French Proverbs from 1611: Starting with the letter L

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[L'abbatu veut tousiours luicter;] [Prov.] sayd of an obstinat fellow, whom no foile can make leaue a Contention, or suit, begun.
[L'abbatu veut tousjours luicter:] [Prov.] [No foile can quell an obstinacie.]


[La belle chere amende beaucoup l'hostel:] [Prov.] [Good cheere makes good amends for a bad house;] or, a bad house by good cheere is much amended.
[La belle chere amende beaucoup l'hostel:] [Prov.] The ill-fauoured house is much amended by the wellfauoured owner.


[La bonne anné e en peu de temps s'en va, la petite se garde:] [Prov.] Good haruests makes men prodigall, bad prouident.


[La caque (ou la poche) sent tousiours l'harenc:] [Prov.] [The poke still of the Hering smells; Our nature will, doe what we can, subsist.]


[La Case monstre le messer:] [Prov.] [The house the owner shewes.]


[La censure tourmente les Pigeons, laissant aller les Corbeaux libres:] [Prov.] [Censure tormenteth Doues, and freeth Rauens (so comes weake innocencie to the blocke, whilest powerfull wickednesse is winked at.)]
[La censure tourmente les pigeons laissant aller les corbeaux libres:] [Prov.] Censure torments Pigeons, and frees Rauens; [and hence are Lawes compared vnto Cobwebs; little flies are caught in them, great ones breake through them.]


[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 famille d'Archimbaud plus y en a & pis vaut:] [Prov.] [A knot of naughtie packes; a state, or familie swarming with leud, and dissolate companions; a disordered, corrupted, vicious Familie, or State.]


[La farine du diable s'en va moitié en son:] [Pro.] Halfe of the diuels meale turnes vnto branne.


[La farine du diable va moitié en vent ou au son:] [Pro.] Little good comes of that the diuell hath, or doth; or, ill gotten goods come to little good.


[La faulx paye les prez:] [Pro.] [The Sithe giues meads their due.]
[La faulx paye les prez:] [Prov.] The keene Sythe giueth Meades their due.
[La faulx paye les prez:] [Prov.] [viz. Giues them their due.]


[La fin fait tout:] [Prov.] The end does all in all.
[La fin fait tout:] [Prov.] The end proues all; or, is all in all.


[La geline pond par le bec:] [Prov.] [A Henne layes as she is fed.]


[La Goutte en la hanche la fille en la pance:] [Prov.] The Gout in the hanch, a girle in the panch; [viz: If a woman feele often paine in her backe, flanke, hips, legs, & knuckles, tis a signe that she is withchild of a girle.]
[La goutte en la hanche la fille en la pance:] [Prov.] [The gowt in the haunch, a girle in the paunch (of a great bellied woman.)]


[La guerre est la feste des morts:] [Prov.] [Warre is deathes holy-day.]


[La Maison fait cognoistre le Maistre:] [Prov.] By the house one may ghesse at the owner; by the fashion, or gouernement thereof, what his abilitie, and humor is.
[La maison fait cognoistre le maistre:] [Prov.] [The house discouers the owner;] or, looke into a house, you discerne the owner.
[La maison fait cognoistre le maistre:] [Prov.] we say, the seluidge makes shew of the cloth.


[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 mere du timide ne sç ait que c'est de pleurer:] [Prov.] [The cowards dam knowes not what weeping meanes.]
[La mere du timide ne sç ait que c'est de pleurer:] [Prov.] [The dame whose sonne's a coward seldome weepes.]


[La mort n'a point d'ami, le malade n'a qu'un demi:] [Pro.] The dead haue no friends, the sicke but faint ones; or, when a man is dead his friends forsake him, and while he is sicke they care not greatly for him; or, no man loues death, or fully loues the diseased.
[La mort n'a point d'ami, le malade n'a qu'un demy:] [Prov.] [Death hath no friend, the sicke man but an halfe one.]
[La mort n'a point d'ami, le malade n'a qu'un demy:] [Prov.] [The dead man hath no friends, the sicke no true ones.]


