Kitabı oku: «A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs», sayfa 5
R
Raison contre le fort est un trepiteux port. Reason not with the great, ’tis a perilous gate.
Renard qui dort la matinée, n’a pas la langue emplumée. The fox that sleeps in the morning has not his tongue feathered.
Rendre à quelqu’un la monnaie de sa pièce. To give change out for his coin.
Rendre pois pour fève. To give a pea for a bean. (A Rowland for an Oliver.)
Ressembler aux bahutiers, qui font plus de bruit que de besogne. Like box-makers, more noise than work.
Rien n’a qui assez n’a. He has nothing who has not enough.
Rien n’arrive pour rien. Nothing happens for nothing.
Rien ne pèse tant qu’un secret. Nothing is so burthensome as a secret.
Rien ne ressemble plus à un honnête homme qu’un fripon. Nothing is more like an honest man than a rogue.
Rien ne se donne si libéralement que les conseils. Nothing is so liberally given as advice.
Rien n’est bon comme le fruit défendu. Nothing so good as forbidden fruit.
Rien ne vaut poulain s’il ne rompt son lien. A colt is good for nothing if it does not break its halter.
Rien ne vieillit plus vite qu’un bienfait. Nothing grows old sooner than a kindness.
Rira bien qui rira le dernier. He’ll laugh well that laughs longest.
Rome n’a pas été faite en un jour. Rome was not built in a day.
S
Saint ne peut, si Dieu ne veut. Saint cannot if God will not.
Saint qui ne guérit de rien, n’a guère de pélerins. The saint who works no cures has few pilgrims to his shrine.
Sans pain, sans vin, amour n’est rien. Without bread and wine even love will pine.
Sauter de la poële sur la braise. To jump out of the frying pan into the fire.
Secret de deux, secret de Dieu; secret de trois, secret de tous. The secret of two is God’s secret, the secret of three is everybody’s secret.
Se faire d’évêque meunier. From bishop to turn miller.
Se faire marchand de poissons la veille de Pâques. To turn fishmonger on Easter-eve.
Se jeter dans l’eau de peur de la pluie. To jump into the water for fear of the rain.
Selon le bras la saignée. According to the arm be the bleeding.
Selon le saint l’encens. Like saint like incense.
Selon le vent la voile. As the wind so the sail. (Set your sail to the wind.)
Sers comme serf, ou fuy comme cerf. Serve as a serf or fly like a deer.
Service de grands n’est pas héritage. Service is no inheritance.
Si ce n’était le si et mais, nous serions tous riches à jamais. Were it not for “if” and “but,” we should all be rich for ever.
Si c’était un loup, il vous sauterait au cou. Were it a wolf it would spring at your throat.
Si enfer n’est plein, jamais n’y aura d’avocat sauvé. Unless hell is full no lawyer will ever be saved.
Signer pour les deux parties. To sign for both parties.
Si jeunesse savait! si vieillesse pouvait! If youth knew! if age could!
Si le ciel tombait il y aurait bien des alouettes prises. If the sky were to fall we should catch plenty of larks.
Si le diable sortait de l’enfer pour combattre, il se présenterait aussitôt un Français pour accepter le défi. Were the devil to come from hell to fight, there would forthwith be a Frenchman to accept the challenge.
S’il est vrai, il peut être. ’Tis possible if true.
S’il fait beau, prends ton manteau; s’il pleut, prends-le si tu veux. If the weather is fine, put on your cloak; if it rains, do as you please.
S’il ne tient qu’à jurer, la vache est à nous. If it only depends on swearing, the cow is ours.
Si nous payons la musique, nous voulons aussi danser. If we pay for the music we will join in the dance.
Si souhaits fussent vrais, pastoureaux rois seraient. If wishes were true, shepherds would be kings. (If wishes would bide, beggars would ride.)
Si tu as la tête de beurre, ne te fais pas boulanger. If your head is made of butter, don’t be a baker.
Si tu ne le peux dire, si le monstre au doigt. If you cannot say it, point to it with your finger.
Si vous lui donnez un pied, il vous en prendra quatre. Give him a foot and he’ll take four.
Six choses au monde n’ont mestier: prestre hardy, coüard chevalier, juge convoiteux, puant barbier, mère piteuse, rogneux boulengier. Six things have no business in the world: a fighting priest, a coward knight, a covetous judge, a stinking barber, a soft-hearted mother, and an itchy baker.
