A Dictionary of English and Romanian Equivalent Proverbs
Teodor Flonta
DeProverbio.com
Copyright 2011 Teodor Flonta
Smashwords Edition
Introduction
From
time immemorial proverbs have fascinated people of all ages and from
all walks of life. As it happened throughout centuries, common people
today still avail themselves of the proverb’s rich oral tradition
to convey their culture and values, while scholars collect and study
them from a wide range of angles: linguistic, social, psychological,
political... Although the problem of proverb definition is still
open, it is broadly accepted that proverbs were born from experience
and that they generally express, in a very succinct way, common-sense
truths, give sound advice and reflect the human condition. But, as we
know and as this dictionary proves, human nature is both good and bad
and the latter is often mirrored by discriminatory proverbs, be they
against women, different nationalities or particular social groups.
For a thorough discussion of proverb definition, see Popular Views
of the Proverb(www.deproverbio.com) by Prof. Wolfgang Mieder.
As to the origin of proverbs we tend to assume that they were born in times when human society began to self-impose rules and embrace principles necessary for communal living. Research can trace them back only to the time when language was recorded by means of some type of writing. The Sumerian civilisation of more than five thousand years ago is the oldest known civilisation to have made use of proverbs, some of which have been passed on through its cuneiform inscriptions. One such proverb, in its Latin version, is “Canis festinans caecos parit catulos”which spread to other languages such as English, in the form “The hasty bitch brings forth blind whelps,” French, “La chienne dans sa hâte a mis bas des chiots aveugles,”Italian, “La gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi” (here the ‘bitch’ has been replaced by ‘cat’), Portuguese, “Cadelas apressadas parem cães tortos,” and Romanian, “Căţeaua de pripă îşi naşte căţeii fără ochi.”
Given their widespread use over the millennia, it is no wonder that scholars of the past started assembling proverbs in collections. Aristotle is believed to be among the first paremiographers (collectors of proverbs), but, unfortunately, his collection was lost. In more recent times a great impetus to the collection of proverbs was given by Erasmus, whose fame spread from Venice throughout Europe after the publication in 1508 of his Adagiorum Chiliades which contained 3,260 proverbs drawn from classical authors. The success of the book led to several augmented editions culminating with that of 1536, revised by Erasmus himself, which contains 4,151 proverbs. Erasmus’ work was translated into several European languages and became the model for future proverb collections in those languages. The latter were, in turn, widely copied and translated. One good example of such a practice is the 1591 Italian collection Giardino di Ricreatione, nel quale crescono fronde, fiori e frutti, vaghe, leggiadri e soavi, sotto nome di sei miglia proverbii, e piacevoli riboboli Italiani, colti e scelti da Giovanni Florio, which appeared in French two decades later as Le Jardin de Récréation, au quel croissent rameaux, fleurs et fruits très-beaux, gentils et souefs, soubz le nom de Six mille proverbes et plaisantes rencontres françoises, recueillis et triéez par GOMÈS DE TRIER, non seulement utiles mais délectables pour tous espritz désireux de la très-noble et copieuse langue françoise, nouvellement mis en lumière, à Amsterdam, par PAUL DE RAVESTEYN.
Apart from use on a wide scale in day-to-day speech, there is ample evidence that proverbs were essential tools in teaching and learning. The pedagogical use of proverbs was encountered first in Sumerian society and subsequently this use became widespread throughout Medieval Europe. In the preface to the first edition of theOxford Dictionary of English Proverbs, J. Heseltine states that proverbs and proverbial expressions are found in religious manuscripts of the first half of the eighth century. The aim of introducing proverbs into religious texts was to help novices to learn Latin, and this practice became widespread by the tenth century. The use of proverbs in teaching and learning was not circumscribed to England. Relatively new research attests to the use of proverbs in teaching in the eleventh century in Liège, France. In Italy the famous medical School of Salerno of the eleventh century formulated medical precepts which later became proverbs adopted by different cultures, such as “Post prandium stabis, post coenam ambulabis” translated“After dinner sit awhile, after supper walk a mile” in English, “Après dîner repose un peu, après souper promène une mille” in French, “Dopo pranzo riposar un poco, dopo cena passeggiar un miglio” in Italian, “Después de yantar reposad un poco, después de cenar pasead una milla” in Spanish and “Depois de jantar, dormir; depois de cear, passos mil” in Portuguese.
Joanna Wilson, in her Introduction to the third edition of The Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs, said, regarding the foreign proverbs’ contribution to the English proverbial stock, that “these enriched our language, for many proverbs of foreign origin were quickly absorbed into English life and these have a rightful place in an English dictionary.” And, indeed, a close scrutiny of that dictionary reveals that more than two hundred and fifty proverbs are listed as first existing in Italian. This is also true for other modern languages, particularly French and Spanish. The translation is not always literal; at times it is adapted to the new language and the resulting proverb is often enriched in its expression, for instance the Latin “Homo sine pecunia est imago mortis” (A man without money is the image of death) is rather closely translated in Italian as “Uomo senza quattrini è un morto che cammina”(A man without money is a dead man walking), but in English the metaphor changes and the proverb becomes “A man without money is a bow without an arrow,” in French “Un homme sans argent / Est un loup sans dents” (A man without money is a wolf without teeth) where an element of rhyme is introduced, while the Romanian adaptation is a real poetic gem “Omul fără bani e ca pasărea fără aripi; Când dă să zboare / Cade jos şi moare” (A man without money is like a bird without wings; When he tries to fly / He falls down and dies). The concept is essentially the same: the man without money lacks something important...
But from use comes abuse, as a Spanish proverb says, and there is no doubt that the capacity of the proverb to convey universal truths concisely led to their abuse and manipulation. Hitler and his Nazi regime employed proverbs as emotional slogans for propaganda purposes and encouraged the publication of anti-semitic collections of proverbs. For a thorough analysis of this phenomenon, please read the fascinating article “... as if I were the master of situation.” Proverbial Manipulation in Adolf Hitler (www.deproverbio.com) by Prof. Wolfgang Mieder. At the opposite end of the political spectrum, communist regimes of the past have not only manipulated proverbs, but also ‘purged’ popular collections of features which did not reflect their political ends. The former Soviet regime is at the forefront of such actions. One type of manipulation described by Jean Breuillard in Proverbes et pouvoir politique: Le cas de l’U.R.S.S. (published in “Richesse du proverbe”, Eds. François Suard and Claude Buridant. Lille: Université de Lille, 1984. II, 155-166) consisted in modifying ancient proverbs like “La vérité parcourt le monde” (Truth spreads all over the world) into “La vérité de Lénine parcourt le monde” (Lenin’s truth spreads all over the world) where the new ‘creation’ is unequivocably charged with a specific ideological message. Manipulation did not stop at individual proverbs, it extended to entire collections. The first Soviet edition (1957) of Vladimir Dal’s mid-nineteen century collection of Russian proverbs reduces the proverbs containing the wordGod from 283 to 7 only, while proverbs which express compassion for human weaknesses, such as alcoholism, disappear altogether. In more recent years, in Ceauşescu’s Romania, the 1985 edition of Proverbele românilor (published in 1877 by I. C. Hinţescu) suffered the same treatment: more than 150 proverbs were eliminated or changed in order to respond rigidly to the communist ideology.
