PROVERBS.

From Co. Kerry — Tionnlacadh na n-óin-
seach, two or more fools in company, or
doing any act together. Fear na m-bróg
bí amuigh, the application is — all the rough,
laborious work must be done by the hack
or drudge. bidheann an rath a n-diaidh an
cheisnimh, there is luck in complaining. Níor
chuaidh an duathal i mudha air aoinne riamh, a
person who does not know how to do a
thing is sure to do it wrong. (Duathal for
the more usual word tuathal = awkward-
ness). Ní théidheann stoirm thar Domhnach
ná rabharta thar Diaceadaoine, a storm does
not go beyond Sunday, nor a spring-tide
beyond Wednesday. Is feárr súil le
glas ná súil le h-uaigh, a person may be
expected to return some time from a prison,
or from a foreign country; but there are no
expectations from the grave. 'Sé an chóir
a dheineann é, it is a sign of good feeding
and care to see a cow or heifer jumping and
running in a field, a horse prancing, etc.
Tabhair rud do'n ghárlach agus tiocfaidh sé
a m-bárach, give to the child, and it will
visit you again. Is mairg a bhidheann síos
an cheud lá, woe to him who is down the
first day (in a fight). Ní ceart an t-uisge
salach a chur amach, nó go d-tabhairfear an
tuisge glan aisteach, throw not away even
that which is bad, until you get something
better. Caithfidh duine géilleadh dá bhacai-
gheacht, one must yield to one's lameness.
Smachtfadh gach aoinne an bhean mhíonáireach
acht an té go m-bidheann sí aige, everyone
save he who has her would chastise the

shameless woman. An ionghíon agus an
mháthair beirt a bhidheann páirteach, the
mothers and the daughters are generally on
the same side. Is dearamhach le suaimhneas
malairt gnótha, a change of business at in-
tervals during the day is like a rest.

From Co. Cork. — Ní fhuil gaol ag aon
re saoi gan seun, nobody claims relation-
ship with the unprosperous. Ní athruigh-
thear gné an duibh-sméir, the aspect of the
blackberry is not (cannot be) changed. Ní
fhuil fiadhta acht duine dona, only a bad
person is peevish. Riaghail d'réir oideachais,
rule according to instruction. Rí míofhogh-
lumtha a's asal corónta, an uneducated
king is like an ass crowned. Soightheach
folamh is mó torann, empty vessels make
the greatest sound. Glan a's slán dheal-
ruigheas éadach táir, clean and whole make
poor clothes shine. Beatha dhuine a thoil
má sheachnann se a aimhleas, a man's will is
his life, if he avoids evil. Is feárr “so é.”
'Ná “cá bh-fuil sé,” “here it is” is better
than “where is it?” Is fuar cumann caile,
cold is the affection of an old hag. Foighid
leigheas gach sean-ghalair, patience is the
(best) cure for old diseases. Gan chiste is
fuar an chlú, without treasure, repute is
cold. Iomadúmhlachd gaoil air bheagán charad,
abundance of relatives but few friends. Is
minic do bhí gránda geanamhail agus datha-
mhuil dona, the ordinary are often amiable,
and the beautiful unfortunate. (Eudan
gránda geanamhail, eudan deas air mhistire
= “mitcher”. — Meath). Mairg thréigeas a
dhuine gnáith, air dhuine dhá thráth nó trí, woe
to one of two or three days. Ní'l fhuil
agam acht an beagán 's is folláin dam
féin e, I have but little, and that is whole-
some for myself. Caomhnann dóchas an
t-inghreamach, hope protects the oppressed.
Ní ionnsuigheann gach aon an t-anach cóir, all
do not approach the just path.