Kitabı oku: «A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs», sayfa 19

Quien mas corre, menos vuela. The more haste the less speed.

Quien mas sabe mas calla. Who knows most says least.

Quien mas tiene, mas quiere. The more one has the more one wants.

Quien ménos procura, alcanza mas bien. He who asks the fewest favours is the best received.

Quien mucho abarca, poco aprieta. He who grasps at much holds fast little.

Quien mucho duerme, poco aprende. He who sleeps much, learns little.

Quien mucho habla, en algo acierta. He who talks much is sometimes right.

Quien mucho habla, mucho yerra. Who talks much, errs much.

Quien no adoba gotera, adoba casa entera. He who does not repair his gutter has a whole house to repair.

Quien no alza un alfiler, no tiene en nada á su muger. He who does not pick up a pin cares nothing for his wife.

Quien no aprieta en vallejo, no aprieta en consejo. He who has no voice in the valley, will have none in the council.

Quien no castiga culito, no castiga culazo. He who does not whip the child does not mend the youth.

Quien no está enseñado á bragas, las costuras le hacen llagas. When a man is not used to breeches the seams gall him.

Quien no hace mas que otro, no vale mas que otro. He who does no more than another is no better than another.

Quien no miente, no viene de buena gente. He that does not lie, does not come of good blood.

Quien no parece, perece. He who does not show himself, is overlooked.

Quien no se aventura, no ha ventura. Who ventures nothing has no luck. (Nothing venture nothing have.)

Quien no te conoce te compre. Let him who does not know you buy you.

Quien no tiene mas de un sayo no puede prestarlo. He who has but one coat cannot lend it.

Quien no va á carava, no sabe nada. He who does not mix with the crowd knows nothing.

Quien ó A quien Dios no le dió hijos, el diablo le dió sobrinos. He to whom God gives no sons, the devil gives nephews.

Quien ó A quien no habla, no le oye Dios. He who does not speak, God does not hear.

Quien ó A quien pone los ojos en el suelo, no fies tu dinero. He who looks demurely trust not with your money.

Quien padre tiene alcalde, seguro va á juicio. He goes safely to trial whose father is a judge.

Quien peces quiere, mojarse tiene. He who wants to catch fish must not mind a wetting.

Quien pesca un pez, pescador es. He who catches one fish is a fisherman.

Quien poco sabe, presto lo reza. He who knows little soon tells it.

Quien presta, no cobra; y si cobra, no todo; y si todo, no tal; y si tal, enemigo mortal. Who lends recovers not; or if he recovers, recovers not all; or if all, not such; or if such, a mortal enemy.

Quien primero viene, primero muele. He who comes first grinds first.

Quien promete, en deuda se mete. He who promises incurs a debt.

Quien quando puede no quiere, quando quiere no puede. He that will not when he can, cannot when he will.

Quien quiere medrar, iglesia, ó mar, ó casa real. He who would thrive must follow the church, the sea, or the king’s service.

Quien quiere tomar, conviénele dar. He who would take must give.

Quien quiere vivir sano, la ropa de invierno traiga en verano. He that would be healthy must wear his winter clothes in summer.

Quien quisiere muger hermosa, el sabado la escoja. He that would have a beautiful wife should choose her on a Saturday.

Quien quisiere mula sin tacha, ándese á pie. He who wants a mule without fault must walk on foot.

Quien quisiere vivir sano, coma poco y cene temprano. He that would be healthy, must eat temperately, and sup early.

Quien quita la ocasion, quita el pecado. He who avoids the temptation avoids the sin.

Quien ramo pone, su vino quiere vender. He who hangs out a branch wants to sell his wine.

Quien se fia de amigo no fiel, buen testigo tiene contra el. He that trusts a faithless friend, has a good witness against him.

Quien se guarda, Dios le guarda. God helps him who helps himself.

Quien se muda, Dios le ayuda. He who reforms, God assists.

Quien siembra abrojos, no ande descalzo. He who sows brambles must not go barefoot.

Quien siempre me miente, nunca me engaña. He who always tells me a lie never cheats me.

Quien sirve al commun, sirve á ningun. He who helps everybody, helps nobody.

Quien sirve no es libre. He who serves is not free.

