winds  mean  more  j fruit  ^ill  grow.j  f^"^-*-^ 
Another  is  : 

">  498  Geamhradh  reòdhtaineach, 
Earrach  ceòthaineach, 
Samhradh  breac-riabhach, 
Is  Foghair  geal  grianach, 
Cha  dh'  fhàg  gort  riamh  an  Alba. 
A  frosty  Winter,  a  misty  Spring, 
A  cheqiiered  Slimmer  following, 
A  sunny  Autumn  with  ripen' d  corn 
Ne'er  left  Scotland  famine  shorn. 

499  Gabhaibh  suipeir  an  soills'  an  la, 
Oidhche  Fheill-Brighde  ; 
Theirig  an  làidhe  an  soills'  an  la 
Oidhch'  Fheill-Pàdruig. 
On  St.  Bride's  Eve,  supper  in  daylight, 
On  Eve  of  St.  Patrick's  Day,    go  to  bed  in 


no  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

500  Gaoth  an  iar  gun  fhrois 
Bidh  e  'g  iarraidh  gu  deas. 
A  west  wind  without  showers 
Will  he  seeking  the  soiith. 

501  Is  e'n  Geamhradh  luath  an  Geamhradhbuan. 

The  early  Winter  is  the  long  Winter. 

502  Is    e'n    ceo    Geamhraidh    ni    an    càthadh 

Earraich. 
Winter  mists  portend  Spring  snow-drifts. 

503  Is  fhearr  aon  la  's  a  Mhàirt  na  tri  la  's  an 

Fhoghair. 
One  day  in  March  is  better  than  three  days  in 
Autumn. 

This  must  imply  that  one  good  Spring  daj^'s  work  will 
give  more  than  three  day's  harvesting, 

504  Is  math  an  còcair'  an  t-acras, 
Is  mairg  a  ni  talcuis  air  biadh  ; 
Fuarag  eòrn  a  sal  mo  bhròig, 

Am  biadli  is  fhearr  a  fhuair  mi  rianih. 

Hitnger  a  very  good  cook  is, 

Woe  to  him  who  would  food  despise; 

This  barley  gruel  in  my  shoe  heel 

Is  the  best  I've  found  in  all  my  time. 

The  original  Gaelic  lines  here  quoted  are  attributed  to 
the  Earl  of  Mar,  who  conunanded  the  Royal  Forces  at  the 
first  Battle  of  Inverlochy,  in  141 1.  Mar's  forces  were 
routed  by  Donald  Balloch,  of  the  Isles,  and  his  Highland 
host,  and  the  Earl  was  compelled  for  a  time  to  live  the  life 
of  a  fugitive  among  the  hills  of  Lochaber  and  Badenoch, 
Being  in  sore  straits  for  sustenance,  he  approached  a  humble 
dwelling,  inhabited  by  a  lonely  old  man,  whose  condi- 
tion seemed  to  have  been  only  a  little  better  than  that  of 


WEATHER    AND    SEASON    LORE.  Ill 

the  Earl.  All  he  had  in  the  waj^  of  food  was  some  barley 
meal,  and  he  had  not  as  much  as  a  dish  in  which  this  could 
be  prepared.  But  the  Earl  was  starving,  and  necessity- 
knowing  neither  law  nor  convention,  he  took  off  one  of  his 
brogues  (shoes),  and  made  barley  gruel  in  it.  Having 
partaken  of  this  homely  fare,  he  expressed  his  gratitude  to 
the  old  man  b}^  reciting  the  foregoing  lines.  He  also 
disclosed  his  identity',  and  he  invited  the  old  man  to  partake 
of  his  hospitahty  if  ever  he  found  himself  in  the  vicinity 
of  Mar  Castle.  It  is  related  that  the  opportunity  did  after- 
wards occur,  and  that  the  Earl  w^as  as  good  as  his  word. 

Even  the  waj^s  of  the  raven,  and  what  happens  to  it  in 
adverse  weather  conditions,  becomes  the  subject  of  a 
proverbial  saying,  and  it  is  not,  as  Sheriff  Nicolson  says, 
without  a  note  of  solicitude  for  the  ravenous  bird,  so 
frequently  destructive  when  on  its  foraging  expeditions. 

505  Nead  air  Brighde,  ubh  air  Inid, 

Eun  air  Chàisg, 
Mar  a  bi  sin  aig  an  Fhitheach,  bidh  am  bàs. 
A  nest  at  Candlemas,  an  egg  at  Shrovetide, 
And  a  chic  at  Easter  ; 
If  by  then  the  raven  has  not  these, 
Death  betide  it. 

506  Oidhche  Challuinn,    bu   nihàth   cuilionn   is 

calltuinn 
A  bhi  bualadh  a  chèile. 
On  Hogmanay  s  Night  'twere  well 
That  holly  and  hazel  were  striking  one  another. 
This  implies  that  a  stormy  night  were  wished  for. 

507  Ri  fuachd  Calluinn,  's  math  clò  òllainn. 
Ri    fuachd    Fheill- Brighde,    fòghnaidh    cis- 

fheart. 
hi  January  cold,  clothe  with  wool  ; 
Mixed  stuff  at  Candlemas  may  be  the  rule. 


112  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

508  Reodhadh  an  lodain  Ian. 

Freezing    when    floodpools    are    full    {never 
lasting) . 

509  Reòthairt  na  Feill-Muire, 
Is  boile  na  Feill-Pàdruig. 
The  Lady  Day  Springtide, 

And  blustering  St.  Patrick's  Day. 

510  'San  Earrach,  'nuair  a  bhios  a'  chaora  caol 
Bidh  am  maoracli  reamhar. 

In  Spring,  when  the  sheep  are  lean, 

The  shell-fish  will  he  fat. 
There  is  here  a  rather  pathetic  indication  of  the  straits 
for  subsistence  to  which  the  people  were  sometimes  reduced 
in  the  so-called  "  good  old  days."  It  recalls  the  custom, 
at  one  time  common,  of  bleeding  the  cattle  of  their  blood 
for  human  food,  also  in  the  Spring,  when  they  could  not  give 
milk.  Probably  this  would  be  more  conmion  inland,  where 
no  shell  fish  could  be  found. 

511  Is  minig  a  bha  'n  donas  dàicheil. 
The  Devil  was  often  attractive. 

512  Tha'n  t-seamrag  a  pasgadh  a  còmhdaich 
Roimh  thuiltean  dòirteach. 

The   shamrock   is   folding   its  garments 
Before  heavy  rain. 

513  Tha'n  cat  's  an  luatli,  tliig  frasan  fuar. 
The  cat  is  in  the  ashes,   cold  showers  are 

coming. 
Quite  a  common  belief  is  that  if  a  cat  sits  with  its  back 
to  the  fire  it  is  a  sign  of  coming  snow. 

514  Tha'n  deala  a  snàmh,  thig  frasan  blàth 

roimh  fheasgair. 
The  leech  is  swimming,  warm  showers  will 
come  ere  evening. 


WEATHER    AND    SEASON    LORE.  II3 

515  Tha'n  seillein  fo  dhion, 
Thig  gaillionn  is  sian. 
The  hee  has  taken  shelter, 

A  storm  and  rain  are  coming. 

516  Tàirneanacli   an   deigh   nòine,   taimeanach 

an  toraidh  mhòir  ; 
Tàirneanach  roimh  nòine,  tàirneanach  gort 

is  fuachd. 
Thunder  in  the  afternoon,  peace  and  plenty  ; 
Thunder  in  the  forenoon,  want  and  cold. 

517  Theid  cathanach  earraich 
Troimh  bhòrd  daraich. 

A  Spring  snow-drift 

Will  go  through  an  oak  plank. 

518  Tha  larach  buain  fhoid  air  an  àthar, 
Ni  e  la  math  a  màireach. 

There's  the  appearance  of  turf  clearing  in  the 

sky, 
'Twill  he  a  fine  day  to-morrow. 

519  Tha  currachd  air  a  bheinn 
Sud  an  t-uisg'  a  tighinn. 
The  mountain  has  a  cap  on, 
There's  the  rain  coming. 

520  Tha'n  còmhachag  ri  bròn, 
Thig  tuiltean  òirnn. 

The  owl  is  mourning, 
Floods  are  coming. 

521  Thig  Dia  ri  aire 

'S  cha'n  aire  nuair  a  thig  E. 

God  comes  in  distress, 

And  distress  goes  when  He  comes. 

H 


PART  IV. 

LAND    AND    I.ABOUR. 


I.AND  AND  LABOUR 

522  Is  treasa  tuath  na  Tighearna. 

The  tenantry  are  stronger  than  the  lord. 

5KENB  tells  us  in  his  "  Celtic  Scotland," 
that  the  above  saying  must  have 
originally  read  :  "  The  tribe  is  stronger 
than  the  Chief."  It  is  one  of  our  oldest  and 
best-known  sayings,  and  it  concentrates  as  in  a 
nutshell  the  old  Highland  conception  of  the 
respective  positions  of  Chief  and  Clansmen 
before  the  time  when  the  feudal  absorbed  the 
clan  or  patriarchial  system.  To  appreciate  its 
force  one  must  bear  in  mind  that  there  is  no 
proper  Gaelic  word  for  the  English  term 
"  tenantry."  The  present-day  equivalent,  made 
use  of  here,  viz.,  "  tuath,"  meant  simply  a 
community  of  husbandmen,  tillers  of  the  soil, 
and  generally  understood  as  a  peasant  pro- 
prietory. Their  so-called  "  lord,"  the  Clan  Chief, 
was  their  leader  in  war,  when  their  common 
rights  were  in  danger,  and,  sometimes,  perhaps, 
when  they  tried  to  extend  those  rights  at  the 
expense  of  some  other  Clan,  or  community. 
The  gospel  here  enunciated  is  delightfully  por- 
trayed in  the  Gaelic  Muse  of  "  I^inn  an  Aigh  " 
117 


Il8  GAEUC    PROVERBS. 

