Many of these proverbs mention "loup", the wolf, which seems to be a favorite animal in French proverbs.
[`A bon chien bon os:] [Prov.] [A good dog deserues a good bone; a good seruant good intertainment; but;] [`A vn bon chien n'escheut onques bon os:] [Pro.] [A good dog neuer lights on a good bone; or, the worst bones euer fall to the best dogs share; the honest man hath still the worst lucke.]
[`A grand cheval grand gué:] [Prov.] [A great horse a great Foord must haue.]
[`A grand cheval grand gué:] [Prov.] A great horse must haue a great foord.
[`A grand cheval grand gué:] [Prov.] [A tall horse can make shift with a deepe foord;] or, what needes a tall horse for a shallow foord?
[`A mauvais chien ne peut on monstrer le loup:] [Prov.] [A bad dog hates to looke vpon a wolfe.]
[`A mauvais chien ne peut on monstrer le loup:] [Prov.] An ill dog hates to looke on a wolfe.
[Amour de garse, & faut de chien ne dure si l'on ne dit, tien:] [Prov.] Whores and dogs fawne on a man no longer then he feeds them; or, a whores loue, and a dogs leaping continue but while they are fed.
[Apres raire n'y a que tondre:] [Prov.] [Sheeres after shauing find no worke to doe.]
[Aprez raire n'y a que tondre:] [Prov.] [Sheeres vpon shauen places doe no good; nought's to be got where all's alreadie gone.]
[Au cerf la biere, au sanglier le barbier:] [Prov.] (For those beasts hard layed too, lay hard about them.
[Au cerf la biere, au sanglier le barbier:] [Prov.] (So dangerous a beast is an enraged stag.)
[Au cerf la biere, au sanglier le barbier:] [Prov.] [The Stag a coffin, Boare a Barber, needs; or, if thou beest hurt by a Stag prouide a coffin, if by a wild Boare a Chirurgian.]
[Au chair de loup sauce de chien:] [Prov.] [Wolues flesh must be eaten with dogs sauce.]
[Au chat lescheur bat on souvent la gueule:] [Prov.] [The lickorous cat comes vnto many a pat.]
[Au chat lescheur bat on souvent la gueule:] [Prov.] The lickorous cat hath many a rap.
[Aussi tost meurt vache comme veau:] [Pro.] [The skipping Calfe, and wanton Lambe, are often kill'd before their damme.]
[Aussi tost meurt vache comme veau:] [Prov.] [As soone the young, as old, goes to the pot.]
[Aussi tost meurt veaut comme vache (& le hardi comme le lasche;)] [Pro.] [As soone dyes the yong as the old (the coward as the bold.)]
[Bonne beste s'eschauffe en mangeant:] [Prov.] [A good beast eates till he sweat againe; or, eates that he sweat withall; we say, good at meat good at worke.]
[Bonne beste s'eschauffe en mangeant:] [Prov.] A good beast eats apace; or, as we say, good at meat good at worke.
[Bonne beste s'eschauffe en mangeant:] [Prov.] [A good beast heates it selfe while it eates; viz. eates hard, feeds heartily.]
[Bonne mule mauvaise beste:] [Prov.] A good huswife is commonly no sheepe.
[Celuy a bon gage du chat qui en tient la peau:] [Prov.] Hee's sure of a cat that hath her skin.
[Ce que poulain prend en dompture, il le maintient tant comme il dure:] [Prov.] [The tricks a coult getteth at his first backing, will while he continueth neuer be lacking.]
[C'est folie de se prendre aux femmes, & aux bestes:] [Pro.] [Tis a madnes to meddle with women, and beasts.]
[C'est folie de se prendre aux femmes, & aux bestes:] [Prov.] Hee's mad that quarrels (with women, or beasts.)
[C'est folie de se prendre aux femmes, & aux bestes:] [Prov.] Mad is the man that brables with women, and beasts.
[C'est folie de se prendre aux femmes, & aux bestes:] [Prov.] Hee's mad that quarrels (with women, or beasts.)
[C'est vne bonne prise que d'un ieune loup:] [Prov.] [A young Wolfe is a game worth catching.]
[C'est vne bonne prise que d'vn ieune loup:] [Prov.] [He hunts full well that catches a young Wolfe; bad plants would be plucked vp while they be young.]
[C'est vne vache de Barbarie, qui ne recognoit que son propre veau:] [Prov.] [Applied vnto such, as respect, or know not any, but their own family, friends, and kindred; a rude, ignorant, barbarous humor.]
[Vache de Barbarie qui ne recognoist que ses propres veaux:] [Pro.] [Applyable to one that either simply knowes not, or churlishly cares not for, more the[n] her own.] {notdef}
[Charruë de chien ne vaut rien:] [Prov.] The plough that a dog drawes is not worth the driuing.
[Chat eschaudé craint l'eau froide:] [Prov.] The scaulded cat feares water though't be cold.
[Chien eschaudé craint l'eau froide:] [Pro.] The scaulded dog feares euen cold water; (somewhat like our, A burnt child dreads the fire.)
[Cheval courant est vn sepulchre ouvert:] [Prov.] [A running horse is an open sepulcher.]
[Cheval courant est vn sepulchre ouvert:] [Prov.] (So much danger is his necke in that rides him.)
[Cheval de paille cheval de bataille:] [Prov.] For such horses are commonly the hardest, and hardiest.