Quien solo come su gallo, solo ensille su caballo. He that eats his fowl alone may saddle his horse alone.

Quien su carro unta, sus bueyes ayuda. He who greases his cart-wheels helps his oxen.

Quien te cubre te descubre. That which covers thee discovers thee.

Quien te da el capon, dale la pierna y el alon. To him who gives the capon you may spare a leg and wing.

Quien te hace fiesta que no te suele hacer, ó te quiere engañar, ó te ha menester. He that is more civil than usual, either wants to cozen you or has need of you.

Quien tiempo tiene y tiempo atiende, tiempo viene que se arrepiente. Who has time yet waits for time, comes to a time of repentance.

Quien tiene arte, va por toda parte. He who has a trade may travel through the world.

Quien tiene boca, no diga á otro, Sopla. Let him that has a mouth not say to another, Blow.

Quien tiene enemigos no duerma. He who has enemies, let him not sleep.

Quien tiene hijas para casar, tome vedijas para hilar. He who has daughters to marry, let him give them silk to spin.

Quien tiene quatro, y gasta cinco no ha menester bolsico. He who has got four and spends five, has no occasion for a purse.

Quien tiene tejado de vidrio, no tire piedras al de su vecino. He who has a glass roof should not throw stones at his neighbour’s.

Quien tiene una hora de espacio, no muere ahorcado. He that has an hour’s start will not be hanged.

Quien todo lo niega, todo lo confiesa. He who denies everything confesses everything.

Quien todo lo quiere, todo lo pierde. He who grasps all loses all.

Quien tras otro cabalga, no ensilla quando quiere. He who rides behind another does not saddle when he will.

Quien tuviere hijo varon, no llame á otro ladron. He who has a son grown up should not call another a thief.

Quien una vez hurta, fiel nunca. He who steals once is never trusty.

Quiéralo Dios, Matea, que este hijo nuestro sea. God grant, dear wife, that this son be ours.

Quieres buen mercado? Con el necio necesitado. Do you want to buy cheap? Buy of a needy fool.

Quieres hacer del ladron fiel? Fiate de el. If you would make a thief honest, trust him.

Quieres que te siga el can? Dale pan. If you would have the dog follow you, give him bread.

Quieres ver loba parida? Casa la hija. Do you want to see a wolf with young (i. e. an insatiable plunderer)? Marry your daughter.

Qui escudella daltri espera, freda la menja. He who waits for another’s platter has a cold meal. (Catalan.)

Quitáron me el espejo por fea, y dieronlo á la ciega. They took away the mirror from me because I was ugly, and gave it to the blind woman.

R

Raposa que mucho tarda, caça aguarda. The fox that tarries long is on the watch for prey.

Raton que no sabe mas de un horado, presto le toma el gato. The rat that knows but one hole is soon caught by the cat.

Recebido ya el daño, atapar el horado. To stop the hole after the mischief is done.

Reniego de cuentas, con deudos y deudas. Curses on accounts with relations.

Reniego del amigo, que cubre con las alas y muerde con el pico. Avoid a friend who covers you with his wings and destroys you with his beak.

Resfriadas duelen mas las llagas. Wounds pain most when grown cool.

Rifaban los rocines del vidriero, y él mirando qual daba mejor coz al compañero. The glass-dealer’s horses fell out, and he looked on to see which kicked hardest.

Riñen las comadres y dicense las verdades. The gossips fall out and tell each other truths.

Rogar al santo hasta pasar del trance. To pray to the saint until the danger is past.

Ruego de grande fuerza es que te hace. A great man’s entreaty is a command.

Ruegos porque cante, y ruegos porque calle. Entreaties to get him to sing, and entreaties to leave off.

Ruego y derecho hacen el hecho. Entreaty and right do the deed.

S

Sabedlo, coles, que espinacas hay en la olla. Know, cabbages, that there is spinach in the stew.

Saberlo como su Paternoster. He knows it as well as his Lord’s Prayer.

Saca lo tuyo al mercado, y uno te dirá prieto y otro blanco. Tell your affairs in the market-place, and one will call them black and another white.

Sacar el ascua con mano agena. To take out a burning coal with another’s hand. (To make a cat’s paw of one.)

Sacar el pie del lodo. To draw the foot out of the mire.

