The Proverbs of Scotland Part 19

"The mother, though in a low condition, will be more kindly to, and more careful of, orphans, than the father can be, though in a better."--_Kelly._

Better the ill ken'd than the gude unken'd.

Better the nag that ambles a' the day than him that makes a brattle for a mile and then's dune wi' the road.

Better thole a grumph than a sumph.

Be troubled rather by an intelligent, though surly man, than by a stupid one.

Better tine life than gude fame.

"I might hae fled frae this Tolbooth on that awfu' night wi' ane wha wad hae carried me through the warld, and friended me, and fended for me. But I said to them, Let life gang when gude fame is gane before it."--_Heart of Midlothian._

Better tine your joke than tine your friend.

Better to haud than draw.

Better to rule wi' the gentle hand than the strang.

Better twa skaiths than ae sorrow.

"Losses may be repaired, but sorrow will break the heart and ruin the const.i.tution."--_Kelly._

Better unkind than ower c.u.mbersome.

Better unmarried than ill married.

Better wade back mid water than gang forward and drown.

Rather withdraw from a bargain or position found likely to prove bad or dangerous than proceed with either in hopes of improvement.

Better wait on cooks than leeches.

Better wear shoon than wear sheets.

Better you laugh than I greet.

Meaning, I would rather be ridiculed for not doing a thing, than do it and be sorry for it.

Better your feet slip than your tongue.

Between Martinmas and Yule, water's wine in every pool.

Between the deil and the deep sea.

Between two extremes equally dangerous.

"I fell into Claverhouse's party when I was seeking for some o' our ain folk to help ye out o' the hands o' the whigs; sae, being atween the deil and the deep sea, I e'en thought it best to bring him on wi' me, for he'll be wearied wi' felling folk the night, and the morn's a new day."--_Old Mortality._

Between three and thirteen, thraw the woodie when it's green.

Train the minds and principles of children when young.

Between you and the lang day be'it.

Be what ye seem and seem what ye are.

Bid a man to a roast and stick him wi' the spit.

Pretend to show kindness to a man while your intention is to injure him.

Bide weel, betide weel.

Wait well or patiently and you will fare well; or at least as well as those who are hasty.

Biggin and bairns marrying are arrant wasters.

"Building is a sweet impoveris.h.i.+ng."--_Spanish._

Bind the sack ere it be fou.

Do not tax any person or thing to the utmost.

Birds o' a feather flock thegither.

Birk will burn be it burn drawn; sauch will sab if it were simmer sawn.

Literally, wood will burn even if drawn through water, and the willow will droop if sown out of season. Figuratively, natural will and inclination will predominate and exhibit themselves, although submitted to the most antagonistic influences.

Birth's gude but breeding's better.

Bitter jests poison friends.h.i.+p.

Black's my ap.r.o.n, and I'm aye was.h.i.+ng 't.

When a man has got a bad character, although he may endeavour to redeem it, he will find great difficulty in doing so.

Black will tak nae ither hue.

Blaw the wind ne'er sae fast, it will lown at the last.

Blind horse rides hardy to the fecht.

"Who so bold as blind Bayard?"--_French._

Blind men shouldna judge o' colours.

Blue and better blue.