In spite of their ups and downs, proverbs and their study are alive and well today as illustrated by the hundreds of studies and collections published every year all over the world. For a bibliography of the most recent publications see the invaluable international bibliographies (www.deproverbio.com) published each year by Prof. Wolfgang Mieder.
While proverbs are still used today in a traditional way, that is in speech, literature and teaching, they have found a new ever expanding use in the advertising industry and in the mass media. Proverbs like “Here today, gone tomorrow” become “Hair today, gone tomorrow” in the hair-removal industry, while the mass media has a variety of paraphrases such as “Hear today, gone tomorrow,” “Heir today, gone tomorrow.” Before the Barcelona Olympic Games the old proverb “All roads lead to Rome” became “All roads lead to... Barcelona” in many English language newspapers and magazines. This is a phenomenon encountered in many languages nowadays and is undoubtedly a sign of the proverb’s resilience and vitality.
* * *
This dictionary assembles more than 1450 English proverbs and their Romanian equivalents. Equivalent proverbs are those which express the same concept, be it literally, such as "All that glitters is not gold" = "Nu tot ce sclipeşte e aur", or with completely different words, such as "Every cloud has a silver lining" = "Nici un rău fără bine." The Dictionary is a very useful reference tool for scholars of the two languages, for researchers working in various associated fields such as linguistics, literature, folklore, anthropology, psychology, sociology, history, and for workers in newer areas such as advertising and contemporary media. The Dictionary is also of interest to diplomats and politicians who try to improve their communication by sharing ideas formulated in some common meaningful expressions; it will assist interpreters and translators, and teachers and students for whom it is important to understand not only what the target culture expresses in the same way as their own, but also what is formulated in a different way. The Dictionary is also of benefit to non-professionals who, for the sheer enjoyment of it, wish to savour the wisdom, wit, poetry and the colourful language of proverbs.
DICTIONARY
A
1
ABSENCE makes the heart grow fonder.
Ochii care se văd rar se
iubesc.
Mai răruţ, mai drăguţ.
2
ABSENCE sharpens love, presence strengthens it.
Celor ce duc
mai mult dorul, le pare mai dulce odorul.
3
Long ABSENT, soon forgotten.
Prin depărtare dragostea se
uită.
Cf. Out of SIGHT, out of mind.
4
The ABSENT are always in the wrong.
Cei ce lipsesc nu capătă
dreptate.
Sim. He is neither absent without fault, nor present without excuse.
5
ABUNDANCE, like want, ruins many.
Bogăţia strică pe om.
6
Out of the ABUNDANCE of the heart the mouth speaketh.
Din
prisosul inimii grăieşte gura.
Var.
Out of the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
Cf. What
the HEART thinks, the tongue speaks.
o Matthew 12, 34 / Matei 12, 34; Luke 6, 45 / Luca 6, 45
7
There is no good ACCORD where every man would be a lord.
Vai
de casa cu mulţi stăpâni.
Cf. Where every man is MASTER the world goes to wreck.
8
There is no ACCOUNTING for tastes.
Gustul dispută n-are.
Sim.
Everyone as they like best / Tastes differ.
Cf. Every man to his
TASTE.
9
ACORNS were good till bread was found.
Bună şi mămăliga,
când ne lipseşte pâinea.
Bună-i plăcinta, dar dacă nu-i, e
bună şi pita.
Dacă nu e colac e bună şi pâinea.
Sim. If you have not a capon, feed on onion / They that have no other meat, bread and butter are glad to eat / Better a mouse (louse) in the pot than no flesh at all.
10
ACTIONS speak louder than words.
Faptele grăiesc mai apăsat
decât vorbele.
Cf. DEEDS, not words.
11
When ADAM delved and Eve span, who was then the gentleman?
Dacă
ar fi fost toţi bogaţi, cine ar fi săpat ogoarele?
12
If the ADDER could hear, and the blindworm could see, neither man nor
beast would ever go free.
Să te ferească Dumnezeu când o
face râma ochi, că-i mai rea decât şarpele.
Când ar fi după
corbi, toţi caii ar fi morţi.
13
Much ADO about nothing.
Mult zgomot pentru nimic.
Sim. Much cry and little wool.
14
ADVERSITY makes a man wise, not rich.
Cine păgubeşte se
înţelepţeşte.
Cf. EXPERIENCE is the mother of knowledge / EXPERIENCE is the best teacher / An ounce of PRACTICE is worth a pound of precept.
15
A woman's ADVICE is no great thing, but he who won't take it is a
fool.
Bine este să asculţi şi sfatul unei neveste.
16
If you wish good ADVICE, consult an old man.
Cine are bătrân
să-l vândă şi cine n-are să-l cumpere.
Cf. If the old DOG barks, he gives counsel.
17
When a thing is done, ADVICE comes too late.
Sfatul după
faptă e manta după ploaie.
Cf. When the HOUSE is burned down, you bring water / It is too late to shut the STABLE -DOOR after the horse has bolted / It is easy to be WISE after the event.
18
For AGE and want save while you may: no morning sun lasts a whole
day.
Cine adună la tinereţe are la bătrâneţe.
Sim.
Keep something for him that rides on the white horse / Spare when
you're young and spend when you're old.
Cf. Make ample
PROVISION for old age / Keep SOMETHING for a rainy day.
19
Old AGE is sickness of itself.
Nici o boală nu-i mai grea ca
boala bătrâneţelor.
Bătrâneţele nu vin singure, ci cu multe
nevoi.
Sim. An old man is a bed full of bones.
20
A lean AGREEMENT is better than a fat judgement.
Mai bine o
pace strâmbă decât o judecată dreaptă.
Mai bine o învoială
strâmbă decât o judecată dreaptă.
21
Ill AIR slays sooner than the sword.
Aerul spurcat viaţa ţi-o
moleşeşte; departe de el.
22
ALMOST and very nigh saves many a lie.
Când adevărul
lipseşte, "aşa mi se pare" s-apropie de adevăr.
Var.
Almost and well nigh saves many a lie.
Cf. "They say
so" is half a LIE.
23
ALMS never make poor.
Cel ce dă de milă nu sărăceşte.
o Proverbs 28, 28 / Pilde 28, 28
24
When thou doest ALMS, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand
doeth.
Să nu ştie mâna stângă ce face dreapta.
Să nu
ştie mâna stângă ce dă dreapta.
o Matthew 6, 3 / Matei 6, 3
25
It is not good that the man should be ALONE.
Nu este bine să
fie omul singur.