Sacarlo de entre los cardos, sacároslo hemos de entre las manos. Pluck it from among the thistles, and we will take it off your hands.

Sacar un fuego con otro fuego. To quench fire with fire.

Sacar un pie del lodo, y meter otro. To take one foot out of the mire and put the other into it.

Sacar verdad por decir mentira. To discover truth by telling a falsehood.

Sacristan de amen. An amen clerk.

Salamon pasó por su puerta quando nació, mas no entró dentro. When he was born, Solomon passed by his door, and would not go in.

Salga pez, ó salga rana, á la capacha. Come fish, come frog, all goes into the basket. (All’s fish that comes to the net.)

Salir de un lodo y entrar en otro. To get out of one muck into another.

Salir del lodo, y caer en el arroyo. Out of the mire and into the brook. (Out of the frying-pan into the fire.)

Saltar de la sarten, y dar en las brasas. To jump out of the frying-pan and fall into the fire.

Salud y alegria belleza cria; atavio y afeito cuesta dinero y miente. Health and cheerfulness make beauty; finery and cosmetics cost money and lie.

Sal vertida, nunca bien cogida. Salt spilt is never all gathered.

Sanan cuchilladas, mas no malas palabras. Wounds from the knife are healed, but not those from the tongue.

Sanan llagas, y no malas palabras. Wounds heal, but not ill words.

Sangrarle y purgarle; si se muriere, enterrarle. Bleed him and purge him; if he dies, bury him.

Sea mi enemigo, y vaya á mi molino. Be my enemy and go to my mill.

Sease velado, y sease un palo. Let it be a husband, though it be but a log.

Seco y no de hambre mas recio es que alambre. A man that is lean, not from hunger, is harder than brass.

Señal mortal no quierer sanar. Not to wish to recover is a mortal symptom.

Ser alguno un caxon de sastre. To be like a tailor’s pattern-book.

Ser como el escudero de Guadalaxara, que de lo que dice de noche, no hay nada á la mañana. To be like the esquire of Guadalaxara, who knew nothing in the morning of what he said at night.

Ser como el puerro, tener la cabeza blanca, y lo demas verde. To be like a leek, have a grey head and the rest green.

Ser como piojo en costura. To be like a louse in a seam.

Ser como unas ortigas. To be like a bunch of nettles.

Ser el sastre del Campillo, que cosia de valde, y ponia el hilo. To be like the tailor of Campillo, who worked for nothing, and found thread.

Ser mercader mas va en el cobrar, que en el vender. To be a merchant, the art consists more in getting paid than in making sales.

Ser toda hoja sin fruto. All leaf and no fruit.

Si bien me quieres, Juan, tus obras me lo diran. If you love me, John, your acts will tell me so.

Si da el cántaro en la piedra, ó la piedra en el cántaro, mal para el cántaro. Whether the pitcher strike the stone, or the stone the pitcher, woe be to the pitcher.

Si de alguno te quieres vengar, has de callar. If you want to be revenged, hold your tongue.

Si el cielo se cae, pararle las manos. If the sky falls, hold up your hands.

Si el cielo se cae, quebrarse han las ollas. If the sky falls there will be pots broken.

Si el niño lloráre, acallelo su madre, y si no quisiere callar, déxelo llorar. If the child cries let the mother hush it, and if it will not be hushed let it cry.

Siembra trigo en barrial, y pón viña en cascajal. Sow corn in clay, and plant vines in sand.

Siéntate en tu lugar, no te harán levantar. Seat yourself in your place and you will not be made to quit it.

Si esta pella á la pared no pega, á lo menos dexará señal. If this ball does not stick to the wall it will at least leave a mark.

Siete es convite, y nueve es convicio. Seven is company, and nine confusion. (Alluding to a dinner party.)

Siete hermanos en un consejo, de lo tuerto hacen derecho. Seven brothers in a council make wrong right.

Si la locura fuese dolores, en cada casa darian voces. If folly were a pain, there would be groaning in every house.

Si la piedra da en el cántaro, mal para el cántaro; y si el cántaro da en la piedra, mal para el cántaro. If the pitcher knocks against a stone, woe to the pitcher; and if the stone knocks against the pitcher, woe to the pitcher.

