Melhor he palha, que nada. _Better straw, than nothing._
Melhor he prevenir, que ser prevenido. _Better anticipate than be
anticipated._
Melhor he rosto vermelho, que coraçaõ negro. _Better a red face than a
black heart._
Melhor he ser torto, que cego de todo. _Better be one-eyed than quite
blind._
Menina e vinha, perál e favál, màos saõ de guardar. _A girl, a
vineyard, an orchard, and a bean-field, are hard to watch._
Mette a maõ no seio, naõ diràs do fado alheio. _Lay your hand on your
bosom and you will not speak ill of another._
Meu dinheiro, teu dinheiro, vamos a taverna. _My money, your money, let
us go to the tavern._
Miguel, Miguel, naõ tens abelhas, e vendes mel? _Michael, Michael, you
have no bees, and yet you sell honey!_
Minha arca cerrada, minha alma sã. _My chest locked, my soul safe._
Moeda falsa de noite passa. _Counterfeit coin passes current at night._
Molher palreira diz de todos, e todos della. _A gossiping woman talks
of everybody, and everybody of her._
Molher, vento, e ventura asinha se muda. _Woman, wind, and luck soon
change._
Molle molle, se vai longe. _Fair and softly goes far._
Morder a quem morde. _Bite the biter._
Mudado o tempo, mudado o conselho. _Other times, other counsels._
Mudar costume, parelha da morte. _To change one’s habits smacks of
death._
Muda-te, mudar-se-te-ha a fortuna. _Change yourself, and fortune will
change with you._
Muita palha, e pouco graõ. _Much straw and little corn._
Muito fallar, pouco saber. _Much chatter, little wit._
Muito folga o lobo com o couce da ovelha. _The wolf is well pleased
with the kick of a sheep._
Muito paõ tem Castella, mas quem o naõ tem, lazera. _There is plenty of
corn in Castile, but he who has none, starves._
Muito pòde o gallo no seu poleiro. _Every cock is valiant on his own
dunghill._
Muito prometter he sinal de pouco dar. _To promise much means giving
little._
Muito sabe a raposa, mas mais sabe quem a toma. _The fox knows much,
but more he that catcheth him._
Muitos beijaõ a maõ, que quizeraõ ver cortada. _Many kiss the hand they
would gladly see cut off._
N.
Na agoa envolta pesca o pescador. _The fisherman fishes in troubled
water._
Na arca aberta o justo pecca. _An open box tempts an honest man._
Na barba do nescio aprendem todos a rapar. _On the fool’s beard all
learn to shave._
Na casa chea asinha se faz a cea. _Supper is soon served up in a
plentiful house._
Nada duvida, quem naõ sabe. _He doubts nothing who knows nothing._
Nada tem, quem se naõ contenta com o que tem. _He has nothing who is
not content with what he has._
Naõ bebas cousa, que naõ vejas, nem assines carta, que naõ leas. _Drink
nothing without seeing it, sign nothing without reading it._
Naõ deixes caminho por atalho. _Don’t leave the high road for a short
cut._
Naõ diga a lingoa, por onde pague a cabeça. _Let not the tongue utter
what the head may have to pay for._
Naõ digas, desta agoa naõ biberei, nem deste paõ comerei. _Never say,
of this water I will not drink, of this bread I will not eat._
Naõ digas mal do anno, até que naõ seja passado. _Speak not ill of the
year-until it is past._
Naõ fiar de caõ, que manqueja. _Trust not a dog that limps._
Naõ fies, nem porfies, nem arrendes, viviras entre as gentes. _Neither
trust or contend, nor lay wagers or lend, and you’ll have peace to your
end._
Naõ há dia sem tarde. _There is no day without its night._
Naõ ha mulher formosa no dia da voda, senaõ a noiva. _There’s no
handsome woman on the wedding day, except the bride._
Naõ ha palavra mal dita, se naõ fora mal entendida. _No word is ill
spoken, that is not ill taken._
Naõ ha prazer, que naõ enfade, e mais se se houver debalde. _There is
no pleasure that does not pall, the more so if it costs nothing._