[La mort n'espargne ny petit ny grand:] [Pro.] [Death baulkes no creature, spares nor small nor great.]


[L'amour, la tousse, & la galle ne se peuvent celer:] [Pro.] We say, Loue, and the Cough cannot be hidden.
[L'Amour, la tousse, & la galle ne se peuvent celer:] [Prov.] Loue, scabs, and coughing will not bee concealed.
[L'amour, la tousse, & la galle ne se peuvent celer:] [Pro.] We say, Loue, and the Cough cannot be hidden.


[La necessité fait trotter la vieille:] [Pro.] [Need addes new life, strength, quicknesse, to old age.]


[La nuict donne conseil:] [Prov.] [Like vnto our, take counsell of your pillow.]


[La paelle se mocque du fourgon:] [Pro.] [One friend, or kinsman mocks another; he that might well be flowted flowts his neighbor.]


[La paelle se mocque du fourgon:] [Prov.] [Said when one friend, or fellow, derides another.]
[La paelle se mocque du fourgon:] [Prov.] The Peele derides the Ouen-forke; one slouen, or neighbor another.


[La paix est la feste de tous Saincts:] [Prov.] [Peace is all holy mens holy-day.]


[La pire rouë du chariot est celle qui crie le plus fort:] [Prov.] [No man's in companie so lowd as he that can doe least.]
[La pire rouë du chariot est celle qui crie le plus fort:] [Prov.] The worst wheele of the wagon is that which creakes most; the most ignorant sot in assemblies talkes highest; and the veriest cow in a companie brags most.


[La poche sent tousiours l'harenc:] [Prov.] [Corrupted once, we are tainted euer; once get a blot, y'are stained alwayes.]


[La queuë est pire à escorcher:] [Pro.] [The last is hardest to be done.]


[L'arbre ne tombe pas du premer coup:] [Prov.] [Though a little man can fell a great Oke, yet falls it not at the first blow; Rome was not built on a day; nor are great matters atchieued as soone as attempted.]
[L'arbre ne tombe pas du premier coup:] [Pro.] The first blow fels not the tree; the first attempt, or effort, carries not a great matter.


[l'Argent quand l'orge:] [Prov.] One for another: when we haue their ware let them haue their money.


[La rose en fin devient vn gratecul:] [Pro.] [The fairest Rose ends in a hep; griefe sits on pleasures highest step.]
[La Rose en fin devient vn grate-cul:] [Prov.] [The Rose at length becomes a Hep.]


[La sauce ne vaut pas mieux que le poisson:] [Prov.] [(Appliable three wayes) the sauce and fish are bad alike; or, the sauce should not be better then the fish;] or, [the sauce is seldome better then the fish.]


[L'asne qui brait le plus, est celny qui manage le moins:] [Prov.] [Th'asse that brayeth most eateth least.]


[La souris qui n'a qu'vne entré e est incontinent happé e:] [Prov.] The mouse that hath but one hole is soon caught; the man that hath but one helpe's soone orethrowne.


[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.]


[La verge anoblit, & le ventre affranchit:] [Prov.] [The gentleman ennobles his child, a free woman enfranchises hers;]
[La verge ennoblist, & le ventre affranchist.] [(A Proverbe, or Principle in the French Lawes) Children are by their father ennobled, and by their mother infranchised; but this is not alwayes so.


[La viande semond les gens:] [Pro.] [Well-cooked meats inuite the stomacke.]


[L'eau qui dort est pire que celle qui court:] [Pro.] So is a sleepie humor worse then a giddie.
[L'eau qui dort est pire que celle qui court:] [Prov.] Standing waters are much worse then running ones; sleepie dispositions of lesse worth (or more dangerous) then giddie ones.


[Le beau soulier blesse souvent le pied:] [Prov.] [The goodlie shooe doth often hurt the foot; (little know you where this new shooe wrings me, quoth Metellus to a friend of his.)]


[Le beau soulier devient en fin savate:] [Pro.] [(So beautie endeth in deformitie.)]
[Le beau soulier devient en fin savate:] [Prov.] [Appliable to beautie decayed, or in the wane, by age, & c.]


