Poco á poco se va léjos. _Little by little one goes far._
Poco daño espanta, y mucho amansa. _A little loss frightens, a great
one tames._
Pollino que me lleve, y no caballo que me arrastre. _Give me the ass
that carries me in preference to the horse that throws me._
Por amor del bou, llepa lo llop el jou. _For love of the ox the wolf
licks the yoke._ (Catalan.)
Por donde fueres, haz como vieres. _Wherever you may be, do as you see
done._
Por donde menos se piensa salta la liebre. _The hare starts from where
it is least expected._
Por donde va la mar, vayan las arenas. _Where the sea goes let the
sands go._
Por do quiera hay su legua de mal camino. _Whatever way you take there
is a league of bad road._
Por do salta la cabra, salta la que la mama. _Where the goat leaps,
leaps that which sucks her._
Por el alabado dejé el conocido, y vi me arrepentido. _I left what I
knew for what I heard praised, and repented._
Por el hilo se saca el ovillo. _By the thread we unwind the skein._
Por falta de hombres buenos, á mi padre hicieron alcalde. _For the want
of worthy men they made my father alcade._
Porfia mata la caza. _Perseverance kills the game._
Por la calle de despues se va á la casa de nunca. _By the street of
“By-and-by” one arrives at the house of “Never.”_
Por las haldas del vicario sube el diablo al campanario. _The devil
gets into the belfry by the vicar’s skirts._
Por mucho madrugar, no amanece mas aina. _For all one’s early rising,
it dawns none the sooner._
Por mucho que corra la liebre, mas corre el galgo, pues la prende.
_Fast as the hare runs, the greyhound outruns her, since he catches
her._
Por no gastar lo que basta, lo que era excusado se gasta. _Through not
spending enough, we spend too much._
Por nuevas no peneas, hacerse han viejas, y saber las has. _Do not fret
for news, it will grow old and you will know it._
Por oir misa, y dar cebada, nunca se perdió jornada. _Nothing is lost
on a journey by stopping to pray or to feed your horse._
Por ser rey, se quiebra toda ley. _Every law is broken to become a
king._
Por si o por no, señor marido, ponéos la capilla. _Whether it be so or
not, husband, put on your hood._ (_He had told her there was a new law
that every man with horns should wear a hood._)
Por sol que haga no dexes tu capa en casa. _However bright the sun may
shine, leave not your cloak at home._
Por soto no vayas tras otro. _In a wood don’t walk behind another._
Por temor, no pierdas honor. _Do not lose honour through fear._
Por turbia que esté, no digas, de esta agua no beberé. _However foul it
be, never say, Of this water I will not drink._
Por un punto se pierde un zapato. _For want of a nail the shoe is lost._
Por viejo que sea el barco, pasa una vez el vado. _Old as is the boat
it may cross the ferry once._
Por vuestra alma vayan esos pater nosters. _Let those pater nosters be
for your own soul._ (_Ironical, against swearing_).
Pregonar vino, y vender vinagre. _To cry up wine, and sell vinegar._
Prenda que come, ninguno la tome. _Let no one take a pawn that eats._
Primero son mis dientes que mis parientes. _My teeth before my
relations._
Posesion, y buena razon, y lanza en puño. _Possession and good right,
with lance in hand._
Potros cayendo, y mozos perdiendo, van asesando. _Colts by falling, and
lads by losing, grow prudent._
Puerco fiado, gruñe todo el año. _A pig bought on credit grunts all the
year._
Puerco fresco, y vino nuevo, Christianillo al cimenterio. _Fresh pork
and new wine, send a Christian to the churchyard._ (_Kill a man before
his time._)
Puerta abierta al santo tienta. _An open door tempts a saint._
Puesque la casa se quema, calentémonos todos. _Since the house is on
fire, let us warm ourselves._
Pues tenemos hogaças, no busquemos tortas. _Since we have loaves let us
not look for cakes._
Puridad de dos, puridad de Dios; puridad de tres, de todos es.
_A secret between two is God’s secret, a secret between three is
everybody’s._
Puteria ni hurto nunca se encubren mucho. _Whoredom and thieving are
never long concealed._
Q.