{The  Happy  Age).  The  following  verses  from 
Mr.  lyachlan  MacBean's  excellent  English  trans- 
lation gives  a  good  idea  of  the  whole  : — 

When  all  the  birds  in  GaeHc  sang, 
Milk  lay  like  dew  upon  the  lea  ; 

The  heather  into  honey  sprang, 
And  everything  was  good  and  free. 

No  tax  or  tribute  used  to  fall 
On  honest  men,  or  any  rent ; 

To  hunt  and  fish  was  free  to  all, 

And  timber  without  price  or  stent. 

There  was  then  no  distress  or  strife. 
For    none    were    wronged,    and    none 
oppress'd. 
But  everyone  just  led  the  life, 
And  did  the  things  that. pleased  him 
best. 

This  "  happy  age,"  if  it  ever  existed,  could 
only  be  applicable  to  the  degree  one  would  like 
to  believe,  to  each  Clan  circle  as  a  separate 
entity.  Inter-Clan  relations  would,  we  may 
suppose,  be  different.  True  or  not,  and  if  true 
only  to  a  limited  extent,  the  fond  belief  in  its 
erstwhile  existence  could  not  help  having  an 
influence  for  good  on  their  descendents,  some- 
thing for  them  to  aspire  to,  to  try  and  emulate. 
But  notwithstanding  appearances  to  the  con- 
trary, this  state  of  society  did  not  imply  the 


LAND    AND     LABOUR.  IIQ 

principle  of  communism  as  preached  to-day. 
The  old  proverb  (found  in  its  place  elsewhere) 
says  : 

"  There  is  no  partnership  in  women  or  in  land." 
This  breathes  the  very  spirit  of  individualism, 
and  that  spirit  is  still  ingrained  in  what  may  be 
termed  the  Highland  body  politic.  It  is  indeed 
strongly  asserted.  The  desire  for  individual 
rights  is  shown  by  the  following  : — 

It  is  easy  to  put  him  out, 
Whose  own  the  house  is  not. 

Sustenance  was  described  as  "  Teachd  an  Tir," 
"  the  yield  of  the  land."  While  the  behef  that 
the  produce  of  one's  labour  should  be  one's  own 
individual  property  was  strong,  there  was  the 
equally  strong  belief  that  all  natural  produce, 
not  the  result  of  man's  labour,  whether  fish, 
flesh,  or  fowl,  was  equally  the  property  of  him 
whose  exertions  procured  the  trophy,  those 
exertions  being  accounted  as  equal  to  labour  in 
the  more  accepted  sense,  and  hence  : — 

523  Breac  a  linne,  slat  a  coille, 

Is  fiadh  a  fireach, 
Meirle  anns  nach  do  ghabh 

Gaidheal  riamh  nàire. 
A  fish  from  the  river,  a  wand  from  the  wood, 
And  a  deer  from  the  mountain, 
Actions  no  Gael  was  at  any  time  ashamed  of. 


120  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

The  idea  of  freedom  here  implied  is  very  truly 
pictured  by  Wordsworth  in  his  poem,  "  At 
Rob  Roy's  Grave."  Wordsworth  must  have 
imbibed  deeply  of  the  prevalent  Highland  belief 
on  the  subject  during  his  tour  in  the  north. 
This  individual  "Claim  of  Right"  to  the  land, 
so  inherent  in  the  Highlands,  has  been  tacitly  ad- 
mitted— even  more,  it  has  received  Statutory 
Recognition  in  an  Act  of  Parliament,  "  The 
Crofters'  Act  of  1886."  Had  the  claims  then 
admitted  been  in  the  nature  of  a  claim  for 
communal,  instead  of  individual  rights,  there 
would  never  have  been  the  recognition  embodied 
in  the  Crofters'  Act,  because  such  a  claim  would 
have  had  no  historical  or  traditional  backing  in 
support  of  it.  Community  of  interest  was 
nevertheless  recognised,  and  practised  to  the 
only  practical  extent  of  the  principle,  and  that 
was  by  co-operation  in  labour,  in  spring  work 
and  harvest  work.  This  co-operation  was  inher- 
ent among  all  communities  of  small  holders,  and 
without  it  no  small-holding  community  can 
flourish.  It  also  implies  the  impossible  position 
of  an  isolated  smallholder.  Hired  labour  he 
cannot  afford,  and  co-operative  labour  is  unget- 
able  by  him  on  account  of  his  isolated  position. 
Hence  the  non-success  of  many  sparsely-placed 
new  small  holdings.     Nevertheless,  the  love  for 


I,AND    AND    LABOUR.  121 

a  life  on  the  land,  for  husband^,  is  inherent  in 
the  Celt,  while  his  dash  of  Norse  blood  gives  him 
his  love  of  the  sea,  and  a  life  on  the  ocean  wave, 
in  which  he  takes  a  leading  share  out  of  all  pro- 
portion to  his  numbers  in  the  homeland  nursery. 

524  Am  fear  a  ni  obair  na  thràth, 
Bìdh  e  na  leth-thàmh. 

He  who  does  his  work  in  time 
Will  always  have  leisure  time. 

525  Am  fear  is  fhearr  a  chuireas, 
'Se  is  fhearr  a  bhuaineas. 

He  who  soweth  best  reapeth  best. 

526  Am  fear  nach  dean  cuir  'sa  Mhàrt 
Cha  bhuain  e  's  an  Fhoghair. 

He  who  will  not  sow  in  March 
Will  not  reap  in  the  Autumn. 

527  Am  fear  nach  cuir  ri  la  fuar, 
Cha  bhuan  e  ri  la  teth. 

He  who  will  not  sow  on  a  cold  day 
Will  not  reap  on  a  warm  day. 

5218  Am  fear  nach  dean  obair  na  gniomh 

Cha'n  fhaigh  e  biadh  air  feadh  nam  preas. 
He  who  will  not  work  or  act 
Will  ne'er  find  food  on  any  track. 

529  Am  fear  nach   dean   treabhadh   aig  baile. 
Cha  dean  e  treabhadh  bho'n  bhaile 
He  who  will  not  plough  at  home 
Will  not  plough  where'er  he  roam. 


122  •  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

530  Am  fear  a  tha  na  thàmh, 

Tha  e  na  leth-trom  air  an  fhearain. 
He  who  is  idle  is  a  burden  on  the  land. 

531  Airde  na  daileach  is  isle  na  h-àirde. 
The  highest  parts  of  the  meadow 
And  the  lowest  parts  of  the  ridges. 

These  were  considered  the  choicest  parts  for  arable 
land.  It  was,  however,  a  beUef  that  left  uncultivated  the 
richest  soil,  the  lower  lying  parts,  because  a  knowledge  of 
reclaiming  by  a  system  of  drainage  was  not  practised, 
perhaps  unknown. 

532  Am  fear  nach  treabh  air  muir 
Cha  treabh  e  air  tir. 

He  who  will  not  plough  {labour)  on  sea 
Will  not  plough  on  land. 

533  Am  fear  a  theid  a  gnà  a  macli  le  lion 
Gheibh  e  eun  uaireigin. 

He  who  always  sets  his  net 
Will  get  a  bird  sometime. 

534  Am  foar  nach  dean  baile  air  a  bheagan, 
Cha'n  airidh  e  air  a  miKoran. 

He  who  does  not  ivork  the  small  farm 
Is  unworthy  of  a  big  one. 

535  Am  fear  nach  cuir  snairnh 
Caillidh  e  a  cheud  ghreim. 
He  who  will  not  tie  a  knot 
Will  lose  his  first  stitch. 

536  Bheir  fear  beag  a  chuid  as  an  talamh, 
Ma's  toir  fear  mòr  a  chuid  as  an  àdhar. 

A  little  man  can  take  his  share  from  the  land, 
When  a  tall  ma^i  cannot  take  his  from  the  sky. 


LAND    AND    I,ABOUR.  123 

537  Bidh  mir  a  ghille  grùnndail  air  gach  meis. 
The  industrious  lad's  morsel  is  on  every  dish. 

538  Diolaidh  saothair  ainfhiach. 
Industry  pays  debts. 

539  Dùnan  math  innearach 
Màthair  na  ciste-mine. 
A  good  dung  heap 
Mother  to  the  meal-cist. 

540  Caillidh  am  fear  chadalach  molt, 

Ach  caillidh  am  fear  cèilidheach  mart. 
Sleepy  fellow  will  lose  a  wedder, 
But  gad-about  will  lose  a  coiv. 

541  Cha  bhi  toradh  gun  saothar. 

There  will  be  no  produce  withoitt  labour. 

542  Cha  do  shoirbhich  dithis  riamh  air  an  aon 

chnoc. 

Two  never  prospered  on  the  same  hill. 