[Cheval faict, & valet à faire:] [Pro.] [Chuse a horse made, a seruant to be made.]
[Cheval faict, & valet à faire:] [Prov.] A made horse, and a man vnmard, are fittest for vse: [The like is;] [Cheval faict, & femme à faire:] [Prov.]
[Cheval Roigneux n'a cure qu'on l'estrille:] [Prov.] A scabd horse loueth not the curricombe; (nor an infected heart, correction.)
[Cheval roigneux n'a cure qu'on l'estrille:] [Prov.] The scabbed horse cares not for currying.
[Cheval rongneux n'a cure qu'on l'estrille:] [Prov.] [A scabbie Iade affects not the Currycombe; nor a scuruie Iacke any correction.]
[Chien enragé ne peut longuement vivre:] [Prov.] A madde dog cannot long time liue.
[Chien enragé ne peut longuement vivre:] [Prov.] A madde Dogge liues not, violent humors last not, long.
[Chien hargneux a tousiours les oreilles deschiré es:] [Prov.] [A brabling curre is neuer without torne eares.]
[Chien hargneux a trousiours les oreilles deschiré es:] [Prov.] A common brabler comes by many a knock; quarelsome lads are seldome wihtout blacke eyes, broken pates, or scratcht faces.
[Chien qui abbaye ne mord pas:] [Pro.] [Many words few, or no blowes; they seldome strike home that threaten, or talke, much.]
[Chien qui abbaye ne mord pas:] [Prov.] [The dogge that barkes much bites little; a great prater, a weake performer.
[Chien qui iappe ne mord pas:] [Prov.] [The dog that barkes much bites but little.]
[Chien sur son fumier est hardi:] [Prov.] A dog [(we say, a cocke)] is valiant on his owne dung-hill.]
[Chien sur son fumier est hardi:] [Prov.] [We say the same of a Cocke.]
[Contre la nuict s'arment les limaç ons:] [Pro.] [Snails arme themselues (put out their hornes) towards night.]
[Contre la nuict s'arment les Limaç ons:] [Prov.] [viz. Put forth their hornes.]
[De cheval qui recule au plustost te delivre:] [Prov.] [Soone rid thee of a horse thats restie.]
[De doux arbre douces pommes:] [Prov.] Such as the tree such is the fruit; sweet th'one, sauorie th'other; (yet we say, that many a good cow hath but an euell calfe.)
[De mauvais corbeau mauvais oeuf;] [Pro.] Of an ill bird, an ill brood.
[De petit esguillon poinct on bien grande asnesse:] [Prov.] A little goad can pricke a great she Asse.
[De petit esguillon poinct on bien grande asnesse:] [Prov.] Great beasts are pricked forward with small goads.
[De petit esguillon poind on bien grande asnesse:] [Pro.] [A little goad sets on the great shee Asse.]
[De petit esguillon poind on bien grande asnesse:] [Pro.] [The little goad pricks on the great she Asse.]
[Depuis que la brebis est vieille le loup la mange bien:] [Prov.] A wolfe can eat a sheepe though shee bee old.
[Depuis que la brebis est vieille le loup la mange bien:] [Prov.] [The hungrie feed well on tough, and drie meats.]
[Depuis que la brebis est vieille le loup la mange bien:] [Prov.] [The sheepe is neuer too old for the Wolfe; how tough soeuer she be he eats her well.]
[Deux chiens ne s'accordent point à vn os:] [Prov.] [Two dogs, and a bone, agree not in one.]
[Deux chiens ne s'accordent point à vn os:] [Prov.] Two dogs neuer agree about one bone; churles will not part, nor part with, any thing.
[Deux chiens ne s'accordent point à vn os:] [Prov.] We say, Two cats and a mouse, two wiues in one house, two dogs and a bone, neuer agree in one.
[Deux loups mangent bien vne brebis:] [Prov.] [Two knaues with ease deuoure (or deceiue) one sillie foole.]
[Deux loups mangent bien vne brebis:] [Prov.] Two wolues can make good shift with one poore sheepe.
[Deux loups mangent bien vne brebis:] [Prov.] Two wolues deuour one sheepe with ease.
[Deux orgueilleux ne peuvent estre portez sur vn asne:] [Prov.] One poore asse cannot carrie two proud ones.
[Deux orgueilleux ne peuvent estre portez sur vn asne:] [Prov.] One simple Asse cannot beare two proud Asses.
[Eau, & paid est la viande du chien:] [Pro.] Bread and water is meat good ynough for a dog (though not for a man.)
[Eau & pain c'est la viande du chien:] [Prov.] [Bread and water is but a dogs dinner.]
[Eau & pain c'est la viande du chien:] [Prov.] Bread, and water is diet for dogs.
[En Aoust les gelines sont sourdes:] [Prov.] [In August Hennes are deafe.]
[En esperance d'avoir mieux, tant vit le loup qu'il devient vieux:] [Pro.] [The Wolfe so long hopes his estate to mend, that (without helpe) his life's growne neere an end.]
[En esperance d'avoir mieux tant vit le loup qu'il devient vieux:] [Prov.] [The Wolfe growes old by hoping still for better;] or, the Wolfe, the whilest he hopes for better, is growne old.
[En esperance d'avoir mieux tant vit le loup, qu'il devient vieux:] [Prov.] The Wolfe growes old by hoping still for better; or, while the Wolfe hopes for better hee growes old.
