La mala llaga sana, la mala fama mata. _A bad wound may be cured, bad
repute kills._
La mano cuerda no hace todo lo que due la lengua. _The wise hand does
not all that the tongue says._
La manzana podrida perde a su compaña. _The rotten apple spoils its
companion._
La mas cauta es tenida por mas casta. _The most cautious passes for the
most chaste._
La mas ruin oveja se ensucia en la colodra. _The worst ewe dungs in the
milking-pail._
La moça como es criada, la estopa como es hilada. _The girl as she is
taught, the flax as it is wrought._
La muger compuesta á su marido quita de puerta agena. _The well-dressed
woman draws her husband away from another woman’s door._
La muger del ciego para quien se affeyta? _For whom does the blind
man’s wife adorn herself?_
La muger hermosa ó loca ó presuntuosa. _A handsome woman is either
silly or vain._
La muger polida, la casa sucia, la puerta barrida. _The woman in
finery, the house in filth, but the doorway swept._
La muger quanto mas mira la cara, tanto mas destruye la casa. _The more
a woman admires her face, the more she ruins her house._
La muger vieja, si no serve de olla, serve de cobertera. _The old wife,
if she does not serve for a pot, serves for a cover._
La muger y el vidrio siempre estan en peligro. _A woman and a glass are
always in danger._
La muger y la salsa á la man de la lança. _Your wife and the sauce at
the lance hand (the right hand)._
La muger y la tela, no las cates á la candela. _Choose neither a woman
nor linen by candlelight._
La mula y la muger por balagos hacen el mandado. _A mule and a woman do
what is expected of them._
La necesidad hace á la viega trotar. _Need makes the old woman trot._
La occasion hace el ladron. _Opportunity makes the thief._
La oveja harta, del rabo hace manta. _The well-fed sheep makes a cloak
of its tail._
La piedra es dura, y la gota menuda, mas cayendo de continuo, hace
cavadura. _The stone is hard and the drop is small, but a hole is made
by the constant fall._
La pobreza no quita virtud, ni la riqueza la pone. _Poverty does not
destroy virtue, nor does wealth bestow it._
La primera muger escoba, y la segunda señora. _The first wife is a
broom, and the second a lady._
La quinta rueda al carro no hace sino embaraçar. _A fifth wheel to a
cart is but an encumbrance._
La sangre sin fuego hierve. _Blood boils without fire._
Las llaves en la cinta, y el perro en la cocina. _The keys at the
girdle, the dog in the larder._
Las malas nuevas siempre son ciertas. _Bad news is always true._
Las manos blancas no ofenden. _White hands are no offence._
Las sopas y los amores, los primieros son mejores. _Of soups and loves
the first are the best._
Las tripas esten llenas, que ellas llevan á las piernas. _Let the guts
be full, for it is they that carry the legs._
La suegra ha de ser rogada, y olla reposada. _The mother-in-law must be
entreated, and the pot must be let stand._
La telaraña suelta al rato, y la mosca apana. _The spider’s web lets
the rat escape and catches the fly._
La tierra que el hombre sabe, esa es su madre. _The land a man knows is
his mother._
La traicion aplace, mas no el que la hace. _The act of treachery is
liked, but not he that does it._
La una mano á la otra lava, y las dos á la cara. _One hand washes the
other, and both the face._
La vaca harta de la cola haz brigata. _The full-fed cow makes company
of her tail._
Lavar la cabeça del asno perdimiento de javon. _It is a loss of soap to
wash the ass’s head._
La verdad, como el olio, siempre anda en somo. _Truth, like oil, always
comes to the surface._
La vida y el alma, mas no el alvarda. _My life and soul (are at your