Naõ he nada, senaõ que mataõ a meu marido. _It is nothing, they are
only killing my husband._
Naõ he o diabo taõ feio como o pintaõ. _The devil is not so ugly as he
is painted._
Naõ he o mel para a boca do asno. _Honey is not for the ass’s mouth._
Naõ he pobre, senaõ o que se tem por pobre. _No one is poor but he who
thinks himself so._
Naõ me apraz porta, que a muitas chaves faz. _Beware of a door that has
many keys._
Naõ me pago do amigo, que come o seu só, e o meu comigo. _He is no
friend that eats his own by himself, and mine with me._
Naõ quebra por delgado, senaõ por gordo e mal fiado. _Threads do not
break for being fine, but for being gouty and ill-spun._
Naõ sejais forneiro, se tendes a cabeça de manteiga. _Don’t be a baker
if your head is made of butter._
Naõ se lembra a sogra, que foi nora. _The mother-in-law does not
remember that she was once a daughter-in-law._
Naõ se pode viver sem amigos. _There’s no living without friends._
Naõ se tomaõ trutas a bragas enxutas. _There’s no catching trouts with
dry breeches._
Naõ te faças pobre, a quem te naõ ha da fazer rico. _Don’t make
yourself poor to one who won’t make you rich._
Naõ tem nada, quem nada lhe basta. _He has nothing, for whom nothing is
enough._
Naõ tem que comer, assenta-se a mesa. _I have nothing for dinner, sit
down to table._
Nasce na horta o que naõ semea o hortelaõ. _More grows in a garden than
the gardener sows there._
Na terra dos cegos, o torto he rei. _The one-eyed is a king in the land
of the blind._
Necio he quem cuida, que outro naõ cuida. _He is a fool who thinks that
others do not think._
Nem barbeiro mudo, nem cantor surdo. _Neither a dumb barber nor a deaf
singer._
Nem com cada mal ao medico, nem com cada trampa ao letrado. _Go not
with every ailment to the doctor, nor with every plaint to the lawyer._
Nem com toda a fóme á arca, nem com toda a sede ao cantaro. _Go not
with every hunger to the cupboard, nor with every thirst to the
pitcher._
Nem estopa com tiçoens, nem molher com varoens. _Trust not tow with
firebrands, nor a woman with men._
Nem por muito madrugar, amanhece mais asinha. _It dawns none the sooner
for all one’s early rising._
Nem tanto puxar, que se quebre a corda. _Don’t pull hard enough to
break the rope._
Nem taõ formosa que mate, nem taõ fea, que espante. _Neither handsome
enough to kill nor ugly enough to frighten away._
Nem todos os que vaõ à guerra, saõ soldados. _All are not soldiers who
go to the wars._
Nem tudo o que he verdade, se diz. _Not all that is true is to be
spoken._
Nem tudo o que luz he ouro. _All is not gold that glitters._
Ninguem he bom juiz em causa propria. _No one is a good judge in his
own cause._
Ninguem se contenta com sua sórte. _No one is content with his lot._
Ninguem se metta no que naõ sabe. _Meddle not in what you don’t
understand._
Ninguem sempre acerta. _No one is always right._
Ninho feito, pega morta. _The nest made, the bird dead._
No rosto de minha, filha, vejo quando, o demo toma a meu genro. _I see
by my daughter’s face when the devil lays hold of my son-in-law._
Nos trabalhos se vem os amigos. _Friends are known in adversity._
Nunca de má arvore bom fruto. _Good fruit never comes from a bad tree._
Nunca falta hum caõ, que vos ladre. _There is never wanting a dog to
bark at you._
Nunca foi bom amigo, quem por pouco quebron a amizade. _He never was a
friend who ceased to be so for a slight cause._
Nunca lobo mata outro. _One wolf does not kill another._
Nunca muito custou pouco. _Much never cost little._
Nunca se matou ouriço cacheiro às punhadas. _Hedgehogs are not to be
killed with the fist._
Nunca se queixe do engano, quem pela mostra compra o panno. _He should
not complain of being cheated who buys the cloth by the sample._
O.