Cf. A MAN without a wife is but half a man.
o Genesis 2, 18 / Facerea 2, 18
26
Woe to him that is ALONE.
Vai de cel ce merge singur! că,
când va aluneca, n-are cine-l ridica.
27
He that serves at the ALTAR ought to live by the altar.
Cine
slujeşte altarului din altar mănâncă.
Lucrătorul mănâncă
de unde lucrează.
28
He that doth AMISS may do well.
Cine sparge sticlele, le
plăteşte.
29
Men are not ANGELS.
Om sfânt nu se poate.
Nu-i nime sfânt
pe pământ.
Nimeni nu e uşă de biserică.
Cf. Every MAN has his faults.
30
ANGER cannot stand without a strong hand.
Dacă n-ai putere,
nu întărâta gâlceava.
Dacă nu ai putere, ce mai aţîţi
sfada?
Sim. If you cannot bite, never show your teeth.
31
ANGER is a short madness.
Omul la mânie cade-n nebunie.
32
He that is ANGRY is seldom at ease.
Nemulţumitul trăieşte
nefericit.
33
He that is ANGRY without a cause shall be pleased without amends.
În
care cămaşă s-a mâniat într-aceea s-a desmânia.
34
A soft ANSWER turneth away wrath.
Răspunsul blând înlătură
mânia.
Un răspuns blând domoleşte mânia.
Cf. Good WORDS cool more than cold water.
o Proverbs 15, 1 / Pilde 15, 1
35
The ANVIL fears no blows.
Nicovanul frică n-are de ciocan.
36
When you are an ANVIL, hold you still; when you are a hammer, strike
your fill.
Nicovanul mult rabdă până este nicovan; după ce
ajunge ciocan bate fără milă.
Până când eşti nicovală
rabdă loviturile, iar când eşti ciocan loveşte cât poţi.
Cât
eşti nicovală suferă, cât eşti ciocan loveşte.
37
An APE's an ape, a varlet's a varlet, though they be clad in silk or
scarlet.
Maimuţa în aur şi purpură tot maimuţă rămâne.
Cf. An ASS is but an ass, though laden with gold.
38
APPEARANCES are deceptive.
Aparenţele înşală.
Var. Appearances are deceiving.
39
Never judge from APPEARANCES.
Adeseori te înşeli dacă te
iei după coaja copacului.
Nu judecaţi după înfăţişare.
Cf. Under a ragged COAT lies wisdom.
o John 7, 24 / Ioan 7, 24
40
APPETITE comes with eating.
Pofta vine mâncând.
Sim. Eating and scratching wants but a beginning.
41
An APPLE never falls far from the tree.
Mărul nu cade departe
de pom.
Cf. A CHIP off the old block.
42
The rotten APPLE injures its neighbours.
Mărul putred strică
şi pe cele bune.
Un măr putred strică o grămadă de mere
frumoase.
43
Sodom APPLES outwardly fair, ashes at the core.
Merele
frumoase pot fi şi viermănoase.
44
APRIL rains for men; May, for beasts.
Ploaia din mai face
mălai.
Dacă nu plouă în mai, nu se mănâncă mălai.
Var. April rains for corn; May, for grass / A dry March, wet April and cool May, fill barn and cellar and bring much hay.
45
Every man is the ARCHITECT of his own fortune.
Norocu-i după
cum şi-l face omul.
46
An ARMY of stags led by a lion would be more formidable than one of
lions led by a stag.
Mai bine oaste de cerbi şi comandirul
lor un leu, decât oaste de lei şi comandirul lor un cerb.
47
An ARROW shot upright falls on the shooter's head.
Cel care
aruncă piatră în sus, peste capul său o aruncă.
Sim.
Evil that comes out of thy mouth flieth into thy bosom.
Cf.
Who SPITS against the wind, it falls in his face.
o Ecclesiasticus 27, 25 / Sirah 27, 25
48
ART has no enemy but ignorance.
Învăţătura dată rău se
sparge în capul tău.
Sim. Science has no enemy but the ignorant.
49
ART improves nature.
De multe ori ce este scăzut în fire,
meşteşugul cum se cade plineşte.
Cf. NURTURE passes nature.
50
ART is long and life is short.
Omul moare de bătrân şi tot
nu le învaţă pe toate.
51
He who has an ART has everywhere a part.
Ai carte, ai
parte.
Ai carte, ai parte; n-ai carte, n-ai parte.
Cine are
carte are şi parte.
Var. Who has a trade, has a share everywhere.
52
ASK, and it shall be given you.
Cereţi şi vi se va da.
o Matthew 7, 7 / Matei 7, 7
53
He that cannot ASK cannot live.
Omul cu ruşine piere, nimeni
nu-i dă pân nu cere.
54
Nothing is lost for ASKING.
Întrebarea moarte n-are.
Cine
întreabă de două ori nu greşeşte niciodată.
55
An ASS endures his burden, but not more than his burden.
Pe
măgar să-l încarci după a lui putere, dacă nu vrei să te
încarci tu în locul lui.
Încarcă-ţi dobitocul până unde e
sorocul.
Sim.
It is not the burden, but the overburden that kills the beast.
Cf.
Take no more on you than you're able to BEAR.
56
An ASS in a lion's skin.
Ca măgarul îmbrăcat în piele de
leu.
57
An ASS is but an ass, though laden with gold.
Cât de mult să
împodobeşti cu aur şi cu argint pe cel mai frumos măgar, tot
măgar se socoteşte.
Cf. An APE's an ape, a varlet's a varlet, though they be clad in silk or scarlet.
58
An ASS must be tied where the master will have him.
Leagă
calul unde zice stapânul, măcar lupul să-l mănânce.
59
Better ride on an ASS that carries me than a horse that throws
me.
Mai bine un măgar care te poartă decât un cal care te
trânteşte.
60
Did you ever hear an ASS play on a harp?
Ce ştie măgarul ce
e cântarea privighetoarei.
Ce are de a face scripca şi cu
iepurele.
Sim. A sow to a fiddle.
61
He that cannot beat the ASS beats the saddle.
Bate samarul să
priceapă măgarul.
Bate şaua să priceapă iapa.
Var. He that cannot beat the horse beats the saddle.
62
If an ASS goes a-travelling, he'll not come home a horse.
Măgar
s-a dus, măgar s-a întors.
S-a dus bou şi s-a întors vacă.
Var.
Never went out ass and came home horse.
Sim. He that sends
a fool expects one / Send a fool to the market (far, to France) and a
fool he will return again / How much the fool who goes to Rome excels
the fool who stays at home.
63
One ASS scrubs another.
Măgar pe măgar se scarpină.
Vacă
pe vacă se linge şi porc pe porc se scarpină.
64
The ASS loaded with gold still eats thistles.
La fân mai mult
decât la aur pofteşte măgarul.
Măgarul duce vinul şi bea apă.
65
'Tis a sorry ASS that will not bear his own burden.
Oaia care
nu poate să-şi ţie lâna trebuie tăiată.
