[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 adventure gisent grands coups:] [Pro.] In doubtfull cases great blowes are bestowed.
[En adventure gisent grands coups:] [Prov.] [While things are doubtfull great things may be done.]
[En amour est folie, & sens:] [Pro.] In loue there is both wit, and witaldrie.
[En amour est folie, & sens:] [Prov.] In loue there is both dotage, and discretion.
[En amour est folie, & sens:] [Prov.] [Loue is both fond, and wittie; in loue's both folie, and wit.]
[En Aoust les gelines sont sourdes:] [Prov.] [In August Hennes are deafe.]
[En argent soit le capital de celuy là qui le veut mal:] [Prov.] (Belike, because the keeping of it is both sinfull, and casuall.)
[En argent soit le capital de celuy là qui te ueut mal:] [Prov.] Let money be thy enemies whole stocke;
[En bonne maison l'on a tost appresté:] [Prov.] All things are soone prepared in a well ordered house.
[En bonne maison l'on a tost appresté:] [Prov.] [In a good house all things are quickly readie.]
[En bonne maison l'on a tost apresté:] [Pro.] In an orderly, or plentifull house all things are soone made readie; or, we seldome tarie for our victuals.
[En cent ans civiere en cent ans banniere:] [Prov.] [In one hundred yeares a Banner, in the next a wheelebarrow; the family which at this day is held rich and noble, may within an age become both poore in estate, and meane in account.]
[En cent ans civiere, en cent ans banniere:] [Prov.] Sometimes a wheelebarrow, sometimes a banner; those that are poore now, may be potent hereafter; no family holds very long at one stay.
[En cent livres de plaid n'y a pas vn maille d'amour:] [Pro.] In a hundred pound of law there's not a halfepenny weight of loue.
[En cent livres de plaid n'y pas vne maille d'amour:] [Prov.] [The more law the lesse loue.]
[En coffre ouvert le iuste peché:] [Prov.] [An open cof- fer the theefe excuses.]
[En coffre ouvert le juste peché:] [Prov.] Opportunitie makes, or warrants, a thiefe.
[Encores n'a pas failli qui a à ruer:] [Pro.] [He hath not faild thats yet to fling;] or, he thats to fling hath not yet failed.
[En defaut de sage le fol monte en chaire:] [Prov.] A foole, for want of wiser, steps into the roome.
[En defaut de sage monte vn fol en chaire:] [Prov.] [A foole, for want of better, doth step vp and preach; vndertakes the businesse; vndergoes the charge.]
[Endurer faut pour durer:] [Prov.] Such as will dure must indure.
[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.
[Enfans deviennent grands gens:] [Pro.] Children, in time, grow men; or (as we say) boyes will be men one day.
[Enfans sont richesses de pauvres gens:] [Prov.] Children are poore mens riches: [(In other Countries, whose people are industrious, they may perhaps be so; but in ours, for the most part, store of children make poore men plaine beggers.)]
[En fin les loups tuent le chien qui tue les loups:] [Prov.] [The Wolues at length kill dogs that killed Wolues.]
[En fin les regnards se trouvent chez le pelletier:] [Prov.] [At length doe subtiltie, and villanie meet with their meed.]
[En forgeant on devient febvre:] [Prov.] Continuall practise begets cunning.
[En four chaud ne croist herbe:] [Prov.] [Grasse growes not in hot Ouens.]
[En four chaud ne croist herbe:] [Prov.] Hot Ouens breed no hearbes.
[En grande pauvreté n'y a grande loyaulté:] [Prov.] [Where pouertie is, loyaltie is not, great.]
[En grande pauvreté n'y a pas grande loyauté:] [Prov.] [Those that are verie poore are not verie loyall.]
[En grande povreté n'y a pas grande loyaulté:] [Prov.] [In great pouertie there's no great loyaltie.]
[En grand fardeau n'est pas l'acquest:] [Prov.] Greatnesse makes not a burthen gainefull; or the gaine rests not in the greatnesse of a burthen; tis not the great, but the good burthen one thriues by.
[En grand fardeau n'est pas l'acquest:] [Prov.] [Hee gaines not most that carries most; not weight but worth, not greatnesse but goodnesse, makes a burthen gainefull.]
[En grand fardeau n'est pas l'acquest;] [Prov.] The greatest burthens are not the gainfullest; or, The goodnesse of a thing rests not in the greatnesse of it.
[En hyver par tout pleut; en esté là ou dieu veut:] [Prov.] In Winter it raines all ouer, in Summer but some where.
[En hyver par tout pleut, en Esté là ou Dieu veut:] [Prov.] [Raine falls in Winter euerie where, in summer onely by fauour; (somewhat like whereunto is;)] [Là ou Dieu veut il pleut:]
[En la peau de brebis ce que tu veux y escris:] [Pro.] One may write what he will in a sheepes skin; (sheepe endure any thing.)
[En la peau de brebis ce que tu veux y escris:] [Prov.] [You may write what you list in a sheepes skin.]
[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 larmes de fol ne se doit on fier:] [Pro.] The teares of a foole are not to be trusted.