[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 boeuf salé faict trouver le vin sans chandelle:] [Prov.] [The salt beefe-eater needs no candle to find his liquor withall; or salt beefe is your onely lantorne in a darke sellar.]
[Le boeuf salé fait trouver le vin sans chandelle:] [Prov.] [The salt-beefe eater needs no candle to light his drinke the way to his mouth.]


[Le bon heur tost se passe qui n'en a soing:] [Prov.] [Good fortune quickly slips from such as heed it not.]
[Le bon heur tost se passe qui n'en a soing:] [Prov.] [Good lucke vnheeded quickly slips away.]


[Le Chanteau part le vilain:] [Pro.] [When villeines by birth or estate (who for the most part are tenants in common) doe meane to part their possessions, they diuide a lumpe of bread, and giue each to other a peece thereof; Hence is this Prouerb applyable to those base fooles, that fall out with their best friends for trifles, or victualls.]


[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 coeur fait l'oeuvre; non pas les grand iours:] [Prov.] Not length of day, but strength of heart, rids worke.
[Le coeur fait l'oeuvre non pas les grands iours:] [Pro.] [Tis not long dayes, but willing hearts, that soon dispatch a businesse.]
[Le coeur fait l'oeuvre, non pas les grands iours:] [Prov.] [Not long dayes, but strong hearts, dispatch a worke.]


[Le coeur ne veut douloir ce que l'oeil ne peut veoir:] [Prov.] What the eye sees not, the heart rues not.
[Le coeur ne veut douloir ce que l'oeil ne peut voir:] [Pro.] [What the eye cannot see the heart will not rue.]


[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 dernier venu est le mieux aimé:] [Prov.] Hee is best thought of that comes last; a new friend makes the old forgotten; the last Suiter wins the wench.
[Le dernier venu est le mieux aimé:] [Prov.] He that came last is best beloued; the newest friend, & c. most trusted, best vsed.


[Le diable n'est pas tousiours à vn huis:] [Prov.] The diuell is not alwaies at one dore; he tempts, and attempts, men sundrie wayes.
[Le diable n'est pas tousiours à vn huis:] [Prov.] [The diuell is not euer at one doore.]


[Le drap, & les ciseaux luy sont delivrez:] [Prov.] The whole matter is put vnto him; all is at his owne disposition, or in his owne hand; he may now be his owne caruer; he may now both part and chuse.


[Le feu est bon en tout temps:] [Prov.] (Belike it should be, [le bon feu;] for fire sometimes does mischiefe too much.)


[Le feu est demie vie de l'homme:] [Pro.] (And worth his whole life vnto him; for without it either he cannot liue, or shall doe verie little.)


[Le feu plus couvert est le plus ardant:] [Prov.] The more that fire's kept downe the more it burns; suppressed heat workes vehemently.
[Le feu plus couvert est le plus ardent:] [Prov.] The fire thats couered most burnes most; or, the more tis hidden the hoter it burnes.


[Le fleuve passé le Sainct oublié:] [Prov.] The danger once past our vowes are ill paid.
[Le fleuve passé le sainct oublié:] [Prov.] [The danger past our vowes are soone forgotten.]


[Le fol cerche son malheur:] [Prov.] The foole indeuors to make himselfe vnhappie; or, the foole studies his owne mishap.


[Le fol est sot quant & quant, mais tout sot n'est pas fol:] [Prov.] All fooles be sots, but all sots be not fooles.
[Le fol est sot quant & quant, mais tout sot n'est pas fol:] [Prov.] All fooles be sots, but all sots be not fooles.
[Le fol est sot quant & quant, mais tout sot n'est pas fol:] [Prov.] [The foole is sure ynough a sot, but euery sot's no foole.]


[Le fol reste apres la feste:] [Prov.] The foole doth rest after a feast; or (more properly) after a feast once made a foole for euer.


[Le four appelle le moulin bruslé:] [Prov.] [The guiltie accuses the innocent.]
[Le four appelle le moulin bruslé:] [Prov.] The micher tearmes the coward couetous; [(and may be applyed to anie, that checks another for a fault whereof onely himselfe is guiltie.)]