[En fin les loups tuent le chien qui tue les loups:] [Prov.] [The Wolues at length kill dogs that killed Wolues.]
[En la peau ou le loup est luy convient mourir:] [Pro.] [He that liues like a Wolfe, should die like a Wolfe.]
[En la peau ou le loup est luy convient mourir:] [Prov.] [The Wolfe must die in his owne skinne;] or, the skinne a Wolfe hath preyed, let him perish, in.
[En lict de chien n'y a point d'oingture:] [Prov.] Looke not for ciuet in a dogs kennell.
[En lict de chien n'y a point d'oingture:] [Prov.] [The kennell of a dog smells not of Ciuet.]
[Foin en corne:] [Prov.] [A good warning, or marke, for the auoiding of a dangerous person; a thing worne to giue notice that the wearer is not to be safely accoasted; (from the auncient Romanes, who vsed to ty a wispe of Hay about the one horne of a shrewd, or curst Beast;)]
[Fol est qui est à table, & n'ose manger:] [Prov.] He is an asse that hauing wealth enough dares not vse it; or being where tis to be had, dares not put for it.
[Fol est qui est esperonné, & à cheval dit hai:] [Prov.] He is an asse that hauing sufficient, doth vse insufficient helpes.
[Fol est qui est esperonné & à cheval dit hay:] [Prov.] [The asse hauing spurres on, cries On to his horse; or he is an asse, who furnished with sound meanes, makes vse of sleight ones.]
[Fort comme vn dauphin en terre:] [Prov.] [Most weake, most feeble, without force; (for a Dolphin dies as soone as he is out of the water.)]
[Habit de beat, ongles de chat:] [Prov.] [A wolfe in a sheepes skin.]
[Home seul est viande aux loups:] [Prov.] [The lone man is Wolues meat.]
[Homme mort mord iusques, & par delà la mort:] [Prov.] [The bloud of the innocent cryes vnto God for vengeance, pursuing vnto, and stinging after, death the conscience of a murtherer: Howsoeuer some may flatter themselues with;] [Homme mort ne mord pas:] [Prov.] [A dead man;] [(or as we say], a dead dog) bites not.
[Homme mort ne fait guerre:] [Prov.] [A dead man deales no blowes.]
[Homme mort ne fait guerre:] [Prov.] [Dead men are quiet; the dead man makes no warre.]
[Homme mort ne fait guerre:] &, [Homme mort ne mord point:] [Prov.] [A dead man fights not;] we say; A dead dog bites not.
[Homme mort ne mord pas:] [Prov.] [A dead man;] (or as we say, a dead dog) bites not.
[Il est bien veau qui veau taille:] [Prov.] [He is a calfe that calues flesh cutteth; (A fit answer to a Butcher that calls a man Calfe.)]
[Il fait beau pescher en eau large:] [Prov.] There is no fishing to the sea, say we.
[Il fait mauvais aller au bois quand les loups se mangent l'un l'autre:] [Prov.] [It is not good to goe to the wood when Wolues deuoure one another.]
[Il fait mauvais aller au bois quand les loups s'entremangent:] [Prov.] Tis ill going to the wood when wolues (are so hungrie, that they) eat one another.
[Il faut avoir mauvaise beste par douceur:] [Prov.] A mischieuous, froward, or curst beast must be reclaymed, caught, or woon, by faire meanes.
[Il faut laisser son enfant morveux plustost que luy arracher le nez:] [Prov.] [Better an inconuenience then a mischiefe; let the Henne liue although she haue the pip.]
[Il faut laisser son enfant morveux plustost que luy arracher le nez:] [Prov.] Better a snottie child then a noselesse.
[Il faut perdre vn veron pour pescher vn saulmon:] [Pro.] [Somewhat must be lost that much may be gotten.]
[Il faut perdre vn veron pour pescher vn Saulmon:] [Prov.] [A man must loose a feather to win a Goose; a small, to come by a great, matter.]
[Il faut perdre vn veron pour pescher vn saulmon:] [Prov.] [One must spend a little to gaine much.]
[Il faut perdre vn veron pour pescher vn Saul mon:] [Prov.] [We must loose a little that we may get much.]
[Il ne faut apprendre aux poissons à nager:] [Prov.] [We must not teach a fish to swimme; a scholler to read, a maister to worke, & c.]
[Il ne faut iouë r au boeuf:] [Prov.] [An Oxe is no fit, or no safe, play-fellow.]
[Il ne faut pas lier les asnes auec les cheuaux:] [Pro.] Churles are not to be matcht, or sorted, with gentlemen.
[Il ne faut pas lier les asnes avec les chevaux:] [Pro.] Asses must not be tied vp among horses; nor vnworthie people consorted with the worthie.
[Il n'est chasse que de vieux chiens:] [Pro.] [There is no hunter to the old dog; no searcher to experience.]
[Il n'est chasse que de vieux chiens:] [Prov.] There is no hunting to the old dogs;; or, no dog hunts like the old one.
[Il n'est chasse que de vieux levrier:] [Prov.] An old dog hunts surest, bites sorest, holds what he catches, kils what he reaches.
[Il n'est cheval qui n'ait son mehaing:] [Prov.] [No horse without some bruize; no man without one fault or other.]
