The Proverbs of Scotland Part 6

A hungry wame has nae lugs.

A hungry man is deaf to reason.

A' I got frae him I could put in my e'e, and see nane the waur for't.

A satirical way of expressing that some service has been allowed to go unrewarded.

A' ills are gude untried.

Air day or late day, the fox's hide finds aye the slaying knife.

Sooner or later justice overtakes evil-doers.

A Januar' haddock, a Februar' bannock, and a March pint o' ale.

"This semi-metrical proverb expresses the season at which the haddock and some other articles of aliment are supposed to be at their best. This, however, as far as the haddock is concerned, would appear questionable, as there is an almost universal notion that the young of this fish at least are best after a little of May has gone.

It is said in the Mearns,--

"'A cameral haddock's ne'er gude Till it get three draps o' May flude.'"--_Robert Chambers._

Formerly, brewers made ale only twice a year,--the _summer ale_ in March, and the _winter_ in October.

A Kelso convoy--a step and a half ower the door-stane.

"Ye ken in this country ilka gentleman is wussed to be sae civil as to see the corpse aff his ain grounds. Ye needna gang higher than the loan-head--it's no expected your honour suld leave the land--it's just a Kelso convoy, a step and a half ower the door-stane."--_The Antiquary._

A kindly word cools anger.

A kiss and a drink o' water mak but a wersh breakfast.

Spoken disapprovingly of those who marry for love, without due regard to means.

A landward lad is aye laithfu'.

A country or rustic lad is always bashful.

A lang gather'd dam soon runs out.

A lang tongue has a short hand.

"They who are lavish in their promises, are often short in their performances."--_Kelly._

A la.s.s that has mony wooers aft wails the warst.

A laughing-faced lad often maks a lither servant.

A layin' hen is better than a standin' mill.

A standing mill is profitless, whereas a laying hen is not.

A leaky s.h.i.+p needs muckle pumping.

A leal heart never lied.

Ale-sellers shouldna be tale-tellers.

They hear everybody's story, but prudence demands that they should keep it to themselves.

A liar should hae a gude memory.

A light-heeled mother maks a heavy-heeled dochter.

A light purse maks a heavy heart.

Alike every day maks a clout on Sunday.

A little wit ser's a lucky man.

A' law's no justice.

A loving heart and a leal within, are better than gowd or gentle kin.

A lucky man needs little counsel.

A maid aft seen and a gown aft worn, are disesteemed and held in scorn.

"Amaist" and "Very near" hae aye been great liars.

Amaist was ne'er a man's life.

A man at five may be a fool at fifteen.

A man at forty is either a fool or a physician.

A man canna bear a' his ain kin about on his back.

A man canna wive and thrive the same year.

Amang you be 't, priest's bairns: I am but a priest's oe.

A man has nae mair gudes than he gets gude o'.

A man is a lion for his ain cause.

"No man so zealous for, or a.s.siduous in, a man's business as himself."--_Kelly._

A man maun spoil ere he spin.