Qual el dueño tal el perro. _As is the master, so is his dog._
Qual el tiempo, tal el tiento. _As are the times, so are the manners._
Qual es el rey, tal es la grey. _As is the king, so are his people._
Quando á tu hija le viniere su hado, no aguardes que venga su padre del
mercado. _When a good offer comes for your daughter, don’t wait till
her father returns from market._
Quando ayunque, sufre, quando mazo, tunde. _When you are an anvil,
bear; when you are a hammer, strike._
Quando comieres pan reciente, no bebas de la fuente. _When you eat new
bread, don’t drink water._
Quando Dios amanece, para todos amanece. _When God gives light he gives
it for all._
Quando Dios no quiere, el santo no puede. _When God will not the saint
cannot._
Quando Dios quiere, con todos vientos llueve. _When God pleases it
rains with every wind._
Quando Dios quiere en sereno llueve. _When God pleases, it rains in
fair weather._
Quando el bazo crece el cuerpo enmagrece. _When the spleen increases,
the body diminishes._
Quando el cosario promete misas y cera, con mal anda la galera. _When
the corsair promises masses and candles, it goes ill with the galley._
Quando el diablo reza, engañarte quiere. _When the devil says his
prayers he wants to cheat you._
Quando el Español canta, ó rabia, ó no tiene blanca. _When the Spaniard
sings, he is either mad or has no money._
Quando el guardian juega á los naypes, qué haran los frayles? _When the
prior plays cards, what will the monks do?_
Quando el hierro está encendido, entonces ha de ser batido. _When the
iron is hot, then is the time to strike._
Quando el necio es acordado, el mercado es ya pasado. _When the fool
has made up his mind the market is over._
Quando el rio no hace ruido, ó no lleva agua, ó va muy crecido. _When
the river makes no noise, it is either dried up or much swollen._
Quando el viejo no puede beber la huesa le pueden hacer. _When an old
man cannot drink, prepare his grave._
Quando el villano está en el mulo, ni conoce á Dios, ni al mundo. _Set
a peasant on horseback, and he forgets both God and man._
Quando el villano está rico, no tiene pariente, ni amigo. _When a
peasant gets rich, he knows neither relations nor friends._
Quando en verano es invierno, y en invierno verano, nunca buen año.
_When the summer is winter, and the winter summer, it is a sorry year._
Quando fueres á casa, agena llama defuera. _When you go to a strange
house knock at the door._
Quando fueres por camino, no digas mal de tu enemigo. _When you are on
the road speak not ill of your enemy._
Quando la criatura dienta la muerte la tienta. _When the child cuts its
teeth, death is on the watch._
Quando la mala ventura se duerme, nadie la despierte. _When ill-luck
sleeps, let no one wake her._
Quando llueve en Agosto, llueve miel y mosto. _When it rains in August,
it rains honey and wine._
Quando llueve en Febrero, todo el año es tempero. _When it rains in
February, it will be temperate all the year._
Quando no dan los campos, no han los santos. _When the fields yield
not, the saints have not._
Quando os pedimos, Dueña os decimos; quando os tenemos, como queremos.
_When we ask a favour, we say, Madam; when we obtain it, what we
please._
Quando pobre, franco; quando rico, avaro. _When poor, liberal; when
rich, stingy._
Quando te dieren el anillo, pon el dedillo. _When they offer you a
ring, hold out your finger._
Quando te dieren la vaquilla, acude con la soguilla. _When they give
you the calf, be ready with the halter._
Quando todos te dijeren que eres asno, rebuzna. _When every one says
you are an ass, bray._
Quando una puerta se cierra, ciento se abren. _When one door shuts, a
hundred open._
Quando un lobo come á otro, no hay que comer en el soto. _When one
wolf eats another, there is nothing to eat in the wood._
Quando uno ne quiere, dos no barajan. _Two cannot fall out if one does
not choose._
Quando vieras tu casa quemar, llegate á escalentar. _When thou seest
thy house in flames, go warm thyself by it._
Quando zuga el abeja miel torna, y quando el araña ponzoña. _When the
bee sucks, it makes honey, when the spider, poison._
Quan léjos de ojo, tan léjos de corazon. _Out of sight, out of mind._
Quanto sabes no dirás, quanto vés no juzgarás, si quieres vivir en paz.