[Il n'est cheval qui n'ait son meshain:] [Prov.] There is no creature perfect; euerie one is in some part, or point faultie, or defectiue; [The like is;] [Il n'est cheval qui n'ait sa tare:] [Prov.] &; [Il n'y a cheval si bien ferré qui ne glisse:] [Prov.] The best-shod horse doth slip sometimes.
[Il n'est pas tousiours saison de brebis tondre:] [Pro.] sheepe-sheering is not euer in season; silly people must haue some time allowed them to thriue in; so will their fleeces, at length, be worth clipping.
[Il n'y a cheval si bien ferré qui ne glisse:] [Prov.] [The best shod horse doth slip sometimes.]
[Il n'y a cheval si bien ferré qui ne glisse:] [Prov.] The wisest erre; the best offend; he that hath surest footing sometime falls.
[Il n'y a route que de vieux regnards:] [Prov.] [There is no chase like that of the old Fox; or, no tract so certaine as of aged craft; no path well beaten but by old experience.]
[Il n'y eut iamais bon marché de peaux de lions:] [Prov.] [A Lyons skinne was neuer bought good cheape; the valiant euer sold their skinnes full deere.]
[La faim chasse le loup hors du bois:] [Prov.] Hunger driues the wolfe out of the wood.
[La faim chasse les loups hors du bois:] [Prov.] Hunger driues wolues out of the wood; or (as we say) breaks downe stone walls.
[La faim chasse les loups hors du bois:] [Prov.] [Hunger makes men forgoe their safest holds.]
[La geline pond par le bec:] [Prov.] [A Henne layes as she is fed.]
[La mauvaise garde paist souvent le loup:] [Prov.] [A Wolfe ill lookt to oftentimes growes fat.]
[La mauvaise garde paist souvent le loup:] [Prov.] Ill watch doth fatten the Wolfe; or, the sleepie shepheard fattens the hungrie wolfe.
[La mauvaise garde paist souvent le loup:] [Prov.] [Ill watching often feeds the hungrie Wolfe.]
[La vache du riche velle souvent, celle du povre avorte:] [Prov.] [The rich mans cow doth often calfe, the poore mans oft miscarries.]
[La vache du riche velle souvent, celle du povre avorte:] [Prov.] The rich mans cow is fruitfull, fat, and strong, the poore mans (leane, and ill kept) casts her young.
[La vache du riche velle souvent, celle du povre avorte:] [Prov.] [The rich mans Cow (well-fed) does often calfe, the poore mans casts hers, & thriues worse by halfe.]
[Le boeuf las marche soëf:] [Prov.] [The wearie Oxe treads gently or gingerly; goes faire and softly.]
[Le boeuf las marche souef:] [Prov.] [The wearie Oxe goes slowly; men that are beaten to the practise of the world are calme, and moderate in their proceedings.]
[Le boeuf par la corne, & l'homme par la parole:] [Prov.] [An Ox (is bound) by the horne, a man by his word.]
[Le chat a faim quand il ronge du pain:] [Pro.] The cat is hungrie when a crust contents her.
[Le chat a faim quand il ronge du pain:] [Prov.] [The cat's a hungred when she gnawes a crust.]
[Le dernier le loup le mange:] [Prov.] [Delay breeds danger; lags come to the lash.]
[Le dernier le loup le mange:] [Prov.] [The lag, (or laziest) of a flocke is preyed on.]
[Le grand boeuf apprend à labourer au petit:] [Pro.] [The great Oxe learnes the little one to worke.]
[Le grand boeuf apprend à labourer au petit:] [Pro.] The old Oxe teaches the young to draw; wee say
[Le grand boeuf apprend à labourer au petit:] [Prov.] [The old Ox learnes the young to draw.]
[Le loup alla à Rome, & y laissa de son poil, mais rien de ses coustumes:] [Prov.] The Wolfe went vnto Rome, and there left part of his coat, but none of his ill conditions, behind him.
[Le loup alla à Rome, & y laissa de son poil, & rien de ses coustumes:] [Prov.] [No place can alter an inueterate lewdnesse.]
[Le loup emporte le veau du povre:] [Pro.] [The Wolfe makes his feast of the poore mans beast.]
[Le loup emporte le veau du povre:] [Prov.] [Poore men are easily oppressed, vsually preyed on.]
[Le loup emporte le veau du povre:] [Prov.] [Vnsaciate crueltie preyes most vpon the poore.]
[Le loup mourra en sa peau qui ne l'escorchera vif:] [Pro.] [A knaue will sleepe in a knaues skin, vntill he either loose it, or his life.]
[Le loup mourra en sa peau qui ne l'escorchera vif:] [Prov.] [A knaue will die in a knaues skinne, if hee formerly loose it not.]
[Le loup sç ait bien que male beste pense:] [Pro.] [One knaue can easily ghesse at the drift of another.]
[Le loup sç ait bien que male beste pense:] [Prov.] [One lewd fellow is well acquainted with the purposes, or sleights of another.]
[Le Pigeon saoul trouve les cerises ameres:] [Prov.] [The full-stuft maw findes bitternesse in sweet things.]
[Le poisson commence à sentir tousiours par la teste:] [Pro.] [Fish euer begins to taint at the head; the first thing that's deprau'd in man's his wit.]
[Le poisson commence à sentir tousiours par la teste:] [Pro.] [The head of a fish is euer tainted first.]