[Le frere veut bien que sa soeur ait, mais que rien du sien n'y ait:] [Prov.] The brother would haue his sister rich, any way, but at his charges.
[Le frere veut bien que sa soeur ait, mais que rien du sien n'y ait:] [Prov.] [The brother would haue his sister thriue by any meanes but by his.]
[Le frere veut que sa soeur ait, mais que rien du sien n'y ait:] [Pro.] The brother loues to see, but not to make, his sister rich.


[Le fuseau doit suyvre le gorreau:] [Prov.] While the husband labours abroad the wife must not idle it at home; or, a wife is to follow her husband in what course of his fortune soeuer.


[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 Lict est vne belle chose, qui n'y dort on y repose:] [Pro.] {notdef}


[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 mal an entre en nageant:] [Pro.] Th'ill (or vnseasonable) yeare comes swimming in; [viz. begins with much raine.]
[Le mal an entre en nageant:] [Prov.] [The vnseasonable yeare begins with raine.]


[Le marbre de soy n'a que faire de peinture:] [Prov.] [A beautifull thing needs no luster, an excellent thing no commendation.]


[Le monde va tousiours à l'empire:] [Pro.] [The world growes euerie day worse and worse.]


[Le mortier sent tousiours les aulx:] [Prov.] [A bad impression made by nature, or an ill habit got by custome, leaue euer some tacke of themselues behind them.]


[Le mulet garde longuement vn coup de pied à son Maistre:] [Prov.] [The Moyle will one time or other lend his keeper a rap.]


[Le nuict donne conseil:] [Prov.] night giues aduise; We say, take counsell of your pillow.


[Le papier endure tout:] [Prov.] [as, foule blurres, false reckonings, all kind of hard, or ill words.] {needsdef}


[Le paresseux aime bien besongne faicte:] [Pro.] [The sluggard loues alife things done to his hand.]
[Le paresseux aime bien besongne faitte:] [Pro.] The sluggard loues to find worke done to his hands.
[Le paresseux aime bien besongne faitte:] [Prov.] The sluggard loues alife things done to his hands.


[Le petit gain emplit la bourse:] [Prov.] Many a little makes a mickle; or, light gaines make heauie purses.
[Le petit gain emplit la bourse:] [Prov.] Wee say, light gaines make heauie purses.


[Le Pigeon saoul trouve les cerises ameres:] [Prov.] [The full-stuft maw findes bitternesse in sweet things.]


[Le plat du bas est tousiours le premier vuide:] [Pro.] [The lowest dish is euermore first emptie (belike because it is (most commonly) furnished the worst, and fed on the best.)]
[Le plat du bas est tousiours le premier vuide:] [Prov.] [The lowmost dish is alwayes the first emptie;] [(for commonly the best trencher-men sit lowest.)]


[Le plus bref est le meilleur:] [Prov.] [The shorter the better.]


[Le plus grand est le premier pourri:] [Prov.] [The greatest man's the soonest rotten; (perhaps because the much ease, and ill diet, whereto he gaue himselfe, had filled his bodie with corruption.)]
[Le plus grand est le premier pourry:] [Prov.] [The greatest is the soonest rotten.]


[Le plus riche n'emporte qu'un linceul:] [Prov.] [The richest carries but one sheet t'his graue.]


[Le plus sage se taist:] [Pro.] [The wisest sayes the least.]
[Le plus sage se taist:] [Prov.] [The wisest man speakes least.]


[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 pourpre au soc mort d'egal poix balance:] [Prov.] [Death matches the poore clowne with purple Gallants.]


[Le regnard cache sa queuë:] [Pro.] [The craftie knaue hides that which would bewray him.]
[Le regnard cache sa queuë:] [Prov.] [The cunning knaue conceales what would discouer him.]


[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 Retour de Matines:] [Prov.] [A mischiefe done in the darke, or at vnawares; (from the customes of Friers, who commonly make choyce of that obscure season, for the surprising, and thumping of their hated companions; which hath bred another Prouerbe; viz.] [Il n'y a rien tant à craindre que le retour de matines.)] {needsdef}


[Le rouge soir, & blanc matin font resjouïr le pelerin:] [Prov.] [The euening red, and morning gray presage a faire succeeding day.]
[Le rouge soir, & blanc matin, font resjouïr le pelerin:] [Prov.] [The euening red and morning gray, are hopefull signes of a faire day.]