_Tell not all you know, nor judge of all you see, if you would live in
peace._
Quatro cosas sacan al hombre de tino, la muger, el tabaco, naypes y
vino. _Four things put a man beside himself—women, tobacco, cards, and
wine._
Quebrarse un ojo para sacar à otro los dos. _To lose one eye that you
may deprive another of two._
Quebrasteme la cabeza, y ahora me untas el casco. _You have broken my
head and now you bring plaister._
Quebreme el pie, quizá por bien. _I broke my leg, perhaps for my good._
Quem jugata co ferro, jugata co demo. _He who plays with a sword plays
with the devil._ (Galician.)
Quem mal quer os seus, no querrá ben os alleus. _He that is unkind to
his own will not be kind to others._ (Galician.)
Queso de ovejas, leche de cabras, manteca de vacas. _Cheese from the
ewe, milk from the goat, butter from the cow._
Qui barat, el cap se grat. _He who hunts after bargains will scratch
his head._ (Catalan.)
Qui de tot es moll, de tot es foll. _Who is tender in everything is a
fool in everything._ (Catalan.)
Quien abrojos siembra espinas coje. _He who sows brambles reaps
thorns._ (_As you sow, so you shall reap._)
Quien acecha por agujero, ve su duelo. _He who peeps through a hole
will discover his dole._ (_Harm watch, harm catch._)
Quien adelante no mira, atras se queda. _He who does not look before
lags behind._
Quien á dos señores ha de servir, al uno ha de mentir. _He who has two
masters to serve must lie to one of them._
Quien al cielo escupe, en la cara le cae. _He who spits above himself
will have it fall on his face._
Quien á los veinte no entiende, á treinta no sabe y á quarenta no
tiene, ruin vejez le espera. _He who at twenty understands nothing, at
thirty knows nothing, and at forty has nothing, will lead a wretched
old age._
Quien amaga y no da, miedo ha. _He who threatens to strike, and does
not, is afraid._
Quien a mano agena espera, mal yanta y peor cena. _He who lives in
hopes, breakfasts ill and sups worse._
Quien á muchos amos sirve á alguno ha de hacer falta. _He who serves
many masters must neglect some of them._
Quien anda al reves, anda al camino dos veces. _He who takes the wrong
road must make his journey twice over._
Quien á su enemigo popa, á sus manos muere. _He who makes light of his
enemy dies by his hand._
Quien á su muger no honra, á si mismo deshonra. _He who does not honour
his wife, dishonours himself._
Quien á su perro quiere matar, rabia le ha de levantar. _He who wants
to kill his dog has only to say he is mad._
Quien á treinta no asesa, no comprará dehesa. _He who at thirty has no
brains, will never purchase an estate._
Quien a veinte no es galan, ni á treinta tiene fuerza, ni á quarenta
riqueza, ni á cincuenta esperiencia, ni será galan, ni fuerte, ni rico,
ni prudente. _He that is not gallant at twenty, strong at thirty, rich
at forty, or experienced at fifty, will never be gallant, strong, rich,
or prudent._
Quien bien ama, tarde olvida. _He who loves well is slow to forget._
Quien bien ata, bien desata. _He that ties well, unties well. (Safe
bind, safe find.)_
Quien bien bayla, de boda en boda se anda. _He who dances well goes
from wedding to wedding._
Quien bien quiere á Beltran, bien quiere á su can. _He who loves
Bertrand loves his dog. (Love me, love my dog)._
Quien bien quiere á Pedro, no hace mal á su perro. _He who loves Peter
won’t harm his dog._
Quien bien quiere, bien obedece. _He who loves well, obeys well._