[Le regnard est devenu hermite:] [Prov.] [The Fox an Hermit is become, (beware your Geese good huswiues) appliable also, when a craftie or naughtie fellow reformes himselfe, and growes truely religious.]
[Le Regnard est devenu hermite:] [Prov.] [The Fox doth preach (beware your Geese.)]
[Le regnard est pris, lasche les poules:] [Prov.] [Vsed when any dangerous knaue is intrapped, or clapt vp;] [vsed also, in mockerie of a common wooer, which hauing deceiued many widowes and maids in his time, is at the length ouertaken, and caught by one thats worse then any of them.] {needsdef}
[Le regnard presche aux poules:] [Pro.] [(Sayed when a notable Imposter talks vnto, or treats with, sillie and ignorant people.)] {needsdef}
[Le sanglier n'est qu'un hoste:] [Prov.] [The Boare is but a soiourner; for he seldome stayes, any time, within one wood, or forrest, but raunges continually.]
[Le sanglier n'est qu'un hoste:] [Prov.] [Because hee raunges continually from wood to wood, from forrest to forrest.]
[Les grands boeufs ne font pas les grandes iourné es:] [Pro.] The greatest Oxen rid not most worke; we say, the greatest crabs are not all the best meat.
[Les grands boeufs ne font pas les grandes iourné es:] [Prov.] [The greatest Ox rids not most worke.]
[Les paroles font le ieu:] [Prov.] [Words bind the gamester; make the game.]
[Les paroles font le jeu:] [Pro.] [Words make the game; Oxen by ropes, but men by words, are bound.]
[Les rats se promenent à l'aise là ou il n'y a point de chats:] [Prov.] Where cats are wanting rats in freedome walke.
[L'oeil du maistre engraisse le cheval:] [Prov.] [A horse is fattened by his maisters eye.]
[Mauvais chien ne trouve ou mordre:] [Pro.] [The curst curre knowes not where to set his teeth.]
[Mauvais chien ne trouve ou mordre:] [Prov.] No place affoords a liuing to a curre; the slothfull knaue, or bungler, thriues no where.
[Mauvais chien ne trouve ou mordre:] [Prov.] [The currish dog in fight not bold seekes where to snatch, not where to hold.]
[Mauvais chien ne veut iamais compagnon en cuisine:] [Prov.] A churle cannot endure a companion in his gainfull imploiments.
[Mauvaise est la saison quand vn loup mange l'autre:] [Pro.] [It is a hard yeare when one Wolfe eates another; when one theefe robs, when one pyrate preyes on, another.]
[Mauvaise est la saison quand vn loup mange l'autre:] [Prov.] [Hard is the time when Wolues doe feed on Wolues;] or, tis a hard time when one Wolfe eats another.
[Mieux vaut vn pied que deux eschasses:] [Prov.] [One foot is better then two stilts.]
[Mieux vaut vn tenez que deux vous l'aurez:] [Pro.] Better is one thing in possession then two in expectancie.
[Mieux vaut vn tenez que deux vous l'aurez:] [Pro.] [Better one bird in the hand then two in the bush.]
[Nature fait chien tracer:] [Prov.] [The hound by nature's taught to hunt.]
[Noire geline pond blanc oeuf:] [Prov.] [A black Henne may breed a white Chicke; a black woman a beautifull child.]
[Occasion trouve qui son chat bat:] [Prov.] [He that would beat his Cat finds a cause for it.]
[Oiseau debonnaire de luy mesme se fait:] [Pro.] The gentle hauke (halfe) mannes herselfe.
[Oiseau debonnaire de luy mesme se fait:] [Pro.] [The gentle Hawke (halfe) makes, or mannes, her selfe; a wellbred person is of a vertuous disposition, needes not much tutoring, will of himselfe be good.]
[On a beau mener le boeuf à l'eau s'il n'a soif:] [Pro.] In vaine is an Oxe led to the water if he be not athirst; we say [(with some difference of sence)] a man may lead his horse to the water, but cannot make him drinke vnlesse he list.
[Oncques vieil singe ne fit belle mouë:] [Pro.] [Th'old Monkey neuer made well-fauored mowe.]
[Oncques vieil Singe ne fit belle mouë:] [Prov.] [An old-bred clowne was neuer mannerlie.]
[Oncques vieil singe ne fit belle mouë:] [Prov.] [Old age cannot be gracious, comelie, louelie.]
[On crié tousiours le loup plus grand qu'il n'est:] [Prov.] [Report makes dangers greater then they be.]
[On crie le loup plus grand qu'il n'est:] [Prov.] Report makes mischiefes greater than they be. {ed: Crying wolf.}
[On n'aura ia bon asne vieil:] [Pro.] A slugg, or dullard growne old is worse then naught.
[On n'aura ja bon asne vieil:] [Prov.] [An old Asse is good for nothing.]
[On ne doit pas à gras pourceau le cul oindre:] [Prov.] [We should not grease a fat hog in the taile.]
[On ne doit pas à gras pourceau le cul oindre:] [Pro.] [We must not grease a fat Sow in the tayle.]
[On ne fait boire à l'asne quand il ne veut:] [Prov.] Men force not th'asse (but asses men) to drinke.
[On ne peut d'un pigeon faire vn vif esparvier:] [Prov.] [The sillie Doue good Sparhawke nere will be;] [(Somewhat to which purpose we say)] a man cannot make a Cheuerill purse of a Sowes eare.
