French Proverbs from 1611: Starting with the letter D

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[Dame qui trop se mire peu file:] [Pro.] [She that looks too much at her selfe lookes too little to her selfe.]
[Dame qui trop se mire peu file:] [Prov.] She that heeds her beautie much, tends her benefit but little; a proud, and a good, huswife are incompatible.


[Danse du loup la queuë entre les iambes:] [Prov.] [Lecherie.] {needsdef}


[Dans vne gaine d'or vn cousteau de plomb:] [Pro.] A leaden sword in a golden sheath; a foule heart in a faire bodie.
[Dans vne gaine d'or vn cousteau de plomb:] [Prov.] [A base heart vnder a rich habit.]
[Dans vne gaine d'or vn cousteau de plomb:] [Prov.] A leaden sword in a golden sheath; a godlesse heart in a goodlie bodie.


[De b carre en b mol:] [Prov.] [In discourse, to shift often, idly, and on a suddaine, from one subiect vnto another.] {ed: was in the definition for "B", which is defined as the letter B, or the note B in music.}


[De bien commun on ne ait pas souvent monceau:] [Prov.] Men seldome raise great heapes of publicke treasure.
[De bien commun on ne fait pas souvent monceau:] [Pro.] [Of common goods men seldome gather heaps.]
[De bien commun on ne fait pas souvent monceau:] [Prov.] [Men often grow not rich by publicke treasure.]


[Debonnaire mire fait playe puante:] [Prov.] [A courteous Surgeon makes a corrupt sore.]
[Debonnaire mire fait playe puante:] [Prov.] [A gentle Chirurgian makes a stinking sore.]
[Debonnaire Mire fait playe puante:] [Prov.] a tender-harted Surgeon makes a wound to stinke.


[De bonne terre bon tupin:] [Prov.] [Good earth good pipkins yeeldeth.]


[De bon terroir bon vin:] [Prov.] A good soyle yeelds good fruit.


[De ce que fol pense souvent en demeure:] [Prov.] A foole comes often short of his intentions.
[De ce que fol pense souvent en demeure:] [Prov.] A foole oft finds himselfe short of his reckonings.


[De ce que tu pourras faire n'attends autruy:] [Pro.] Bid not another doe that which thou canst do thy selfe; or, build not, relye not, on anothers doing of that which & c.


[De cheval qui recule au plustost te delivre:] [Prov.] [Soone rid thee of a horse thats restie.]


[De chose perduë le conseil ne se remuë:] [Pro.] Aduise is idle when a thing is lost; or when things are lost why should we aske aduise?
[De chose perduë le conseil ne se remuë:] [Prov.] [In vaine we goe to law when things be lost.]


[De Corsaire à Corsaire n'y pend que barriques rompuë s:] [Prov.] Nought's to be got of a roauer but trash, or blowes.


[De court plaisir long repentir:] [Prov.] [For a short pleasure long repentance.]


[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 femme volage, & friande, En tout temps bon heur nous defende:] [Pro.] From women light, and lickorous, good fortune still deliuer vs.


[De fol iuge breve sentence:] [Prov.] [A fooles boult is soone shot.]
[De fol Iuge breve sentence:] [Prov.] [The foole hath quickly vttered his thoughts;] or, the fooles award is giuen in few words.


[De forte cousture dure deschirure:] [Prov.] Strong seames by sturdie hands are torne asunder.


[De gens de bien vient tout bien:] [Prov.] [From good men comes all goodnesse.]
[De gens de bien vient tout bien:] [Prov.] From good men comes all goodnesse.


[De grand desseign vne souris:] [Prov.] [(as the Latine [Parturiunt montes] & c.) All that mountaine proues but a molehill.]


[De grande maladie vient on bien en grande santé:] [Prov.] [From a long sicknesse a lasting health.]
[De grande maladie vient on bien en grande santé:] [Prov.] [Much comfort after many crosses; long sicknesse often breeds a lasting health.]
[De grande maladie vient on bien en grande santé:] [Prov.] [Sound health comes after sore diseases.]


[De grand maistre hardi valet:] [Prov.] [A maisters greatnesse breedes him hardie seruants; the might of Lords addes mettall to their men.]
[De grand maistre hardi valet:] [Prov.] [Said of a seruant, that bearing himselfe on his maisters greatnesse, is more bold, and confident then otherwise he would be.]


[De grand menaceur peu de faict:] [Prov.] [Great menacers, little men-hackers.]


[De grand (ou petit) peché grand (ou petit) pardon:] [Prov.] [Great offences need great pardons; little faults are soone forgiuen.]
[De grand peché grand pardon:] [Prov.] [A gracious pardon for a foule offence.]