This    is    another    illustration    of    the    individualism 
ingrained  in  the  Highlander. 

543  Cualach  mor  a  ghillie  leisg. 

The  lazy  fellow's  big  [bulky]  load. 

544  Ceann  mor  is  casan  caola,  comharradh  an 

droch  ghamhain. 
A  big  head  on  lean  legs  are  the  marks  of  the 
bad  stirk. 


124  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

545  Biadh  a  thoirt  do'n  fhearain  ma's  tig  an 

t-acras    air ; 
F'ois  a  thoirt  d'à  ma  fas  e  sgith, 
A  ghart-ghlanadh  ma's  fhàs  e  salach, 
Comharran  an  deagh  thuathanaich. 
Feeding  the  land  before  it  gets  hungry  ; 
Giving  it  rest  before  it  gets  weary  ; 
And  weeding  it  well  before  it  gets  dirty, 
The   marks   of   a   good   husbandman. 

546  Cha  leasachadh  air  droch  obair-làtha 
A  blii  fada  gum  toiseachadh. 

A  late  beginning  will  not  mend  a  bad  day'swork 

547  Caithidh  bo  ri  bleothain, 
Agus  each  ri  treabhadh. 

A  cow  will  wear  with  milking, 
And  a  horse  with  ploughing. 

548  Fas  a  ghrunnd  -air  reir.an  uachdrain. 
The  yield  of  the  ground  will  depend  on  the 

landlord. 
This  may  be  interpreted  in  more  than  one  way.  At 
the  time  when  coined  it  may  have  been  a  reproof  at  rack- 
renting  and  insecurity  of  tenure  ;  it  may  also  imply  bad 
factoring,  the  want  of  proper  supervision,  and  a  consequent 
impoverishment  of  the  soil. 

549  Far  nach  be  ni,  caillidh  an  righ  a  choir. 
Where  there  are  no  cattle,  the  king  will  lose  his 

rights. 
The  foregoing  is  undoubtedly  old,  and  belongs  to  the 
time  before  the  days  of  unearned  increment ;  when  all 
wealth  was  derived  direct  from  the  land.  Riches  were 
calculated  according  to  the  amount  of  live  stock  on  the 
land,  and  a  well-stocked  land  pre-supposes  a  well-peopled 
land.  The  King's  means  depended  on  the  amount  of 
tribute  received,  mainly  in  kind,  from  the  tillers  of  the  soil. 


LAND    AND    LABOUR.  125 

550  Fear  a  dol  an  àite  fir,  a  fàgail  an  fhearain 

daor. 
Tenant  replacing  tenant  leaves  the  land  dear. 

There  was  no  Crofters'  Act,  and  the  consequent  fixity 
of  tenure  when  the  foregoing  was  first  said. 

551  Feumaidh  an  talamh  a  chuid  fhein. 
The  land  must  receive  its  own  portion. 

The  rules  of  good  husbandry,  good  cultivation,  are 
much  neglected,  generally  speaking,  among  small  holders, 
and  a  more  rigid  supervision  would  be  for  the  good  of  all, 

552  Ged  is  e'n  duine  an  tuathanacli,  is  e'n  t-each 

an  saothraiche. 
Though  the  man  he  the  farmer,  the  horse  is 
the  labourer. 

553  Is  math  an  t-each  a  thoilicheas  a  mharcaiche. 
It  is  a  good  horse  that  pleases  the  rider. 

554  Is  iomadh  ni  a  chailleas  fear  na  h-imrich. 
Many  a  thing  is  lost  in  the  flitting. 

555  Is  fhearr  èiridh  moch  na  suidh  anmoch. 
Better  to  rise;  early  than  sit  up  late. 

E.P. — Early  to  bed  and  early  to  rise. 

Makes  a  man  healthy,  wealthy  and  wise. 
Land-workers  are  proverbially  early  risers,  and  early 
at  going  to  bed. 

556  Is  fhearr  Ian  an  dùirn  de  cheird 
Na  Ian  an  driirn  a  dh'òir. 
Better  a  handful  of  craftsmanship 
Than  a  handftil  of  gold. 

557  Is  toin  gach  tulaich  's  an  t-Samhradh  ghorm. 
Each  hill  is  a  knoll  in  Summer  green. 


126  GAEUC    PROVERBS. 

58  Is  olc  a  thig  do  shaor  a  bhi  sàr-bhuileach ; 
Do  ghobh'  a  bhi  crith-làmhach  ; 
'S  do  leigh  a  bhi  tiom-chridheach. 
It  ill  becomes  a  carpenter  to  he  heavy-handed  ; 
A  smith  to  he  shaky-handed  ; 
Or  a  physician  to  he  tender-hearted. 

559  Is  fhearr  dichioll  an  duine  laig, 
Na  neo-shunnt'    an  duine  làidir. 
Better  the  diligence  of  the  weak  man, 
Than  the  indifference  of  a  strong  man. 

560  Is  fhearr  sior  obair  na  sàr  obair. 

Better  steady  work  than  severe  spurts  of  work. 

561  Is  fhear  siol  caol  coirce  fhaotainn  a  droch 

fhearann  na  bhi  falamh. 
Better  small  corn  seeds  out  of  had  land  than 
no  seed  at  all. 

562  Is  obair  làtha  toiseachadh. 

A  beginning  is  a  good  day's  work. 

563  Is  buidheach  Dia  de'n  fhirinn. 
The  truth  is  pleasing  to  God. 

564  Fanaidh  IV^oisean  ri  làtha. 
The  Devil  waits  his  day. 

565  Ivionmhorachd  làmh,  ach  's  an  inhèis. 

A  multiplicity  of  hands  except  in  the  dish. 

A  Tiree  saying,  implying  that  many  hands  are  best  for 
getting  through  work,  except  when  round  the  dinner  table 
— the  more  there  were  taking  from  the  dish  the  less  each 
portion  would  be.  In  those  days  all  fed  from  a  common 
dish  that  was  not  always  over-flowing  at  the  start  of  the 
meal. 


LAND    AND    LABOUR.  127 

566  I^asaidh   ciall   teine,    cùmaidh    rian   baile ; 
Ach  cha  rnhair  sliochd  fir  foille,  no  iochd 

math  chum  na  cloinne. 
Sense  will  kindle  a  fire,  method  will  keep  a 

farm  ; 
A  traitor's  offspring  will  expire,  nor  clemency 

even  to  the  children. 

567  Obair  an  doill. 

The  work  of  the  blind. 

568  Obair  gun  bhuanachd, 

A  cuir  SÌ1  an  talamh  gun  todhar. 

Profitless  work, 

Sowing  seed  in  unmanured  land. 

569  Obair  gun  iarraidh, 
Is  e  fhiach  a  Iochd. 
Unasked  for  work — 
Its  value  is  harmful. 

570  Obair  is  ath-obair. 

Work,  and  after-work  {result  of  had  workman- 
ship at  first). 

571  Oidhche  Shamhna  's  a  Gheamhradh, 

Theirear  gamhna  ris  na  laoigh; 
Oidhch'   Fheill-Eoin    's   an   t-Samhradh, 

Theirear  aighean  ris  na  gamhna. 
At  Hallowe'en,  in  Winter-time, 

Little  calves  big  stirks  will  be. 
At  St.  John's  Eve,  i?i  Summer-time, 

The  stirks  ivill  bigger  heifers  be. 


128  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

572  Obair  duine  gun  chèill, 
Dol  gun  airgead  do'n  fhèill. 
A  senseless  man's  procedure, 
Going  to  market  without  cash. 

573  Oidhch'  a-muigh    is  oidhch'  a  steach, 
Math  nan  caorach,  is  olc  nan  each. 

In  to-night  and  out  to-morrow, 
Good  for  sheep,  had  for  horses. 

574  Se  'n  èigin  a  chuir  an  earb  thar  an  loch. 
Necessity  made  the  roe  swim  across  the  loch. 

575  Se  cleachdadh  a  ni  teòmachd. 
Experience  makes  expertness. 

576  'Sann  aig  ceann  na  bhadhna  a  dh'innseas 

an  tiasgair  a  sgeul. 
It  is  at  the  end  of  the  year  the  fisherman  tells 
his  tale. 

577  'Se'n  t-ullachadh  ni'm  buileachadh  ; 

A  treabhadh  thig  na  sguaban, 
j         A  sguaban  thig  na  h-adagan, 
1  A  adagan  na  cruachan. 

Indtistry  results  will  bring ; 

Ploughing  brings  the  sheaves  of  corn ; 

From  sheaves  come  stooks,  and  following 

Will  come  the  stacks  that  fill  the  barn. 

578  Treabhaidh   na   daoidhean   's  cha  dean  na 

saoidhean  ach  treabhadh. 
The   wicked  plough,    and   the   just   can   but 
plough. 

"  He  maketh  His  sun  to  rise  on  the  evil  and  on  the  good, 
and  sendeth  rain  on  the  just  and  on  the  unjust" 
(Matthew  v.  45). 


LAND    AND    LABOUR.  I29 

579  Togaidh  an  obair  an  fhianuis. 
The  work  will  hear  witness. 

A  proverbial  justification  of  piece  work  in  the  labour 
market. 

580  Turasdal  a  cheaird,  paidheadh  roimh-laimh. 
The  tinker's  wages — paid  beforehand. 

581  Turasdal  na  circe — Ian  a  sgròban. 

The  hen's  wages — her  cropful. 

