“What business have you for me?” says Dermot.
“No business at all,” says he, “but would you have half-a-whiff in the bottom of your pipe?—I am starved— going out of my skin, man! for want of one whiff while God has given me day (= the live-long day).”
(To be continued.)
PROVERBS—CORK.
(From Mr. DANIEL M‘CABE, BANTEER.)
1. Ní ḃreiṫeann eagnuiḋe níḋ naċ dtuigeann.
A wise person does not judge what he does not understand.
2. Olc do ġní olc do ṫig.
Who does ill, fares ill.
3. Ní uaisleaċd gan suḃailce.
No nobility without virtue.
4. Ní saiḋḃir go glóir-ṡealḃaḋ.
Nothing is rich but the possession of glory.
5. Ní ḟuil glóir aċt glóir Neiṁe.
There is no glory but Heaven’s.
6. Ní ionnsuiġeann gaċ aon an t-anaċ cóir.
Not everyone gains the right path.
7. Is fearr ḃeiṫ i n-aonar ’ná i ndroċ- ċuideaċda.
Better to be alone than in ill company.
8. An rud is ceart do ḋuine is dleaġṫaċ do ḋuine eile.
What is right for one, is lawful for another.
9. Na trí neiṫe líonas ioṫlainn, tnúṫ ⁊ soláṫar ⁊ síor-ċaiṫis, óir mara (muna) mbeiḋir i n-a ċaiṫis beiḋir i n-a aiṫis.
The three things that fill a haggard—longing, industry, and constant attention, for if you are not in attendance, you will be in shame.
10. Corr i n-aġaiḋ an ċaim ⁊ cam i n-aġaiḋ an ċoirr.
Twisted against bent, and bent against twisted.
11. An ġaoṫ a dtuaiḋ ’s an ġrian a ndeas, cloiḋe cluṫṁar ⁊ bolg lán.
12. Geiḃeall lorgánaiġ geiṁreaḋ gortaċ.
A hungry winter is the sluggard’s fetter.
13. Ioṫlainn ċruaċaċ ġníḋeann duine uaiḃreaċ.
A well-stacked haggard makes a man haughty.
14. Dá áirde éiriġeann an priompollán, luiḋeann ar otraċ.
However high the beetle soars, it lights on dung.
15. Meud an luais laiġead an ċnuais.
The more the speed, the less the col- lection.
16. Mairg do ġní eugcóir meaḃlaċ.
Woe to him that does a treacherous wrong.
17. Mian ṁualaċáin doirċeaċt.
The mualachán’s desire is darkness.
18. Má’s buaiḋearṫa an ceann, is claon na baill.
If the head is troubled, the limbs are disordered.
19. Má’s greugaċ an ṗeucóg, ní piocṫar a cnáṁ.
Though the peacock be gaudy, its bone is not picked.
20. An rud ná himṫiġeann, faċtar é.
What does not vanish is found.
21. An rud ṫéiḋeann i ḃfad, téiḋeann sé i ḃfuaire.
What goes far, grows cold.
22. Aiṫniġeann mórḋaċt moḋaṁlaċt.
Majesty knows modesty.
23. Ar aon annaṁ beiḋ ċoiḋċe dearmad.
What occurs but once will be forgotten for ever.
24. An tseoid do-ḟaġála, ’sí is áilne.
The rare jewel is the fairest.
25. An duiḃ-ġné, ní haṫruiġṫear é.
The black countenance is not changed.
26. Dearḃráṫair leadránaċ ólaċán.
Drink is a slothful brother.