[Les abeilles ne deuiennent point frelons;] [Prov.] Good, or well-bred, spirits neuer degenerat.


[Le sainct de la ville n'est point oré:] [Prov.] [Men least respect their owne, or that they are vsed to; our well-knowne patrons are the least implored.]
[Le sainct de la ville n'est point oré:] [Prov.] [The townes peculiar Saint is not prayed to; for helpe that may be had at home we care not.]
[Le Sainct de la ville n'est point oré:] [Prov.] [We seldome craue the helpe of our owne Patron.]


[Les Alemans ont l'esprit aux doigts:] [Prov.] The Germans wit rests in their fingers; viz. they are better Artisans then Artists, better at handy-crafts then at head-craft.


[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 beaux hommes au gibbet:] [Pro.] [Faire men come often to foule ends; the properer the men the worse their lucke.]
[Les beaux hommes au gibet:] [Pro.] [The gibbet makes an end of proper men.]


[Les belles robbes pleurent sur des espaules indignes:] [Pro.] [Great pitie tis to see faire clothes an a clowns backe.]
[Les belles robbes pleurent sur des espaules indignes:] [Prov.] [Faire garments weepe vpon vnworthie shoulders.]
[Les belles robbes pleurent sur des espaules indignes:] [Prov.] Good clothes weepe on vnworthie shoulders.


[Les biens de fortune passent comme la Lune:] [Pro.] Fortunes blessings flit like the Moone; or hardly continue the age of a Moone.
[Les biens de fortune passent comme la lune:] [Pro.] Fortunes goods are flitting like the Moone.


[Les bons nageurs sont à la fin noyez:] [Prov.] [Good swimmers are in th'end orewhelmd.]
[Les bons nageurs sont à la fin noyez:] [Prov.] [Good swimmers at the length feed Haddocks.]


[L'eschalas fait tomber la vigne:] [Prov.] [(Applyable when he, that should protect or support a man, is the cause of his ruine.)] {needsdef}


[Les choses valent autant qu'on les fait valoir:] [Pro.] [Things are as they are esteemed of; or are esteemed of as they are set forth;] [The like is]; [Rien ne vaut la chose sinon qu'on la fait valoir:] [Prov.] [A thing is worth no more then it's set out for; things without shew, out-setting, praise, or vse, are nothing worth.]


[Les derniers venus ferment les portes:] [Prov.] [The last commer latches the doore, maketh all sure.]
[Les derniers venus ferment les portes:] [Prov.] The last commer shuts the doore; strikes vp the bargaine; ends the businesse.
[Les derniers venus sont les Maistres:] [Prov.] The last commers get the maisterie, ouerrule the rest, rule the roast.
[Les derniers venus sont les maistres:] [Prov.] [Those that come last (oft) get the maisterie.]


[Les folles femmes n'aiment que pour pasture:] [Pro.] Whoores affect your purse, not you; or, loue you not if you feed them not.


[Les gens de bien font tousjours bien, ont tousjours bien, & sont tousjours bien:] [Prov.] {notdef}


[Les graces du Lombard sont trois dez sur table:] [Prov.] [For so much is the Lombard affected vnto that meager, and vnworthie sport, as (by his good will) hee falls to it as soone as his meat is out of his mouth.] {notdef}


[Les grands banqueteurs font rarement de beaux faits d'armes:] [Prov.] Great banketters doe seldome great exploits.


[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 grillons gastent la feste:] [Prov.] [Loud bablers are euer offensiue at feasts; a Prouerbe taxing Buffoones, and Sycophants, who with their idle chat are troublesome to all that heare them.]


[Les gros iarrons ont tousiours les manches pleins de baillons:] [Prov.] [Great theeues haue euer store of gags (viz. of gifts) about them.]