Quien bien quiere, de léjos ve. _A well-wisher sees from afar._
Quien bien siembra, bien coge. _He who sows well, reaps well._
Quien bien te hará, ó se te muere, ó se te va. _He who does good to you
either dies or goes away._
Quien bueyes ha perdido, cencerros se le antojan. _He who has lost his
oxen is always hearing bells._
Quien busca halla. _He who seeks, finds._
Quien calla, otorga. _Silence gives consent._
Quien calla piedras apaña. _He who is silent gains store._
Quien canta, sus males espanta. _Who sings, drives away care._
Quien come la carne que roa el hueso. _He who eats the meat let him
pick the bone._
Quien come y condensa, dos veces pone la mesa. _He who eats and puts
by, has sufficient for two meals._
Quien come y dexa, dos veces pone la mesa. _A penny spared is a penny
saved._
Quien compra cavallo, compra cuidado. _He who buys a horse buys care._
Quien compra y vende lo que gasta no siente. _He who buys and sells
does not feel what he spends._
Quien con el viejo burló, primero rió y después lloro. _He who made fun
of the old man, laughed at first and cried afterwards._
Quien con lobos anda, á aullar se enseña. _He who goes with wolves
learns to howl._
Quien con perros se echa, con pulgas se levanta. _He who lies down with
dogs gets up with fleas._
Quien con ropa agena se viste, en la calle se queda en cuerpo. _Who
arrays himself in other men’s garments is stripped on the highway._
Quien con tosco ha de entender, mucho seso ha menester. _He who has to
deal with a blockhead has need of much brains._
Quien da lo suyo ántes de su muerte, que le den con un mazo en la
frente. _Who gives what he has before he is dead, take a mallet and
knock that fool on the head._
Quien da presto, da dos veces. _He gives twice who gives in a trice._
Quien de ageno se viste, en la calle le desnudan. _He who dresses in
others’ clothes will be undressed on the highway._
Quien del alacran está picado, la sombra le espanta. _He who has been
stung by the scorpion is frightened at its shadow._
Quien de locura enfermó, tarde sanó. _Whoever falls sick of folly, is
long in getting cured._
Quien desalaba la cosa ese la compra. _He who finds fault wants to buy._
Quien desparte lleva la peor parte. _He who divides gets the worst
share._
Quien de todos es amigo, ó es muy pobre, ó es muy rico. _He who is
everybody’s friend is either very poor or very rich._
Quien dice lo que quiere, oye lo que no quiere. _He who says what he
likes, hears what he don’t like._
Quien dice lo suyo, mal callará lo ageno. _He who tells his own secret
will hardly keep another’s._
Quien dineros y pan tiene, consuegra con quien quiere. _He who has both
money and bread, may choose with whom his daughter to wed._
Quien echa agua en la garrafa de golpe, mas derrama que ella coje. _He
who pours water hastily into a bottle spills more than goes in._
Quien el aceyte mesura, las manos se unta. _He who measures oil greases
his hands._
Quien en la plaza á labrar se mete, muchos adestradores tiene. _He who
works on the highway will have many advisers._
Quien en un año quiere ser rico, al medio le ahorcan. _He who wants to
be rich in a year comes to the gallows in half a year._
Quien en una piedra dos veces tropieza, no es maravilla se quiebre la
cabeza. _No wonder if he breaks his head who stumbles twice over one
stone._
Quien escucha, su mal oye. _Listeners hear no good of themselves._
Quien esta en su tienda, no le achacan que se halló en la contienda.
