This is a Scotch proverb, the application of which may be inferred from
the following account of its origin. A tenant of lord Hackerston, who
was one of the judges of the court of session, one day waited on his
lordship with a woful countenance. “My lord,” said he, “I am come to
inform your lordship of a sad misfortune, my cow has gored one of your
lordship’s cows, so that I fear it cannot live.”--“Well, then, you must
pay for it.”--“Indeed, my lord, it was not my fault, and you know I am a
very poor man.”--“I can’t help that, I say you must pay for it; I am not
to lose my cow.”--“Well, my lord, if it must be so I cannot say against
your lordship,--but stop, my lord, I believe I have made a mistake, it
was your lordship’s cow that gored mine.” “O! that is quite a different
affair,--go along and don’t trouble me, I am busy--go along, I say.”
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