[Les gros poissons mangent les menus:] [Pro.] [Poore men are (easily) supplanted by the rich, the weake by the strong, the meane by the mightie.]
[Les gros poissons mangent les petis:] [Pro.] [Iustly applyed to the vniust world, wherein the rich deuoure the poore, the strong the weake, the mightie the meane.]
[Les gros larrons pendent les petits; &, les gros larrons meinent pendre les petits:] [Prov.] [Applyable to such as being themselues guiltie of great faults, condemne, or punish, little ones in others.]


[Les hommes donnent aux femmes ce qu'ils n'ont pas, & ne peuvent avoir:] [Pro.] [viz. Milke.] {undef}


[Les hommes se rencontrent, & non pas les montaignes:] [Prov.] [Men meet often, mountaines neuer.]
[Les hommes se rencontrent, & non pas les montagnes:] [Prov.] [Not hills, but men, doe vse to meet.]


[Les larrons s'entrebatent, & les larcins se descouvrent:] [Pro.] [Theeues brabling helpes true men vnto their owne.]
[Les larrons s'entrebatent, & les larcins se descouvrent:] [Prov.] [When theeues fall out true men come to their owne.]


[Les maladies viennent a cheval, & s'en retournent à pied:] [Pro.] [Diseases come a horsebacke, and returne on foot.]


[Les mal vestus devers le vent:] [Pro.] [He that worst may the candle holdeth;]
[Les mal-vestus devers le vent:] [Prov.] [(Like our)] the weakest to the wall; those that worst may are euer put to the worst.


[Les mauldissons sont fueilles qui les seme les recueille:] [Prov.] Those that curse often shall accursed be.


[Les maux terminez en ique (comme Hydropique, Hectique, Paralytique, & c. font au medecin la nique:] [Prov.] [Because they be hardly cured.]
[Les maux terminez en ique font au medecin la nique:] [Prov.] [Such be Hydropique, Hectique, Paralitique, Apoplectique, Lethargique, & c. because they are hardly, or neuer, cured.]


[Les mouches vont tousjours aux chevaux maigres:] [Prov.] Flies are euer most busie about leane horses; so are Purueyors, and Promooters with the poorest, or least powerfull, ranke of people.


[Les oisons menent paistre les oyes:] [Prov.] [The cart leads the horse; the young instruct the old.]
[Les oisons menent paistre les oyes:] [Prov.] [(Said when subiects gouerne their Princes, children their parents, meane men the Magistrates, and seruants or schollers their maisters; and is a note as well of weakenesse in the Geese, as of sawcinesse in the Goslings.)]


[Les paroles du soir ne resemblent pas à celles du matin:] [Pro.] [The euening chat's not like the mornings tattle.]
[Les paroles du soir ne resemblent pas à celles du matin:] [Prov.] [Ere night our morning stile is chaunged;] or, few make at night their mornings promise good.
[Les paroles du soir ne resemblent pas à celles du matin:] [Prov.] [He that giues thee a good morrow, may yet before night procure thy sorrow.]


[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 paroles ne puent point:] [Pro.] (Bare) words haue no ill sauor.


[Les petis ruisseaux font les grandes rivié res:] [Pro.] [Many littles make a mickle; many small parcells ioyned together make vp a gread bodie, or bulke.]
[Les petis ruisseaux font les grandes rivieres:] [Pro.] [Narrow brookes make nauigable riuers.]
[Les petis ruisseaux font les grandes rivieres:] [Pro.] [Of narrow brookes come nauigable riuers.]


[Les plus rusez sont les premiers prins:] [Pro.] [He that seekes others to beguile, is ouertaken in his wile.]
[Les plus rusez sont les premiers pris:] [Prov.] [The craftiest are the soonest caught.]


[Les plus sages faillent souvent en beau chemin:] [Prov.] The skilfullest are often deceiued in ordinarie matters.
[Les plus sages faillent souvent en beau chemin:] [Prov.] [The wisest often erre in plainest matters.]


[Les princes ne veulent point de servitudes limitez:] [Pro.] [Princes will not be serued on conditions.]


[Les princes se servent des hommes comme le laboureur des abeilles:] [Pro.] [viz. First take their honey from them, and then smoother, or expell, them.]


