They said to the mouse, "Take these two pounds of sugar and carry this letter to the cat." "The fee is good enough," she replied, "but is tiresome." (Arabian). Pay for services is not always compensation for labour performed; it is sometimes compensation for risk. Large wages are paid to those who engage in dangerous occupations as well as those who are skilled in their work. They said to the tailor, "It is difficult." He said, "My needle is in my head." (Osmanli). Men are paid for knowing how to do a thing as well as for the actual work that they perform. A skilled workman receives the highest wages. They said, "Why is the nape of your neck so thick?" He said, "My own affairs, I myself look after them." (Osmanli). An impertinent question calls for an impertinent answer. "What a beauty!" "What a sweet voice!" (Marathi). This proverb represents a donkey and a camel in conversation. The donkey, desiring to pay a compliment to the camel, calls it a beauty, and the camel, not wishing to be outdone in politeness, returns that the donkey has a sweet voice. The saying is a satire on flattery and is applied to people who pay undeserved compliments, the mere purpose of which is that they may be regarded as agreeable. "What! Do you steal in broad daylight?" He replies, "Do you know how pressing my necessities are?" (Tamil). "What do you wish?" "That which I have not." (Tamil). "What hast thou, Paul?" "That which I had always." (Modern Greek). Applied to people who are continually complaining of their lot and keeping themselves in a state of unhappiness. "What is sweeter than sugar?" "Truth." (Hindi). "What is wanting to you, man with the ringworm?” “A pearl cap." (Modern Greek). Applied to people who have absurd ambitions, particularly those who desire dress and adornment that is not fitted to their social station. "Where is this twig?" Greek). "From this shrub." (Modern See Bible Proverbs-Old Testament: "As is the mother so is her daughter." When one said, "Here's a tiger!" the other said, “And there's his tail!" (Telugu). When one exaggerates in telling a story another seeks to rival him in the same way. "Where are you going to, Madam Fate?" asked one, “I'll follow you, go on," she replied. (Telugu). Every man makes his own fate; evil results from evil companionships and habits, good results from good companionships and habits. "Where goes't thou, bad fortune?" "To the house of the man of many arts." (Modern Greek). "Jack of all trades is master of none." (English). "Where goest thou, she-goat?" "I go to the city "If they permit thee, thou wilt go farther yet.' (Modern Greek). "If your luck go on at this rate you may very well hope to be hanged." "Give a fool rope enough, and he will hang himself." Sometimes "a thief," "a rogue," or "the devil" is used instead of "a fool.' "Give him tow enough and he'll hang himself." "Let him alone with the Saint's Bell and give him rope enough.' "Give a child his will, and a whelp his fill, and neither will thrive." (English). "Who borrows easily?" (Modern Greek). "He who pays punctually." "Who has eaten the honey?" "He that has the fly on his umbrella." (Modern Greek). "Cover yourself with honey and the flies will have at you." (English). "Why did he die?" "For lack of breath." (Hindustani). "Why do you cry before you are beaten?" he asked. "You are going to beat me in future," replied the boy. (Telugu). "He takes off his clothes before he reaches the water." (Afghan). "Why do you weep?" "Not so, sir, this is my natural look." (Hindustani). "Why is the funeral so hot?" One answered, "Every person weeps for his own state." (Arabian). Or weeps because of his own unhappy condition. "Why, my girl, do you faint?" "I have not had rice enough." (Tamil). "Why, you fellow, do you untie the knot?" know how hungry I am?” (Tamil). "Do you "You fellow! Why did you go up the cocoanut tree?" When thus addressed, he replied, "I went to get grass for the calf." (Tamil). A retort that gave no information and intended to be equivalent to the reply, "It is none of your business." "You shrew, will you plaster the floor?" "No, you wretch! I'll dig it." "You shrew, will you dig the floor?" "No, you wretch! I'll plaster it." (Hindustani). RETORTING PROVERBS A chariot moves not on a single wheel. (Sanskrit). A response to people who exercise poor judgment or act with evil intent and then charge their mishaps and failures to fate. A lack and a lack, says one-make two score and ten, says another. (Bengalese). A reproving rejoinder to a blusterer who belittles a great undertaking and asserts that it can be accomplished with little labour and expense. Ask the sick man if he wishes for a bed. (Turkish). For similar retorts see Contemptuous Proverbs: "Ask the tapster if his ale is gude.' As old as my tongue and a little older than my teeth. (English). Used in answering the question, "How old are you?" when one does not care to tell his age. Drive a nail to me also. (Modern Greek). A reply to the boasting remarks of a conceited person, who compares himself to others who are greatly his superiors in intelligence and rank. Eat your melons, what business have you with the melon bed? (Persian). Take what is offered to you and ask no questions. Used in answering one who makes many inquiries as to the source from which he is to receive pay for services. Enough, sir, enough, I already see your army. (Hindustani). Spoken in derision to one who boasts. Explain thy meaning and give not the author's name. (Spanish). To one who insinuates that he has information that he is not permitted to give because it was communicated to him in confidence. For the truth seven twists are not required. (Telugu). A response to one who tries to cover a falsehood or misdeed by lengthy explanations. Gar wood's ill to grow, chuckie stanes are ill to chow. (Scotch). Forced woods are hard to grow; pebbles are hard to chew. A response to one who threatens force if his wishes are not complied with. Give me your eyes and go about to beg. (Hindustani). A response to a person who makes unreasonable demands. Go wash your mouth. (Hindustani). Used as a reply when one does not intend to grant a favour. Hout your dogs and bark yoursel'. (Scotch). Explained by James Kelly as, "A sharp return to those that say 'Hout' to us, which is a word of contempt; in Latin, apage!" I am not a camel that you should wound me in two places of my neck. (Persian). Quoted by a man who refuses to be put to any expenditure of time or money for the benefit of another who has injured him. If they ask you for cabbages, my father has a field full of peas. (Spanish). A proverbial reproach to a person who has given an irrelevant answer to a question. |