582  Tuitidh  ton  eadar  da  chathair,  is  taigheadas 

eadar  dhà  mhuinntir. 
The  seat  falls  between  two  chairs,  and  house- 
keeping between  two  families. 


PART  V. 

THE    FINGALIANS. 


THK   FINGAIvIANS. 

THE  traditional  reputation  of  the  Fin- 
galian  heroes  of  the  Gaelic  race,  as 
evidenced  in  the  proverbial  sayings 
about  them,  shows  that  there  was  a  culture  and 
a  nobleness  of  character  beUeved  by  the  Gaelic 
people  to  have  been  associated  with  them  that 
is  in  agreeable  contrast  to  the  might  is  right 
gospel  so  evident  in  the  vaunted  warriorship 
associated  with  Attila  of  the  Huns,  for  instance. 
With  the  latter,  the  term  culture,  spelt  with 
an  aggressive  capital  "  K,"  is  profligated  to 
mean  nothing  more,  and  nothing  less,  than 
efficiency  in  every  art  for  getting  the  better  of 
one's  neighbours,  unencumbered  by  moral  con- 
siderations. Our  GaeHc  legendary  heroes  are 
shown  as  corresponding  in  character  and  domestic 
misfortunes  with  the  legendary  King  Arthur — 
"  faithful  to  their  friends,  generous  to  their 
foes,  mighty  in  war,  and  gentle  and  wise  in  peace." 
Whatever  may  be  the  authenticity  of  the  Poems 
of  Ossian,  those  who  are  the  heroes  of  their 
eulogies,  and  the  subjects  around  whom  their 
narratives  are  woven,  are  not  the  creation  of 
133 


134  GAHUC    PROVERBS. 

James  MacPherson,  the  reputed  and  the  disputed 
author  of  the  Poems.  Their  names  are  on 
record  by  Barbour,  whose  story  of  The  Bruce 
was  written  hundreds  of  years  before  MacPher- 
son's  time,  and  the  information  to  be  obtained 
regarding  them  in  our  Gaehc  Proverbs  is  evidence 
of  their  legendary  existence  before  the  pubHcation 
of  the  Poems. 

Those  heroes  are  presented  to  us  in  the 
Proverbs  as  worthy  warriors  of  a  warHke  age. 
The  following  one  enumerates  to  us  what  were 
considered  as  the  respective  fighting  qualities 
of  the  six  leading  Fingalians  : — 

(i)  Agh  Fhinn.     FingalVs  fortune,  or  luck. 

(2)  lyàmh  Ghuill.     Gaul's  hand. 

(3)  Bras-bhuillean  Oscair.     Oscar  s  impetu- 

ous strokes. 

(4)  lomairt    ealamh    Osein.     Ossian's   deft- 

ness. 

(5)  Ruith  chruaidh  Chaoilte.     Coilt's  swift- 

ness. 

(6)  Suidheachadh    Chonain    air    a    Chath. 
Conan's  planning  of  the  battle. 

Characteristics  worthy  of  respect  are  implied 
in  practically  all  the  proverbs  associated  with 
those  heroes,  and  that  are  singularly  illustrative 
of  virtues  not  usually  associated  with  the  pagan 
age  to  which  they  belonged. 


THE    FINGALIAXS.  135 

583  An  Fheinn  air  a  h-uillinn. 

The  Fingalians  on  their  elbows. 

The  traditional  origin  of  the  foregoing  is  as  follows  : — 
The  Fingalians  were  being  held  spell-bound  in  a  cave 
which  no  one  knew  of.  At  the  mouth  of  the  cave  hung  a 
horn,  which,  if  any  one  should  come  and  blow  it  three  times, 
the  spell  would  be  broken,  and  the  Fingalians  would  rise 
alive  and  well.  A  hunter  one  day  wandered  through  a 
mist  until  he  came  to  the  cave,  saw  the  horn,  and  under- 
stood what  it  meant.  Ivooking  into  the  cave,  he  saw  the 
Fingalians  lying  asleep  all  round.  He  seized  the  horn,  and 
gave  it  one  blast,  and  then  took  another  look  at  the  Fin- 
galians, who  had  awoke  at  his  blast,  but  with  their  eyes 
looking  at  him  with  a  vacant  stare.  Giving  the  horn 
another  blast,  the  Fingalians  instantly  moved,  each  one  of 
them  resting  on  his  elbow.  Terrified  at  their  aspect,  the 
hunter  fled  homewards.  He  told  what  he  had  seen,  and, 
accompanied  by  friends,  returned  in  search  of  the  cave. 
But  they  could  not  find  it,  and  it  has  never  since  been 
found.  As  a  consequence,  the  tradition  is  that  the  Fin- 
galians are  still  there,  each  resting  on  his  elbow,  waiting 
for  the  final  blast  that  will  rouse  them  into  life.  Another 
version  of  the  tradition  locates  the  incident  as  having 
happened  at  Tomnahuirich,  Inverness.  In  this  story  it  is 
added  that  on  the  hunter  running  away  he  heard  the 
Fingalians  calling  after  him,  and  saying  :  "  Thou  wretched 
foolish  man,  thou  hast  left  us  worse  than  thou  found  us." 

584  Bha  dorus  Fhinn  do'n  ànrach  fial. 
Fingal's  door  was  free  to  the  needy. 

585  Beatha  Chonain  a  measg  na'n  deamhan  : 
Ma's  olc  dhà,  cha'n  fhearr  dhaibh. 
Conan's   life   among  the   demons, 

If  had  for  him,  for  them  no  better. 
Conan  is  reputed  to  have  been  the  only  disagreeable 
one    among    the   principal    Fingalian    characters.     He    is 
called,   in   Ossianic   literature,   Aimslig  na  Feinne,    The 


136  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

Fingalian  Mischief  Maker.  He  is  said  to  have  visited 
Ifrinn  (Hell)  in  search  of  some  of  his  departed  friends,  and 
gave  as  good  as  he  got  to  the  friends  when  there.  Sir  Walter 
Scott  picked  up  the  story  and  made  use  of  it  in  Waverley, 
where  Mrs.  Flockhart  asks  :  "  And  will  ye  face  the  tearing 
chields,  the  dragoons,  Ensign  MacCombich?  "  "A  claw  for 
a  claw,  as  Conan  said  to  the  deils,"  answered  M'Combich. 

In  "  Leabhar  na  Fèinne,"  The  FingaHan's  Book,  in 
what  is  termed  Urnuigh  Osein,  or  Ossian's  prayer,  there  is  a 
good  example  of  the  old  Highland  hospitahty.  The 
incident  is  recorded  as  having  been  in  the  nature  of  a 
dialogue  between  Ossian  and  St.  Patrick. 

St.  Patrick — Cia  beag  a  chùil  chrònanach. 

Is  mònaran.  na  grèine. 
Gun  fhios  do  'n  Righ  IMhòralach 

Cha  teid  o'  bhil  a  sgeithe. 
Though  small  the  humming  insect  he, 

Or  shadow  seen  athwart  the  sun, 
Unknown    to    the    All-highest    king 

Naught  can  their  courses  run. 

Ossian. — 'N  saoil  thu  b'  ionnan  e  's  mac  Cumhail  ? 

An  righ  bha  againn'  air  na  Fiannaibh  ? 
Dh'fhaodadh  gach  neach  a  bha  air  thalamh 

Teachd  na  thall-san  gun  iarraidh. 
Thinkest  thou  thai  he  was  equal  to 

Our  king,  the  son  of  Cumhail  ? 
All  on  earth  might  enter  free, 

And  unhidden  to  his  halls. 

586  Cha  d'thug  Fionn  riamh  blàr  gun  chumhan. 

Fingal  never  fought  a  fight  without  offering 
terms. 

587  Coram  na  Feinne. 

The  f airplay  of  the  Fingalians. 
This  last  is  one  of  the  most  frequently  quoted  proverbs 
in  our  own  times.     It  demands  honourable  dealings  between 
man  and  'man. 


THE    FINGAI.IANS.  137 

588  Cho  laidir  ri  Guchuillin. 
As  strong  as  CuchuilUn. 

The  story  of  CuchuilUn,  and  the  description  of  him  in 
his  chariot,  in  the  First  Book  of  MacPherson's  "  Fingal," 
is  observed  by  Nicolson  as  leaving  no  doubt  that  he,  at 
least,  was  not  the  creation  of  MacPherson,  but  that  the 
original  was  Gaelic,  and  old. 

589  Cho  laidir  ri  Garbh,  Mac  Stairn. 

As  strong  as  Garbh,  the  son  of  Starn. 
"  Garbh  "  is  Gaehc  for  strong,  and  is  a  Gaelic  name  said 
to  have  been  given  to  a  Scandinavian  champion  who  figures 
in  MacPherson's  Ossian. 

590  Cho  cuimseach  làmh  ri  Connlaoch. 
As  unerring  of  hand  as  Connlaoch. 

Connlaoch,  according  to  tradition,  was  the  son  of 
Cuchuillin,  an  Ossianic  hero  who  was  brought  up  at 
Dunsgathaich,  in  Skye.  The  ruins  of  this  dun,  or  fort,  are 
still  shown.  This  hero's  story  is  said  to  form  one  of  the 
finest  pieces  in  MacPherson's  Ossian. 