service), but not my pack-saddle._
Lleva tu la arteza, marido, que yo llevaré el cedaço, que pesa como el
diablo. _Do you carry the trough, husband, and I will carry the sieve,
which is as heavy as the devil._
Lo ageno siempre pia por su dueño. _What is another’s always pines for
its master._
Lo barato es caro. _Bargains are dear._
Lo mio mio, lo de Juan mi hermano, suyo y mio. _What is mine is my own;
my brother Juan’s is his and mine._
Lo peor del pleito es, que de uno nacen ciento. _The worst of a lawsuit
is that out of one there grow a hundred._
Lo perdido vaya por amor de Dios. _Let what is lost go for God’s sake._
Lo que come mi vicino no aproveche a mi tripa. _What my neighbour eats
does my stomach no good._
Lo que con los ojos veo, con el dedo lo adevino. _What I see with my
eyes I can guess with my fingers._
Lo que hace el loco á la derreria, hace el sabio á la primeria. _What
the fool does at last the wise man does at first._
Lo que hecho es, hecho ha de ser por esta vez. _What is done, is done
for this time._
Lo que la fuerça no puede, ingenio lo vince. _What force cannot do
ingenuity may._
Lo que la loba hace, al lobo aplace. _What the she-wolf does pleases
the he-wolf._
Lo que la muger quiere, Dios lo quiere. _What a woman wills, God wills._
Lo que mucho se desea, no se cree aunque se vea. _What is much desired
is not believed when it comes._
Lo que mucho vale, de so tierra sale. _What much is worth comes from
the earth._
Lo que no acerta en un ano, acerta en un rato. _What does not happen in
a year may happen in a moment._
Lo que no lleva Christo, lleva el fisco. _What Christ does not take the
exchequer takes._
Lo que no quieres para ti, no lo quieras para mi. _What you dislike for
yourself do not like for me._
Lo que saben tres, sabe toda res. _What three know, everybody knows._
Lo que se usa, no se escusa. _What is in use, wants no excuse._
Lo que te dijeren al oido, no lo digas a tu marido. _What is whispered
in your ear tell not to your husband._
Los amenazados comen pan. _Threatened men eat bread._
Los dichos en nos, los hechos en Dios. _Man proposes, God disposes._
Los niños y los locos dicen la verdad. _Children and fools speak the
truth._
Los pies del hortolano no echan á perder la huerta. _The gardener’s
feet do no harm to the garden._
Los que cabras no tienen, y cabritos venden, de donde les vienen? _They
who don’t keep goats and yet sell kids, where do they get them?_
Los yerros del medico, la tierra los cubre. _The earth hides as it
takes, the physician’s mistakes._
M.
Madre, casar, casar, que carrafico me quiere llevar. _Mother, marry me,
marry me, or the gull will fly away with me._
Madre, que cosa es casar? Hija, hilar, parir, y llorar. _Mother, what
is marrying? Spinning, bearing children, and crying, daughter._
Madruga y verás, trabaja y habrás. _Rise early and watch, labour and
catch._
Maja los ajos, Pedro, mientra yo rallo el queso. _Pound the garlic,
Pedro, whilst I grate the cheese._
Mal me quieren mis comadres, porque les digo las verdades. _My gossips
don’t like me because I tell them truths._
Mal se cubre la cabra con el rabo. _The goat can’t well cover herself
with her tail._
Mal sobre mal, y piedra por cabezal. _Ill-luck upon ill-luck, and a
stone for a pillow._
Mañana sera otro dia. _To-morrow will be another day._
Manda y descuida, no se hará cosa ninguna. _Give orders and do no more,
and nothing will come of it._
Manda y hazlo, y quitarte has de cuidado. _Order and do it, and you
will be rid of anxiety._
Manos duchas comen truchas. _Skilled hands eat trouts._
Marihuela, fuiste a la boda? No, madre, mas galana estava la novia.
