The Proverbs of Scotland Part 90

"'Sunks,' a sort of saddle made of cloth, and stuffed with straw, on which two persons can sit at once."--_Jamieson._

The back and the belly hauds ilka ane busy.

The ba' maun aye row some way.

The banes bear the beef hame.

The banes o' a great estate are worth the picking.

The best is aye the cheapest.

The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley.

The best o' wabs are rough at the roons.

The best that can happen to a poor man is that ae bairn dee and the rest follow.

Kelly is democratically angry at the questionable sentiment of this proverb,--"A cursed distrustful proverb!" he says. "G.o.d is able to maintain the poor man's child as well as the young master or young miss, and often in a more healthy and plump condition."

The better day the better deed.

The jocular answer of a person who is blamed for doing something on Sunday.

The biggest horse is no aye the best traveller.

The biggest rogue cries loudest out.

The bird maun flicher that has but ae wing.

The bird that can sing, an' winna sing, should be gar'd sing.

The black ox ne'er trod on his foot.

"The _black ox_ is said to _tramp_ on one who has lost a near relation by death, or met with some severe calamity."--_The Antiquary._

"Auld Luckie cries, 'Ye're o'er ill set, As ye'd hae measure, ye sud met; Ye ken na what may be your fate In after days, The black cow has nae trampet yet Upo' your taes.'"--_The Farmer's Ha'._

The blind horse is aye the hardiest.

The blind man's peck should be weel measured.

The blind mear's first in the mire.

The bonny moon is on her back, mend your shoon and sort your thack.

"When the new moon is in such a part of the ecliptic as to appear turned much over upon her back, wet weather is expected."--_Robert Chambers._

The book o' may-be's is very braid.

The breath o' a fause friend's waur than the fuff o' a weasel.

The cart doesna lose its errand when it comesna hame toom-tail.

"To come back toom-tail is to go away with a load and come back empty."--_Jamieson._

The proverb is applied to those who accomplish more than their errand.

The cat kens whase lips she licks.

The cat's oot o' the pock.

The cause is gude, and the word's "fa' tae."

A profane grace of hungry persons who sit down to a good meal.

The clartier the cosier.

Literally, the dirtier the more comfortable. Whether true or not we cannot say.

The cost owergangs the profit.

The cow may dee ere the gra.s.s grow.

"While the gra.s.s is growing the steed is starving."--_German._

The cow may want her tail yet.

"You may want my kindness hereafter, though you deny me yours just now."--_Kelly._

The cow that's first up gets the first o' the dew.

Used as an incentive to diligence and industry.

"The early bird catches the worm."--_English._

The cure may be waur than the disease.

The day has een, the night has lugs.

Prudence and caution are necessary at all times.

The day you do weel there will be seven munes in the lift and ane on the midden.

The inference is, that the person addressed has a very remote chance indeed of ever doing well.

The death o' ae bairn winna skail a house.

The death o' his first wife made sic a hole in his heart that a' the lave slippit easily through.