66
When all men say you are an ASS, it is time to bray.
Dacă
toată lumea zice că eşti beat, culcă-te.
Când trei spun că
eşti beat, du-te de te culcă.
Sim. If one, or three tell you, you are an ass, put on a bridle (tail) / What everybody says must be true.
67
When an ASS kicks you, never tell it.
Măgarul când te
loveşte să fugi şi să-i mulţumeşti, că mai câştigat eşti.
68
You go to an ASS for wool.
A cere lână de la broască.
Sim. Look not for musk in a dog's kennel.
69
He that washes an ASS's head loses both his lye and his labour.
Cine
spală capul măgarului în zadar pierde osteneala şi săpunul.
Var. He that washes an ass's head loses both his soap and his labour.
70
If my AUNT had been a man, she'd have been my uncle.
De-ar
avea şi baba ca oamenii barbă, atunci i-ar zice "ce mai moş
de treabă".
B
71
BACCHUS hath drowned more men than Neptune.
Mai mulţi se
îneacă în băutură decât în apă.
72
He would fall on his BACK and break his nose.
Cade pe spate
şi-şi frânge nasul.
Sim. An unfortunate man would be drowned in a tea-cup.
73
Nothing so BAD but it might have been worse.
Rău cu rău, dar
mai rău fără rău.
74
Nothing so BAD in which there is not something of good.
La tot
răul este şi un bine.
Var.
Nothing but is good for something.
Sim. No great loss but
some small profit .
Cf. ILL LUCK is good for something.
75
As you BAKE, so shall you eat.
Cum îţi vei găti, aşa vei
prânzi.
Var.
As they brew, so let them bake.
Cf. As you make your BED,
so you must lie on it / As they BREW, so let them drink.
76
Make not a BALK of good ground.
Nu da binelui cu piciorul, că
pe urmă o să-i duci dorul.
77
A BARBER learns to shave by shaving fools.
Bărbierul învaţă
meseria pe capul proştilor.
78
BE what you would seem to be.
Cum ţi-e chipul te poartă.
Ori
te poartă cum ţi-e vorba, ori vorbeşte cum ţi-e portul.
Var. Be what you seem, and seem what you are.
79
BEADS about the neck and the devil in the heart.
Unde vezi
mătănii multe, departe, să nu te muşte.
Var.
The beads in the hand and the devil in capuch.
Cf. The
CROSS on his breast and the devil in his heart.
80
A BEAN in liberty is better than a comfit in prison.
Pasărea
în colivie nu se bucură, şi de e vie.
Sim. Liberty is more worth than gold / Lean liberty is better than fat slavery.
81
BEAR and forbear.
Rabdă suflete cât poţi, nu-ţi da taina
către toţi.
Rabdă inimă şi taci, că n-ai alta ce să faci.
82
Call the BEAR 'uncle' till you are safe across the bridge.
Fă-te
frate cu dracu până treci puntea.
Sai şi în spatele dracului
până vei trece gârla.
Sim.
Once on shore, we pray no more./ The river past and God
forgotten.
Cf. The DANGER past and God forgotten.
83
Don't sell the BEAR's skin before you have caught him.
Nu
vinde pielea ursului înainte de a-l ucide.
Nu vinde pielea
ursului din pădure.
Ursu-i în pădure şi-i vinde pielea în
târg.
Sim.
Count not four, except you have them in the wallet / Do not halloo
till you are out of the wood / Never fry fish till it's caught.
Cf.
Don't cross the BRIDGE till you come to it / Do not count your
CHICKENS before they are hatched / It is not good praising a FORD
till a man be over.
84
Take no more on you than you're able to BEAR.
Povară mai grea
decât spinarea ta să nu ridici, ca să nu te poticneşti.
Cf. An ASS endures his burden, but not more than his burden.
85
If the BEARD were all, the goat might preach.
Barbă lungă şi
capra are, dar minte nicicum nu are.
Cf. The BRAINS don't lie in the beard.
86
It is not the BEARD that makes the philosopher.
Nu barba îl
face pe filozof, filozof.
87
BEAUTY carries its dower in its face.
Fata frumoasă se mărită
fără zestre.
Totdeauna feţişoara mărită pe fetişoara.
Sim. A fair face is half a portion.
88
BEAUTY fades like a flower.
Frumuseţea la om ca floarea la
pom.
Sim. Beauty is but a blossom.
89
As you make your BED, so you must lie on it.
Cum îţi vei
face patul, aşa vei dormi.
Cum îţi vei aşterne, aşa vei
dormi.
Sim.
As they brew, so let them bake.
Cf. As you BAKE, so shall
you eat / As they BREW, so let them drink.
90
Better go to BED supperless than to rise in debt.
Cine se
culcă flămând se scoală fără datorii.
91
Early to BED and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and
wise.
Scoală-te de dimineaţă, dacă vrei să-ţi lungeşti
viaţa.
92
Who goes to BED supperless, all night tumbles and tosses.
Cine
se culcă nemâncat codri visează.
Flămândul codri visează.
93
BEES that have honey in their mouths have stings in their
tails.
Albina în gură ţine mierea cea mai dulce, şi în
coadă acul cel mai otrăvitor.
94
Better BEG than steal.
Mai bine să ceri decât să furi.
95
The BEGGAR may sing before the thief.
Săracul nu se teme de
tâlhari.
Cel gol trebuinţă n-are d-a-şi păzi hainele sale.
Sim.
A beggar can never be bankrupt.
Cf. No NAKED man is sought
after to be rifled.
96
A BEGGAR's purse is bottomless.
Sacul cerşetorului n-are
fund.
Var. A beggar's purse is always empty / A beggar's scrip is never filled.
97
Better never to BEGIN than never to make an end.
Când te
apuci de vreo treabă n-o lăsa fără ispravă.
Cine nu poate
săvârşi un lucru, să nu se apuce de dânsul.
Sim. Let him that beginneth the song make an end.
98
Good to BEGIN well, better to end well.
Începutul fie cum o
fi, sfârşitul să fie bun.
99
A bad BEGINNING, a bad ending.
A faptelor rele începătură
spre rău sfârşit pleacă.
100
A good BEGINNING makes a good ending.
Care începe bine
sfârşeşte frumos.
101
Every BEGINNING is hard.
Tot începutul e greu.
Var.
All beginnings are hard (difficult).
Cf. It is the first
STEP that is difficult.
102
Well BEGUN is half done.
Lucrul bine început e pe jumătate
făcut.
Treaba bine începută e pe jumătate terminată.
Sim. The first blow is half the battle.
103
BELIEVE nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you
see.
Ascultă tot, dar nu crede tot.
104
We soon BELIEVE what we desire.
Cine ce pofteşte lesne
crede.
Tot ce cu mare poftă iubim, acela cu mare lesnire credem.
105
A cracked BELL can never sound well.
Capul cel tâmpit
odorogeşte ca un butoi dogit.
