The proverbs and moral sayings of a nation have always been considered
to possess a remarkable interest, not only on account of the practical
wisdom embodied in them, but for the insight which to a great extent
they afford into the peculiar character and habits of thought of the
people to whom they belong. Wisdom, it is true, is essentially the same
in all countries, but the expression of it must vary according to the
temperament and modes of thinking which are found to characterise the
people of different nations; and hence the proverbs of every people
have been deemed worthy of preservation, as well for purposes of
comparison as for their own intrinsic value. If, however, there be any
nation the proverbs of which remain almost wholly unknown to the people
of the British islands generally, it is the Irish, of whose popular
sayings no specimens have ever been given in an English dress, except
a collection of about eighty, which were contributed to the first
volume of the _Dublin Penny Journal_ by our able and estimable friend
Mr O'Donovan, who well observes, that "a perfect list of the proverbs
of any people is, as it were, an index to the national character, or
the elements of the moral notions, customs, and manners of a people."
A vast body of such characteristic popular wisdom still remains hidden
in the obscurity of its original vernacular form, and we trust that
we shall render our readers an acceptable service in presenting them
from time to time with translated portions, accompanied by the original
Irish, which we are equally anxious to preserve.
1.
#fearr mine na buirbe ṁor#
#fearr coir na dul ċum dliġe#
#fearr teaċ beag is teann loin#
#na teaċ mor is beagan biḋ#
Gentleness is better than violent anger..
Compromising is better than going to law.
A small house and a plentiful store
Are better than a large house and little food.
2.
#Iomad gloir ag neaċ#
#to ḃeir sin neiṁċion ara ċeill#
#deineann duine le hiomad gloir#
#Spaidean don ċoir fein#
Too much talkativeness in a man
Brings his good sense into disrepute;
Because a man by a superfluity of words
Only detracts from the force of truth.
3.
#ni troimede an loċ an eala#
#ni troimede an t'eaċ a srian#
#ni troimede an ċaora a holann#
#'sni troimede an ċolann ciall#
The lake is not incumbered by the swan,
The steed is not incumbered by its bridle,
The sheep is not incumbered by its wool,
Nor is the body incumbered by good sense.
4.
#milis glor gaċ fir#
#ag a mbiḋ cuid agus spreiḋ#
#Searḃ glor an te ḃios loinin#
#bunoscionn do laḃrann se#
Sweet is the voice of every man
Who possesses means and affluence;
But harsh is the voice of the indigent man;
His language seems topsy-turvy.
5.
#naċ buaiḋearṫa ḃid na daoine ar uireasbaiḋ loin#
#'san uaiġ da lionaḋ dioḃ go memic san lo#
#ni luaiṫe ton ċill an fioṫal fuiriḋṫe dereoil#
#na an luaiṫḟear groiḋe no an naoiṫean lemiḃ ḃig oig#
How much do people sorrow for their want of possessions,
And the grave meanwhile filled with them often in the day!
Not sooner to the cemetery goes the emaciated invalid
Than the robust and brave man, or the now-born infant.