The Proverbs of Scotland Part 67

Lang-tongued wives gang lang wi' bairn.

"Applied to those who discover their projects, designs, and intentions long before they are put in execution."--_Kelly._

La.s.ses and gla.s.ses are bruckle ware.

La.s.sies are like lamb-legs: they'll neither saut nor keep.

La.s.sies now-a-days ort nae G.o.d's creatures.

"The proverbial reflection of an old woman, as signifying that in our times young women are by no means nice in their choice of husbands."--_Jamieson._

Last to bed, best heard.

Laugh and lay't down again.

Laugh at leisure, ye may greet ere night.

Laugh at your ain toom pouches.

"'The j.a.panned tea-caddie, Hannah--the best bohea--bid Tib kindle a spark of fire--the morning's damp--draw in the giggling faces of ye, ye d--d idle scoundrels, or laugh at your ain toom pouches--it will be lang or your weel-doing fill them.' This was spoken, as the honest lawyer himself might have said, _in transitu_."--_St Ronan's Well._

Law licks up a'.

"The Laird has been a true friend on our unhappy occasions, and I have paid him back the siller for Effie's misfortune, whereof Mr Nichil Novit returned him no balance, as the Laird and I did expect he wad hae done. But law licks up a', as the common folk say. I have had the siller to borrow out o' sax purses."--_Heart of Midlothian._

Law-makers shouldna be law-breakers.

Law's a deadly distemper amang friends.

Law's costly: tak a pint and gree.

"How easy can the barley bree Cement the quarrel!

It's aye the cheapest lawyer's fee, To taste the barrel."--_Burns._

Lay a thing by and it'll come o' use.

Lay the head o' the sow to the tail o' the grice.

Or place the profit against the loss.

"An' I am to lose by ye, I'se ne'er deny I hae won by ye mony a fair pund sterling--sae, an' it come to the warst, I'se e'en lay the head o' the sow to the tail o' the grice."--_Rob Roy._

Lay the sweet side o' your tongue till't.

"An answer to them that ask what they will get to their hasty pudding."--_Kelly._

Lay up like a laird, and seek like a lad.

Lay your wame to your winning.

That is, let your housekeeping expenses be in unison with your income.

Laziness is muckle worth, when it's weel guided.

Lazy youth maks lousy age.

Leal folk ne'er wanted gear.

Leal heart leed never.

"A' was toom, a' heartless-like, an' bare; Her dowie pain she culdna mair conceal-- The heart, they'll say, will never lie that's leal."

--_Ross's Helenore._

Lean on the brose ye got in the morning.

Spoken facetiously to a person who leans heavily on another.

Leap year was never a gude sheep year.

Learn the cat the road to the kirn, and she'll aye be lickin'.

Learn young, learn fair; learn auld, learn mair.

Learn your gudewife to mak milk kail.

That is, "Teach your grandmother to suck eggs."

Learn you an ill habit and ye'll ca't a custom.

Least said soonest mended.

Leave aff while the play's gude.

Leave a jest when it pleases you best.

Leave the court ere the court leave you.

Leave welcome aye behint you.

Prolong your stay only so long as you find your company approved of, so that you may not be considered tedious.

Lee for him and he'll swear for you.

Leein' rides on debt's back.

Lend your money and lose your friend.

"It is not the lending of our money that loses our friend; but the demanding of it again, and that will lose a friend to my certain knowledge. They have a proverbial rhyme to this purpose:--