591  Cha  do  threig  Fionn  riamh  caraid  a  làimh 

deise. 
Fingal  never  forsook  his  right  hand  friend. 

592  Cia  faisg  clach  do'n  làr, 

Is  faisge  na  sin  cobhair  Choibhidh. 
Though  near  is  a  stone  to  the  ground, 
Nearer  than  that  is  Coivi's  aid. 

593  Fear  nach   do  chuir  cùl   ri   caraid   no   ri 

nàmhaid. 
One  who  never  turned  his  back  on  friend  or  foe. 

594  Fuil  mo  nàmh  cha  d'  dh'iarr  mi  riamh, 
Na'm  bu  mhiann  leis  falbh  an  sith. 

The  blood  of  my  enemy  I  ne'er  did  seek, 
Were  he  but  willing  to  depart  in  peace. 


138  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

595  Ine  air  son  iiie,  a  Chonain. 
A  claw  for  a  claw,  Conan. 

E.P. — .4  Roland  foy  an  Oliver. 
See  also  No.  585. 

596  Is  buaine  dùthchas  na  oilean. 
Hereditary  gifts  are  better  than  acquired  ones. 

597  Is  fad  an  eigh  'o  lyochòdha, 

Is  cobhair  'o  Chloinn  Duibhne. 
'Tis  a  far  cry  from  Lochawe, 
And  aid  from  Clan  Duine. 

By  Clan  Duine  the  Clan  Campbell  are  meant,  the 
former  having  been  their  original  designation.  The  saying 
is  the  war-cry  of  the  Campbells.  Tradition  says  that  it 
was  first  "  cried  "  by  them  at  a  time  whea  they  were  hard 
pressed  in  a  conflict  with  the  Gordons,  in  Aberdeenshire. 

598  Na  sir,  's  na  seachan  an  an  cath. 
Neither  seek  nor  shun  the  fight. 

599  Na  tarruing  mi  gun  aobhar, 
'S  na  pill  mi  gun  chliù. 

Do  not  draw  me  without  cause, 
Nor  sheath  me  without  honour. 

600  "  Theab,   's  cha  d'rinn,"  cu  bu  mhiosa  a 
bha  riamh  aig  an  Fheinn. 

"  Almost,    but   didn't," — the    worst   dog    the 
Fingalians  had. 

601  Rughadh  shuas  an  am  laidhe, 

Dh'èireadh   Fionn   modi   'sa  mhaduinn; 
Rughadh  shuas  'sa  mhoch-mhaduinn, 
Dh'eanadh  Fionn  an  ath-chadar. 


THE    FINGALIANS.  139 

With  a  rose  in  sky  at  eventime, 
Fingal,  he  would  rise  quite  early  ; 

But  with  a  rose  in  sky  at  dawning, 
He  would  sleep  until  late  morning. 

"  When  it  is  evening  ye  say,  '  It  will  be  fair  weather, 
for  the  sky  is  red  ;'  and  in  the  morning,  '  It  will^be  foul 
weather  to-day,  for  the  sky  is  red  and  lowering.'  "  (Matthew 
Chapter  xvi.,  verses  2  and  3). 


PART   VI. 

ST.    COLUMBA    AND    OTHBR    SAINTS. 


ST.  COLUMBA  AND  OTHER  SAINTS. 

Achlasan  Chaluim  Chille. 
Gun  siorradh  gun  iarraidh. 

"  Achlasan  "  is  a  word  difficult  to  translate  in  the 
sense  made  use  of  here.  Literally  it  means  anything  being 
conveyed  under  one's  arm.  St.  Columba's  Achlasan  is  a 
Gaelic  for  St.  John's  wort,  although  sometimes  the  term 
used  is  : 

Lus  Chaluim  Chille. 
St.  Colitmna's  herb. 

The  traditional  story  associated  with  the  herb  is  that 
if  it  be  found  unexpectedly  and  unsought  for,  the  ensuing 
year  will  be  a  lucky  one  to  the  finder. 

602  Sgoiltidh  farmad  na'n  creag. 

Envy  {or  covetousness)  will  split  the  rocks. 

The  traditional  origin  of  the  saying  is  to  the  effect  that 
on  St.  Colmnba  being  observed  carrying  a  cheese-sha.ped 
stone,  an  onlooker,  believing  the  Saint's  burden  to  be  the 
real  eatable  article,  which  it  so  much  resembled,  he  devoured 
it  with  his  eyes,  so  to  express  it.  The  saint,  divining  the 
extent  of  the  fellow's  covetousness,  caused  the  stone  to 
split  in  two,  and  fall  to  the  ground,  where  the  curious  one 
was  allowed  to  examine  it  to  his  chagrin.  This  is  on  a  par 
with  many  of  the  other  miracles  attributed  to  St.  Columba, 
but  the  saying  is  based  on  the  tradition  which  was  at  one 
time,  it  maj^  be  supposed,  believed  in  by  many  very  good 
folk. 

603  lyà  Fheill  Eoin  's  an  t-Sanihradli 

Theid   a   chuthag   gu'   taigh   Geamhraidh. 
On  St.  John's  Day,  in  Summer, 
The  Cuckoo  goes  to  her  winter  home. 

143 


144  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

604  lyà  Fheill  MacCheasaig  bidh  gach  easgann 

torrach. 
On  St.  Kessock's  Day  every  eel  is  pregnant. 

St.  Kessock's  Day  is  the  31st  of  March.  St.  Kessock 
was  one  of  the  early  saints,  and  from  his  name  is  derived 
the  name  M'Isaac,  erroneously  taken  as  of  Jewish  extrac- 
tion by  the  uninitiated.  The  letter  "  K  "  is  an  interloper 
in  Gaelic  words,  being  foreign  to  the  Gaelic  Alphabet, 
In  this  case  it  represents  the  hard  Gaelic  "  C,"  in  Maclosaig, 
eclipsing  the  initial  "  i  "  of  the  substantive  losaig,  thus 
taking  the  Anglicised  forms  of  M'Isaac,  M'Kissack,  etc. 

605  I/à  Fheill-Brìghde  thig  an  ribhinn  as  a  toll. 
On  St.  Bride's  Day  the  nymph  will  come  out 

of  its  hole. 

The  original  Bridget,  or  Bride,  the  Dana  of  Celtic 
Mythology,  was,  in  pagan  times,  the  goddess  of  fire,  and  was 
supposed  to  be  represented  by  the  sudden  glow  and  strength 
so  noticeable  in  the  sun  in  early  Spring.  She  had  many 
additional  and  lovable  attributes,  and  all  were  transferred 
in  the  popular  beUef  to  her  Christian  successor,  the  Bridget, 
or  Saint  Bride  of  Ireland  and  lona.  She  is  depicted  as 
being  of  transcendent  beauty,  glorious  folds  of  long,  yeUow 
hair  being  a  special  feature.  The  handsome  black  and 
white  bird,  known  in  English  as  the  Oyster  Catcher,  is 
caUed  in  GaeUc  "  Gillie  Brighdè,"  "  Servant  of  St.  Bride," 
and  its  re-appearance  every  due  season  was  regarded  as  a 
sure  sign  of  the  approach  of  Spring. 

It  would  seem  as  if  there  was  some  Saint's  name 
associated  with  every  stage  in  the  advance  of  the  seasons, 
and  with  the  first  seasonal  movements  of  bird  and  beast. 
By  "  ribhinn,"  or  "  nymph,"  referred  to  in  the  last  quoted 
saying  there  is  meant  the  adder,  the  term  being  a  depre- 
catory one,  according  to  Nicolson.  It  is  probably  a  corrup- 
tion of  niomhair,  a  term  for  the  serpent  implying  "  the 
venomous  one."  All  adders  were  beUeved  to  come  out  of 
their  winter  holes  on  St.  Bride's  Day. 


ST.    COLUMBA    AND   OTHER  SAINTS.  I45 

606  I^à  Chaluim  Chille  chaomh, 
Ivà  bu  choir  a  bid  deilbh  ; 
L/k  chuir  chaorach  air  seilbh. 
On  dear  St.  Columba's  Day, 
The  warp  should  be  put  to  use, 
And  sheep  sent  to  pasture. 

St.  Columba's  Day  is  the  9th  of  June. 

607  I/US  Phara  liath,  cuiridh  e  ghniomh  as  a 

cnaimh. 
Grey  St.  Patrick's  wort  (grundsel)  'twill  drive 
pain  from  the  bone. 

608  Tuilleadb  ùir  air  Odhrain. 
More  earth  on  Or  an. 

Tradition  says  that  when  St.  Cohmiba  was  founding 
his  rehgious  establishment  in  lona,  he  received  divine 
intimation  that  one  of  his  companions  would  have  to  be 
buried  alive  as  a  sacrifice  necessary  to  the  success  of  the 
undertaking,  and  that  St.  Oran  offered  himself,  and  was 
duly  interred.  On  the  third  day  St.  Columba  had  the 
grave  opened  in  order  to  see  how  St.  Oran  fared.  As  soon 
as  he  was  uncovered,  and  he  was  able  to  open  his  eyes,  the 
resurrected  saint  expressed  himself  as  follows: — 

609  "  Cha'n  eil  am  bàs  na  iongantas, 
No  Ifrinn  mar  a  dh'aithrisear." 