O amigo ha de se levar com a sua tacha. _A friend is to be taken with
his faults._
O amor, e a fé, nas obras se vé. _Love and faith are seen in works._
O amor naõ tem lei. _Love knows no law._
O bem soa, e o mal voa. _Good news is rumoured, bad news flies._
O boi bravo na terra alheia se faz manso. _The savage ox grows tame on
strange ground._
O bom vinho naõ ha mester ramo. _Good wine needs no bush._
Obra começada, meia acabada. _Well begun is half done._
Obra de commum, obra de nenhum. _What’s everybody’s work is nobody’s
work._
Obra feita dinheiro espera. _Work done expects money._
Obras saõ amores, e naõ palavras doces. _Deeds are love, and not sweet
words._
O buraco chama ao ladraõ. _The hole invites the thief._
O caõ velho, quando ladra, dà conselho. _When the old dog barks, he
gives counsel._
O caro he barato, e o barato he caro. _Dear is cheap, and cheap is
dear._
O couce da egoa naõ faz mal ao potro. _The mare’s kick does not harm
the colt._
O dia de amanhã ninguem o vio. _No one has seen to-morrow._
O dinheiro do avarento, duas vezes vai à feira. _Misers’ money goes
twice to market._
Officio alheio custa dinheiro. _Another man’s trade costs money._
Officio de conselho, honra sem proveito. _A seat in the council is
honour without profit._
O filho de tua visinha, tira-lhe o ranho, e casa-o com tua filha. _Wipe
the nose of your neighbour’s son, and marry him to your daughter._
O filho do asno huma hora no dia orneja. _The ass’s son brays one hour
daily._
O fim coroa a obra. _The end crowns the work._
O galgo, à larga, a lebre mata. _In the long run, the greyhound kills
the hare._
O homem he fogo, e a mulher estopa, vem o diabo, assopra. _Man is fire,
woman is tow, and the devil comes and blows._
O homem pobre a dobrado custo come. _The poor man eats at double cost._
O hospede, e o peixe a os tres dias fede. _A guest and a fish stink in
three days._
O ladraõ cuida que todos taes saõ. _The thief thinks that all are like
himself._
O ladraõ da agulha ao ouro, e do ouro à forca. _The thief proceeds from
a needle to gold, and from gold to the gallows._
Olhos verdes, em poucos os veredes. _You will not see many with green
eyes._
O lobo perde os dentes, mas naõ o costume. _The wolf loses his teeth,
but not his inclination._
O mal do olho cura-se com o cotovelo. _Wipe your sore eye with your
elbow._
O mal, que naõ tem cura, he loucura. _The malady that is most incurable
is folly._
O marido antes com hum só olho, que com hum filho. _Rather a husband
with one eye than with one son._
O melhor penso do cavallo, he o olho de seu amo. _The horse’s best
allowance is his master’s eye._
O mentir naõ paga sisa. _Lying pays no tax._
O moço, e o gallo hum sò anno. _A servant and a cock must be kept but
one year._
O moço preguiçoso, por naõ dar huma passada, da oito. _The lazy servant
takes eight steps to avoid one._
Onde a gallinha tem os ovos, là se lhe vaõ os olhos. _The hen’s eyes
turn to where she has her eggs._
Onde entra o beber, sahe o saber. _When the wine is in, the wit is out._
Onde está o gallo, naõ canta a gallinha. _Where the cock is the hen
does not crow._
Onde fogo naõ ha, fumo naõ se levanta. _Where there is no fire, no
smoke rises._
Onde força naõ ha, direito se perde. _Where there’s no might there’s no
right._
Onde ha amigos, ha riquezas. _Where friends, there riches._
Onde ha muito riso, ha pouco siso. _Much laughter, little wit._
Onde irá o boi, que naõ are? _Where shall the ox go, and not have to
plough?_
Onde naõ ha honra, naõ ha deshonra. _Where there is no honour there is
no dishonour._
Onde o lobo acha hum cordeiro, busca outro. _Where the wolf picks up
one sheep he looks for another._
Onde vai mas fundo o rio, ahi faz menos ruido. _Where the river is
deepest it makes least noise._
O olho do amo engorda o cavallo. _The master’s eye makes the horse fat._
O parvo, se he callado, por sabio he reputado. _The fool passes for
wise if he is silent._
O peior porco come a melhor lande. _The worst pig eats the best acorn._
O perro com raiva a seu amo morde. _The mad dog bites its master._
O perro do hortelão naõ come as versas, nem a outrem as deixa comer.