Sois vraiment ce que tu veux qu’on te croie. Be truly what thou wouldst be thought to be.
Soleil qui luisarne au matin, femme qui parle latin, enfant nourri de vin, ne viennent point à bonne fin. A glaring sunny morning, a woman that talks Latin, and a child reared on wine, never come to a good end.
Son cheval a la tête trop grosse, il ne peut sortir de l’écurie. His horse’s head is too big, it cannot get out of the stable.
Songes sont mensonges. Dreams are lies.
Soubs ombre d’asne entre chien en moulin. The dog gets into the mill under cover of the ass.
Souffler le chaud et le froid. To blow hot and cold.
Soupçon est d’amitié poison. Suspicion is the poison of friendship.
Souris qui n’a qu’un trou est bientôt prise. The mouse that has but one hole is soon caught.
Souvent les railleurs sont raillés. The biter is often bit.
Suivez la rivière et vous gagnerez la mer. Follow the river and you will reach the sea.
Surement va qui n’a rien. He goes safely who has nothing.
Sur un ”oe]uf pond la poule un ”oe]uf. Upon an egg the hen lays an egg.
T
Tant doit-on le chien blandir qu’on ait la voie passée. One must talk soothingly to the dog until one has passed him.
Tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se brise. The pitcher goes often to the well and gets broken at last.
Tant vaut l’homme, tant vaut sa terre. As the man is worth his land is worth.
Tard donner, c’est refuser. To give tardily is to refuse.
Tel a beaux yeux qui n’y voit goutte. Some have fine eyes and can’t see a jot.
Tel a du pain qui n’a plus de dents. Some have bread who have no teeth left.
Tel croit se chauffer qui se brûle. Some who mean only to warm, burn themselves.
Tel cuide avoir fait qui commence. Some think they have done when they are only beginning.
Tel cuide venger sa honte qui l’accroît. Some thinking to avenge their shame increase it.
Tel en pâtit qui n’en peut mais. Many a one suffers for what he can’t help.
Tel maître, tel valet. Like master, like man.
Tel menace, qui a peur. A man may threaten yet be afraid.
Tel menace, qui est battu. The threatener sometimes gets a beating.
Tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera. He that laughs on Friday may cry on Sunday.
Tel vend, qui ne livre pas. Some sell and don’t deliver.
Temps, vent, femme, et fortune, changent comme la lune. Weather, wind, women, and fortune change like the moon.
Tendresse maternelle toujours se renouvelle. Mother’s love is ever in its spring.
Tenir le loup par les oreilles. To hold the wolf by the ears.
Tête de fou ne blanchit jamais. A fool’s head never whitens.
Tirer le diable par la queue, ne mène loin jeunes ni vieux. Pulling the devil by the tail does not lead far young or old.
Tirer les marrons du feu avec la patte du chat. To take the chesnuts out of the fire with the cat’s paw.
Tôt gagné, tôt gaspillé. Soon gained soon squandered.
Toujours amoureux, jamais marié. Always in love, never married.
Toujours ne frappe-t-on pas ce à quoy l’on vise. One does not always hit what one aims at.
Toujours pêche qui en prend un. He fishes on who catches one.
Toujours truye songe bran. A sow is always dreaming of bran.
Tout bec crochu de proye est soustenu. Every hooked beak is maintained by prey.
Tout bois n’est pas bon à faire flèche. Not every sort of wood is fit to make an arrow.
Tout ce qui branle ne tombe pas. Every thing does not fall that totters.
Tout ce qui reluit n’est pas or. All is not gold that glitters.
Tout chemin mène à Rome. Every road leads to Rome.
Toute chair n’est pas venaison. All flesh is not venison.
Toute chose qui est bonne à prendre est bonne à rendre. What is worth receiving is worth returning.
Toute comparaison est odieuse. Comparisons are odious.
Toute eau éteint feu. Any water puts out fire.
Toutes les clefs ne pendent pas à une ceinture. All the keys don’t hang at one girdle.
Toutes têtes ne sont pas coffres à raison. All heads are not sense-boxes.
Toutes vérités ne sont pas bonnes à dire. All truths are not good to be uttered.
Tout état, et rien au plat. All state, and nothing on the plate.
Tout fait ventre, pourvu qu’il entre. A bellyful is a bellyful.
Tout le monde est sage après l’événement. Everybody is wise after the thing has happened.
Tout paraît jaune à qui a la jaunisse. To the jaundiced all things seem yellow.