_He that minds his business at home, will not be accused of taking part
in the fray._
Quien estropieza y no cae, en su paso añade. _He who stumbles and does
not fall mends his pace._
Quién es tu enemigo? Hombre de tu oficio. _Who is your enemy? A man of
your own trade._
Quién es tu enemigo? El de tu oficio. _Two of a trade can never agree._
Quien feo ama, hermoso le parece. _She who loves an ugly man thinks him
handsome._
Quien fia ó promete, en deuda se mete. _He who pledges or promises runs
in debt._
Quien guarda halla. _He who saves, finds._
Quien guarda su poridad escusa mucho mal. _He who keeps his own secret
avoids much mischief._
Quien hace lo que quiere, no hace lo que debe. _He who does what he
likes, does not what he ought._
Quien hace por comun, hace por ningun. _He who gives to the public,
gives to no one._
Quien hace un cesto, hará ciento. _He that makes one basket can make a
hundred._
Quien ha criados, ha enemigos no escusados. _He who has servants has
unavoidable enemies._
Quien ha de echar el cascabel al gato? _Who is to bell the cat?_
Quien ha de llevar el gato al agua? _Who is to carry the cat to the
water?_
Quien la fama ha perdido, muerto anda en la vida. _He who has lost his
reputation is a dead man among the living._
Quien la miel menea, siempre se le pega de ella. _He that stirs honey
will have some of it stick to him._
Quien la raposa ha de engañar, cumplele madrugar. _He who would cheat
the fox must rise early._
Quien las cosas mucho apura, no tiene vida segura. _Who is always
prying into other men’s affairs, leads a dangerous life._
Quien las sabe, las tañe. _Let him play the instrument who knows how._
Quien la vaca del rey come flaca, gorda la paga. _He who eats the
king’s cow lean, pays for it fat._
Quien lazo me armó, en él cayó. _He who laid a snare for me has fallen
into it._
Quien lejos va a casar, ó va engañado ó va á engañar. _He who goes far
from home to marry, goes either to deceive or be deceived._
Quien lengua ha, á Roma va. _He who has a tongue goes to Rome._
Quien lleva las obladas que taña las campanas. _He who receives the
offerings let him ring the bells._
Quien madre tiene en villa, siete veces se amortaza cada dia. _The
servant wench that has a mother in town swoons seven times a day._
Quien mala cama hace, en ella se yace. _As you make your bed so you
must lie in it._
Quien mal anda en mal acaba. _He who begins badly, ends badly._
Quien malas hadas no halla, de las buenas se enhada. _He that has no
ill luck grows weary of good luck._
Quien mal casa, tarde enviuda. _He who marries ill, is long in becoming
widowed._
Quien mas corre, menos vuela. _The more haste the less speed._
Quien mas sabe mas calla. _Who knows most says least._
Quien mas tiene, mas quiere. _The more one has the more one wants._
Quien ménos procura, alcanza mas bien. _He who asks the fewest favours
is the best received._
Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta. _He who grasps at much holds fast
little._
Quien mucho duerme, poco aprende. _He who sleeps much, learns little._
Quien mucho habla, en algo acierta. _He who talks much is sometimes
right._
Quien mucho habla, mucho yerra. _Who talks much, errs much._
Quien no adoba gotera, adoba casa entera. _He who does not repair his
gutter has a whole house to repair._
Quien no alza un alfiler, no tiene en nada á su muger. _He who does not
pick up a pin cares nothing for his wife._
Quien no aprieta en vallejo, no aprieta en consejo. _He who has no
voice in the valley, will have none in the council._
Quien no castiga culito, no castiga culazo. _He who does not whip the
child does not mend the youth._
Quien no está enseñado á bragas, las costuras le hacen llagas. _When a
man is not used to breeches the seams gall him._
Quien no hace mas que otro, no vale mas que otro. _He who does no more
than another is no better than another._
Quien no miente, no viene de buena gente. _He that does not lie, does
not come of good blood._
Quien no parece, perece. _He who does not show himself, is overlooked._
Quien no se aventura, no ha ventura. _Who ventures nothing has no
luck._ (_Nothing venture nothing have._)
Quien no te conoce te compre. _Let him who does not know you buy you._
Quien no tiene mas de un sayo no puede prestarlo. _He who has but one
coat cannot lend it._
Quien no va á carava, no sabe nada. _He who does not mix with the crowd
knows nothing._
Quien ó A quien Dios no le dió hijos, el diablo le dió sobrinos. _He to
whom God gives no sons, the devil gives nephews._
Quien ó A quien no habla, no le oye Dios. _He who does not speak, God
does not hear._
Quien ó A quien pone los ojos en el suelo, no fies tu dinero. _He who