_The gardener’s dog neither eats greens nor lets any one else eat them._
O pouco faz devedor, e o muito inimigo. _A little makes a debtor and
much an enemy._
O que faz o doudo á derradeira, faz o sesudo à primeira. _What the fool
does at last the wise man does at first._
O que he duro de passar, he doce de lembrar. _What was hard to bear is
sweet to remember._
O que naõ pòde al ser, deves soffrer. _What can’t be cured must be
endured._
O rei das abelhas naõ tem aguilhaõ. _The king of the bees has no sting._
O sacco do genro nunca he cheio. _The son-in-law’s sack is never full._
Os dedos da maõ naõ saõ iguaes. _The fingers of the same hand are not
alike._
Os erros dos medicos a terra os cobre. _The blunders of physicians are
covered by the earth._
O sisudo naõ ata o saber á estaca. _The man of sense does not hang up
his knowledge._
Os mortos aos vivos abrem os olhos. _The dead open the eyes of the
living._
O tramposo asinha engana ao cobiçoso. _The swindler readily cheats the
covetous man._
Ouro he o que ouro vale. _That is gold which is worth gold._
Ouve, ve, e calla, se queres viver em paz. _Hear, see, and say nothing,
if you would live in peace._
Ovelha farta, do rabo se espanta. _The full-fed sheep is frightened at
her own tail._
Ovelha, que berra, bocado perde. _The sheep that bleats loses a
mouthful._
O ventre em jejum naõ ouve a nenhum. _A hungry belly hears nobody._
P.
Paga o justo pelo peccador. _The righteous pays for the sinner._
Paga o que deves, sararàs do mal que tens. _Pay what you owe, you will
get well of your malady._
Pagar na mesma moeda. _To pay one in his own coin._
Palavra fóra da boca, pedra fóra da maõ. _A word from the mouth, a
stone from the hand._ (_A word and a blow._)
Palavras de santo, e cenhas de gato. _Saint’s words, cat’s claws._
Palavras naõ enchem barriga. _Words don’t fill the belly._
Panella que muito ferve, o sabor perde. _The pot that boils too much
loses its flavour._
Paõ alheio caro custa. _Another’s bread costs dear._
Paõ comido, companhia desfeita. _The bread eaten, the company departs._
Paz de cajado guerra he. _Peace with a cudgel in hand is war._
Peccado confessado, he meio perdoado. _A fault confessed is half
forgiven._
Pedra movediça, naõ cria bolor. _A rolling stone gathers no moss._
Peleijaõ os ladrones, descobrem-se os furtos. _When thieves fall out,
their knaveries come to light._
Peleijaõ os touros, mal pelos ramos. _When bulls fight, woe to the
frogs._
Pelos Santos novos esquecem os velhos. _The old saints are forgotten in
the new._
Penhor que come, ninguem o tome. _Beware of a pledge that eats._
Pequenas rachas accendem o fogo, e os madeiros grossos o sustentaõ.
_Little chips kindle the fire, and big logs sustain it._
Pequeno machado parte grande carvalho. _A small hatchet fells a great
oak._
Perdendo tempo, naõ se ganha dinheiro. _Money is not gained by losing
time._
Perro ladrador, nunca bom caçador. _A barking dog was never a good
hunter._
Pés costumados a andar, naõ pódem quedos estar. _Feet accustomed to go
cannot be still._
Pobreza nunca em amores fez bom feito. _Poverty never sped well in
love._
Porcos com frio, e homens com vinho, fazem grande ruido. _Pigs in the
cold and men in drink make a great noise._
Por falta de homens fizeraõ a meu pai juiz. _For lack of men they made
my father a justice._
Porfia mata a caça. _Perseverance kills the game._
Pouco damno espanta, e muito amansa. _A little injury dismays, and a
great one stills._
Pouco fel damna muito mel. _A little gall spoils much honey._
Preguiça, chave de pobreza. _Sloth is the key of poverty._
Primeiro que cases, vé o que fazes. _Before you marry consider what you
do._
Principio querem as cousas. _Everything must have a beginning._
Prometter naõ he dar, mas a nescios contentar. _Promising is not
giving, but serves to content fools._
Q.