"  Death  is  nothing  wonderful, 
Nor  is  hell  as  it  is  said  to  be." 
St.  Columb  ',  shocked  at  such  sentiments,  exclaimed  : — 

610  Uir,  tiir,  tuilleadh  tiir  air  Odhrain, 
Mas  labhair  e  tuille  còmhraidh. 

Earth,  earth,  more  earth  on  Oran,  lest  he  say 
more. 

A  Tiree  version  of  the  above  is  as  follows  : — 

K 


146  GAELIC    PROVERBS. 

611  Chan  eil  an  t-eug  na  annas, 

'S  cha'n  eil  Ifrinn  mar  a  thuirtear, 
Cha  teid  math  am  mùgh, 
'S  cha  bhi  olc  gun  dioladh. 
Death  is  nothing  strange, 
Nor  is  hell  as  has  been  said; 
Good  will  never  change, 
Nor  will  evil  be  unpunished. 

Part  of  the  tradition  is  that  Oran  used  to  dispute  with 
St.  Columba  about  the  torments  of  the  future,  and  that  he 
held  much  laxer  views.  There  is,  however,  no  record  of 
a  St.  Oran  being  a  companion  of  St.  Columba.  The  only 
one  of  the  name  on  record  is  mentioned  in  the  "  Annals  of 
the  Four  Masters,"  an  ancient  Irish  MS.,  where  he  is 
stated  to  have  died  in  the  year  548  A.D.,  fifteen  years 
before  St.  Columba  came  to  Scotland.  His  burial  place, 
known  as  Reilig  Odhrain,  is  in  lona,  which  would  indicate 
a  religious  community  there  before  St.  Columba's  time. 
It  is  quite  well-known  that  there  were  several  such  in 
Scotland  before  the  coming  of  St.  Columba,  and  that  they 
were  founded  by  St.  Ninian  and  his  disciples.  The  saying, 
"  Tuilleadh  ùir  air  Odhrain!  "  is  to-day  a  polite  way  of 
saying  "  Shut  up  !  " 


PART  VII. 

CLANS    AND    CLANSHIP. 


CIvANS   AND  CI.ANSHIP. 

50MK  of  these  sayings  were  evidently 
first  said  about  themselves  by  members 
of  the  Clans  concerned,  which  leaves 
what  truth  there  may  be  in  them  at  a  heavy 
discount ;  there  are  other  sayings  as  evidently 
coined  by  one  Clan  in  dispraise  of  another,  and 
the  amount  of  truth  in  these  may  be  discounted 
in  equal  measure.  Readers  must  judge  for 
themselves  as  to  which  Clan  was  best  at  blowing 
its  own  horn.  The  time  when  such  sayings 
were  in  use  is  now  so  far  off  that  we  can  quote 
many  of  them  with  a  smile. 

There  is  one  satisfaction  about  them,  and  it  is 
this — ^that  where  dispraise  is  most  intended, 
abuse  or  coarseness  of  expression  are  conspicuous 
by  their  absence.  lyct  the  sayings  then  speak 
for  themselves. 

612  An  t-uasal  an  I^eathaineach, 

'San  ceathaimeach  an  Raonalach. 

The  gentleman  of  the  Clan  MacLean, 
The  warrior  of  the  Clan  Ranald. 

613  An  cinneadh  mòr,  's  am  pòr  mì-shealbhach. 
The  great  race,  and  the  unfortunate  progeny ^ 

Said  of  the  Macl^eans  by  themselves. 
149 


150  GAEIylC    PROVERBS. 

614  A  dh'aindeoin  co  theireadh  e. 
Despite  who  would  gainsay  it. 

This  is  the  Clan  Ranald  motto. 

615  A  h-uile  fear  a  theid  a  dholaidh,  . 
Gheibh  e  dolar  bho  inhac  Aoidh.          H/ 

Every  man  who's  down  in  luck 
Will  get  a  dollar  from  MacKay. 
Said  when  the  Chief  of  the  Mackays  was  raising  men  to 
fight  in  the  wars  of  Gustavus  Adolphus,  where  he  and  they 
made  themselves  famous.  The  saying  shows  that  the 
derogatory  attitude  of  the  community  towards  army 
rankers  is  of  older  growth  than  is  generally  supposed. 
Within  our  own  times  soldiering  has  become  quite  respect- 
able from  the  social  point  of  view,  but  not  so  long  ago  it 
was  considered  the  harbour  for  all  ne'er-do-weels. 

616  Amhlaireachd  Chloinn-Mhic-Phillip. 
The  absurd  play  of  the  MacKillops. 

617  Bho'n  se  is  ni  do  Chloinn 

Neill  na  doirneagan, 
Gabhadh  iad  do'n  ionnsaidh. 
As  the  property  of  the  MacNeills  consists  of 

pebbles, 
Let  them  take  to  them. 

618  Cha  bhi  gean  air  Granndaich  gus  am  faigh 

iad  lite. 
Grants  are  never  gracious  till  they  get  their 

porridge. 
Something  similar  is  said  in  the  proverbs  about  the 
Campbells,  the  Gunns,  and  the  MacKenzies. 

619  Cha  robh  balach  riamh  de  Chloinn  Griogair, 
No  caile  de  Chloinn-an-Aba. 

There  never  was  a  clown  of  the  MacGregors, 
Or  a  hussy  of  the  MacNabs. 


CI.ANS    AND   CI^ANSHIP.  15I 

620  Camaranaich  bhog  an  ime  is  sliomaran  a 

chaise. 
The  Camerons — soft  as  butter  and  fawning 
for  cheese. 

621  Cha'n  ann  a  h-uile  la  bhios  mod  àig  Mac-an- 

Toisich. 
It  is  not  every  day  that  Macintosh  holds  a 
Court. 

The  Macintosh  here  referred  to  was  not  the  Mac- 
Kintosh  of  MacKintosh,  Chief  of  the  Clan  Chattan,  but  one 
of  the  hereditary  tòiseachs  (Chamberlains)  to  the  Earls  of 
Perth,  who  held  the  lands  of  Monyvaird  as  a  perquisite 
of  their  office.  Tradition  says  that  one  of  their  number, 
in  order  to  make  himself  famous,  and  to  strike  terror  into 
the  hearts  of  thieves,  used  to  arrange  for  one  being  adjudi- 
cated upon  and  hanged  each  day,  whenever  a  batch  of  them 
could  be  held  in  custody.  Hence  the  saying,  implying 
that  culprits  were  not  always  on  hand. 

622  Clann  Diarmaid  nam  busa  dubha, 
Cuiribh  riùtha  is  beiribh  oirre. 
The  black-mouthed  MacDiarmids, 
Go  at  them,  and  catch  them. 

623  Clann   Fhionghain   nam    faochag. 
The  MacKinnons  of  the  wilks. 

624  Cinnidh  Clann  Fhearchair  gus  an  teicheamh 

linn.  "^ 

The  Farquharsons  will  flourish  till  the  tenth 
generation. 

625  Clann  Mhic  Codruim  nan  ròn. 
The  Clan  MacCodrum  of  the  seals. 


152  GAEUC    PROVERBS. 

y^      626  Cnuic  is  uillt,  is  Ailpeinich, 

Ach  cuin'  a  thainig  na  h-Artairich  ? 
Hills,  and  streams,  and  Mac  Alpines, 
But  when  came  the  Mac  Arthurs. 
This  implies  that  the  MacArthurs  were  considered  to 
have  been  of  pre-historic  origin.  » 

^      627  Mac  Cuaraig  najti  Join,  ill^HK    L.^^ 

Chuir  e  cuaich  air  à  bhròig. 

Kennedy  of  the  meadows, 

He's  put  his  shoe  out  of  shape. 
The  Highland  dress  requires  a  man  being  shapely  in 
all  parts  to  show  it  off.  An  ungainly  figure  never  will 
become  it.  Gaelic  song,  descriptive  of  personal  attractions, 
is  very  insistent  on  shapely  limbs,  and  trimly-shod  feet 
were  particularly  noticed,  both  helping  to  add  distinction 
to  the  dress. 

628  Cho  fad  'sa  bhios  craobh  'sa  choill' 
Bidh  foill  's  a  Chuimeineach. 

As  long  as  trees  are  in  the  wood 
There  will  be  treachery  in  the  Cummings. 
.»  The  Campbells  and  the  MacPhails  .are  characterised 

in  the  same  way.  The  treachery  of  the  Red  Comyn  at 
the  time  of  King  Robert  the  Bruce  would  probably  have 
originated  the  saying  in  regard  to  the  Cummings. 

629  Comhdhaltas  gu  ceud,  is  càirdeas  gu  fichead. 
Fostership  to  a  hundred,  and  blood  relation- 
ship to  twenty  (degrees). 

Sheriff  Nicolson  says  : — "  This  emphasises  the  closeness 
of  ties  that  existed  under  fosterage  in  the  Old  Highlands." 
It  is  admitted  to  have  been  without  parallel  anywhere  else. 

630  Co  ris  a  ni  mi  mo  ghearain 

'S  gun  Mac-Ic-Ailein  am  Mùdairt. 
To  whom  can  I  make  my  complaint, 
And  no  Clan  Ranald  in  Moidart? 