[De grands vanteurs petis faiseurs:] [Pro.] [Great boast, and small roast; big words poore worke; the more you talke the lesse you will doe.]
[De grands vanteurs petis faiseurs:] [Prov.] [Great boasters small roasters; the fairest chimneyes yeeld out the least smoake.]
[De grands vanteurs petis faiseurs:] [Prov.] [Great braggers little doers.]


[De grand train sur l'estrain:] [Prov.] From (keeping) a great traine into the straw; viz. vnto beggerie.


[De grand vilain grande cheute:] [Prov.] The greater a bad man is the more scandalous, and hurtfull are his vices, and therefore, the more headlong, and infamous, his fall.
[De grand vilain grand flac:] [Pro.] [A great or mightie knaue, a mightie fall will haue.]
[De grand vilain grand flac:] [Prov.] [A great offendor merits a great fall;] or, a noysome knaue deserues a noysome knocke; or; [De grand vilain lourde cheute.] [A great offendor hath a grieuous fall.]
[De grand vilain grand flac:] [Prov.] He that liues villanously falls violently; or, the fall of a great rogue makes a great report.


[De grasse cuisine povreté s'avoisine:] [Prov.] [Pouertie gets her a house neere prodigalitie; a fat kitchin, and a leane purse grow quickly neighbours.]


[De grosse table à l'estable:] [Prov.] [Excessiue housekeeping makes Gentlemen turne Groomes.]
[De grosse table à l'estable:] [Prov.] He that in housekeeping spends more then he's able, may fall to horsekeeping and dy in a stable.


[De ieune advocat heritage perdu:] [Pro.] The young (or vnexperienced) Lawyer hazards what he pleads for.
[De ieune Advocat heritage perdu:] [Prov.] [The land is lost which a young Lawyer pleads for.]


[De jeune Angelot vieux diable:] [Prov.] We say, a young Saint an old diuell.


[De la main à la bouche se perd souvent la soupe:] [Prov.] Betweene the hand and lip the morsell's lost.
[De la main à la bouche se perd souvent la soupe:] [Prov.] [Many a bit miscarries betweene the hand, and the lip; we often loose things when wee almost enioy them.]


[De l'arbre d'un pressoir le manche d'un cernier:] [Prov.] [(Like our)] from a mill-post to a pudding-pricke.
[De l'arbre d'un pressoir le manche d'un cernoir:] [Prov.] [To make of a verie great, a verie small, thing, by often handling, or altering, & euer cutting away, some peece or other, of it.]
[De l'arbre d'un pressoir le manche d'un Cernoir:] [Prov.] [(We say of one that hath squandered away great wealth) hee hath thwitten a mill-post to a pudding pricke.]


[De mains vuides prieres vaines:] [Pro.] [Emptie hands (bad Orators) make intreatie proue idle.]
[De mains vuides prieres vaines:] [Prov.] [They that giue nought get nought; th'emptie-handed pray in vaine.]


[De mal est venu l'agneau, & à mal retourne la peau:] [Pro.] [Goods badly gotten seldome come to good.]
[De mal est venu l'agneau, & à mal retourne la peau:] [Prov.] [From ill came the Lambe, and to ill goes it skinne; goods euill gotten are commonly ill spent.]
[De mal est venu l'agneau & à [mal] retourne la peau:] [Prov.] To naught it goes that came from naughtinesse.


[De mauvais corbeau mauvais oeuf;] [Pro.] Of an ill bird, an ill brood.


[De mauvaise viande on ne sç ait faire vn bon potage:] [Pro.] [Ill stuffe will not affoord good worke.]
[De mauvaise viande on ne sç ait faire vn bon potage:] [Pro.] [No man can make of ill acates good cale.]


[De mauvais payeur foin, ou paille:] [Prov.] [Of a decaying, or dishonest creditor take any thing.]
[De mauvais payeurs foin, ou paille:] [Prov.] For a desperate debt take any satisfaction, of an ill paymaister any thing.
[De mauvais payeurs foin, ou paille:] [Prov.] [Take any thing thats offered you by an euill debtor.]


[De meschante vie les bonnes loix sont venuë s:] [Pro.] [Ill liues occasioned good Lawes.]
[De meschante vie les bonnes loix sont venuë s:] [Prov.] [Bad liues haue bred good lawes.]


[De meschant homme bon Roy:] [Pro.] [The froward, or vntractable man proues a good King.]
[De meschant homme bon Roy:] [Prov.] [A froward man becomes a good King.]


[De meschant hoste bon reconduiseur:] [Pro.] [A needie host (or ghest) a notable guide.]
[De meschant hoste bon reconduiseur:] [Pro.] [A needie host (or guest) is a friendlie guide.]


