The Proverbs of Scotland Part 77

Nane are sae weel but they hope to be better.

Nane but fools and knaves lay wagers.

Henderson, in his _Proverbs_, reads "poets" for "fools," possibly as a hit upon some of his friends, several of whom were poets of local celebrity.

Nane can mak a bore but ye'll find a pin for't.

Meaning that none can find fault with you but you will be able to give an excuse for it. "As soon find hare without a mense as you without excuse."--_English._

Nane can play the fool sae weel as a wise man.

Nane can tell what's i' the shaup till it's shelt.

That is, in the husk until it is sh.e.l.led.

Nane kens whaur a blister may light.

Narrow gathered, widely spent.

Nature pa.s.ses nurture.

Nearer e'en the mair beggars.

Nearer G.o.d's blessing than Carlisle fair.

"You need but go to your closet for the one, but you must go out of the kingdom for the other."--_Kelly._

Nearer the bane, sweeter the flesh.

"And for eating--what signifies telling a lee? there's just the hinder end of the mutton-ham that has been but three times on the table, and the nearer the bane the sweeter, as your honours weel ken; and--there's the heel of the ewe-milk kebbuck, wi' a bit o'

nice b.u.t.ter, and--and--that's a' that's to trust to."--_Bride of Lammermoor._

Nearer the rock, the sweeter the gra.s.s.

Nearest the heart, nearest the mou.

"Spoken to them who, designing to name one person, by mistake names another, perhaps a sweetheart."--_Kelly._

Nearest the king, nearest the widdy.

"Widdy," rope or gallows. Meaning that those who occupy political or subservient positions do so only during the pleasure of their superiors.

Near's my kirtle, but nearer's my sark.

Near's my sark, but nearer's my skin.

The two last sayings are common to many nations. "Some friends are nearer to me than others--my parents and children than my other relations, those than my neighbours, my neighbours than strangers; but, above all, I am next to myself."--_Ray._

Near the kirk, but far frae grace.

This fact is so well ascertained that there is another to the same effect. "Farthest frae the kirk aye soonest at it;" and the English are of a similar opinion, for Spenser writes:

"At kirke the narre from G.o.d more farre, Has been an old sayed sawe."

Necessity has nae law.

Necessity's the mither o' invention.

Neck or naething, the king lo'es nae cripples.

"A prophane jest upon those who are like to fall, wishing that they may either break their neck or come off safe; for breaking a limb will make them useless subjects."--_Kelly._

Need gars naked men run, and sorrow gars wabsters spin.

"Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood."--_Italian._ In the second clause we have another discreditable imputation on the weaving fraternity, implying that they only work when compelled by hunger, and are not naturally industrious.

Need gars the auld wife trot.

"'This is your mother, is it not?' (Cuddie nodded.) 'What can have brought your mother and you down the water so late?' 'Troth, stir, just what gars the auld wives trot--neshessity, stir. I'm seeking for service, stir.'"--_Old Mortality._

Need maks a man o' craft.

Need maks greed.

Need maks the naked quean spin.

Ne'er break out o' kind to gar your friends ferlie at you.

Do not do strange acts merely for the sake of astonishing your friends.

Ne'er count the lawin' wi' a toom quaich.

"Quaich," a small and shallow drinking-cup with two ears. The proverb has a similar meaning to "Fair fa' the wife," &c., _q. v._

Ne'er do ill that gude may come o't.

Ne'er draw your dirk when a dunt will do.

That is, do not resort to extreme measures when mild means will suffice.

Ne'er fash your beard.

"'Tell them all this, and hear what they say till't.'

"'Indeed, mistress, I can tell ye that already, without stirring my shanks for the matter,' answered Nelly Trotter; 'they will e'en say that ye are ae auld fule, and me anither, that may hae some judgment in c.o.c.k-bree or in scate-rumples, but maunna fash our beards about onything else.'"--_St Ronan's Well._

Ne'er fash your thoom.

"Ne'er mind her flytes, but set your heart at ease: Sit down and blaw your pipe, nor fash your thoom, An' there's my hand, she'll tire, and soon sing dumb."--_Fergusson._