[Les princes tiennent tousiours leurs comptes, ils ne perdent iamais rien:] [Prov.] [Princes are excellent reckoners, for they seldome loose ought.]


[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.


[Les Rivieres retournent en la mer:] [Prov.] [(Said when Princes doe squeeze out of their spungie Officers the moisture which they haue purloyned from them.)]


[Les sottes filles à marier sont fascheux troupeaux à garder:] [Prov.] Wenches fond of mariage are troublesome cattell to keepe.


[Les vertus surmontent les signes:] [Prov.] [Worth exceedeth wonders; example preuailes more then a signe to the conuersion of a sinner.]


[Les viandes nouvelles font rebondir l'estomach:] [Prov.] [The stomacke rises against vncouth meats.]


[Les vieilles gens qui font gambades, à la mort sonnent des aubades:] [Prov.] Old peoples frisking doth presage their ending.


[Les vilains s'entretiennent, les nobles s'embrassent:] [Pro.] [Clownes are but cold, the gentle kind, in mutuall conuersation.]
[Les vilains s'entretiennent, les Nobles s'embrassent:] [Prov.] [Clownes intertaine one another coldly, Gentlemen courteously.]


[Les vivres suivent l'host:] [Prov.] [Victualls follow the Campe; where store of companie is victualls will be.]


[Le Tavernier s'enyvre de sa Taverne:] [Prov.] [Of the same, or like, sence.] [Il s'enyvre de sa propre bouteille.] Hee is drunke by his owne bottle; [(said of one thats too farre in loue with a good part of his owne, or abuses it vnto his ruine.)]


[Le temps n'est pas tousiours en bonne disposition:] [Prov.] [Time is not alwayes fauourable;] or, all times bee not good for all things.


[Le temps ouvre:] [Prov.] [Time workes (or weares) out euerie thing.]


[Le temps renverse les ponts:] [Pro.] [In time are bridges (all things) ouerthrowne.]


[Le temps vient, va, & passe, fol qui ne le compasse:] [Pro.] [Time commeth, goeth, and away doth passe, he that obserues, or weighes it not's an asse.]


[Le trou trop ouvert sous le nez fait porter souliers deschirez:] [Prov.] [Gluttonie breedes pouertie; the mouth too open makes men weare torne shooes.]
[Le trou trop ouvert sous le nez fait porter souliers deschirez:] [Prov.] [The hole too open vnder the nose, breeds tattered shooes, and ragged hose.]


[Leuer matin n'est pas heur; mais desjuner est le plus seur:] [Prov.] There is more safetie in eating, then happinesse in rising, early a mornings.


[Le vent, la tempeste, & l'orage, monstrent du nocher le courage:] [Prov.] [The wind and tempest being outragious, trie whether the Pilot be couragious.]
[Le vent, la tempeste, & l'orage monstrent du nocher la courage.] [Pro.] [Crosses are the touchstones of courage.]


[Le ventre emporte la teste:] [Prov.] [Said of Apostatoes, who in hope of ease and preferment abandon a knowne truth; said also of those, who aboue all things respect their bellies; or by an excessiue diet ruine, or dull, their vnderstandings.]
[Le ventre emporte la teste:] [Prov.] [Th'appetite often ouerrules the wit;]
[Le ventre emporte la teste:] [Prov.] [The bellie ouerbeares the head;]


[Lever matin n'est pas heur, mais desieuner est le plus seur:] [Prov.] [There is lesse happinesse in earlie rising then safetie in eating after one is risen.]


[Le vilain ne sç ait qu'esperons valent:] [Prov.] [Base people know not the worth of good things.]
[Le vilain ne sç ait qu'esperons valent:] [Prov.] Full little knowes the clowne what spurres can doe; base people know not, or cannot vse, braue helpes.


[Le vin n'a point de chaussure; &, le vin va sans chausses:] [Prov.] [Wine wanteth, or goeth without, breeches; viz. bewrayeth a mans infirmities, or worst parts; layeth open his shame, or layeth him open to shame.]
[Le vin va sans chausses:] [Prov.] Wine weares no breeches; a drunkard conceales nothing.