106
A BELLY full of gluttony will never study willingly.
Stomacul
plin nu-nvaţă bucuros.
Burta plină nu învaţă bine.
Sim. Fat paunches have lean pates.
107
Better BELLY burst than good meat lost.
Decât să rămâie
brânza, mai bine să crape rânza.
108
He whose BELLY is full believes not him who is fasting.
Sătulul
nu crede flămândului.
Cf. Little knows the FAT man (sow) what the lean does mean.
109
His BELLY cries cupboard.
Stomacul când chiorăieşte la
demâncare gândeşte.
110
The BELLY wants ears.
Cel flămând n-are urechi de
ascultat.
Stomacul gol n-are urechi de ascultat.
Pântecele gol
n-are urechi de ascultat.
Var. Hungry bellies have no ears.
111
A BELLYFUL is a bellyful, whether it be meat or drink.
Pântecele
se umple şi cu paie şi cu fân.
112
Better BEND than break.
Îndoaie-te ca trestia şi vântul nu
te va rupe.
Cf. All that SHAKES falls not.
113
A good BESTILL is worth a groat.
Vorba multă, sărăcia
omului.
114
If BETTER were within, better would come out.
Din omul bun,
bun lucru iese.
115
The BETTER-natured, the sooner undone.
Cel mai bun, mai prost.
116
A BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Mai bine vrabia
în mână decât cioara-n par.
Nu da vrabia din mână pe cioara
din par.
Mai bine o pasăre în colivie decât zece pe gard.
Mai
bine una şi-n colivie decât în vânt o mie.
Sim. A feather in hand is better than a bird in the air / Better a fowl in hand nor two flying.
117
Each BIRD loves to hear himself sing.
Fiecare pasăre pe limba
ei piere.
118
It is an ill BIRD that fouls its own nest.
Urâtă pasăre
este aceea care îşi spurcă cuibul său.
119
Such BIRD, such egg.
Rodul după sămânţă, ca oul după
pasăre.
Sim. An evil crow, an evil egg / Like crow, like egg.
120
The BIRD is known by his note.
Pasărea după glas se
cunoaşte.
Cf. The BIRD is known by his note, the man by his words.
121
The BIRD is known by his note, the man by his words.
Pasărea
după ce se cunoaşte? După cântec. Mojicul după ce se cunoaşte?
După vorbă.
Omul după grai, ca clopotul după sunet, îndată
se cunoaşte.
După glas cunoşti pe om şi pe dobitoc.
Cf. The BIRD is known by his note.
122
The BIRD loves her nest.
Fiecare pasăre îşi iubeşte
cuibul.
Var. Every bird likes his own nest best.
123
The early BIRD catches the worm.
Cine se scoală de dimineaţă
departe ajunge.
Cine pleacă mai de dimineaţă ajunge mai-nainte.
124
Thou art a bitter BIRD, said the raven to the starling.
Râde
dracul de porumbel şi nu se vede pe el.
Râde dracul de porumbe
negre şi pe sine nu se vede.
Sim.
The kettle calls the pot black-brows (burnt-arse) / The pot calls the
kettle black.
Cf. The FRYING-PAN said to the kettle,
"Avaunt, black brows!" / The KETTLE calls the pot
black-brows (burnt-arse).
125
BIRDS of a feather flock together.
Cioară lângă cioară
zboară.
Cioara lângă cioară trage, alte păsări nu-i sunt
drage.
Cine se potriveşte, lesne se-nsoţeşte.
Sim.
Likeness causes liking.
Cf. LIKE will to like.
o Ecclesiasticus 27, 9 / Sirah 27, 9
126
There are no BIRDS of this year in last year's nests.
Tot un
cuc nu ne cântă în toată vremea.
Nu mai bate vântul care
bătea.
127
Great BIRTH is a very poor dish at table.
E de neam mare, dar
crescut în sărăcie.
128
Take the BIT and the buffet with it.
Cine-ncalecă măgarul
să-i sufere năravul.
129
The hasty BITCH brings forth blind whelps.
Căţeaua de pripă
îşi naşte căţeii fără ochi.
Cf. HASTE makes waste / Too HASTY burned his lips.
130
BLAB is wist and out it must.
Ce-i în guşă, şi-n căpuşă.
131
He that is a BLAB is a scab.
Gură spartă, râie curată.
132
Two BLACKS do not make a white.
Înnegrind pe altul nu te
albeşti pe tine.
133
A BLIND man may sometimes hit the mark.
Şi găina oarbă
nimereşte câte un grăunţ.
Şi o găină chioară scurmând
găseşte câteodată mărgăritare.
Sim. A blind man may perchance catch the hare (crow).
134
A BLIND man will not thank you for a looking-glass.
Ce
foloseşte orbului faţa frumoasă?
Var. A blind man has no need of a looking-glass.
135
BLIND men should judge no colours.
Nu orbul ci cel cu ochi
gândească de vopsele.
136
If the BLIND lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Orbul
pe orb povăţuind cad amândoi în groapă.
Orbul pe orb
povăţuind cad amândoi în mormânt.
o Matthew 15, 14 / Matei 15, 14
137
Men are BLIND in their own cause.
Omul poate povăţui pe
altul, dar pe sine niciodată.
138
There's none so BLIND as those who will not see.
Nu e mai orb
decât cel ce nu vrea să vadă.
Var. None so blind as those who won't see.
139
BLOOD is thicker than water.
Sângele apă nu se face.
Var. Blood is not water.
140
You cannot get BLOOD from a stone.
A scoate apă din piatră.
A
scoate lapte din piatră.
Var. You cannot get milk (water) from a stone.
141
Great BOAST and small roast makes unsavoury mouths.
Fudulia
intră-n casă, sărăcia după uşă.
Cioară mândră şi
flămândă.
142
A little BODY often harbours a great soul.
Mic la stat, mare
la sfat.
Şi pitulicea este mică, dar printre păsări e voinică.
143
If you love the BOLL, you cannot hate branches.
Pentru fragă
şi frunza ţi-e dragă.
144
The nearer the BONE, the sweeter the flesh.
Carnea de lângă
os e cea mai dulce.
145
What is bred in the BONE will not out of the flesh.
Năravul
din fire n-are lecuire.
Năravu-nrădăcinat nu poate fi vindecat.
Sim. Though you cast out nature with a fork, it will still return.
146
As soon as a man is BORN he begins to die.
Omu-i cu moartea
după cap.
Sim.
It is as natural to die as to be born / Our lives are but our marches
to the grave.
Cf. He that is once BORN, once must die.
147
He that is once BORN, once must die.
Cine vede naşterea vede
şi moartea.
Ce naşte moare.
Sim.
It is as natural to die as to be born / Our lives are but our marches
to the grave.
Cf. As soon as a man is BORN he begins to die
/ All that LIVES must die / All MEN are mortal.
148
The BORROWER is servant to the lender.