Si lo cena, no lo almuerza. If you eat it up at supper, you cannot have it at breakfast.

Si no va el otero á Mahoma, vaya Mahoma al otero. If the mountain will not go to Mahomet, Mahomet must go to the mountain.

Si quieres buena fama, no te dé el sol en la cama. If you would acquire fame, let not the sun shine on you in bed.

Si quieres dar de palos á tu muger, pídele al sol á beber. If you want to thrash your wife, ask her for a drink of water in the sun.

Si quieres enfermar, lavate la cabeza y vete á echar. If you want to be dead, wash your head and go to bed.

Si quieres ser bien servido, sírvete a tú mismo. If you wish to be well served, serve yourself.

Si quieres ver quanto vale un ducado, búscalo prestado. If you want to know what a ducat is worth, try to borrow one.

Sirve á señor, y sabrás que es dolor. Serve a lord and you’ll know what is grief.

Si secretos quieres saber, buscalos en el pesar ó en el placer. If you want to know secrets, seek for them in trouble or in pleasure.

Si se perdieron los anillos, aquí quedáron los dedillos. If the rings are lost, here are the fingers still.

Si soy bobo, meteme el dedo en la boca. If I am a fool, put your finger in my mouth.

Si tienes médico amigo, quitale la gorra y envialo á casa de tu enemigo. If you have a friend who is a doctor, make your bow and send him to the house of your enemy.

Si uno dos y tres te dicen que eres asno, ponte un rabo. If one, two, three say you are an ass, put on a tail.

Sobre brevas vino bebas. Drink wine upon figs.

Sobre gusto no ha disputa. There is no disputing about taste.

Sobre peras vino bebas, y sea tanto que naden ellas. After stuffing pears within, drink old wine until they swim.

Sobre un huevo pone la gallina. The hen lays upon an egg.

So el sayal, hay al. Under the sackcloth there is something hid.

Soltero, pavon; desposado, leon; casado, asno. Bachelor, a peacock; betrothed, a lion; married, an ass.

So mi manto al rey mando. Under my cloak I command the king.

Sopla, herrero, ganarás dinero. Blow, smith, and you’ll get money.

Soplar y sorber no puede junto ser. One cannot blow and swallow at the same time.

So vayna de oro cuchillo de plomo. Under a gold sheath a leaden knife.

T

Tan grande es el yerro como el que yerra. The fault is as great as he that commits it.

Tantas veces va el cántaro á la fuente, que dexa el asa ó la frente. The pitcher goes so often to the well, that it leaves its handle or its mouth.

Tanto es Pedro de Dios, que no le medra Dios. Peter is so godly that God does not improve his condition.

Tanto quiere el diablo á su hijo que le quiebra el ojo. The devil is so fond of his son that he put out his eye.

Tener á alguno en ascuas. To keep one upon hot coals.

Tener el pie en dos zapatos. To have the foot in two shoes.

Tener el seso en los calcañares. To have one’s brains in one’s heels.

Tener la barriga á la boca. To have the belly up to one’s mouth.

Tener pelos en el corazon. To have hairs on his heart. (Hard-hearted.)

Tirar coces contra el aguijon. To kick against the pricks.

Tirar la piedra y esconder la mano. To throw the stone and conceal the hand.

Todo camino vá á Roma. Every road leads to Rome.

Todo es nada lo de este mundo, si no se endereza al segundo. All things of this world are nothing, unless they have reference to the next.

Todo saldrá en la colada. It will all come out in the soapsuds.

Todos son buenos, y mi capa no parece. They are all honest men, but my cloak is not to be found.

Tomar la ocasion por los cabellos. To take opportunity by the forelock.

Tomar las calzas de Villadiego. To take Villadiego’s boots. (To take to your heels.)

Tonto, sin saber latin, nunca es gran tonto. A fool, unless he know Latin, is never a great fool.

Trabajar para el obispo. To work for the bishop. (Prayers, but no pay.)

Traerlo escrito en la frente. To have it written on his forehead.

Tragarse un camello, y no poder pasar un mosquito. To swallow a camel, and strain at a gnat.

Tramontana no tiene trigo, y el hombre pobre no tiene amigo. A north wind has no corn, and a poor man no friend.