_Were you at the wedding, Molly? No, mother, but the bride was very
fine._
Marido, no veas: muger, ciega seas. _Husband, don’t see; wife, be
blind._
Mas ablanda el dinero que palabras de caballero. _Money soothes more
than a gentleman’s words._
Mas apaga buena palabra que caldera de agua. _A good word extinguishes
more than a pailful of water._
Mas cerca está la camisa que el sayo. _The shirt is nearer than the
frock._
Mas cerca están mis dientes que mis parientes. _My teeth are nearer
than my kindred._
Mas descubre un hambriento que cien letrados. _A hungry man discovers
more than a hundred lawyers._
Mas hace quien quiere que quien puede. _He who strives to do, does more
than he who has the power._
Mas son los amenazados que los heridos. _There are more threatened than
hurt._
Mas tira moça que soga. _A girl draws more than a rope._
Mas vale cabeza de raton que cola de leon. _Better be the head of a rat
than the tail of a lion._ (_Better rule in hell, than serve in heaven._)
Mas vale con mal asno contender que la leña acuestas traer. _It is
better to strive with a stubborn ass than to carry the wood on one’s
back._
Mas vale el mal conocido que el bien por venir. _Better suffer a known
evil than change for uncertain good._
Mas vale humo de mi casa que fuego de la agena. _Better is the smoke of
my own house than the fire of another’s._
Mas vale mala avenencia que buena sentencia. _A bad compromise is
better than a successful suit._
Mas vale pajaro en mano que buitre volando. _A sparrow in the hand is
better than a bustard on the wing._
Mas vale puñado de natural que almozada de ciencia. _A handful of
motherwit is worth a bushel of learning._
Mas vale que digan, Aqui huyó, que Aqui murió. _Better they should say,
“There he ran away,” than “There he died.”_
Mas vale que sobre, que no que falte. _Better there should be too much
than too little._
Mas vale regla que renta. _Better is rule than rent._
Mas vale rodear que no ahogar. _Better go about than be drowned._
Mas vale ruin asno que ser asno. _Better have a bad ass than to be your
own ass._
Mas vale salto de mata que ruego de hombres buenos. _It is better to
leap over the ditch than trust to the pleadings of good men._
Mas vale solo que mal acompañado. _Better be alone than in bad company._
Mas vale tarde que nunca. _Better late than never._
Mas vale tuerto que ciego. _Better one-eyed than stone blind._
Mas vale una abeja que mil moscas. _One bee is better than a thousand
flies._
Mas vale un toma que dos te dare. _Better one “Take this,” than two “I
will give you.”_
Mas vale vuelta de llave que conciencia de frayle. _A turn of the key
is better than the conscience of a friar._
Mas val perder que mas perder. _It is better to lose than lose more._
(_The first loss is the best._)
Mas ven quatro ojos que dos. _Four eyes see more than two._
Mataras y matarte han, y mataran á quien te matare. _Kill and thou wilt
be killed, and he will be killed who kills thee._
Mejor es dobrar que quebrar. _Better to bend than break._
Mejor me parece tu jarro mellado que el mio sano. _Your cracked jug
seems better to me than my sound one._
Menea la cola el can, no por ti, sino por el pan. _The dog wags his
tail, not for you but for your bread._
Mete mendigo en tu pajar, y hacer se te ha heredero. _Put a beggar into
your barn and he will make himself your heir._
Meter aguja, y sacar reja. _To put in a needle and take out a bar._
Miedo guarda viña. _Fear guards the vineyard._
Mientra en mi casa me estoy, rey me soy. _In my own house I am a king._
Mientra la grande se abaja, la chica barre la casa. _Whilst the tall
wench is stooping, the little one has swept the house._
Miguel, Miguel, no tienes abejas y vendes miel. _Miguel, Miguel, you
have no bees, and yet sell honey._
Mirais lo que bebo, y no la sed que tengo. _You notice what I drink,
and not the thirst I feel._
Mira que ates que desates. _See that you tie so that you can untie._
Mostrar primero la horca que el lugar. _To parade the gallows before
the town._
Mucho sabe la zorra, pero mas el que la toma. _The fox is knowing, but
more knowing he who catches him._
Muchos besan manos que quierian ver cortadas. _Many kiss hands they
would fain see chopped off._
Mucho tiene que hacer quien ha de gustar a todos. _He has much to do
who would please everybody._
Muda el lobo los dientes y no los mientes. _The wolf changes his teeth
but not his disposition._
Muger, no te las cuento, mas doze morcillas hace un puerco. _I don’t
count them to you, wife, but a hog makes twelve puddings._
Muger, viento, y ventura, presto se muda. _Women, wind, and fortune,
soon change._
N.