Cel ce împrumută este
slujitor celui de la care se împrumută.
o Proverbs 22, 7 / Pilde 22, 7
149
He that goes a-BORROWING, goes a-sorrowing.
Fă împrumuturi
şi te găteşte de supărări.
Datoria e plină de griji.
150
Cut not the BOUGH that thou standest upon.
A-şi tăia singur
craca de sub picioare.
Var. Don't cut the bough you are standing on.
151
A BOW long bent at last waxes weak.
Nu întinde coarda pre
mult, că se rupe.
Coarda mereu întinsă se rupe.
152
BOYS will be boys.
Copilul trebuie să fie copil.
153
Great BRAGGERS, little doers.
Gură multă, treabă puţină.
Var.
They brag most that can do least.
Sim. Much bruit and
little fruit / Great boast and little roast / Much cry and little
wool.
Cf. The greatest TALKERS are the least doers / A long
TONGUE is a sign of a short hand.
154
The BRAINS don't lie in the beard.
Plini de barbă şi goi de
minte.
Barbă mare, minte n-are.
Cf. If the BEARD were all, the goat might preach.
155
The BRAYING of an ass does not reach heaven.
Glasul măgarului
nu se aude-n cer.
Lătrătura câinelui şi zbierătura măgarului
nu se aud în cer.
Cf. The PRAYERS of the wicked won't prevail.
156
Dry BREAD at home is better than roast meat abroad.
Fie pâinea
cât de rea tot mai bună în ţara mea.
Fie pâinea cât de bună
nu-i bună-n ţară străină.
Decât în ţară străină, cu
pită şi cu slănină, mai bine în satul tău, cu mălaiu cât de
rău.
157
Dry BREAD is better with love than a fat capon with fear.
Mai
bine pâine neagră cu dragoste curată decât albă ca zăpada şi
plină de sudalmă.
Mai bine varză acră cu-nvoială decât zahăr
dulce cu cârteală.
Decât mămăligă cu unt şi să mă uit în
pământ, mai bine pâine cu sare şi să mă uit la soare.
Sim. Better an egg in peace than an ox in war.
158
Eaten BREAD is soon forgotten.
Ceea ce s-a mâncat s-a şi
uitat.
Sim. When good cheer is lacking, our friends will be packing.
159
Man cannot live by BREAD alone.
Nu numai cu pâine va trăi
omul.
o Matthew 4, 4 / Matei 4, 4; Luke 4, 4 / Luca 4, 4; Deuteronomy 8, 3 / Deuteronomul 8, 3
160
Keep your BREATH to cool your broth.
Nu te băga unde nu-ţi
fierbe oala.
Sim. Save your breath to cool your porridge.
161
One man's BREATH another's death.
Moartea unora este viaţa
altora.
Sim. One man's loss is another man's gain.
162
As they BREW, so let them drink.
Cine face găluşca trebuie
s-o şi-nghită.
Precum faci, aşa tragi.
Capul face, capul
trage.
Cum dumicaşi, aşa mâncaşi.
Sim.
As they brew, so let them bake.
Cf. As you BAKE, so shall
you eat / As you make your BED, so you must lie on it.
163
It is meet that a man be at his own BRIDAL.
Cine nu se află
la nunta-i acasă atunci altu-n locu-i joacă cu mireasa.
164
Don't cross the BRIDGE till you come to it.
Nu ridica poalele
înainte de a ajunge la gârlă.
Până ajungi la pârâu nu-ţi
ridica poalele.
Sim.
Count not four, except you have them in the wallet / Do not halloo
till you are out of the wood / Never fry fish till it's caught.
Cf.
Don't sell the BEAR's skin before you have caught him / Do not count
your CHICKENS before they are hatched / It is not good praising a
FORD till a man be over.
165
A new BROOM sweeps clean.
Mătura nouă mătură bine.
Var. New brooms sweep clean.
166
Good BROTH may be made in an old pot.
Găina bătrână face
ciorba bună.
Găina bătrână face zeama bună.
167
Between two BROTHERS two witness and a notary.
Fratele îţi
scoate ochii.
168
BUILDING and marrying of children are great wasters.
Cine şi-a
măritat fata şi-şi clădeşte o casă cunoaşte greutăţile
vieţii.
Sim. Building is a sweet impoverishing.
169
He who BUILDS by the roadside has many masters.
Cine pe lângă
drum zideşte mulţi stăpâni dobândeşte.
Sim. A house built by the wayside is either too high or too low.
170
He bellows like a BULL, but is as weak as a bulrush.
Şi
broasca e mică, dar gură mare face.
171
Every man shall bear his own BURDEN.
Fiecare îşi va purta
sarcina sa.
o Galatians 6, 5 / Galateni 6, 5
172
BUSH natural; more hair than wit.
Coadă lungă, minte
scurtă.
Plete lungi şi minte scurtă, judecată mai măruntă.
Sim. Long hair and short wit.
173
One beats the BUSH and another catches the birds.
Unul umblă
şi străbate şi pe alt fericirea-l bate.
Unul cască gura şi
altul înghite.
Sim.
Little dogs start the hare, the great get her.
Cf. The POOR
man turns his cake and another comes and takes it away / One SOWS and
another reaps.
174
BUSINESS is business.
Frate, frate, dar brânza-i pe bani.
Sim. One hand will not wash the other for nothing.
175
The BUTCHER looked for his knife and it was in his mouth.
Caută
luleaua şi el cu ea-n gură.
Cf. You look for the HORSE you ride on.
176
They that have got good store of BUTTER may lay it thick on their
bread.
Cine are bea şi mănâncă, cine nu, stă şi se
uită.
Cine poate oase roade, cine nu nici carne moale.
177
The BUYER needs a hundred eyes, the seller but one.
Cine
deschide ochii după ce cumpără, cumpără totdeauna marfă
proastă.
Cine nu deschide ochii deschide punga.
Sim. Let the buyer beware.
C
178
CABBAGE twice cooked is death.
Ciorba încălzită mult strică
la stomac.
Ciorba încălzită nu-i bună de mâncare.
Sim.
Take heed of reconciled enemies and of meat twice boiled.
Cf.
A broken FRIENDSHIP may be soldered, but will never be sound.
179
Render unto CAESAR the things which are Caesar's.
Daţi
Cezarului cele ale Cezarului, iar lui Dumnezeu cele ale lui Dumnezeu.
Sim. Every man should take his own.
o Matthew 22, 21 / Matei 22, 21; Mark 12, 17 / Marcu 12, 17; Luke 20, 25 / Luca 20, 25
180
You can't eat your CAKE and have it too.
Nu poţi fi şi cu
varza unsă şi cu slănina-n pod.
Nu poţi fi şi cu pui şi cu
ouă şi cu găina grasă.
Şi cu porcul gras în bătătură şi
cu slănina-n pod nu se poate.
Şi sătul şi cu punga plină nu
se poate.
