The Proverbs of Scotland Part 47

He that has horns in his bosom needna put them on his head.

He that has just enough can soundly sleep; the owercome only fashes folk to keep.

He that has muckle wad aye hae mair.

He that hasna purse to fine may hae flesh to pine.

"'It will be nonsense fining me,' said Andrew, doughtily, 'that hasna a grey groat to pay a fine wi'--it's ill taking the breeks aff a Hielandman.' 'If ye hae nae purse to fine, ye hae flesh to pine,'

replied the bailie, 'and I will look weel to ye getting your deserts the tae way or the t.i.ther.'"--_Rob Roy._

He that hasna siller in his purse should hae silk on his tongue.

He that has routh o' b.u.t.ter may b.u.t.ter his bread on baith sides.

He that has siller in his purse may want a head on his shouthers.

He that has twa h.o.a.rds can get a third.

He that hath and winna keep it, he that wants and winna seek it, he that drinks and is not dry, siller shall want as well as I.

He that hews abune his head may get a spail in his ee.

He who aims at things beyond his power may be injured by his projects.

He that hides kens whaur to seek.

He that ill does never gude weens.

He who is in the habit of ill-doing himself always has a bad opinion of others.

He that invented the maiden first handselled her.

James, Earl of Morton, who invented the "maiden" or guillotine, was the first who suffered by it.

He that isna handsome at twenty, strong at thirty, wise at forty, rich at fifty, will never be handsome, strong, wise, or rich.

He that keeks through a keyhole may see what will vex him.

"He who looks through a hole will discover his dole."--_Spanish._

He that keeps the cat's dish keeps her aye crying.

He that kens what will be cheap or dear, needs be a merchant but for half-a-year.

As the exercise of his foresight will enable him to acquire a competency in that time.

He that kisses his wife at the market cross will hae mony to teach him.

He that lacks my mare may buy my mare.

Used when a person disparages an article that he may secure it to himself.

He that laughs alane will mak sport in company.

He that lends his pot may seethe his kail in his loof.

He that lends money to a friend has a double loss.

Because he loses both his money and his friend.

He that lends you hinders you to buy.

He that lippens to chance lippens his back to a slap.

He that lippens to lent ploughs may hae his land lang lea.

He that relies on favours being granted is liable to disappointment.

He that lives on hope has a slim diet.

He that lo'es law will soon get his fill o't.

He that looks not ere he loup will fa' ere he wat.

He that looks to freets, freets will follow him.

"He that notices superst.i.tious observances (such as spilling of salt, Childerma.s.s day, or the like) it will fall to him accordingly."--_Kelly._

He that maks friends fear'd o' his wit should be fear'd o' their memories.

He that marries a beggar gets a louse for a tocher.

He that marries a daw eats muckle dirt.

He who is connected with a "daw," or drab, has many troubles to put up with.

He that marries a widow and twa dochters has three back doors to his house.

Or, as Kelly quotes, "three stark thieves; because his wife will put away things to them, or for them."

He that marries a widow will hae a dead man's head often thrown in his dish.

He that marries before he's wise will dee ere he thrive.

He that middles wi' tulzies may come in for the redding stroke.

To "middle with tulzies" is to interfere with quarrelsome people; the chances are that a person who does so will come off at a loss.