[Deniers avancent les bediers:] [Prov.] Coine prefers Coxcombes.
[Deniers avancent les bediers:] [Prov.] Money aduanceth Meacockes.


[Denier sur denier bastit la maison:] [Prov.] One pennie after another builds the house; by little and little great matters are effected, great workes finished.
[Denier sur denier bastit la maison:] [Prov.] Pennie vpon pennie builds the house; by little and little great matters are effected, great workes finished.


[De nouveau medecin cemetiere bossu:] [Prov.] An vnexperienced Physitian fattens the churchyard.
[De nouveau medecin cimitiere bossu:] [Pro.] [A new Phisition makes a Churchyard swell.]
[De nouveau Medecin cimitiere bossu:] [Prov.] [A new Physitian breeds a fat churchyard.]


[De nouveau Seigneur nouvelle mesgnie:] [Prov.] [A new Maister, a new meynie.]


[De nouveau tout est beau:] [Prov.] [Euerie new thing lookes faire.]


[De pere gardien filz garde-rien:] [Prov.] A retchlesse sonne of a wretched father.


[De petite chose peu de plaid:] [Prov.] [A sleight cause needeth but sleight canuassing.]
[De petite chose peu de plaid:] [Prov.] [A sleight cause needeth but small arguing.]


[De petit enfant petit dueil:] [Pro.] A little mourning serues for little children.
[De petit enfant petit dueil:] [Pro.] [The death of little ones is not much bemoand.]


[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.]


[De petit peché petit pardon:] [Prov.] [As is the fault so must the pardon be.]
[De petit peché petit pardon:] [Prov.] [Small pardon will suffice for a small fault.]


[De petit petit, & d'assez assez:] [Prov.] From much take much, from little take a little.
[De petit petit, & d'assez assez:] [Prov.] [Of a little take a little, of a mickle mickle.]


[De peu de chose peu de prose:] [Pro.] [Little done soone deliuered, little acted quickly vttered.]
[De peu de chose peu de prose:] [Prov.] [For small matters little strife; about small things but small adoe.]


[De poules, & de pauvreté on en est bien tost engé:] [Prov.] [Pulleine, and pouertie are quickly increased.]


[De prescheur qui se recommande en tout temps bon heur nous defende:] [Prov.] [From begging Preachers fortune still defend vs.]
[De Prescheur qui se recommande en tout temps bon heur nous defende:] [Prov.] [From Preachers who themselues commend, God, and good fortune vs defend.]


[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.]


[De qui ie me fie dieu me garde:] [Pro.] [(For, in trust is Treason, say we.)


[Desbander l'arc ne guerist pas la playe:] [Prov.] The bowes vnbending heales no wound it made; the disusing of a mischieuous instrument is no amends for the hurt it hath done.
[Desbander l'arc ne guerist pas la playe:] [Prov.] The bows vnbending healeth not the wound (it hath made;) the withdrawing of forces is no amends for the wrongs or harmes, which they haue done.


[De serviteur qui se regarde donne toy soigneusement garde:] [Prov.] [The seruant proud, and of himselfe respectiue, is in his duetie oftentimes defectiue.]


[De sot homme on n'en peut faire vn bon conte:] [Prov.] [An asse does nothing worth the speaking of.]
[De sot homme on n'en peut faire vn bon conte:] [Prov.] A sots whole life affoords not one good tale.


[De sot homme sot songe:] [Prov.] [A foolish man hath foolish dreames.]
[De sot homme sot songe:] [Prov.] [The dreames of fops are but meere fopperies.]


[De toute femme qui se farde, donne toy soigneusement garde:] [Prov.] Let no womans painting breed thy stomacks fainting.


[De toute taille bon chien:] [Pro.] [There are some able men of all sorts, and sizes.]
[De toute taille bon levrier:] [Prov.] [There are good and bad, valiant and cowardlie, strong and weake, of all shapes and sizes.]


[De tout s'avise à qui pain faut:] [Pro.] [Necessitie inuen ted all good Artes; want more then any thing makes men industrious.]
[De tout s'avise à qui pain faut:] [Prov.] Hunger makes men industrious; want makes them looke narrowly, and throughly, about them.


[De trop pres se chauffe qui se brusle:] [Prov.] Hee stands too neere the fire that burnes himselfe.
[De trop prez se chauffe qui se brusle:] [Prov.] Hee warmes himselfe too neere that burnes himselfe.


[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 hommes se rencontrent bien; mais iamais deux Montagnes:] [Prov.] Two men may often meet, but mountaines neuer.