Qual mais, qual menos, toda a lã he pelos. _All the wool is hair, more
or less._
Qual o pai, tal o filho. _Like father, like son._
Qual o Rei, tal a lei; qual a lei, tal a grei. _Like king, like law;
like law, like people._
Quando em casa naõ está o gato, estende-se o rato. _When the cat’s away
the mice will play._
Quem pouco sabe, asinha o reza. _He who knows little soon blabs it._
Quem quando póde naõ quer, quando quer naõ póde. _Who will not when he
can, can’t when he will._
Quem quer pescar, ha-se-de molhar. _He who would catch fish must not
mind wetting himself._
Quem quizer olho saõ, ate a maõ. _He that would keep his eye sound must
tie up his hand._
Quem quizer ser muito tempo velho, comece-o a ser cedo. _He that would
be old long must begin betimes._
Quem se cala, e pedras apanha, tempo vem que as derrama. _Who holds his
peace and gathers stones, will find a time to throw them._
Quem só come seu gallo, só sella seu cavallo. _Who eats his fowl alone,
must saddle his horse alone._
Quem te faz festa, naõ soendo fazer, ou te quer enganar, ou te há
mister. _He who makes more of you than he is wont, either means to
cheat you or wants you._
Quem tem boca, naõ diga ao outro, assopra. _Let not him that has a
mouth ask another to blow._
Quem tem bom ninho, tem bom amigo. _He who has a good nest, finds good
friends._
Quem tem quatro, e gasta cinco, naõ há mister bolsa, nem bolsinho. _He
who has four and spends five, has no need of a purse._
Quem tem telhado de vidro, naõ atire pedras ao do vizinho. _He who has
a glass roof must not throw stones at his neighbour’s._
Quem tudo lo quier, tudo lo pierde. _All covet, all lose._
Que queira, que naõ queira, o asno ha de ir á feira. _Will he nill he,
the ass must go to the fair._
Queres conhecer tua filha, olha-lhe a companhia. _Would you know your
daughter? See her in company._
Queres que te siga o caõ, da-lhe paõ. _If you would have the dog follow
you, give him bread._
Quereis que vos sirva, bom Rey, dai-me, de que viva. _Would you have me
serve you, good king, give me the means of living._
R.
Raposa dormida, naõ lhe cahe nada da boca. _Nothing falls into the
mouth of a sleeping fox._
Rato, que naõ sabe mais que hum buraco, asinha he tomado. _The rat that
knows but one hole is soon caught._
Roga ao santo, até passar o barranco. _Pray to the saint until you have
passed the slough._
Rogos de Rei mandados saõ. _King’s entreaties are commands._
Roim seja, quem por roim se tem. _Vile let him be who deems himself
vile._
S.
Sal vertido, nunca bem colhido. _Spilt salt is never well collected._
Sangrai-o, purgai-o, e se morrer, enterrai-o. _Bleed him, purge him,
and if he dies, bury him._
Sempre o alheio suspira por seu dono. _What is another’s always sighs
for its master._
Senta-te no teu lugar, naõ te faraó levantar. _Seat yourself in your
place, and they will not make you rise._
Se queres a agoa limpa, tira-a da fonte viva. _If you want clear water,
draw it from the spring._
Se queres saber quanto val hum cruzado, busca-o emprestado. _If you
would know what a dollar is worth, try to borrow it._
Se queres ser bem servido, serve a ti mesmo. _If you want to be served,
serve yourself._
Se queres ser bom juiz, ouve o que cada hum diz. _If you would be a
good judge, hear what every one says._
Se queres ser pobre sem o sentir, mette obreiro, deita-te a dormir. _If
you would grow poor without perceiving it, employ workmen and go to
sleep._
Se queres ter boa fama, naõ te tome o sol na cama. _If you would be in
good repute, let not the sun find you in bed._
Se queres viver saõ, faze-te velho ante tempo. _If you would be
healthy, be sage betimes._
Serve a senhor, saberàs que he dor. _Serve a lord, and you will know
what it is to be vexed._
Se te dà o pobre, he para que mais te tome. _If a poor man gives to
you, he expects more in return._
Se te fizeres mel, comer-te-haõ as moscas. _Make yourself honey, and
the flies will eat you._
Se tens physico teu amigo, manda-o a casa de teu inimigo. _If you have
a friend who is a physician, send him to your enemy’s house._
T.
Tambem os ameaçados comem paõ. _Threatened folks eat bread._
Tanta culpa tem o ladraõ como o consentidor. _The accomplice is as bad
as the thief._
Tanto morre o Papa, como o que naõ tem capa. _Death spares neither Pope
nor beggar._
Tantos morrem dos cordeiros, como dos carneiros. _There die as many
lambs as wethers._
Tanto val a cousa, quanto daõ por ella. _The worth of a thing is what
it will bring._
Taõ bom he Pedro como seu amo. _Jack is as good as his master._
Tarde dar, e negar, estaõ a par. _To be slow in giving and to refuse,
are alike._
Tempo, e hora naõ se ata com soga. _Time and the hour are not to be
tied with a rope._
Tres irmaõs, tres fortalezas. _Three brothers, three fortresses._
V.