[On ne peut faire de hibou esparvier:] [Prov.] [One cannot make a Hawke of an Owle.]
[On ne peut faire d'hibou esparvier:] [Prov.] He thats a clowne by nature, cannot be gentilized by nurture; The like is; [On ne peut d'vn Pigeon faire vn vif esparvier:] [Prov.]
[On ne peut tirer du sac que ce qu'y est:] [Prov.] [You can haue no more of a Cat but her skinne;] or, there can come no more (no other stuffe) from a man then is in him.
[On plume l'oye sans la faire crier:] [Prov.] [The sillie Goose complaines not when she's pluckt.]
[On plume l'oye sans la faire crier:] [Prov.] [The simple goose complaines not of her plucking; a sillie gull complaines not though you cousen him.]
[On touche tousiours sur le cheval qui tire:] [Pro.] [The free drag-horse is alwayes ouerraught.]
[On touche tousiours sur le cheval qui tire:] [Prov.] [The forward horse is alwayes most put on.]
[On touche tousjours sur le cheval qui tire:] [Prov.] [We say, Seldome hath a good horse turned iade; a worthie fellow will neuer prooue coward, nor knaue; no age can weaken, no daunger appall, no paine afflict, no offer infect, him.
[Ou brebis sont laine est:] [Prov.] Where sheepe are wooll is.
[Ou la chevre est lié e faut qu'elle broute:] [Prov.] The goat must brouze where she is bound; where a man is setled he is to seeke meanes to liue.
[Par trop trotter la poule, & la femme se perdent facilement:] [Prov.] A gadding henne, and houswife are soone lost.
[Par trop trotter la poule, & la femme se perdent facilement:] [Prov.] [Women, and hennes, that gad oremuch, are quickly lost.]
[Petite brebiette tousiours semble ieunette:] [Prov.] [The little Ewe seemes alwayes young.]
[Peu à peu le loup mange l'oye:] [Prov.] [Bit after bit the Wolfe eates vp the Goose.]
[Peu à peu le loup mange l'oye:] [Prov.] [By little and little the Wolfe deuoures the Goose; by diligence, or degrees a man obtaines his purpose.]
[Peu à peu le loup mange l'oye:] [Prov.] [By little and little the Wolfe eates vp the Goose.]
[Pourceau gras rompt sa soute:] [Prov.] [(Appliable to the vnrulie humors of pampered, or high-fed creatures.)]
[Pourceau gras rompt sa soute:] [Prov.] [The well-fed hog breakes ope his stie.]
[Pour vn poil Martin perdit son asne:] [Pro.] [The punishment, or taxation of those that vpon a small occasion enter into a great contention; as this poore man did, who laying a wager that his asse was all white, was shewed a blacke haire on him, and so, like an asse, lost his asse, which was the wager.]
[Pour vn poinct Martin perdit son asne:] [Prov.] A small omission, or error may turne a man to much preiudice;
[Pour vn poinct Martin perdit son Asne:] [Prov.] [(This Martin being Abbot of a Cloister called Asellus, and setting ouer the Gate thereof, Porta patens esto nulli claudaris honesto, was depriued of his Place for putting a Comma after the word nulli.)]
[Putain fait comme la corneille, plus se laue, & plus noire est elle:] [Prov.] A Whoore is like a Crow; the more shee washes her the blacker shee is; [viz. the more she excuses, the more she betraies, her selfe;] or, [in striuing to iustifie, she condemnes, her selfe.]
[Putain fait comme la corneille, plus se lave & plus noire est elle:] [Pro.] [A queane and Crow alike doe fare, the more they wash the fouler they are.]
[Quand vn chien se noye chascun luy offre à boire:] [Prov.] When a dog's a drowning euerie one offers him drinke.
[Qui aime Bertrand aime son chien:] [Prov.] Loue me loue my dog (say we.)
[Qui a le loup pour compagnon porte le chien sous l'hocqueton:] [Prov.] Let him thats matcht with a knaue go well prouided for him.
[Qui a le loup pour compagnon porte le chien sous l'hocton:] [Prov.] [He that hath a Wolfe to his mate had need of a dog to his man.]
[Qui a peur des fueilles ne doit aller au bois:] [Pro.] [Let him thats skar'd by leaues keepe from the Wood.]
[Qui a peur des fueilles ne doit aller au bois:] [Pro.] (like our) [let him that feares the wagging of feathers keepe from among wildfowle.]
[Qui femme croit, & Asne meine son corps ne sera ia sans peine:] [Prov.] [(Belike because the one is (sometime) false, as the other is euer foolish.)]
[Qui femme croit, & Asne meine, son corps ne sera ia sans peine:] [Prov.] [He that beleeues a woman, and leads an Asse, hath brought his bodie (and mind) t'an euill passe.]
[Qui femme croit, & asne meine, son corps ne sera ia sans peine:] [Prov.] He that trusts a woman, and leads an Asse, is neuer without one trouble or other.
[Qui femme croit, & asne mene, son corps ne sera ia sans peine:] [Prov.] He that beleeues a woman, and leads an asse, will neuer be in quiet.
[Qui mange l'oye du roy il en chie la plume cent ans apres:] [Prov.] [He that eateth a Goose of the Kings doth spue vp her feathers a hundred yeares after; (Applyable to vntrue Exchequer men; and vnto any purloyners of his Treasure, concealers of his Titles, withholders of his Rights.)]