[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.


[Deux pots au feu significent la feste, & deux femmes font la tempeste:] [Prov.] Two pots oth'fire a feast, two women a storme, portend.
[Deux pots au feu signifient feste, & deux femmes font la tempeste:] [Prov.] [Two pots a feast presage, two women mickle rage.]
[Deux pots au feu signifient feste, & deux femmes font la tempeste:] [Prov.] Two pots well fild are signes of a feast; two women ill-wild of a storme.
[Deux pots au feu signifient feste, & deux femmes font la tempeste:] [Prov.] Two pots well fild are signes of a feast; two women ill-wild of a storme.


[Deux yeux voyent plus clair qu'un:] [Pro.] [Two eyes see better (two wits discerne more) then one.]
[Deux yeux voyent plus clair qu'un:] [Prov.] Two eyes see better (two men know more) then one.


[Dieu donne biens & boeuf, mais ce n'est pas par la corne:] [Prov.] God giues things plentifully and without perill.
[Dieu donne le froid selon le drap:] [Prov.] God sends his cooth according to their cloth; viz: such afflictions as he knowes them able to beare.


[Dieu sç ait qui est bon pelerin:] [Prov.] God knowes the hearts of Pilgrims.
[Dieu sç ait qui est bon pelerin:] [Prov.] [God knowes who's a good Pilgrim; the hearts of Pilgrims are best knowne to God.]


[Diligence passe science:] [Pro.] [Diligence exceedeth Science.]


[D'oiseaux, de chiens, d'armes, & d'amours, pour vn plaisir mille douleurs:] [Prov.] [Who fall in loue, or follow Hawkes, hounds, armes, for one delight sustain a thousand harmes.]
[D'oiseaux, de chiens, d'armes, & d'amours pour vn plaisir mille douleurs:] [Prov.] Who follow haukes, hounds, armes, or are in loue, for one delight a thousand sorrowes proue.
[D'oyseaux, de chiens, d'armes, & d'amours, pour vn plaisir mille douleurs:] [Prov.] The pleasure got by hawkes, hounds, loue, and armes, are deerely bought with millions of harmes.


[Douce parole n'escorche langue:] [Prov.] Wee say, good words breake no bones.


[Douce parole rompt grand'ire:] [Pro.] [A gentle answer quayles fell anger.]
[Douce parole rompt grand ire:] [Pro.] [Fell spleene is quayled by faire speech.]
[Douce parole rompt grand'ire:] [Prov.] Gentle words appease the irefull.
[Douce parole rompt grand ire:] [Prov.] [Great anger is by gentle tearmes asswaged.]


[Douces promesses obligent les fols:] [Pro.] Faire promises oblige th'improuident.
[Douces promesses obligent les fols:] [Prov.] Faire promises oblige fools; or (as our) faire words make fools faine.


[Du dire au faict y a grand traict:] [Prov.] [Deeds and words dwell farre asunder: either because many things that are spoken are not intended to be done; or because few things will so quickly, or can so easily be done, as they are spoken.]
[Du dire au faict y a grand traict:] [Prov.] There is great difference betweene words, and deeds; [we haue an old, and triuiall rime somewhat to this purpose;] Saying, and doing end both with a letter; saying is good, but doing is better.
[Du dire au faict y a grand traict:] [Prov.] [There is 'tweene (most) mens word and deed, great space, and but a little speed.]


[D'une fille deux gendres:] [Prov.] [Two friends gotten by one good office performed, or fauour done; a seuerall gaine drawne from sundrie men by the venting, or vse, of one thing.]


[D'un larron priué on ne se peut garder:] [Pro.] There is no ward for a familiar theefe.
[D'un larron privé on ne se peut garder:] [Prov.] [No creature can auoid the priuie theefe.]


[D'un sac à charbon ne peut sortir que de la poussiere noire:] [Prov.] [A coale-sacke yeeldeth nothing but blacke dust; Blacke thoughts can none but balefull acts produce.]
[D'un sac à charbon ne peut sortir que de la poussiere noire:] [Prov.] [Looke not for ought but coale-dust from coale-sackes; th'infected heart must vnsound stuffe belch out.]
[D'un sac à charbon ne peut sortir que de la poussiere noire:] [Prov.] [Nought but blacke dust from Colliers sacks can come; a vicious man will be lewd in his talke.]


[D'un vilain refaict Dieu nous garde:] [Prov.] [From a churle growne rich good Lord deliuer vs.]


[Du petit vient on au grand:] [Prov.] [From little men come to great; viz. from a meane estate vnto much wealth; from errors to wilfull disorders; from veniall to mortall offences, & c.]


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