looks demurely trust not with your money._
Quien padre tiene alcalde, seguro va á juicio. _He goes safely to trial
whose father is a judge._
Quien peces quiere, mojarse tiene. _He who wants to catch fish must not
mind a wetting._
Quien pesca un pez, pescador es. _He who catches one fish is a
fisherman._
Quien poco sabe, presto lo reza. _He who knows little soon tells it._
Quien presta, no cobra; y si cobra, no todo; y si todo, no tal; y
si tal, enemigo mortal. _Who lends recovers not; or if he recovers,
recovers not all; or if all, not such; or if such, a mortal enemy._
Quien primero viene, primero muele. _He who comes first grinds first._
Quien promete, en deuda se mete. _He who promises incurs a debt._
Quien quando puede no quiere, quando quiere no puede. _He that will not
when he can, cannot when he will._
Quien quiere medrar, iglesia, ó mar, ó casa real. _He who would thrive
must follow the church, the sea, or the king’s service._
Quien quiere tomar, conviénele dar. _He who would take must give._
Quien quiere vivir sano, la ropa de invierno traiga en verano. _He that
would be healthy must wear his winter clothes in summer._
Quien quisiere muger hermosa, el sabado la escoja. _He that would have
a beautiful wife should choose her on a Saturday._
Quien quisiere mula sin tacha, ándese á pie. _He who wants a mule
without fault must walk on foot._
Quien quisiere vivir sano, coma poco y cene temprano. _He that would be
healthy, must eat temperately, and sup early._
Quien quita la ocasion, quita el pecado. _He who avoids the temptation
avoids the sin._
Quien ramo pone, su vino quiere vender. _He who hangs out a branch
wants to sell his wine._
Quien se fia de amigo no fiel, buen testigo tiene contra el. _He that
trusts a faithless friend, has a good witness against him._
Quien se guarda, Dios le guarda. _God helps him who helps himself._
Quien se muda, Dios le ayuda. _He who reforms, God assists._
Quien siembra abrojos, no ande descalzo. _He who sows brambles must not
go barefoot._
Quien siempre me miente, nunca me engaña. _He who always tells me a lie
never cheats me._
Quien sirve al commun, sirve á ningun. _He who helps everybody, helps
nobody._
Quien sirve no es libre. _He who serves is not free._
Quien solo come su gallo, solo ensille su caballo. _He that eats his
fowl alone may saddle his horse alone._
Quien su carro unta, sus bueyes ayuda. _He who greases his cart-wheels
helps his oxen._
Quien te cubre te descubre. _That which covers thee discovers thee._
Quien te da el capon, dale la pierna y el alon. _To him who gives the
capon you may spare a leg and wing._
Quien te hace fiesta que no te suele hacer, ó te quiere engañar, ó te
ha menester. _He that is more civil than usual, either wants to cozen
you or has need of you._
Quien tiempo tiene y tiempo atiende, tiempo viene que se arrepiente.
_Who has time yet waits for time, comes to a time of repentance._
Quien tiene arte, va por toda parte. _He who has a trade may travel
through the world._
Quien tiene boca, no diga á otro, Sopla. _Let him that has a mouth not
say to another, Blow._
Quien tiene enemigos no duerma. _He who has enemies, let him not sleep._
Quien tiene hijas para casar, tome vedijas para hilar. _He who has
daughters to marry, let him give them silk to spin._
Quien tiene quatro, y gasta cinco no ha menester bolsico. _He who has
got four and spends five, has no occasion for a purse._
Quien tiene tejado de vidrio, no tire piedras al de su vecino. _He who
has a glass roof should not throw stones at his neighbour’s._
Quien tiene una hora de espacio, no muere ahorcado. _He that has an
hour’s start will not be hanged._
Quien todo lo niega, todo lo confiesa. _He who denies everything
confesses everything._
Quien todo lo quiere, todo lo pierde. _He who grasps all loses all._
Quien tras otro cabalga, no ensilla quando quiere. _He who rides behind
another does not saddle when he will._
Quien tuviere hijo varon, no llame á otro ladron. _He who has a son
grown up should not call another a thief._
Quien una vez hurta, fiel nunca. _He who steals once is never trusty._
Quiéralo Dios, Matea, que este hijo nuestro sea. _God grant, dear wife,
that this son be ours._
Quieres buen mercado? Con el necio necesitado. _Do you want to buy
cheap? Buy of a needy fool._
Quieres hacer del ladron fiel? Fiate de el. _If you would make a thief
honest, trust him._
Quieres que te siga el can? Dale pan. _If you would have the dog follow
you, give him bread._
Quieres ver loba parida? Casa la hija. _Do you want to see a wolf with
young_ (i. e. _an insatiable plunderer_)? _Marry your daughter._
Qui escudella daltri espera, freda la menja. _He who waits for
another’s platter has a cold meal._ (Catalan.)