[Qui mange l'oye du Roy, il en chie la plume cent ans apres:] [Prov.] [He that eats the Kings Goose doth void the feathers an hundred years after: viz. He that purloynes the Princes treasure payes in th'arrerages (by himselfe, or his heires) one time or another.]
[Qui naist de geline il aime a grater:] [Prov.] [Cat after kind good Mouse-hunt.]
[Qui naist de geline il aime à grater:] [Prov.] [He thats borne of a Henne loues to be scraping.]
[Qui n'en a qu'un, n'en a point:] [Prov.] [(Meant of Cocks, Bulls, & c. and sometimes alledged by lasciuious women) as good haue none as haue no more but one.] {needsdef}
[Qui ne retire de sa vache que la queuë ne perd pas tout:] [Prov.] [He looses not his whole auayle, that of his Cow saues but the tayle.]
[Qui ne retire de sa vache que la queuë ne perd pas tout:] [Prov.] [He that can recouer the least part of his owne, yet looses not all, or is not to neglect it; for better is something, how little soeuer, then nothing.]
[Qui ne retire de sa vache que la queuë ne perd pas tout:] [Prov.] [He that recouers but the tayle of his cow looses not all his cow; better saue a little then loose all.]
[Qui ne retire de sa vache que la queuë ne perd pas tout:] [Prov.] [Tis good, when all is going, to saue any little; something, though meane, hath sauor, nothing none.]
[Qui se fait brebis le loup le mange:] [Prov.] [He that makes himselfe a sheepe will be vsed as a sheepe.]
[Qui se fait brebis le loup le mange:] [Prov.] [He that makes himselfe simple shall be sillily vsed.]
[Qui se fait brebis le loup le mange:] [Prov.] Those that will needs be sheepe the wolfe deuours; hee that like a sheepe carries himselfe, like a sheepe shall be fleeced, foulded, and fed on.
[Qui se mesle d'autruy mestier il trait sa vache en vn panie:] [Prov.] [As good milke a Cow into a Siue, as deale in an vnknowne Trade.]
[Qui se mesle d'autruy mestier il trait sa vache en vn panier:] [Pro.] [He that meddles with another mans Trade, milkes his Cow in a Pannier; viz. looses his profit, and vndoes himselfe.]
[Qui se mesle d'autruy mestier il trait sa vache ne vn panier:] [Pro.] [He that with other mens trades will be medling, doth most-an-end loose the fruit of his pedling.]
[Qui suit les poules apprend à grater la terre:] [Pro.] [Henne-followers turne earth-scrapers; wee quickly learne the bent of those we much frequent.]
[Qui suit les poules apprend à grater la terre:] [Pro.] [He that followes a henne soone learnes to scrape; imitation is, most commonly, too good a Schoolemistresse.]
[Qui ueut batre son chien trouve assez de bastons:] [Prov.] [(Almost of the same sence; or as we say;)] Tis an easie matter to find a staffe to beat a dog withall.
[Qui veut batre son chien trouve assez de bastons:] [Prov.] It is an easie matter to find a staffe wherewith to beat a dog.
[Qui veut avoir bon chien il faut qu'il le nourisse bien:] [Prov.] He that will haue a good dog must feed him well; he that desires a good seruant must vse him well.
[Qui veut avoir bon chien il faut qu'il le nourisse bien:] [Prov.] He that will haue a good dog must feed him well; he that desires a good seruant must vse him well. Qui veut bat
[Qui veut avoir bon chien il faut qu'il le nourrisse:] [Pro.] [He that will haue a good dog must breed him to it.]
[Qui veut prendre vn oiseau qu'il ne l'effarouche:] [Pro.] [Deale gently with the bird thou mean'st to catch; be not too harsh to those thou faine wouldst win.]
[Qui veut prendre vn oiseau, qu'il ne l'effarouche:] [Prov.] Let not him anger, that would take, a bird.
[Qui veut tuer son chien luy met la rage sus:] [Prov.] [He that will hang his dog pretends he's mad.]
[Qui veut tuer son chien luy met la rage sus:] [Prov.] When a bad Prince would be rid of a good subiect, or seruant, the tricke is, to lay treason to his charge.
[Regnard qui beaucoup tarde attend la proye:] [Prov.] [When Foxes tarrie long they hope for purchase.]
[Regnard qui beaucoup tarde attend la proye:] [Pro.] [The fox thats long away, for purchase waiteth.]
[Regnard qui dort la matiné e n'a pas la langue emplumé e:] [Pro.] He cannot thriue that lies in bed a mornings.
[Regnard qui dort la matiné e n'a pas la langue emplumé e:] [Prov.] [Morning sleepers seldome thriue.]
[Regnard qui dort la matiné e n'a pas la langue emplumé e:] [Prov.] [The Fox that sleepes a mornings meets with no feathered breakfasts.]
[Regnard qui dort la Matiné e n'a pas la langue emplumé e:] [Prov.] The sleepie Fox hath seldome feathered breakefasts.
[Reliques sont-bien perduë s entre les pieds de pourceaux:] [Prov.] [Reliques trod on by hogs are quickly lost;] or, Reliques are quickly lost among the feet of hogs; (And may not one iustly wish them lost, rather then in the hands of such hogs as now-a-daies keepe them?)