181
It is easier for a CAMEL to go through the eye of a needle than it is
for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Mai lesne este
să treacă cămila prin urechile acului decât să intre un bogat în
împărăţia lui Dumnezeu.
o Matthew 19, 24 / Matei 19, 24; Luke 18, 25 / Luca 18, 25
182
The CAMEL going to seek horns, lost his ears.
Cămila vrând
să dobândească coarne şi-a pierdut urechile.
Nemulţumitului i
se ia darul.
183
A CANDLE lights others and consumes itself.
Omul ca lumânarea,
când luminează, atunci se sfârşeşte.
184
It is sometimes good to hold a CANDLE to the devil.
E bine a
da şi dracului o lumânare.
Trebuie să dai câteodată o
lumânare şi dracului.
Sim. Give the devil his due.
185
When the CANDLES are out, all women are fair.
Noaptea şi
hâdele-s frumoase.
Toanta, la lumânare, pare floare.
186
Where the CARCASE is, there shall the eagles be gathered
together.
Unde este stârvul, acolo se adună ciorile.
Unde-i
stârvul mai mare, acolo se strâng toţi vulturii.
Var. Wheresoever the carcase is, there will the ravens be gathered together.
o Matthew 24, 28 / Matei 24, 28; Luke 17, 37 / Luca 17, 37
187
CARE and diligence bring luck.
Sârguinţa e muma
norocului.
Prin muncă şi stăruinţă vei ajunge la dorinţă.
188
A creaking CART goes long on the wheels.
Carul care scârţîie
acela ţine mai mult.
Sim. A creaking door hangs long on its hinges.
189
Don't put the CART before the horse.
Nu pune carul înaintea
boilor.
190
The best CART may overthrow.
Şi cel mai bun cărăuş
răstoarnă carul pe cel mai bun drum.
191
The CASK savours of the first fill.
Tot vasu spre aceia
miroase, spre ce să bagă într-însul mai nainte.
Sim. It is kindly that the poke savour of the herring.
192
A blate CAT makes a proud mouse.
Când ai pisică bătrână,
şoarecii-n casă fac stână.
193
A CAT has nine lives.
Are nouă suflete ca pisica.
Femeia
are nouă suflete, ca pisicile.
194
A CAT in gloves catches no mice.
Pisica cu papuci nu prinde
şoareci.
Cu papuci în picioare nu prinde pisica şoarecele.
195
A scalded CAT fears cold water.
Pisica opărită fuge şi de
apă rece.
Sim.
Once bitten twice shy.
Cf. A burnt CHILD dreads the fire /
A scalded DOG fears cold water / He that has been bitten by a SERPENT
is afraid of a rope / Whom a SERPENT has bitten, a lizard alarms.
196
That that comes of a CAT will catch mice.
Ce naşte din pisică
şoareci mănâncă.
Sim.
Cat after kind, good mouse-hunt.
Cf. He that comes of a HEN
must scrape.
197
The CAT is hungry when a crust contents her.
Flămândului şi
o bucată de mămăligă rece i se pare plăcintă.
Sim. Hungry dogs will eat dirty puddings.
198
The CAT would eat fish and would not wet her feet.
Pisica
după peşte se prăpădeşte, dar nu şi-ar uda labele să-l prindă.
199
When the CAT's away, the mice will play.
Când pisica nu-i
acasă, şoarecii joacă pe masă.
200
All CATS are grey in the dark.
Noaptea toată vaca-i neagră.
Var. All cats are alike grey in the night.
201
Without CERES and Bacchus, Venus grows cold.
Dragoste chioară
pe rogojină goală.
202
The CHAIN is no stronger than its weakest link.
Dacă se rupe
o verigă, tot lanţul se desface.
Cf. The THREAD breaks where it is weakest.
203
Old CHAINS gall less than new.
Obiceiul uşurează povara.
204
The CHARITABLE give out at the door, and God puts in at the
window.
Aruncă binele tău în dreapta şi în stânga şi la
nevoie ai să-l găseşti.
Binele ce-l faci la oarecine, ţi-l
întoarce vremea care vine.
205
CHARITY begins at home.
Milă mi-e de tine, dar de mine mi se
rupe inima.
Când casa ta are sete, nu vărsa apa pe drumuri.
Sim. Love your friend, but look to yourself / Every man is nearest himself.
206
CHARITY covers a multitude of sins.
Dragostea acoperă mulţime
de păcate.
Dar din dar se face raiul.
o 1 Peter 4, 8 / 1 Petru 4, 8
207
Who CHATTERS to you will chatter of you.
Cine defaimă pe
altul înaintea ta, el şi pe tine o să te defaime înaintea
altuia.
Cine înaintea noastră grăieşte pe alţii de rău, şi
pe noi înaintea altora ne va grăi de rău.
208
Those that eat CHERRIES with great persons shall have their eyes
squirted out with the stones.
Nu mânca cireşe cu unul mai
mare la masă că-ţi aruncă sâmburii în nas.
Departe de cei
mari, când cireşe mănâncă, că toţi sâmburii îi aruncă în
obrazul tău.
Cu cei mari nu mânca cireşe, nici nu te trage-n
degete.
Var.
Eat peas with the king, and cherries with the beggar.
Sim.
Share not pears with your master, either in jest or in earnest.
209
Take the CHESTNUTS out of the fire with the cat's paw.
A
scoate castanele din foc cu mâna altuia.
Sim.
To take the nuts from the fire with the dog's foot.
Cf. It
is good to strike the SERPENT's head with your enemy's hand.
210
Do not count your CHICKENS before they are hatched.
Toamna se
numără bobocii.
Sim.
Never fry fish till it's caught / Count not four, except you have
them in the wallet / Do not halloo till you are out of the wood.
Cf.
Don't sell the BEAR's skin before you have caught him / Don't
cross the BRIDGE till you come to it / It is not good praising a FORD
till a man be over.
211
A burnt CHILD dreads the fire.
Cine s-a ars cu ciorbă suflă
şi în iaurt.
Pe cine l-a ars păsatul suflă şi în apă rece.
Sim.
Once bitten twce shy.
Cf. A scalded CAT fears cold water /
A scalded DOG fears cold water / He that has been bitten by a SERPENT
is afraid of a rope / Whom a SERPENT has bitten, a lizard alarms.
212
A CHILD may have too much of his mother's blessing.
Copilul
alintat e om stricat.
Sim. Give a child till he craves, and a dog while his tail doth wave, and you'll have a fair dog, but a foul knave.
213
The CHILD says nothing, but what it heard by the fire.
Astăzi
copilul te vinde într-o lingură de apă.
Sim. What children hear at home, soon flies abroad.
214
Better CHILDREN weep than old men.
Mai bine să plângă ei
acum decât să plâng eu mai târziu.
Sim.
The man who has not been flogged is not educated.
Cf. Spare
the ROD and spoil the child.
215
CHILDREN and fools tell the truth.
Copiii şi nebunii spun
adevărul.
Var.
Children and fools cannot lie.