Tout passe, tout casse, tout lasse. Everything passes, everything breaks, everything wearies.
Tout va à qui n’a pas besoin. Everything goes to him who does not want it.
Tout vient à point à qui sait attendre. Everything in time comes to him, who knows how to wait.
Tout y va par compère et commère. Everything goes by favour and cousinship.
Tricherie revient à son maître. Trickery comes back to its master.
Triste est la maison où le coq se tait et la poule chante. It is a sorry house in which the cock is silent and the hen crows.
Trois déménagements valent un incendie. Three removals are as bad as a fire.
Trois frères, trois châteaux. Three brothers, three castles.
Trop achète le miel qui le lèche sur les épines. He pays dear for honey who licks it off thorns.
Trop de zèle gâte tout. Too much zeal spoils all.
Trop gratter cuit, trop parler nuit. Too much scratching smarts, too much talking harms.
Trop tard crie l’oiseau quand il est pris. It is too late for the bird to scream when it is caught.
Trop tranchant ne coupe pas, trop pointu ne perce pas. Too keen an edge does not cut, too fine a point does not pierce.
Truie aime mieux bran que roses. A sow prefers bran to roses.
Tuer la poule pour avoir l’”oe]uf. To kill the hen by way of getting the egg.
Tuer un mercier pour un peigne. To kill a mercer for a comb.
U
Un ami de table et de vin, tenir ne faut pour bon voisin. A friend to my table and wine, is no good neighbour.
Un âne ne trébuche pas deux fois sur la même pierre. An ass does not stumble twice over the same stone.
Un apothicaire ne doit être longtemps cocu. An apothecary ought not to be long a cuckold.
Un aveugle mène l’autre en la fosse. One blind man leads another into the ditch.
Un barbier en rase un autre. One barber shaves another.
Un bienfait reproché tint toujours lieu d’offense. Upbraiding makes a benefit an injury.
Un boiteux ne veut aller avec un plus boiteux que lui. A lame man won’t walk with one who is lamer.
Un bon avis vaut un ”oe]il dans la main. A good advice is as good as an eye in the hand.
Un bon bailleur en fait bailler deux. A good gaper makes two gapers.
Un bon renard ne mange pas les poules de son voisin. A good fox does not eat his neighbour’s fowls.
Un bon repas doit commencer par la faim. A good repast ought to begin with hunger.
Un brochet fait plus qu’une lettre de recommandation. A jackfish does more than a letter of recommendation.
Un cerveau ne vaut guère sans langue. A brain is worth little without a tongue.
Un chien regarde bien un évêque. A dog may look at a bishop.
Un clou chasse l’autre. One nail drives out another.
Un coup de langue est pire qu’un coup de lance. The tongue wounds more than a lance.
Un courtisan doit être sans humeur et sans honneur. A courtier should be without feeling and without honour.
Une chandelle à Saint Michel et une à son diable. One candle for St. Michael, and another for his devil.
Une conscience pure est un bon oreiller. A clear conscience is a good pillow.
Une faute niée est deux fois commise. A fault denied is twice committed.
Une femme ne cèle que ce qu’elle ne sait pas. A woman conceals only what she does not know.
Une fleur ne fait pas une guirlande. One flower does not make a garland.
Une fois n’est pas coutume. Once is no custom.
Une hirondelle ne fait pas le printemps. One swallow does not make a spring.
Une once de faveur vaut mieux qu’une livre de justice. An ounce of favour goes further, or is worth more, than a pound of justice.
Une poule aveugle peut quelquefois trouver son grain. A blind hen can sometimes find her corn.
Une science requiert tout son homme. An art requires a whole man.
Une tromperie en attire une autre. One deceit brings on another.
Un fou avise bien un sage. A wise man may learn of a fool.
Un fou fait toujours commencement. A fool is always beginning.
Un homme averti en vaut deux. A man warned is as good as two.
Un homme bien monté est toujours orgueilleux. A man well mounted is always proud.
Un homme de paille vaut une femme d’or. A man of straw is worth a woman of gold.
Un homme mort n’a ni parents ni amis. A dead man has neither relations nor friends.
Un homme, nul homme. One man, no man.
Un homme qui se noie s’attache à un brin d’herbe. A drowning man clings to a blade of grass.
Un homme riche n’est jamais laid pour une fille. A rich man is never ugly in the eyes of a girl.