CI^ANS    AND  CLANSHIP.  I53 

The  origin  of  this  saying  was  the  situation  caused  by 
the  death  of  Clan  Ranald  at  the  Battle  of  Sheriffmuir. 
Before  leaving  home  at  that  time,  the  1715  campaign, 
Clan  Ranald  set  fire  to  the  old  Clan  stronghold  of  Castle 
Tirram,  in  Loch  Moidart,  in  order  to  prevent  the  possibility 
of  its  falling  into  the  hands  of  the  Campbells  in  his  absence, 
or  in  the  event  of  his  death.  From  that  time  forward  the 
Clan  Ranald  Chiefs  made  their  abode  in  other  parts  of 
their  wide  domains,  principally  at  Castle  Ormaclate,  in 
Uist.  The  severance  of  the  Clan  Ranald  Chiefs  from  their 
Moidart  clansmen  in  this  manner  was  the  cause  of  the 
saying,  with  its  ring  of  pathos. 

631  Cho  fad  's  a  bhios  monadh  an  Cinn-t-sàile 
Cha  bid  Mac  Coinnich  gun  àl  's  a  chrò. 
So  long  as  there  are  moors  in  Kintail, 
MacKenzies  will  not  want  for  cattle  in  the 

pens. 

632  Casan  tiorram  Chlann-an-tòisich. 
The  Maclntoshs'  dry  feet. 

633  Cho  fad  's  a  bhios  Frisealaich  a  stigh 
Cha  bhi  MacRath  a  muigh. 

So  long  as  there's  a  Fraser  inside, 
A  MacRae  will  not  he  left  outside. 

The  above  saying  is  said  to  have  been  inscribed  on  the 
lintel  over  the  entrance  to  the  original  Castle  of  the  Chiefs 
of  the  Frasers.  The  tradition  associated  with  it  is  to  the 
effect  that  although  the  MacRaes  have  been  for  generations 
holding  their  hands  in  Kintail  off  the  Chiefs  of  the  Mac- 
Kenzies, and  serving  under  the  Seaforth  Chiefs  whenever 
they  went  to  battle,  doubtless  on  all  such  occasions  as 
a  self-contained  entity,  and  immediately  under  a  Ceann- 
taighe  of  their  own,  as  their  separate  tartan  would  indicate, 
their  original  territory  was  in  the  Fraser  cotmtry,  on  the 
Airds  of  lyovat,  their  allegiance  at  that  time  being  to  the 
Fraser  Chiefs.     On  account  of  some  signal  services  rendered 


154  GAEI.IC    PROVERBS. 

to  the  Frasers  by  the  MacRaes,  the  Chief  of  the  Frasers 
caused  the  above  saying  to  be  inscribed  over  the  front 
entrance  to  his  Castle. 

634  Co  dhà  bhios  MacMliathain  gu  math, 
Mar  bi  e  dha  fhein. 

To  whom  will  Matheson  he  good, 
If  not  to  himself  ? 

635  Dalt  Mhic  Phillip,  a  dol  am  feathas  'sam 

feathas. 
MacKillop's  foster  child,  getting  better  and 
better. 

636  Fear  eil'  air  son  Eachan. 
Another  for  Hector. 

When  Hector  Roy  MacIyean,of  Duart,  fell  at  the  Battle 
of  Inverkeithing,  in  1652,  several  members  of  the  Clan  fell 
whUe  guarding  their  wounded  Chief.  As  each  one  replaced 
another,  he  did  so  with  the  cry  "  Fear  eil'  air  son  Eachan," 
"  Another  for  Hector." 

637  Fadal  Chloinn  an  Tòisich. 
The  delay  of  the  Macintoshes. 

638  Ged  a  tha  mi  bochd,  tha  mi  uasal 
Buidheachas    do    Dhia    is    ann    do    Chloinn 

Illeathain  mi. 
Though  I  am  poor,  I  am  high-born  ; 
Thank  God !   I  am  a  MacLean. 

639  Is  caomh  le  fear  a  charaid 

Ach  se  smior  a  chridhe  a  cho-dhalt. 
Affectionate  is  a  man  to  his  friend. 
But  a  foster-brother  is  as  the  life-blood  of  his 
heart. 


CI.ANS     AND   CI.ANSHIP.  1 55 

640  Iveathaineach  gun  bhòsd, 
Dòmhnullach  gun  tapadh, 

Is  Caimbeulach  gun  mhor-chuis, 

Tri    nithean    tha    aineamh. 
A  MacLean  without  boast, 
A  MacDonald  without  cleverness, 
A  Campbell  without  pride — 

Three  rarities. 

641  Stiùbhairtich,  cinne  nan  righ  's  nan  ceàird. 
Stewarts,  the  race  of  kings  and  tinkers. 

The  name  was  commonly  adopted  by  tinkers  for  the 
same  reasons  that  induce  Jewish  moneylenders  to  adopt 
some  of  our  most  aristocratic  names — mercenary  motives 
and  the  desire  for  respectability. 

642  Sliochd  nan  sionnach  Cloinn  Mhàrtainn. 
Race  of  the  foxes,  the  Clan  Martin. 

643  Spagadagliog    Chloinn    Dòmhnuill, 
Agus  leòm  nan  I^eathainich. 

The  MacDonald  swagger, 
And  the  MacLean  airs. 

644  Tha  fortan  an  cuideachd  nan  treum. 
Fortune  favours  the  brave. 

This  is  the  motto  of  the  Clan  MacKinnon.  It  is  illus- 
trated in  "  Campbell's  West  Highland  Tales "  by  the 
following  story  : — Once  upon  a  time,  a  great  man  was 
getting  a  sword  made.  The  smith's  advice  for  the  perfect 
tempering  of  the  blade  was  that  it  should  be  thrust  red  hot 
through  the  body  of  a  living  man.  A  messenger  was  to  be 
sent  for  the  sword  upon  whom  it  was  agreed  that  the 
experiment  should  be  made.  The  man  sent  was  overtaken 
by  a  thunderstorm,  and  took  refuge  until  it  passed.  Mean- 
time the  Chief  sent  another  messenger  for  the  sword,  and  he, 


fiuAwIgs    U\fc-A     '\^'' 


^: 


156  GAEI.IC    PROVERBS. 

unheedful  of  the  storm,  duly  arrived  and  asked  for  it, 
whereupon  the  arranged  for  plan  for  tempering  the  blade 
was  performed  upon  him.  Subsequently,  the  first  messen- 
ger, who  had  prudently  taken  shelter  on  the  way,  arrived 
at  the  smithy,  got  the  sword,  and  took  it  to  his  master. 
The  great  man  was  astonished  to  see  him,  and  asked  where 
he  had  been.  The  messenger  told  what  had  happened  to 
him,  and  hence  the  reply  of  the  Chief,  and  the  traditional 
origin  of  the  saying. 

645  Theid  duthchas  an  aghaidh  na'n  creag. 
Kinship  will  withstand  the  rocks. 

646  Tha  uaisle  fo  thuinn  an  Cloinn  I^achain. 

There  is  hidden  nobleness  in  the  Clan  Lachlan. 

647  Tha  e  mar  a  bha  cat  Mhic-Aoidh, 
Fhathast  's  an  fheòil. 

He  is  like  MacKay's  cat — still  in  the  flesh. 

648  Teoidhidh  feòil  ri  finne,  ged  nach  deòin  le 

duine. 
Flesh  will  warm  to  kin,  even  against  a  mail's 
will. 


Scottish   and   Gaelic   Books 

PUBLISHED  BY 

ENEAS   MAGKAY,    STIRLING 

An  Dèidh  a  Chogaldh.  By  T.  D.  MacDonald.  After  War  Poems. 
Crown  8vo.,  34  pp.     Paper  Cover,   1/6, 

An  Dèidh  a  ChOgaidh.  Gaelic  Poems.  By  T.  D.  MacDonald. 
Wrapper,  is.  6d. 

Dàin  An  Am  a  Chogaidh.  By  T.  D.  MacDonald.  War-time  Poems, 
based  on  many  authenticated  incidents  of  the  Great  War. 
Crown,  8vo.,  64  pp.     Paper  Cover,  1/6  ;   Cloth.  2/6 

An  Am  a  Chogaidh.  Gaelic  Poems.  By  T.  D.  MacDonald. 
Wrapper,  is.  6d. 

Gaelic  Etymology,  Outlines  of.  By  Alexander  MacBain,  M.A., 
LL.D|    Wrapper,   is.   (post,  2d.)  1911 

Place  Names  of  the  Highlands  and  Islands  of  Scotland.  By  Alexander 
MacBain,  M.A.,  LL.D.  With  Notes  and  Foreword  by  William 
Watson,  M.A.,  LL.D.     Demy  8vo.     21s.  (post,  6d.)  1922 

Etymological  Dictionary  of  the  Gaelic  Language.  By  Alexander 
MacBain,  M.A.,  LL.D.  Demy  8vo.  Buckram.  12s.  6d.; 
Interleaved  Edition,  Half -Morocco,  21s.  (post,  6d.)  191 1 

Celtic  Mythology  and  Religion.  With  Chapter  upon  Druid  Circles 
and  Celtic  Burial,  with  Introductory  Chapter  and  Notes  by 
Professor  W.  J.  Watson.  By  Alexander  MacBain.  Demy 
8vo.     7s.  6d.  (post,  6d). 

