The Proverbs of Scotland Part 46

He that buys land buys stanes; he that buys beef buys banes; he that buys nuts buys sh.e.l.ls; he that buys gude ale buys naething else.

He that can hear Dumbuck may hear Dumbarton.

Dumbuck Hill, in Argyles.h.i.+re, is farther from Glasgow (the _locale_ of this saying) than Dumbarton: proverbially applied to those who are better acquainted with circ.u.mstances than they pretend to be, but who, in their anxiety to gain more information, betray themselves.

He that canna do as he would maun do as he may.

He that canna gie favours should seek nane.

He that canna mak sport should mar nane.

He that cheats in daffin winna be honest in earnest.

He that cheats me ance, shame fa' him; he that cheats me twice, shame fa' me.

He that comes first to the ha' may sit where he will.

He that comes o' hens maun sc.r.a.pe.

He that counts a' costs will ne'er put plough i' the grund.

"He that forecasts all difficulties that he may meet with in his business will never set about it."--_Kelly._

He that counts without his host may have to count twice.

He that deals in dirt has aye foul fingers.

He that does as he's bidden deserves nae bannin'.

He that does his turn in time sits half idle.

He that doesna mind corn pickles never comes to forpits.

"Get a large sheet of paper, man, and make a new pen, with a sharp neb, and a fine hair-stroke. Do not slit the quill up too high, it's a wastrife course in your trade, Andrew. They that do not mind corn pickles never come to forpits. I have known a learned man write a thousand pages with one quill."--_Fortunes of Nigel._

He that does you an ill turn will ne'er forgie you.

He that drinks when he's no dry will be dry when he has nae drink.

He that eats a boll o' meal in bannocks eats a peck o' dirt.

He that eats but ae dish seldom needs the doctor.

He that fa's in a gutter, the langer he lies the dirtier he is.

He that fishes before the net, fishes lang or he fish get.

He that gapes till he be fed may gape till he be dead.

He that gets forgets, but he that wants thinks on.

He that gets gear before he gets wit is but a short time maister o't.

He that gies a' his gear to his bairns, tak up a beetle and ding out his harns.

"Taken from the history of one John Bell, who, having given his substance to his children, was by them neglected. After he died there was found in his chest a mallet with this inscription,--

"'I, John Bell, leave here a mell, the man to fell, Who gives all to his bairns, and keeps nothing to himsel.'"

--_Kelly._

He that grapes in the dark may fyle his fingers.

He that hains his dinner will hae the mair to his supper.

He that has a bonnie wife needs mair than twa een.

He that has a dog at hame may gang to the kirk wi' a clean breast.

He that has ae sheep in a flock will like a' the lave the better for't.

"Spoken when we have a son at such a school, university, army, or society, we will wish the prosperity of these respective bodies upon his account."--_Kelly._

He that has a goose will get a goose.

Or, he that is rich already has legacies left him; as, "The fat sow's tail's aye creash'd."

He that has a gude c.r.a.p may thole some thistles.

He that has been very fortunate can easily put up with slight drawbacks.

He that has a muckle nose thinks ilka ane speaks o't.

"People who are sensible of their guilt are always full of suspicion."--_Kelly._

He that has a wide wame ne'er had a lang arm.

That is, a corpulent person is never very active.

He that has a wife has a maister.

"He that's not sensible of the truth of this proverb may blot it out or pa.s.s it over."--_Kelly._

He that has but ae ee maun tent it weel.

He that has gall in his mouth canna spit honey.

He that has his hand in the lion's mouth maun tak it out the best way he can.

Meaning that he who has willingly jeopardized himself must extricate himself without a.s.sistance.