Un jour en vaut deux pour qui fait chaque chose en son lieu. One day is as good as two for him who does everything in its place.
Un malheur ne vient jamais seul. Misfortunes never come single.
Un marteau d’argent rompt une porte de fer. A silver hammer breaks an iron door.
Un mauvais accommodement vaut mieux qu’un bon procès. A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit.
Un moineau dans la main vaut mieux qu’une grue qui vole. A sparrow in the hand is better than a crane on the wing.
Un noble prince ou roy n’a jamais pille ne croix. A noble prince or king never has a coin to bless himself.
Un petit homme projette parfois une grande ombre. A little man sometimes casts a long shadow.
Un peu d’absence fait grand bien. A little absence does much good.
Un peu d’aide fait grand bien. A little help does a great deal.
Un peu de fiel gâte beaucoup de miel. A little gall spoils a great deal of honey.
Un seigneur de paille mange un vassal d’acier. A lord of straw devours a vassal of steel.
Un seul homme ne peut suffire à tout. No living man all things can.
Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l’admire. One fool always finds a greater fool to admire him.
Un tiens vaut mieux que deux tu l’auras. One take-this is better than two thou-shalt-haves.
Un ver se recoquille quand on marche dessus. Tread on a worm and it will turn.
Un vieux four est plus aisé à chauffer qu’un neuf. An old oven is easier to heat than a new one.
V
Vache de loin a lait assez. A cow from afar gives plenty of milk.
Vache ne sait ce que vaut sa queue jusqu’à ce qu’elle l’ait perdue. A cow does not know what her tail is worth until she has lost it.
Valet devant, maître derrière, en pont, en planche, en rivière. At a bridge, a plank, a river, the servant foremost, the master behind.
Vent au visage rend un homme sage. Adversity makes a man wise.
Ventre affamé n’a point d’oreilles. A hungry belly has no ears.
Ventre plein conseille bien. A full belly counsels well.
Veux-tu meilleur pain que de froment? Do you want better bread than wheaten?
Viande d’ami est bientôt prête. A friend’s meat is soon ready.
Vides chambres font femmes folles. Empty rooms make giddy housewives.
Vie de pourceau, courte et bonne. A pig’s life, short and sweet.
Vieilles amours et vieux tisons s’allument en toutes saisons. Old love and old brands kindle at all seasons.
Vieux amis et comptes nouveaux. Old friends and new reckonings.
Vieux b”oe]uf fait sillon droit. An old ox makes a straight furrow.
Vieux chien n’aboie pas en vain. An old dog does not bark for nothing.
Vilain affamé, demi enragé. A hungry clown is half mad.
Vilain enrichi ne connaît parent ni ami. A clown enriched knows neither relation nor friend.
Vilain ne sçait qu’esperon vaut. A churl knows not the worth of spurs (i. e. honour).
Ville qui parlemente est moitié rendue. The town that parleys is half surrendered.
Vin versé n’est pas avalé. Wine poured out is not wine swallowed.
Vivre au jour la journée. To live from hand to mouth.
Voix du peuple, voix de Dieu. The people’s voice, God’s voice.
Voler un voleur n’est pas voler. To rob a robber is not robbing.
Vouloir, c’est pouvoir. Will is power.
Vraie noblesse nul ne blesse. True nobility is invulnerable.
ITALIAN PROVERBS
A
Abbiamo pur fiorini che troveremo cugini. Let us have florins and we shall find cousins.
Abbi piuttosto il piccolo per amico, che il grande per nemico. Rather have a little one for your friend, than a great one for your enemy.
Abbondanza genera fastidio. Plenty makes daintiness.
A bisogni si conoscon gli amici. Friends are known in time of need. (Friends in need are friends indeed.)
A buona derrata pensaci su. At a good bargain pause and ponder.
A buon cavaliere non manca lancia. A good cavalier never lacks a lance.
A buon cavallo non manca sella. A good horse never lacks a saddle.
A buon cavallo non occorre dirgli trotta. No need to say “trot” to a good horse.
A buon intenditor poche parole. A word to the wise is enough.
A buon vino non bisogna frasca. Good wine needs no bush.
A cader va chi troppo in alto sale. He who climbs too high is near a fall.
A can che fugge, dagli, dagli. When a dog runs away, hit him! hit him!
A can che lecchi cenere, non gli fidar farina. The dog that licks ashes is not to be trusted with flour.