[Reliques sont bien perduë s entre pieds de pourceaux:] [Prov.] [Pretious things, in vnworthie hands, are quickly lost; (Others may interpret it otherwise.)]
[Rien ne vaut poulain s'il ne rompt son lien:] [Prov.] [The coult that breakes not his halter is not worth a halfepenie.]
[Si truye forfaict les pourceaux le souffrent:] [Pro.] [If the old Sow doe a fault and men abhorre it, her young, and harmelesse Pigs are punisht for it.]
[Si truye forfaict les pourceaux le souffrent:] [Prov.] [Children are punisht for their parents faults.]
[Si truye forfaict les pourceaux le souffrent:] [Prov.] [Pigs come to lugs for scathe done by the sow.]
[Tandis que la loup muse la brebis entre au bois:] [Prov.] While the wolfe studies the sheepe escapes; while the cruell consult, the innocent ouerslip them; (hereby is also noted th'inconueniencie of an opportunitie neglected; and their slownesse, or dulnesse taxed, who go to councell when they should fall to action.)
[Tandis que le chien chie le loup s'en va:] [Prov.] While the dog scummers the wolfe scuds away.
[Tandis que le chien crie le loup s'en fuit:] [Prov.] [Whilest men attend vnnecessarie, they loose necessarie, aduantages.]
[Tandis que le chien crie le loup s'enfuit:] [Prov.] While the dog bawles the wolfe escapes; (thus by delaying and tatling an enemie oreslips him, and many aduantages others.)
[Tandis que le chien crie le loup s'enfuit:] [Prov.] While the dog doth nought but barke, the wolfe hath leasure to escape.
[Tandis que le loup muse la brebis entre au bois:] [Prov.] [Whilest the wicked consult th'innocent escape them; (Hereby also is meant, that opportunitie may be neglected, or aduantages lost, by tedious consultations.)]
[Tandis que les chiens s'entregrondent le loup devore la brebis:] [Prov.] [While the dogs iarre the Wolfe deuours the sheepe.]
[Tant dort le chat qu'il se resveille:] [Prov.] [So long the cat sleepes that at length sh'awakes, (appliable to any thing which after long suppression bursteth out.)]
[Tant dort le chat qu'il se resveille:] [Prov.] The slugging or sleepie Cat at length awakes.
[Tel asne tel aiguillon:] [Prov.] Such as the asse, his goad.
[Telle beste telle teste:] [Pro.] [Such as the beast such is his head; a good, or bad nature hatches good, or bad intentions.]
[Tel oiseau tel nid:] [Pro.] [Like ayerie like Hawke; such as the bird such is her neast.]
[Tel oiseau tel nid:] [Prov.] [A house like th'inhabitant; such bird such neast.]
[Tout estat est viande aux vers:] [Prov.] Euerie creature is wormes meat.
[Tout estat est viande aux vers:] [Prov.] [Wormes prey, by times, on all Estates.]
[Trop tard crie l'oiseau quand il est prins:] [Prov.] Too late cries the bird when shee is taken; too late comes repentance when we are sure of punishment; or we repent vs too late of wrongs done when wee are paying for them.
[Trop tard crie l'oiseau quand il est pris:] [Pro.] [Mischiefes being in, complaints are out of, date.]
[Trop tard crie l'oiseau quand il est pris:] [Pro.] [When mischiefes are befallen complaints auaile not.]
[Trop tard se repend le rat entre les pattes du chat:] [Prov.] When punishment's inflicted repentance comes too late.]
[Trop tard se repent le rat entre les pattes du chat:] [Prov.] [Too late the Rat cryes had-I-wist when the Cat pawes her.]
[Truye aime mieux bran que roses:] [Prov.] [The Sow had rather lye in dung then on a bed of Roses.]
[Truye aime mieux bran que Roses:] [Prov.] The Sow loues draffe better then delicacies.
[Vache de loing a laict assez:] [Pro.] [Things farre-fetcht are held most sufficient; the further a thing is brought, the better we thinke of it.]
[Vache de loing a laict assez:] [Prov.] [A forreine commoditie cannot be defectiue; we esteeme that most that comes furthest.]
[Vache en sç ait que vaut sa queuë iusques à ce qu' elle l'ait perduë:] [Prov.] [The want, more then the vse, indeares the worth of good things; we know our friends best when we want them most.]
[Vache ne sç ait que vaut sa queuë iusques à ce qu' elle l'ait perduë:] [Prov.] [We know not the worth of things till we haue lost them.]
[Vieil oiseau ne se prend à reths:] [Pro.] [The old (in experience) are not subiect to surprisalls.]
[Vieil oiseau ne se prend à reths:] [Pro.] [Th'old bird is not (easily) intrapped.]
[Vieil oiseau ne se prend a reths:] [Pro.] [The old birds care auoides the snare.]
[Vne vache prend bien vn lievre:] [Prov.] [A Cow may catch a Hare]
[Vn vieil chien iamais ne iappe en vain:] [Pro.] [An old dog barketh (we say biteth) sure.]
[Vn vieil chien iamais ne iappe en vain:] [Prov.] [An old dog neuer barkes in vaine; the warning, or aduise of an old man is euer to some purpose.]
[Vn vieil chien iamais ne jappe en vain:] [Prov.] The old dog neuer barketh (aged experience neuer aduiseth,) in vaine.
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