Nace en la huerta lo que no siembra el hortelano. _In the garden more
grows, than the gardener sows._
Nacenle alas a la hormiga para que se pierde mas aina. _The ant gets
wings that she may perish the sooner._
Nadar y nadar, y á la orilla ahogar. _To swim and swim more, and be
drowned on shore._
Nadie seria mesonero sino fuese por el dinero. _No one would be an
innkeeper but for money._
Necio es, quien piensa que otro no piensa. _He is a fool who thinks
that another does not think._
Necios y porfiados hacen ricos los letrados. _Fools and the perverse
fill the lawyers’ purse._
Ni absente sin culpa, ni presente sin disculpa. _Absent, none without
blame; present, none without excuse._
Ni buen frayle por amigo, ni malo por enemigo. _Neither a good friar
for friend, nor a bad one for enemy._
Ni con cada mal al fisico, ni con cada pleito al letrado, ni con cada
sed al jarro. _Go not with every ailment to the doctor, with every plea
to the lawyer, or with every thirst to the can._
Ni do ni tomo, como judio en sábado. _I neither give nor take, like a
Jew on the Sabbath._
Ni el anzuelo, ni la caña, mas el cebo las engaña. _It is not the hook
or the rod, but the bait that lures._
Ni estoy al vado, ni á la puente. _I am neither at the ford nor the
bridge._
Ni firmes carta que no leas, ni bebas agua que no veas. _Neither sign a
paper without reading it, nor drink water without seeing it._
Ni hermosa que mate, ni fea que espante. _Neither handsome enough to
kill, nor ugly enough to frighten._
Ni judio necio, ni liebre perezosa. _No Jew a fool; no hare lazy._
Ni perder derechos, ni llevar cohechos. _Lose no rights, and commit no
extortions._
Ni rey traidor, ni papa descomulgado. _No king was ever a traitor, or
pope excommunicated._
Ni sirvas á quien sirvió, ni pidas á quien pidió. _Neither serve one
who has been a servant, nor beg of one who has been a beggar._
No asamos, y ya empringamos. _We are not roasting, and already we are
basting._
No asoleges tu mijo á la puerta de tu enemigo. _Do not spread your corn
to dry at an enemy’s door._ (Asturian.)
No ay ladron sin encubridor. _There is no thief without a receiver._
No compres asno de recuero, ni te cases con hija de mesonero. _Do not
buy a carrier’s ass, or marry an innkeeper’s daughter._
No creais, marido, lo que veeredes, sino lo que yo os dixeré. _Don’t
believe what you see, husband, but only what I tell you._
No da quien quiere, sino quien tiene. _Not he gives who likes, but who
has._
No dé Dios tanto buen á nuestros amigos que nos desconoscan. _May God
not so prosper our friends that they forget us._
No dice el umbral sino lo que oye al quincial. _The threshold says
nothing but what it hears of the hinge._
No digais mal del año hasta que sea pasado. _Speak not ill of the year
until it is past._
No diga la lengua por do pague la cabeza. _Let not the tongue utter
what the head must pay for._
No diga nadie, de esta agua no beberé. _Let no one say, “Of this water
I will not drink.”_
No digo quien eres, que tu te lo dirás. _I do not tell thee what thou
art, thou wilt tell it thyself._
No entra en misa la campana, y á todos llama. _The bell does not go to
mass, yet calls every one to it._
No es aquella gallina buena, que come en tu casa y pone en la agena.
_It is a bad hen that eats at your house and lays at another’s._
No es de vero lágrimas en la muger, ni coxuear en el perro. _A woman’s
tears and a dog’s limping are not real._
No es en mano del piloto que dexe el viento su soplo. _It is not in the
pilot’s power to prevent the wind from blowing._
No es nada, sino que matan a mi marido. _It is nothing, they are only
thrashing my husband._
No es tan bravo el leon como le pintan. _The lion is not so fierce as
he is painted._
No falte cibo al palomar, que las palomas ellas se vernán. _Let there
be no lack of food in the pigeon-house, and the pigeons will come to
it._
No falte voluntad, que no faltará lugar. _Where there is no want of
will, there will be no want of opportunity._
No habria palabra mala, si no fuese mal tomada. _There would be no ill
word if it were not ill taken._
No hace poco quien su casa quema: espanta los ratones, y escalientase
á la leña. _He does not a little who burns his house: he frightens the
rats, and warms himself._
No hace tanto la zorra en un año como paga en un hora. _The fox does
not do as much mischief in a year as it pays for in an hour._
No halla agua en la mar. _He cannot find water in the sea._
No hay bestia fiera que no se huelgue con su compañera. _There is no
beast so savage but sports with its mate_.
No hay casa do no haya su calla! calla! _There is no house without its
hush! hush!_
No hay cerradura, si es de oro la ganzua. _There is no lock, if the
pick is of gold_.