A cane scottato l’acqua fredda pare calda. A scalded dog thinks cold water hot.
A cattiva vacca Dio dà corte corna. God gives a curst cow short horns.
A cattivo cane corto legame. A mischievous dog must be tied short.
A causa perduta, parole assai. Plenty of words when the cause is lost.
A caval donato, non guardar in bocca. Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
A caval donato, non si mira il pelo. Never heed the colour of a gift horse.
A cavalli tristi o buoni, sempre porta i tuoi sproni. Be the horse good or bad always wear your spurs.
A caval magro vanno le mosche. Flies flock to the lean horse.
A cavar di casa un morto, ci voglion quattro vivi. It takes four living men to carry one dead man out of a house.
Accasca in un punto quel che non accasca in cento anni. That happens in a moment which may not happen in a hundred years.
Accenna al savio e lascia far a lui. Give the wise man a hint and leave him to act.
Accordatevi, dice Arlotto, ed io farò piovere. Agree between yourselves (as to the time), quoth Arlotto, and I will make it rain.
Accosta più la camicia che il giubbone. The shirt is nearer than the doublet.
Accostati a’ buoni e sarai uno di essi. Associate with the good and you will be one of them.
A chi compra non bastan cent’occhi, e à chi vende ne basta un solo. For the buyer a hundred eyes are too few, for the seller one is enough.
A chi dici il tuo secreto, doni la tua libertà. To whom you tell your secret you surrender your freedom.
A chi fa male, mai mancano scuse. The wrong-doer never lacks excuses.
A chi fugge, ogni cosa dà impaccio. The fugitive finds everything impede him.
A chi ha testa, non manca cappello. He who has a head won’t want for a hat.
A chi la riesce bene, è tenuto per savio. He who succeeds is reputed wise.
A chi non si lascia consigliare, non si può aiutare. There is no helping him who will not be advised.
A chi parla poco, gli basta la metà del cervello. Half a brain is enough for him who says little.
A chi piace il bere, parla sempre di vino. He who likes drinking is always talking of wine.
A chi ti dà un porco, tu gli puoi ben dar una carbonata. To him who gives you a pig you may well give a rasher.
A chi ti può torre ciò che hai, dagli ciò che ti chiede. To him who can take what thou hast, give what he asks.
A chi troppo ride gli duole il cuore. He who laughs overmuch may have an aching heart.
A chi veglia tutto si rivela. To him who watches, everything reveals itself.
A chi vuole, non è cosa difficile. Nothing is difficult to a willing mind.
A chi vuole, non mancano modi. Where there’s a will there’s a way.
A chi vuol fare, non manca che fare. To him who is determined it remains only to act.
A colomba pasciuta la vescia par amara. Vetches seem bitter to the full-cropped pigeon.
A conti vecchi contese nuove. Old reckonings, new disputes.
Acqua che corre non porta veleno. Running water carries no poison.
Acqua cheta vermini mena. Still water breeds vermin.
Acqua, fumo, e mala femmina, cacciano la gente di casa. Water, smoke, and a vicious woman, drive men out of the house.
Acqua lontana non spegne fuoco vicino. Water afar does not quench a fire at hand.
Acqua passata non macina più. Water past will not turn the mill.
Acqua torbida non fa specchio. Muddy water won’t do for a mirror.
Acqua torbida non lava. Dirty water does not wash clean.
Acquista buona fama e mettiti à dormire. Get a good name and go to sleep.
A cuor vile forza non giova. Strength avails not a coward.
Adagio a’ mal passi. Go softly at bad bits of road.
Ad albero caduto accétta, accétta. To the fallen tree, hatchets! hatchets!
Ad arbor che cade ognun grida dàgli, dàgli. When a tree is falling, every one cries, down with it.
Ad arca aperta il giusto pecca. At an open chest the righteous sins.
A dono nuovo non convien grazia vecchia. Old thanks are not for new gifts.
Ad occhio infermo nuoce la luce. The light is painful to sore eyes.
Ad ogni santo la sua torcia. To every saint his torch.
Ad ogni santo vien la sua festa. Every saint has his festival.
Ad ogni uccello suo nido par bello. Every bird thinks its own nest beautiful.
Ad ogni volpe piace il pollaio. Every fox likes a henroost.
Ad ognuno par più grave la croce sua. Every one thinks his own cross the heaviest.
Ad ora ad ora vola tutto il tempo. Hour by hour time departs.
