IRISH PROVERBS.

Some of the old proverbs: ní'l luibh gan
léigheas, very herb has curative properties.
The Irish names of many common herbs
are beautiful an poetic; they are also full
of practical meaning. Fiú cú fead, hound
is worth whistling for — one should not be
afraid to ask a favour. Is amadán iarainn
é, he is not so very foolish, lit., he is an iron
fool. Focal líbe agus dealg láibe an dá
rud is géire ar bith. A fool's words and a
thorn in mud, i.e., the truth when unex-
pected , are the sharpest things possible.
Ná leig do rún lé cloidh, do not tell a secret,
even to a wall. Keating records the fate of
a man who told a story to a tree, part of
which was afterwards fashioned into a harp,
and revealed the secret. Ní sceul rúin é
'nuair chluineas triur é — two can keep a
secret: three cannot. The advice given to
a person caled for a song is:— innis sceul,
cum breug, nó gabh amach.

Some other proverbs from Skibbereen:—
Is fearr suidhe 'na aice ioná suidhe 'na
ionad. Deun-sa mar adeurad, ná deun
mar dheunfad. Is binn beul ó bheith iadhta.
Tosach fairsing agus deireadh cumhang.
Oidhche shúgach, maidin bhrónach. Ní h-ionann
dul go tigh an righ agus teacht as. Madadh
ruadh i g-croiceann na fóisge. Mar thagann
an ghrian i ndiaidh na fearthainne. Bheidheadh
meas rógaire agat ar do dhearbhráthair
'nuair do bheidhtheá ag deunamh margaidh
leis.

Rud chloiseas tuaith agus cheileas muinn-
tear. The whole country may be ringing
with a scandalous report, but your friends
will conceal it from you. Tar éis gach tuaith-
bheirte tuigthear gach deighbheart. When a
man has done the wrong thing, then he sees
what would have been the right thing. Ní
seirbhe an múnlach ioná an umhluigheacht gan
iarraidh, fulsome flattery is disgusting.
Seanphort Eibhlín, an port do bhí riamh aici.
Tagann an cháirde agus í maithtear na
fiacha. Is luaithe deach ioná sceul. Is fear
firíni bhfearaibh ioná fear i bhfirínibh. Ní
bhidheann gaol ag aoinne (-neach) le duine
gan áird.