[L'habit ne fait pas le moine:] [Pro.] [The Cowle makes not the Monke; euerie one is not a souldier that weares armor; nor euerie one a scholler thats clad in blacke.]
[L'habit ne fait pas le moine:] [Prov.] [Tis not the habit (but the heart) that makes a man religious.]


[L'herbe qu'on cognoist on la doit lier à son doigt:] [Prov.] [Those, or that, which a man knowes best, he must vse most.]
[L'herbe qu'on cognoist on la doit lier à son doigt:] [Prov.] (For it is most vnsafe to deale with vnknowne medicines.)


[L'homme fait la malencontre quand sa femme fait le dessus:] [Prov.] (Wherein there is a double meaning.) {needsdef}


[L'homme qui a de l'art possede sa part:] [Prov.] He that hath wit, will haue a share in euery thing.
[L'homme qui a de l'art possede sa part:] [Prov.] [The skilfull gets a share in euerie thing.]


[L'hoste, & le poisson passé trois iours puent:] [Pro.] [A guest, and fish at three dayes end grow mustie.]
[L'hoste & le poisson, passé trois iours, puent:] [Prov.] [A guest and fish after three dayes are fustie.]


[L'hoste est tousiours le plus foulé:] [Pro.] [(Applyable to Gossipping feasts;) The intertainer's alwaies troubled most.]
[L'hoste est tousiours le plus foulé:] [Prov.] The guest (or Host) is alwayes charged most.


[L'oeil du maistre engraisse le cheval:] [Prov.] [A horse is fattened by his maisters eye.]


[L'oiseau gazouille selon qu'il est embecqué:] [Pro.] [A man vsually speakes as his humor moues, gaine leads, or passion vrges him; or (like a good bird) he vtters onely that which he was bid, or taught, to say.]
[L'oiseau gazouille selon qu'il est embecqué:] [Prov.] A man speaks euen as his hopes do moue, or passions vrge him; [It may be also applied to a Lawyer, who according to the fee he hath receiued, pleads for his Client, better or worse.]


[L'oison n'est pas digne de monstrer les pasquis à l'oye:] [Prov.] [(A checke for young men that presume to teach their elders.)] {notdef}


[L'on endure tout fors que trop d'aise:] [Prov.] Wee say, all things may be suffered sauing wealth.


[Longue demeure faict changer amy:] [Prov.] Long absence changes loue; looses friends; alters affection.
[Longue demeure fait changer ami:] [Pro.] Long absence alters affection, breeds forgetfulnesse, weakens constancie, brings in change.


[Longue langue courte main:] [Prov.] [Those that promise most performe least.]


[Longuement proceder est à l'advocat vendenger:] [Pro.] Long suits are Lawyers haruests.
[Longuement proceder est à l'advocat vendenger:] [Prov.] [Long pleading is the Lawyers haruest.]


[Longues paroles font les iours courts:] [Prov.] [Long discourses make short dayes.]
[Longues paroles font les iours courts:] [Prov.] [Long words make short dayes; a long discourse makes time to steale away.]


[L'on perd l'appareil d'vne poule, à faute d'acheter pour vn liard d'espices:] [Prov.] Some to spare a pennie loose the vse of that which cost them a pound.


[L'oye meine l'oison paistre:] [Prov.] [The Goose leads out the Gosling to the field; (contrarie to the former, and an argument of a well-proportioned gouernment.)]
[L'oye mene l'oison paistre:] [Prov.] [Carefull parents teach their children how to liue of themselues.]


[L'un a le bruit, l'autre lave la laine:] [Prov.] Th'one hath the credit, the other the trouble; or, th'one gets the credit, th'other takes the paines.
[L'vn a le bruit l'autre lave la laine:] [Prov.] [Th'one gets the credit th'other takes the paines.]


[L'un meurt dont l'autre vit:] [Pro.] [That whereof one dyes, another liues; that which is beneficiall to one, is banefull to another.]
[L'un meurt dont l'autre vit:] [Prov.] [That which preserues one man poysons another.]


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