Ad un cieco mal può mostrarsi il cammino. It is not easy to show the way to a blind man.
Ad un colpo non cade à terra l’albero. The tree is not felled at one blow.
Ad un popolo pazzo, un prete spiritato. A mad parish, a mad priest.
Ad un uomo dabbene avanza la metà del cervello; ad un tristo non basta neanche tutto. For an honest man half his wits are enough; the whole is too little for a knave.
A fiume famoso non andar a pesca. Don’t go a-fishing to a famous stream.
A gatta che lecca spiedo non fidar arrosto. A cat that licks the spit is not to be trusted with roast meat.
A giovane cuor tutto è giuoco. To a young heart everything is sport.
A giovano soldato vecchio cavallo. An old horse for a young soldier.
Agli uomini ogni peccato mortale è veniale, alle donne ogni veniale è mortale. In men every mortal sin is venial, in women every venial sin is mortal.
A goccia à goccia s’incava la pietra. Drop by drop wears away the stone.
A gran ruscello passate l’ultimo. At a great river be the last to pass.
A gran salita gran discesa. The higher the rise the greater the fall.
A grassa cucina povertà è vicina. A fat kitchen is next door to poverty.
Ai mali estremi, estremi rimedi. For extreme ills extreme remedies.
A la barba de’ pazzi il barbier impara a radere. On a fool’s beard the barber learns to shave.
Albero spesso trapiantato mai di frutti è caricato. A tree often transplanted is never loaded with fruit.
Al bugiardo non si crede la verità. The liar is not believed when he speaks the truth.
Al cattivo cane tosto vien la coda. A cur’s tail grows fast.
Al confessore, medico, e avvocato, non tenere il ver celato. Hide not the truth from your confessor, your doctor, or your lawyer.
Al fin del giuoco si vede chi guadagna. At the end of the game we see who wins.
Al ladro fa paura anche un sorcio. The thief is frightened even by a mouse.
Al molino ed alla sposa, sempre manca qualche cosa. A mill and a wife are always in want of something.
Alla fama si va per varie strade. Various are the roads to fame.
All’amico mondagli il fico, all’inimico il persico. Peel a fig for your friend, a peach for your enemy.
Alla pace si può sacrificar tutto. Anything for a quiet life.
Alla pignatta che bolle non s’accostano le mosche. Flies don’t light on a boiling pot.
Alla porta chiusa il diavolo volge le spalle. The devil turns away from a closed door.
Alle belle donno le più volte toccano i brutti uomini. Handsome women generally fall to the lot of ugly men.
Alle volte più vale la feccia che il vino. Sometimes the lees are better than the wine.
Alle volte si dà un uovo per un bue. Sometimes an egg is given for an ox.
All’impossibile nessuno è tenuto. No one is bound to do impossibilities.
All’onor chi manca d’un momento, non lo ripara in anni cento. A hundred years cannot repair a moment’s loss of honour.
All’opera si conosce il maestro. The workman is known by his work.
All’orsa paiono belli i suoi orsatti. The she-bear thinks her cubs pretty.
Al lume di lucerna ogni rustica par bella. By lamplight every country wench seems handsome.
Al nimico che fugge il ponte d’oro. For the flying enemy a golden bridge.
Al più potente ceda il più prudente. The most prudent yields to the strongest.
Al più triste porco vien la meglior pera. The worst pig gets the best pear.
Al primo colpo non casca l’albero. The tree does not fall at the first stroke.
Altra cosa è il dire, altra il fare. Saying is one thing, doing another.
Altri tempi altri costumi. Different times different manners.
A Lucca ti vidi, a Pisa ti conobbi. I saw you at Lucca, I knew you at Pisa.
A lunga corda tira chi la morte altrui desidera. He hauls at a long rope who expects another’s death.
Al villano, se gli porgi il dito, ei prende la mano. Give a clown your finger he’ll grasp your fist.
Ama l’amico tuo col vizio suo. Love your friend with his faults.
A mal passo l’onore. At a dangerous passage yield precedence.
Amami, poco, ma continua. Love me little and love me long.
Amante non sia che coraggio non ha. Let him not be a lover who has not courage.
Amato non sarai, se à te solo penserai. You will not be loved if you think of yourself alone.
Ambasciator non porta pena. An ambassador beareth no blame.
Amicizia de’grandi vicinanza di leoni. The friendship of the great is fraternity with lions.