No hay ladron sin encubridor. _If there were no receiver there would be
no thief_.
No hay mejor bocado que el hurtado. _There is no choicer morsel than
that which is stolen_.
No hay mejor remiendo que el del mismo paño. _There is no better patch
than one off the same cloth_.
No hay olla tan fea que no halle su cobertera. _There is no pot so ugly
but finds its cover_.
No hay pariente pobre. _No relation is poor_.
No hay peor burla que la verdadera. _There is no worse joke than a true
one_.
No hay peor sordo que el que no quiere oir. _None so deaf as he that
won’t hear_.
No hay placer que no enfade, y mas si cuesta de valde. _There is no
pleasure but palls, and the more so if it costs nothing_.
No hay tal madre como la que pare. _There is no mother like the mother
that bore us_.
No hay tal razon como la del baston. _There’s no argument like that of
the stick_.
No hay tal testigo como buen moduelo de vino. _There is no such witness
as a good measure of wine_.
No hiere Dios con dos manos. _God does not smite with both hands_.
No inventó la polvera. _He did not invent gunpowder_.
No juega Mosé, porque no tiene que. _Moses_ (i. e. _a Jew_) _does not
play because he has not the means._
No lo quiero, no lo quiero, mas échadme lo en la capilla. _I don’t want
it, I don’t want it, but put it into my hood_.
No mata la carga sino la sobrecarga. _It is not the load but the
overload that kills_.
No me digas oliva hasta que me veas cogida. _Call me not olive till you
see me gathered_.
No me llames bien hadada hasta que me veas enterrada. _Call me not
fortunate till you see me buried_.
No piden todos para un santo. _All do not beg for one saint._
No quiebra delgado, sino gordo y mal hilado. _It is not the fine, but
the coarse and ill-spun that breaks._
No se acuerda la suegra que fué nuera. _The mother-in-law does not
remember that she was a daughter-in-law._
No seais hornéra si teneis la cabeza de manteca. _Be not a baker if
your head is butter._
No se hacen las bodas de hongos á solas. _The wedding feast is not made
with mushrooms only._
No se hacen tortillas sin romper huevos. _You can’t make pancakes
without breaking eggs._
No se hizo la miel por la boca del asno. _Honey was not made for the
mouth of the ass._
No se pierde todo lo que está en peligro. _All is not lost that is in
danger._
No se queje del engaño quien por la muestra compra el paño. _Let him
not complain of being cheated who buys cloth by the pattern._
No serás amado si de tí solo tienes cuidado. _You will not be loved if
you care for none but yourself._
No se toman truchas á bragas enjutas. _Trouts are not caught with dry
breeches._
Nos ollos de miña sogra vejo en quando o demo a toma. _I see by my
mother-in-law’s eyes when the devil takes hold of her._ (Galician.)
No son palabras para mi tia, que aun de las obras no se fia. _Words
will not do for my aunt, for she does not put faith even in deeds._
No son soldados todos los que van á la guerra. _All are not soldiers
who go to the wars._
No te alegres de mi duelo, que quando el mio fuere viejo el tuyo será
nuevo. _Do not rejoice at my grief, for when mine is old yours will be
new._
No te tomes con el ollero, que del burro hace dinero. _Don’t scuffle
with the potter, for he makes money by the damage._
No vive mas el leal que quanto quiere el traidor. _The loyal man lives
no longer than the traitor pleases._
Nunca los ausentes se hallaron justos. _The absent were never in the
right._
Nunca mucho costó poco. _Much never cost little._
Nunca pidas á quien tiene, sino á quien sabes que te quiere. _Never
ask of him who has, but of him you know wishes you well._
O.
Obra de comun, obra de ningun. _What’s everybody’s business is nobody’s
business._
Obres son amores, que no buenas razones. _Deeds are love, and not fine
phrases._
O demo á os suyos quiere. _The devil is fond of his own._ (Galician.)
