LOCAL AND NATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS

AND PREJUDICES IN PROVERBS

A fighting Frenchman runs away from even a she-goat. (Russian).

This opinion of French valour is quite different from that entertained by the French themselves who say: "Were the devil to come from hell to fight, there would forthwith be a Frenchman to accept the challenge."

A horse is the ruin of the Osmanli; obstinacy ruins the Turk. (Osmanli).

"One great weakness of the Osmanli is the passion for possessing a fine horse; whilst the Turks are of a slow, stubborn, obstinate character."

E. J. Davis.

An Arab with an Arab your face is like a black tooth. (Osmanli).

The Osmanli, knowing how they are hated by Arabs, use this proverb to indicate that should one of their number be so unfortunate as to come between two of them he would be crushed and beaten until he became like a black tooth. They also say: "Neither the sugar of Damascus, nor the face of an Arab," I do not like either of them. They are both bad. This same dislike is shared by the Turks who declare: "I do not wish for camel's milk nor the sight of an Arab."

A Portuguese apprentice who knows not how to sew and would cut out. (Spanish).

In olden times the Spaniards held the Portuguese in contempt.

Arab diligence, Persian genius, Greek intelligence. (Osmanli).

Arabic is a language, Persian a sweetmeat, and Turkish an art. (Persian).

A right Englishman knows not when a thing is well. (English).

A Russian without the knout seldom does good. (German).

The Russian knout, or whip, was formerly used for flogging criminals.

A Scotchman and a Newcastle grindstone travel all the world over. (English).

"A Scotchman, a crow, and a Newcastle grindstone travel a' the world ower." (Scotch).

A Scotch mist will wet an Englishman to the skin. (Scotch). A Scotsman is one who keeps the Sabbath and every other thing he can lay his hands on. (American).

Beware of a white Spaniard and a black Englishman. (Dutch).

By the side of an Osmanli, beware how you look; by the side of a Secretary, beware what you say. (Osmanli). The Osmanli is quick-tempered and passionate. It is therefore wise to control yourself and not offend him, even in your looks. The Secretary of Government may report your remarks to the authorities; it therefore behooves you to be careful what you say in his presence.

Choose a Brabant sheep, a Guelder ox, a Flemish capon, and a Friezeland cow. (Dutch).

Do not speak Arabic in the Moor's house. (Spanish).

Do not attempt to speak a language with which you are not familiar in the presence of one who uses it constantly; do not seek to show your wisdom by talking with strangers and the well informed on subjects about which you are ignorant.

England is the paradise of Women. (English).

"England is the paradise of women, the purgatory of men, and the hell of horses." (Italian-Old Tuscan). Another form is: "England is a prison for men, a paradise for women, a purgatory for servants, a hell for horses.”

Gae to Scotland without siller, and to Ireland without blarney. (Scotch).

Used ironically.

Get an Irishman on the spit and you'll easily find two others to turn him. (Irish).

Gie a Scotchman an inch and he'll take an ell. (Scotch). This saying is evidently borrowed from the familiar English proverb: "Give him an inch and he'll take an ell."

"Give a rogue an inch and he'll take an ell." (Danish, Dutch). "If you give him a foot he will take four." (French). Give a clown your finger and he will take your hand." (Italian, Dutch, English, Spanish, Scotch). 'Give me a seat and I will make myself room to lie down." (Spanish). "If he is allowed to touch your finger, he will speedily seize your wrist." (Hindustani). "Give a priest a small veranda, and he will by degrees take the whole house." (Marathi).

God keep the kindly Scot from the cloth-yard shaft, and he will keep himself from the handy stroke. (Scotch).

In this proverb the Scotch acknowledge the superiority of the English in archery.

"Every English archer beareth under his girdle twenty-four Scots." (English).

He appears to have been bred in the mountains of Batuecas. (Spanish).

"Batuecas is a wild part of Spain, being a branch of the mountains known by the name of the French Rock, in the kingdom of Leon, and in the bishopric of Coria, on the confines of that of Salamanca. The inhabitants are remarkable for their rustic manners."-John Collins.

He is fed well in Seville whom God loves. (Spanish).

Spoken by the Spaniards in praise of their own town. The Italians say: "See Naples and then die."

It is also said in praise of Seville: "He who has not seen Seville, has seen no wonder," and "He who is disorderly in his own town, will be so in Seville,' as though disorder was unknown in Seville save when disorderly people from other places go there. The Spaniards sometimes say: "From Madrid to Heaven."

He that hath to do with a Tuscan must not be blind. (Italian).

He that would England win, must with Ireland first begin. (English).

See proverb: "If that you will France win, then with Scotland first begin."

"This proverb probably had its rise in the popular discontent felt in Ireland at the system of plantation which was carried into force there during the reign of James I., but the saying itself (with a difference) is nearly a century older."

W. Carew Hazlitt.
"The enemies of England clearly perceived that
Scotland would be an admirable base of opera-
tions from which to attack the larger country.
The proverb arose about the time of the Protector
Somerset's expedition, when Scotland was weak
and disturbed."-Andrew Cheviot.

Froude, the historian, declared that the phrase was
a Catholic proverb of the sixteenth century.
"Get Ireland today and England may be thine to-
morrow." (Old English Saying).

He waddles like an Armenian bride.

(Osmanli).

He who goes to Ceylon becomes a demon. (Bengalese). "When we strike mud we get smeared over." (Malabar). "Who lives with a blacksmith will at last go away with burnt clothes." (Afghan). "The fowl brought up with the pig will eat dirt. (Tamil). "One scabby goat infects the flock."

(Persian). “Who talks with the smith receives sparks." (Kurdish). "If you sit down with one who is squint-eyed in the evening you will become squint-eyed or cat-eyed." (Modern Greek).

If a Telugu man prosper, he is of no use to anyone. (Tamil).

"Prosperity destroys fools and endangers the wise." "Prosperity is like a tender mother, but blind, who spoils her children." "Prosperity is the worst enemy men usually have.' "Prosperity lets go the bridle." "Prosperous men seldom mend their faults." (English). "Prosperity forgets father and mother." (Spanish). Prosperity is the nurse of anger." (Latin). "They must be strong legs that can support prosperous days." (German).

66

If that you will France win, then with Scotland first begin. (English).

See proverb: "He that would England win must with Scotland first begin."

"In reference to the intimate relations formerly subsisting between Scotland and France when the former was ruled by its own sovereigns." W. Carew Hazlitt.

"But there's a saying very old and true:
"If that you will France win,
Then with Scotland first begin.'

For once the eagle England being in prey,
To her unguarded nest the weasel Scot

Comes sneaking and so sucks her princely eggs,
Playing the mouse in absence of the cat,

To tear and havoc more than she can eat."

SHAKESPEARE: King Henry V.

If the Scot likes a small pot he pays a sure penny. (English).

An English testimonial to the honesty of Scotchmen.

I hae a Scotch tongue in my head, if they speak I'se answer. (Scotch).

"There is nae law now about reset of intercommuned persons as there was in the ill times