Amicizia riconciliata piaga mal saldata. Reconciled friendship is a wound ill salved.
Amico da sternuti, il più che se ne cava è un Dio ti aiuta. He’s a friend at sneezing-time, – the most that can be got from him is a “God bless you.”
Amico d’ognuno, amico di nessuno. Everybody’s friend, nobody’s friend.
Amico, e guardati. A friend, and look to thyself.
A molti puzza l’ambra. Many stop their noses at ambergris.
Amor dà per mercede gelosia e rotta fede. Love’s merchandise is jealousy and broken faith.
Amor è cieco ma vede da lontano. Love is blind but sees afar.
Amor è il vero prezzo con cui si compra amore. Love is the true price at which love is bought.
Amor e signoria non voglion compagnia. Love and lordship like not fellowship.
Amor non conosce travaglio. Love knows not labour.
Amor regge il suo regno senza spada. Love rules his kingdom without a sword.
Amor regge senza legge. Love rules without law.
Amor, tosse, e fumo malamente si nascondono. Love, a cough, and smoke, are hard to hide.
Amor vero non diventa mai canuto. True love never grows old.
Amor vuol fede, e fede vuol fermezza. Love demands faith, and faith firmness.
A nave rotta ogni vento è contrario. To a crazy ship every wind is contrary.
Anche delle pecore contate ne mangia il lupo. Even counted sheep are eaten by the wolf.
Anche delle volpi si pigliano. Even foxes are caught.
Anche i boschi hanno l’orecchie. Even woods have ears.
Anche il diritto ha bisogno d’aiuto. Even the just has need of help.
Anche il mar, che è si grande, si pacifica. Even the sea, great as it is, grows calm.
Anche il pazzo talvolta dice qualche parola da savio. Even the fool says a wise word sometimes.
Anche il sole passa sopra il fango, e non s’imbratta. The sun passes over filth and is not defiled.
Anche la mosca ha la sua collera. Even a fly has its anger.
Anche la rana morderebbe se avesse denti. Even a frog would bite if it had teeth.
Anch’io so menar le oche a bere quando piove. I too can lead the geese to water when it rains.
Anco gli apostoli ebbero un Giuda. Even among the apostles there was a Judas.
Anco il cane col dimenar la coda si guadagna le spese. Even the dog gets bread by wagging his tail.
Anco il cavallo si stanca, sebben ha quattro piedi. Even a horse, though he has four feet, stumbles.
Ancor le volpi vecchie rimangono al laccio. Even old foxes are caught in the snare.
Anco trà le spine nascono le rose. Among thorns grow roses.
A nessun confortator mai duole la testa. No comforter’s head ever aches.
A nessuno piace la giustizia à casa sua. No one likes justice brought home to his own door.
Anni e peccati sempre sono più che non si dice. Years and sins are always more than owned.
A penna a penna si pela l’oca. Feather by feather the goose is plucked.
Aperta ha la porta chiunque apporta. Whoever brings finds the door open for him.
Apri bocca, e fa ch’io ti conosca. Open thy mouth that I may know thee.
Arco per rallentar, piaga non sana. Unbending the bow does not heal the wound.
Arditamente batte alla porta chi buone nuove apporta. He knocks boldly at the door who brings good news.
Arte o sorte ne cava macchia. Skill or fortune will efface the spots.
A’segnali si conoscono le balle. By their marks the bales are known.
Asino che ha fame mangia d’ogni strame. A hungry ass eats any straw.
Asino che ragghia poco fieno mangia. A braying ass eats little hay.
Asino punto convien che trotti. A goaded ass must needs trot.
A’sottili cascano le brache. Cunning men’s cloaks sometimes fall.
Aspetta il porco alla quercia. Look for the hog at the oak.
Aspettare e non venire, stare in letto e non dormire, ben servire e non gradire, son tre cose da morire. To expect what never comes, to lie in bed and not sleep, to serve well and not be advanced, are three things to die of.
Aspetta tempo e loco à far la tua vendetta, che la non si fa mai ben in fretta. Wait time and place to take your revenge, for it is never well done in a hurry.
Assai acqua passa per il molino, che il molinaio non se n’accorge. Much water passes by the mill that the miller perceives not.
Assai basta, e troppo guasta. Enough is enough, and too much spoils.
Assai ben balla à chi fortuna suona. He dances well to whom fortune pipes.
Assai dimanda chi ben serve e tace. Who serves well and says nothing makes claim enough.