Traspasa el rico las leyes, y es castigado el pobre. The rich man transgresses the law, and the poor man is punished.

Tras el vicio viene el fornicio. After one vice a greater follows.

Tras los dias viene el seso. Sense comes with age.

Tras pared ni tras seto, no digas en secreto. Do not tell your secrets behind a wall or a hedge.

Trasquilenme en la plaza, y no lo sepan en mi casa. They may whip me in the market-place, so it be not known at home.

Tres cosas matan al hombre, soles, cenas, y penas. Three things kill a man: a scorching sun, suppers, and cares.

Tres hijas y una madre, quatro diablos para el padre. Three daughters and their mother, four devils for the father.

Tripa llena, ni bien huye ni bien pelea. A full belly is neither good for flight, nor for fighting.

Tripas llevan corazon, que no corazon tripas. The bowels support the heart, and not the heart the bowels.

Triste es la casa, donde la gallina canta, y el gallo calla. It goes ill in the house where the hen sings and the cock is silent.

Tu dinero mudo, no lo descubras á ninguno. Discover not your silent money (i. e. your hoarded money) to anybody.

U

Una cautela con otra se quiebra. One knavery is met by another.

Una cosa piensa el vayo, y otra el que lo ensilla. The horse thinks one thing, and his rider another.

Una en el clavo y ciento en la herradura. One stroke on the nail and a hundred on the horseshoe.

Un agravio consentido, otro venido. One grievance borne, another follows.

Una golondrina no hace verano. One swallow does not make a summer.

Una mano lava la otra, y ambas la cara. One hand washes the other, and both the face.

Un amor saca otro. One love drives out another.

Un asno entre muchas monas, cocanle todas. One ass among many monkeys is grinned at by all.

Un cabello hace sombra en el suelo. A hair casts its shadow on the ground.

Un lobo no muerde á otro. One wolf does not bite another.

Un loco hace ciento. One fool makes a hundred.

Uno levanta la caza, y otro la mata. One starts the game and another bags it.

Uno ojo á la sarten y otro á la gata. One eye on the frying-pan and the other on the cat.

Unos tienen la fama, y otros cardan la lana. Some have the fame, and others card the wool.

Un puerco encenagado procura encenagar á otro. A bespattered hog tries to bespatter another.

Un ruin mientras mas lo ruegan mas se estiende. The more you court a clown the statelier he grows.

Un solo golpe no derriba á un roble. An oak is not felled at one blow.

Uso hace maestro. Practice makes perfect.

V

Vallestero que mal tira, presto tiene la mentira. The archer that shoots badly has a lie ready.

Van a misa los zapateros, ruegan a Dios que mueran carneros. Shoemakers go to mass and pray that sheep may die.

Vanse los gatos, y estiendense los ratos. When the cat’s away the rats will play.

Vaso malo nunca cae de mano. A crazy vessel never falls from the hand.

Vaya con Dios, que un pan me lleva. Go in God’s name, for he takes a loaf of mine.

Vende público y compra secreto. Sell publicly and buy privately.

Vender gato por liebre. To sell a cat for a hare.

Vender miel al colmenero. To sell honey to the beekeeper.

Ventura te dé Dios, hijo, que saber poco te basta. God give you luck, my son, for little wit must serve your turn.

Ver el cielo por un embudo. To see the sky through a funnel.

Ver, oir y callar. See, hear, and hold your tongue.

Verse alguno en calzas prietas. To find oneself in tight breeches. (Ill at ease – we say in tight boots.)

Viejo como la sarna. As old as the itch.

Viene ventura á quien la procura. Luck comes to those who look after it.

Viento y ventura poco dura. Wind and good luck are seldom lasting.

Vino acedo, y tocino añejo, y pan de centeno, sostienen la casa en peso. Sour wine, old bacon, and rye bread keep a house rich.

Vino que es bueno no ha menester pregonero. Good wine needs no crier.

Viuda lozana, ó casada, ó sepultada, ó emparedada. A buxom widow must be married, buried, or cloistered.

Viva quien vence. Long life to the conqueror.

Vos doña, yo doña, quien botara á porca fora. You a lady, I a lady, who is to put the sow out of doors? (Galician.)

Voz del pueblo es voz de Dios. The voice of the people is the voice of God.