The Proverbs of Scotland Part 51

"Though auld Rob Morris be an elderly man, Yet his auld bra.s.s it will buy you a new pan; Then, doughter, you shouldna be so ill to shoo, For auld Rob Morris is the man ye maun loo."

--_Tea-Table Miscellany._

His bark's waur nor his bite.

"'Hout, mother,' said Hobbie, 'Els.h.i.+e's no that bad a chield; he's a grewsome spectacle for a crooked disciple, to be sure, and a rough talker; but his bark is waur than his bite.'"--_The Black Dwarf._

His corn's a' caff.

"I'll lay my lugs that's the true reason, and brawly does he ken his corn's a' caff, or he wadna keep the sack mouth tied, and try to put us aff wi' bletheration."

His e'ening sang and his morning sang are no baith alike.

His eggs hae a' twa yolks.

His geese are a' swans.

Or, his stories are all of a Munchausen order, told more for the sake of effect than of truth.

His head will never fill his faither's bonnet.

His head's in a creel.

"My senses wad be in a creel, Should I but dare a hope to speel Wi' Allan, or wi' Gilbertfield, The braes o' fame; Or Ferguson, the writer chiel, A deathless name."--_Burns._

His heart's in his hose.

His meal's a' daigh.

His purse and his palate are ill met.

As the first is light, while the second is heavy.

His room's better than his company.

His tongue's nae slander.

For his bad character or motives are so well known that none would believe him were he to speak ill of a person.

His wame thinks his wizen's cut.

This humorous saying is expressive of the most extreme hunger, when the belly has come to the conclusion that the throat has been cut, and all further supply of food stopped.

His wit gat wings and would hae flown, but pinchin' poort.i.th pu'd him down.

Honest men marry soon, wise men never.

Honesty hauds lang the gate.

To "haud the gate" is to "maintain the even tenor of your way."

Honesty may be dear bought, but can ne'er be an ill pennyworth.

Honesty's the best policy.

Honours change manners.

Hooly and fairly gangs far in a day.

"Working constantly, though soberly (slowly), will despatch a great deal of business."--_Kelly._

Hooly and fairly men ride far journeys.

Hope hauds up the head.

Hope is sawin' while death is mawin'.

Hope weel and hae weel.

Horns an' grey hair dinna aye come o' years.

Horses are gude o' a' hues.

"A good horse ne'er had a bad colour."--_English._

Hotter war sooner peace.

Hout your dogs and bark yoursel.

"A sharp return to those that say 'Hout' to us, which is a word of contempt; in Latin, _apage!_"--_Kelly._

Humble worth and honest pride gar presumption stand aside.

Hunger is hard in a hale maw.

Or, to a healthy stomach.

Hunger me, and I'll harry thee.

"If servants get not their meat honestly and decently, they will neglect their master's business, or embezzle his goods."--_Kelly._

Hunger never fails of a gude cook.

Hunger's gude kitchen.

"Hunger is the best sauce."--_English._

Hunger's gude kitchen to a cauld potato, but a wet divot to the lowe o'

love.