Ojos hay que de lagañas se enamoran. _There are eyes that fall in love
with bleared ones._ (_Fancy surpasses beauty._)
Ojos que no ven, corazon que no quiebra. _If the eyes don’t see, the
heart won’t break._
Olla de muchos mal mejida y peor cocida. _The stew mixed by many is
ill-seasoned and worse cooked._ (_Too many cooks spoil the broth._)
Olla que mucho hierve, sabor pierde. _The stew that boils much loses
favour._
O morirá el asno, ó quien le aguija. _Either the ass will die, or he
that goads it._
Onza de estado, libra de oro. _An ounce of state to a pound of gold._
O rico, o pinjádo. _Either rich or hanged._
Oro es lo que oro vale. _That is gold which is worth gold._
Oveja harta de su rabo se espanta. _The full-fed sheep is frightened at
its own tail._
Oveja que bala, bocado pierde. _The sheep that bleats loses a mouthful._
Ovejas bobas, por do va una, van todas. _Silly sheep, where one goes,
all go._
P.
Paga lo que debes, sabrás lo que tienes. _If you pay what you owe, what
you’re worth you’ll know._
Paga lo que debes, sanarás del mal que tienes. _Pay what you owe, and
be cured of your complaint._
Pagase el rey de la traicion, mas no de quien la hace. _The king likes
the treachery, but not the traitor._
Palabra de boca, piedra de honda. _A word from the mouth, a stone from
a sling._
Palabras azucaradas por mas son amargas. _Sugared words generally prove
bitter._
Palabra y piedra suelta no tiene vuelta. _A word and a stone once
launched cannot be recalled._
Palo de ciego, que sáca polvo de debajo de agua. _A blind man’s stroke,
which raises a dust from beneath water._
Panadera erades antes, aunque ahora traeis guantes. _You used to be a
baker, though now you wear gloves._
Pan ageno caro cuesta. _Another’s bread costs dear._
Papel y tinta, y poca justicia. _Paper and ink and little justice._
Para azotar el perro, que se come el hierro. _If you want to beat a
dog, say he eat your iron._
Para cada jueves no hay un par de orejas. _There is not a pair of ears
for every Jew._
Para el mal que hoy se acaba no es remedio el de mañana. _To-morrow’s
remedy will not ward off the evil of today._
Para los desdichados se hizo la horca. _The gallows was made for the
unlucky._
Pariente a la clara el hijo de mi hermana. _My sister’s son is a
kinsman beyond dispute._
Parto malo, y hija en cabo. _A bad labour, and a daughter after all._
Pasa la fiesta, y el loco resta. _The feast passes and the fool
remains._
Paz y paciencia, y muerte con penitencia. _Peace and patience, and
death with penitence._
Pedir sobrado por salir con lo mediano. _Ask too much to get enough._
Pedra de ygreja oro goteja. _A church stone drops gold._ (Galician.)
Pelean los ladrones y descubrense los hurtos. _When thieves fall out
the thefts come to light._
Penséme santiguar, y quebréme el ojo. _I thought to cross myself, and I
put out my eye._
Pensé que no tenia marido, y comime la olla. _I thought I had no
husband, and I eat up the stew._
Pereza, llave de pobreza. _Sloth is the key of poverty._
Perro alcucero nunca buen conejero. _A kitchen-dog is never a good
rabbit-hunter._
Perro ladrador nunca buen mordedor. _A barking dog was never a good
biter._
Perro lanudo, muerto de hambre, y no creido de ninguno. _A shock dog is
starved and nobody believes it._
Perro que lobos mata, lobos le matan. _The dog that kills wolves, is
killed by wolves._
Peso y medida quitan al hombre fatiga. _Weight and measure save a man
toil._
Pícame Pedro, y yo me lo quiero. _Peter pinches me, and I like it._
Piedra movediza nunca moho la cubija. _A rolling stone gathers no moss._
Piensa el ladron que todos son de sa condicion. _The thief thinks that
all men are like himself._
Piensan los enamorados que tienen los otros los ojos quebrados. _Lovers
think that others have no eyes._
Pierde el mes lo suyo, pero no el año. _The month loses its own, but
not the year._
Piés que son duchos de andar, no pueden quedos estar. _Feet that are
used to move cannot remain quiet._
Planta muchas veces traspuesta ni crece ni tredra. _A tree often
transplanted neither grows nor thrives._
Pobreza no es vileza, ma es ramo de picardia. _Poverty is no sin, but
it is a branch of roguery._
Poca barba, poca verguenza. _Little beard, little modesty._