---

L. 172

PROVERBS — MUNSTER

(Mr. P. McCarthy, Clohane Castle).

1. Seasamh fada ar cosaibh laga.

Standing long on weak feet.

(Feitheamh fada etc. in Beara — P.O L.)

2. Muimhneach lághach, Laighneach spleádhach.

Munsterman loquacious, Leinsterman
obsequious.

3. Faoiligh a mharbhaigheas na caoirigh.

February kills the sheep (Faoidigh in
Béara — P. O L.)

4. Ní gearánta dhom, ar nós fhir na coise
briste.

I shouldn't complain, like the man of
the broken leg.

(“Ní gearánta dhom,” arsa fear na
coise briste, that is, though matters
are bad enough, yet they might have
been worse; gearánta is a remnant
of the O.I. participle of necessity,
of which instances still exist in
Munster. P.O L.)

5. 'Sé a dhíchioll meath.

If things come to the very worst, they
cannot go beyond failure.

(Sé díchioll an sgéil meath. — P.O L.)

6. Is úr stiall do leathar dhuine eile.

One is generous with what is not one's
own (lit., soft is a piece of leather
belonging to another). (Is úll etc.,
úll = oll: mar ghioll has become
mar ghiull; os cionn, os ciún; and
why not oll, úll? — P.O L.)

7. Solus fé bhéal daibhche.

A light under a kieve turned upside
down. (Rún etc. in Béara, that is, a
secret that will leak out. — P.O L.)

8. Ní'l acht sár rómham agus leanfad thu.

It is merely, haste thou before and I
will foloow thee — that is, death at
farthest is near to the youngest of us.

9. Is feárr déidhionaighe ná ró-dhéidhionaighe.

Better late than never.

10. Castar na daoine ar a chéile, acht ní
castar na cnoic 'ná na sléibhte.

People meet, but hills and mountains
don't meet, that is, don't ever do one
a bad turn.

11. Tarrai(n)geann taithighe toil,
Acht tarrai(n)geann taithighe locht.

Practice draws desire on,
But practice (too) draws crime on.

(Taithighe mheuduigheas toil,
Taithighe mheuduigheas locht. — P.O L.)

12. Comhrádh ban ar chléith.

The conversation of women on a
cliath, i.e. a wickerwork kind of seat
near the fire.

(To which is added, in Beara,
Cómhradh ná bíonn réidh.)

13. Is teann gach madradh ar láthair a thighe
féin.

Valiant is every dog on the site of his
own house, that is, confidence is a
good part of success.

(Is teann gach madradh geárr ar urlár
a thighe féin, in Beara. — P.O L.)

14. Ní théidheann rogha ó réitioch.

There is no better selection than agree-
ment or peace (lit., Selection goes
not from agreement).