The Proverbs of Scotland Part 26

Dunse dings a'.

"It may be mentioned that this is only the opinion which the people of Dunse entertain of the town, as their neighbours, in general, scout the idea with great indignation."--_Robert Chambers._ There are several local additions to this saying, such as "Dunse dings a'

for braw lads and drucken wives;" "for gude yill and bonnie la.s.ses,"

&c.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Eagles catch nae fleas.

Spoken of conceited people who affect disdain for petty details.

Eagles flee alane, but sheep herd thegither.

Early birds catch the worms.

Early crooks the tree, that good cammock should be.

Early maister, lang servant.

Early sow, early mow.

East or west, hame is best.

East and wast, the sign o' a blast; north and south, the sign o' a drouth.

Easy learning the cat the road to the kirn.

When the natural inclination tends towards any particular subject, it a.s.sists the learner greatly.

Eat and welcome--fast and twice as welcome.

Eaten meat is ill to pay.

"Eaten bread is soon forgotten."--_Italian._

Eating, drinking, and cleaning need but a beginning.

Eat in measure and defy the doctor.

Eat peas wi' the prince and cherries wi' the chapman.

Eats meat, an's never fed; wear claes, an's never cled.

Of some people it may be said, that "they put their meat in an ill skin;" for, notwithstanding that they live well, they appear always thin and hungry, and not at all, to use a Scotticism, "like their meat." Some people are equally unfortunate with regard to their clothing; always amply dressed, they seem the very reverse.

Eat till ye sweat and work till ye freeze.

Eat-weel's Drink-weel's brither.

Signifying that good drinking must necessarily go hand in hand with good eating.

Eat your fill and pouch nane, is gardener's law.

E'en as ye won't, sae ye may wear't.

As you won it, so you may wear it; applied either in a good or bad sense.

E'ening grey and a morning red, put on your hat or ye'll weet your head.

E'ening orts are gude morning's fodder.

"Orts," rejected provender. Meaning that a thing which is rejected or despised at present may be acceptable or valuable at another time.

E'ening red an' a morning grey is taiken sure o' a bonnie day.

E'en pickle in your ain pock-neuk.

"'Ye'll find the stane breeks and the iron garters--ay, and the hemp cravat, for a' that, neighbour,' replied the bailie. 'Nae man in a civilised country ever played the pliskies ye hae done; but e'en pickle in your ain pock-neuk--I hae gi'en ye warning.'"--_Rob Roy._

Eident youth maks easy age.

"Industry is the parent of fortune."--_German._

Eild and poort.i.th are a sair burden for ae back.

"Eild and poort.i.th," age and poverty. "Poverty on an old man's back is a heavy burden."--_English._

Eild and poort.i.th's sair to thole.

This saying is of similar import to the preceding one. Literally, age and poverty are hard to bear.

Eild should hae honour.

Either live or die wi' honour.

Either prove a man or a mouse.

Either win the horse or tine the saddle.

Win the horse or lose the saddle. "Neck or nothing."

Eith keeping the castle that's no besieged.

"It is easy to sit at the helm in fair weather."--_Danish._