Vai-se o tempo, como o vento. _Time passes like the wind._
Vender gato por lebre. _To sell a cat for a hare._
Vender mel ao colmeeiro. _To sell honey to one who keeps hives._
Vento, e ventura, pouco dura. _Wind and fortune are not lasting._
Ventura te dé Deos, filho, que saber pouco te basta. _God give you
luck, my son, for little wit must serve your turn._
Vi hum homem, que vio outro homem, que vio o mar. _I saw a man, who saw
another man, who saw the sea._
DUTCH PROVERBS.
A.
Aan den verstandigen is een woord genoeg. _A word is enough to the
wise._
Aan een krank touw zal men zachkens trekken. _Pull gently at a weak
rope._
Aangeboden dienst is onwaard. _Proffered service is little valued._
(_Proffered service stinks._)
Aanhoude doet verkrigen. _Perseverance brings success._
Aan het werk kent men den werkman. _The workman is known by his work._
Aan velen belast wordt minst gedaan. _Little is done where many
command._
Achter iederen berg ligt weer een dal. _Behind every mountain lies a
vale._
Al eer dat gij een vriend betrouwt, zoo eet met hem een mudde zout.
_Before you make a friend, eat a peck of salt with him._
Alle ampten zijn smeerig. _All offices are greasy_ (i. e. _open to
receive what the Dutch call smear-money, a term derived from the fee
paid for greasing wheels_).
Alle baat helpt. _Every little helps._
Alle beetjes helpen en alle vrachtjes ligten, zei de schipper en
hij smeet zijne vrouw overboord. _Every little helps to lighten the
freight, said the captain, as he threw his wife overboard._
Alle beginselen zijn zwaar, zei de dief, en voor de eerste maal stal
hij een aanbeeld. _All beginnings are hard, said the thief, and began
by stealing an anvil._
Alle dagen een draadje is een hemdsmouw in het jaar. _Every day a
thread makes a skein in the year._
Alle dagen kan men dragen uitgezondert goede dagen. _Men can bear all
things except good days._
Alle dingen hebben een einde behalve God. _Everything has an end
excepting God._
Alle dingen hebben twee handvatsels. _Everything has two handles (or
two sides)._
Alle ding heeft een waarom. _Everything has a wherefore._
Alle ding is wel: heeft de bruel geen geel haer, zij heeft een geel
vel. _All is well: for if the bride has not fair hair, she has a fair
skin._
Alle hanen moeten een kam hebben. _All cocks must have a comb._
Allemans vriend, is allemans gek. _Every man’s friend, is every man’s
fool._
Allengskens gaat men ook verre. _Step by step one goes far._
Alle vloed heeft zijne ebbe. _Every flood has its ebb._
Alle waarom heeft zijn daarom. _Every why has its wherefore._
Alle wolken regenen niet. _All clouds do not rain._
Als alle de waerelt ziet dat gij een verken zijt, eu moet gij niet in
’t schot? _When every one sees that you are a pig, why don’t you go
into the sty?_
Als apen hoog willen klimmen, ziet men hun naakte billen. _When apes
climb high, they show their naked rumps._
Als de armoede de deur binnenkomt, vliegt de liefde het venster uit.
_Where poverty comes in at the door, love flies out at the window._
Als de buik zat is, is ’t harte vrolijk. _When the stomach is full the
heart is glad._
Als de ezel te wel is, soo gaat hij op ’t s danssen. _When the ass is
too happy he begins dancing on the ice._
Als de herder doolt, doolen de schapen. _When the shepherd strays, the
sheep stray._
Als de hond onder ligt, al de wereld wil hem bijten. _When the dog is
down, every one is ready to bite him._
Als de kat slaapt, spelen de muizen. _When the cat sleeps, the mice
play._
Als de katten muizen, miaauwen ze niet. _When cats are mousing they
don’t mew._
Als de kat van huis is, dan hebben de muizen bruis. _When the cat’s
away, it is jubilee with the mice._
Als de kok met den bottelier kijft, dan hoort men waar de boter blijft.
_When the cook and the steward fall out we hear who stole the butter._
Als de man wel wint de vrouw wel spint. _When the husband earns well
the wife spins well._
Als de muggen in January danssen, wordt de boer een bedelaar. _When
gnats swarm in January, the peasant becomes a beggar._
Als de muggen in Maart danssen, dat doet het schaap den dood aan. _When
flies swarm in March, sheep come to their death._
Als de muis zat is, zo wordt het meel bitter. _When the mouse has had
its fill, the meal turns bitter._
Als de wijn ingaat, gaat de wijsheid uit. _When the wine goes in the
wit goes out._