The  Massacre  of  Glencoe  and  the  Campbells  of  Glenlyon.  By  Rev. 
George  Gilfillan,  Duncan  Campbell,  and  Professor  Blackie 
Crown  8vo.     2s.   (post.  4d.)  1912 

The  Romantic  Story  of  the  Highland  Garb  and  the  Tartan.  By  j.  G. 
Mackay,  M.B.E.,  J. P.  With  an  Appendix  by  Lieut. -Colonel 
Norman  MacLeod,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  dealing  with  the  Kilt  in  the 
Great  War.  Profusely  illustrated  with  plates  in  colour  and 
black  and  white,  and  sketches  of  Armourial  Bearings  showing 
the  Garb  at  the  different  periods.  Reproductions  of  Clan 
Tartans,  with  chapters  on  Native  Dyes  and  the  Proscription 
of  the  Dress  in  1746.  Crown  4to  (7^  by  10).  Buckram.  42s 
(post,   gd.)  1924 

Reminiscences  and  Reflections  of  an  Octogenarian  Highlander.  By 
Duncan  Campbell.  635  pp.  12s.  6d.  (post.  9d.)  Half  Pigskin 
Edition  de  Luxe,  21s.  (post,  gd.)  1910 

Rambles  in  Skye.  With  a  Sketch  of  a  Trip  to  St.  Kilda.  ByMalcohn 
Ferguson.     3s.   6d.    (post,    3d.)  1885 

Highland  Superstitions.  By  Alexander  MacGregor,  F.S.A.  New 
Edition,  with  Introductory  Chapter  upon  Superstitions  and 
their  Origin  by  Isabel  Cameron.  Demy  8to.  Gilt  top.  3s.  6d 
(post,  3d.) 


SCOTTISH    AND    GAKUC    BOOKS. 

The  History  of  the  Highland  Clearances.  By  Alexander  MacKenrie 
F.S.A.  (Scot.).  With  Introduction  by  Ian  MacPherson,  M.P. 
Crown  8vo.     3s.  6d.  (post,  4d.)  191 4 

Tales  0?  the  Scots.  Re-told  by  Jessie  Patrick  Findlay,  and  illus- 
trated by  Margaret  Ross  Post.  8vo.  is.  6d.  (post,  4d.) 
Paper  Edition,  8d.  (post,  3d.) 

Culloden  Moor,  and  the  Story  of  the  Battle.  With  Description  of  the 
Stone  Circles  and  Cairns  at  Clava.  By  the  late  Peter  Anderson 
of    Inverness.     Post   Svo.     5s.    (post,    4d.)  1920 

The  History  of  the  7th  Battalion  Queen's  Own  Cameron  Highlanders. 
By  Colonel  J.  W.  Sandilands.  C.B.,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O.,  and  L,ieut.- 
Colonel  Norman  MacLeod,  C.M.G.,  D.S.O.  Illustrated,  and 
containing   War   Diary.     4s.    6d.    (post,    4d.)  1922 

Reminiscences  of  a  Clachnacuddin  Nonagenarian  of  Inverness.  By 
the  Editor  of  the  "  Inverness  Herald."  Crown  Svo.  2s.  6d. 
(post,  3d.)  1866 

Highland  Legends  (Uirsgeulan  Gaidhealach).  Published  by  author- 
ity of  An  Comunn  Gaidhealach.     Cloth,  is.  6d.  ;    Paper,  gd. 

The  Canadian  Boat  Song.  Words  attributed  to  John  Gait.  Music 
by  Chrishelen  MacKay.  Key  E.  Plat.  is.  6d.  Another 
issue,  words  attributed  to  Christopher  North  in  Key  F.     is.  6d. 

Dain  Eadar  Theangaicthe  (Gaelic).  By  T.  D.  MacDonald.  Crown 
8vo.,  2s.  6d. 

Am  Bru-Dhearg  (Gaelic — The  Robin).  B  Malcolm  MacFarlane. 
Music  by  C.  H.  MacKay.     3d. 

Bardic  Melody  (Binneas  nam  Bard — Gaelic).  By  Malcolm  Mac- 
Farlane.    Part  I.     2s.  6d. 

An  Smeorach  (Gaelic — The  Mavis).  By  Malcolm  MacFarlane. 
Music  by  C.  H.  MacKay.     6d. 

Elementary  Lessons  in  Gaelic.  With  Vocabulary  and  Key  (Gaelic 
and  English).     B3'  Lachlan  MacBean.     is. 

Guide  to  Gaelic  Conversation  and  Pronunciation.  (Gaelic  and 
English).     By   Lachlan   MacBean.     is.   6d. 

The  Life  of  Flora  MacDonald.  By  Alexander  MacGregor.  Crown 
8vo.     Cloth.     Illustrated.     3s.  òd.  (post,  4d.)  1901 

Mothers'  Lullabies  and  Grandmothers'  Tunes.  In  Gaelic.  ByT.  D. 
MacL'onald.     Illustrated.     3d. 

Songs  and  Hymns  of  the  Gael.  Translations  (Gaelic  and  English), 
Music,  and  Introductions.     3s.  6d.  (post,  Cd.) 

Songs  of  the  Gael  (Gaelic  and  English).  A  collection  in  Sol-fa  and 
Staff  Notations.     Paper  edition,  is. 

Notes  on  the  Priory  of  Inchmahome.  By  A.  A.  FitzAllan.  Illus- 
trated.    19.  6d.  (post,  2d.) 

"  The  '45."  By  Alexander  B.  Tulloch.  From  the  raising  of  Prince 
CharUe'9  Standard  at  Glenfinnan  to  the  Battle  of  Culloden 
(with   plan).     Cloth,   2s.  ;    boards,    is.  1908 


SCOTTISH    AND    GAELIC    BOOKS. 

Drum-na-Keil  (The  Ridge  of  the  Burial  Place).     By  Mary  E.  Boyle. 

8vo.     Wrapper,  is.  (post,  2d.) 
Miscellanea    Invernessiana.     By    John    Noble,     with    bibliography 
of  Inverness  newspapers  and  periodicals.     Edited,  with  intro- 
ductions, preface,  and  index,  by  John  Whyte.     7s.  6d.  1902 

Smuggling  in  tlie  Highlands.  An  account  of  Highland  Whisky 
Smuggling  Stories  and  Detections.  By  Ian  MacDonald,  D.S.O. 
With  Illustrations  of  Smuggling  Boothies,  Distilhng  Utensils, 
etc.     Post   8vo,    3s.    (post,    4d.)  1914 

Bell  the  Cat ;  or,  Who  Destroyed  the  Scottish  Abbeys  ?  By  John 
Jamieson.  Bound  demy  8vo.  Gilt  top.  369  pp.  Nineteen 
chapters  of  letterpress  and  appendix.  36  illustrations  of 
Scottish  Abbeys,  Cathedrals,  and  Churches.  3s.  6d.  (post, 
6d.)  1902 

The  Romance  of  Poaching  in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland.  As  illus- 
trated in  the  Lives  of  John  Farquharson  and  Alexander  David- 
son, the  last  of  the  Free  Foresters..  By  W.  M'Combie  Smith. 
Crown    8vo.     3s.    6d.    (post    ^d.)  1904 

The  Scottish  Highlander  in  Anecdote  and  Story.  By  Roderick 
MacLennan.     Crown    8vo,     Cloth    Gilt.     Illustrated.     2s.    6d. 

1905 

The  Book  of  MacKay.  By  Angus  MacKay,  M.A.  Crown  4to. 
500  pp.  With  Portraits,  Plates,  and  numerous  Illustrations. 
£z  2s.   (post,  gd.)  190Ò 

Fcarchair-a-Ghunna  (Ross-shire  Wanderer).  His  Life  and  Sayings. 
By  the  author  of  "  The  Maid  of  Fairburn."  Crown  8vo.  Cloth, 
2s.  ;    Paper,   is.  6d.   (post,  3d.)  1908 

Highland  Second  Sight.  The  Prophecies  of  the  Brahan  Seer.  By 
Alexander  MacKenzie.  With  an  Introductory  Chapter  by 
Andrew  Lang.     Cloth,  3s.  6d.  (post,  4d.)  1909 

Antiquarian  Notes.  By  Charles  Fraser  MacKintosh.  Edited  by 
Kenneth   MacDonald,    Inverness.     21s.     First  Series.         1913 

Antiquarian  Notes.  By  Charles  Fraser  MacKintosh.  Parish  by 
Parish,  Historical,  Genealogical,  and  Social.  Second  Series. 
2is.  1897 

Feuds  Of  the  Clans.  By  the  Rev.  Alexander  MacGregor,  M.A. 
Together  with  the  History  of  the  Feuds  and  Conflicts  among 
the  Clans  in  the  Northern  parts  of  Scotland  and  in  the  Western 
Isles.     First  published  1764.     Crown  8vo.     3s.  6d.   (post,  4d.) 

Stories  of  Law  and  Lawyers.  By  joke-upon-Littleton.  Post  Svo. 
2s.  (post,  4d.) 

School  Gaelic  Dictionary.     By  Malcolm  MacFarlane.     Buckram,  5s. 

An  Traoraiche  Leabhran  Sgoil  air  son  na  Cloinne  (a  Gaelic  Primer  for 
Children).     By  Malcolm  MacFarlane.     Cloth,  is. 


ENEAS  MACKAY,  44  CRAIGS,  STIRLING. 


»-A/y.  9^  6^x_*:^ 


^-^'l'tU    *»-^-«^  l  Sy- 


(ì^-JUd 


^7!  (^'  ?/-