Cf. DRUNKARDS and fools
cannot lie.
216
CHILDREN are poor men's riches.
Mulţimea copiilor, averea
omului.
217
CHILDREN when they are little make parents fools, when they are great
they make them mad.
Copii mici, griji mici, copii mari, griji
mari.
Var. Children when little make parents fool, when great, mad.
218
A CHIP off the old block.
Ţandăra nu sare departe de
trunchi.
Aşchia nu sare departe de pomul tăiat.
Var.
A chip of the old block.
Cf. An APPLE never falls far from
the tree / Like FATHER, like son / Like MOTHER, like daughter.
219
CHRISTMAS comes but once a year.
Nu întotdeauna e ziua de
Paşti.
Nu e întotdeauna vinerea mare.
Cf. Every DAY is not Sunday.
220
CHRISTMAS in mud, Easter in snow.
Cine umblă la Crăciun în
cămaşe, la Paşti umblă cu cojoc.
Var. Green Christmas brings white Easter.
221
The nearer the CHURCH, the farther from God.
Cu trupul în
biserică şi cu gândul la dracu.
Sim. He has one face to God and another to the devil.
222
A piece of CHURCHYARD fits everybody.
Pământul te naşte,
pământul te creşte, pământul te mistuieşte.
223
Hasty CLIMBERS have sudden falls.
Cine sare cam sus îndată
cade jos.
Sim. The bigger they are, the harder they fall / The higher standing, the lower fall / The higher the mountain, the greater descent.
224
No fine CLOTH can hide the clown.
Porcu-i tot porc şi-n ziua
de Paşti.
225
Every CLOUD has a silver lining.
Nici un rău fără bine.
226
After black CLOUDS, clear weather.
După nori îi şi senin,
după dragoste şi suspin.
După vreme rea, şi senin.
Cf. After a STORM comes a calm.
227
Cut your COAT according to your cloth.
Întinde petecul numai
cât ajunge, că se rupe.
Sim.
Stretch your arm no further than your sleeve will reach.
Cf.
Stretch your LEGS according to your coverlet.
228
Do not look at the COAT, but at what is under the coat.
Nu te
uita la cojoc, ci te uită la ce e sub cojoc.
Nu te uita la haine,
ci la ce este în haine.
229
It is not the gay COAT that makes the gentleman.
Haina nu face
pe om.
Haina nu face pe medic.
Cf. The COWL does not make the monk.
230
Near is my COAT, but nearer is my shirt.
Cămaşa e mai
aproape de piele decât haina.
Cămaşa e mai aproape decât
sumanul.
Mai aproape-i cămaşa decât cojocul.
Sim.
Near is my doublet (kirtle, petticoat), but nearer is my smock.
Cf.
Near is my SHIRT, but nearer is my skin.
231
The COAT makes the man.
Haina face pe om.
După coajă se
vede pomul, după haină omul.
Sim. Apparel makes the man / The garment makes the man / Fine feathers make fine birds / Dress up a stick and it does not appear to be a stick.
232
Under a ragged COAT lies wisdom.
Sub frunza cea mai proastă
se găseşte poama coaptă.
Cf. Never judge from APPEARANCES.
233
Let the COBBLER stick to his last.
Cizmarul pentru cizme numai
răspunde, iar nu şi pentru nădragi.
Var. Let not the cobbler (shoemaker) go beyond his last.
234
A COCK is bold on his own dunghill.
Tot cocoşul pe gunoiul
lui cântă.
Cocoşul stăpân pe gunoiul său.
Var.
Every cock crows on his own dunghill.
Sim. Every dog is a
lion at home / Every dog is valiant at his own door.
Cf.
Every man is a KING in his own house.
235
A ragged COLT may make a good horse.
Dintr-o iapă ţigănească
iese un cal boieresc.
Sim. Wanton kittens make sober cats.
236
The COMFORTER's head never aches.
Durere străină să-i fie
de bine.
237
COMMAND your man and do it yourself.
Singur cine îşi
găteşte, el mai cu poftă prânzeşte.
238
He is not fit to COMMAND others that cannot command himself.
Cine
nu se poate stăpâni pe sine, cum să stăpânească pe altul?
Sim. He that is master of himself will soon be master of others.
239
He who COMMENCES many things finishes but few.
Cine se apucă
de multe, puţine termină.
Când de multe de apuci, mai pe toate
le încurci.
Var.
He who begins many things finishes but few.
Sim.
Overdoing is doing nothing to purpose.
240
Evil COMMUNICATIONS corrupt good manners.
Adunările cele rele
strică deprinderile cele bune.
Exemplele rele strică moravurile
bune.
o 1 Corinthians 15, 33 / 1 Corinteni 15, 33
241
There is no COMPANION like the penny.
Prietenul omului este
punga cu bani şi sacul cu mălai.
242
Better be alone than in bad COMPANY.
Mai bine singur în casă
decât în rea adunare.
Sim. Better to be beaten than be in bad company.
243
Ill COMPANY brings many a man to the gallows.
Cine are tovarăş
nerod ajunge din pod în glod.
244
CONFESS and be hanged.
Cine cutează să spună adevărul
poate lesne umbla bătut ca mărul.
245
A good CONSCIENCE is a soft pillow.
Cugetul bun e cea mai
moale pernă.
Sim. A good conscience is a continual feast.
246
A guilty CONSCIENCE feels continual fear.
Omul de vină se
teme şi de umbră.
Var.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
Cf. The THIEF does
fear each bush an officer.
247
CONTENT is happiness.
Bună fericire nu stă în bogăţie, ci
într-o mulţumire a inimii de starea ei.
248
CONTENT lodges oftener in cottages than palaces.
Mai multă
fericire e în bordeiul săracului decât în palatul bogatului.
249
No man is CONTENT with his lot.
Nimeni nu-i mulţumit cu
soarta lui.
Sim. None is satisfied with his fortune.
250
They need much whom nothing will CONTENT.
Lacomul, şi sătul,
flămând este.
251
Too many COOKS spoil the broth.
Cu două bucătărese iese
ciorba prea sărată sau nesărată.
Copilul cu multe moaşe
rămâne cu buricul netăiat.
Unde sunt două cumnate, rămân
vase nespălate.
Unde sunt nouă fete, moare pisica de sete.
Unde
sunt popi mulţi, moare pruncul nebotezat.
252
A threefold CORD is not quickly broken.
Sfoara pusă în trei
nu se rupe degrabă.
Funia cea îndoită cu mult mai mult ţine
decât cea dezdoită.
o Ecclesiastes 4, 12 / Ecclesiastul 4, 12
253
In much CORN is some cockle.
Nu e grâu fără neghină.
Cf. Every GRAIN has its bran.
254
He that counts all COSTS will never put plough in the earth.
Cine
socoteşte câte foi intră-n plăcintă niciodată nu mănâncă
plăcintă.
Dacă socoţi plăcinta din câte pături îi, n-o mai
mănânci.