[En larmes de fol ne se doit on fier:] [Prov.] [A fooles teares are not to be trusted.]
[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.]
[En maigre poil a morsure:] [Pro.] [A bald head yeelds a lowse a full bit; disarmed of protection, soone harmed by oppression.]
[En mangeant l'appetit se perd:] [Prov.] [Eating and drinking will take away any mans stomacke.]
[En mangeant l'appetit se perd:] [Prov.] [Eating, better than any thing, quells appetite, or abates the stomacke.]
[En mangeant l'appetit vient:] [Pro.] [(Sometimes) the more one eats the more he may.]
[En mangeant l'appetit vient:] [Prov.] One shoulder of mutton drawes downe another.
[En mauvais voisinage se loge on:] [Prov.] [The poorest swad affoords a pad: ill neighbours may be lodg'd among.]
[En Moissons Dames chambrieres sont:] [Prov.] [Ladies are but drudges, or wait on themselues, as long as Haruest lasts.]
[En moissons Dames chambrieres sont:] [Pro.] While Haruest lasts, all fellowes.
[En petit buisson trouve on grand lievre:] [Prov.] A little bodie (oft) harbours a great heart; and a small head much wit.
[En petit buisson trouve on grand lievre:] [Prov.] [A little groue may harbor a great Hare.]
[En petit champ croist bien bon blé:] [Prov.] [Small fields haue good corne growing in them.]
[En petit champ croist bien bon bled:] [Prov.] Good corne growes very well in little fields; or (better) verie good corne growes in little fields; excellent spirits are often lodged in exile, or small, bodies.
[En petite cheminé e fait on bien grand feu:] [Prov.] [A little chimney can hold a great fire.]
[En petite cheminé e fait on bien grand feu:] [Prov.] In little chimneyes good big fires are made.
[En petite cheminé e fait on bien grand feu:] [Prov.] Men sometimes make great fires in little chimneyes (to their cost.)
[En petite eau souvent on trouve grand bieure:] [Pro.] A great beauer is often found in a little brooke.
[En petite eau souvent on trouve grand bieure:] [Prov.] [Great worth is often found in things of small apparance.]
[En petite maison Dieu a grand part:] [Prov.] [God hath a great share in a small house.]
[En petite maison dieu a grand part:] [Prov.] In a little mansion God hath a great portion.
[En petite rivié re ne se prend grand poisson:] [Prov.] [Small towns, or meane families, affoord no great preferment.]
[En petite riviere ne se prend gros poisson:] [Pro.] [In poore families, or pettie Townes, great preferment will not be had, much profit cannot be made.]
[En petite teste gist grand sens:] [Prov.] [In a little head great wit.]
[En petite teste gist grand sens:] [Pro.] [Within a little head great wit.]
[En petite teste gist grand sens:] [Pro.] [Within a little skonce, great skill.]
[En petit ventre grand coeur:] [Pro.] [A great stomack oft lodges in a little one.]
[En petit ventre grand coeur:] [Prov.] A great heart in a little bodie; great courage in a small corps.
[En peu d'heure dieu labeure:] [Pro.] God quickly does what he will doe.
[En peu d'heure Dieu labeure:] [Prov.] [God workes his will in a small while.]
[En pont, en planche, & en riviere, valet devant, maistre derriere:] [Prov.] [In places of danger, or disaster, the seruant must precede his maister.]
[En pont, en planche, & en riviere, vallet devant, maistre derriere:] [Prov.] [Ore waters deepe, and bridges weake or hollow, the man must lead the way, the maister follow.]
[En pont, en planche, & en riviere, valet devant, maistre derriere:] [Prov.] [In places of danger, or disaster, the seruant must precede his maister.]
[En seureté dort qui n'a que perdre:] [Pro.] He sleepes securely that hath nought to loose.
[En seureté dort qui n'a que perdre:] [Pro.] [Securely sleepes he that hath nought to loose.]
[En seureté dort qui n'a que perdre:] [Prov.] [He that can loose nought sleepes with great securitie.]
[Entre Beaucaire, & Tarascon ne paist ny brebis, ny mouton:] [Prov.] [For that great riuer drownes vp all the ground thats betweene them.]
[Entre deux comperes se perdit le fossoir:] [Pro.] Our neerest friends oft makes vs the worst accounts; so may a cosen safely be tearmed a cousener.
[Entre deux comperes se perdit le fossoir:] [Prov.] Betweene two stooles the tayle goes to the ground;
[Entre dire & faire il y a grand adire:] [Prov.] Betweene saying and doing there is great difference.
[Entre faire & dire il y a grand à dire:] [Prov.] Betweene saying and doing there is great difference;
[Entre la bouche & le cueillier souvent advient grand destourbier:] [Prov.] Betweene the cup and the lip (say we, with the Latine Poet) many mischances happen.
[Entre la bouche, & la cuillier souvent advient grand destourbier:] [Prov.] Great lets oft thrust betweene the spoone and mouth; mischances happen when men thinke all sure.
[Entre promettre, & donner doit on la fille marier:] [Pro.] [Betweene giuing somewhat and promising much, a man may be honestly rid of a daughter.]
[Entre promettre, & donner doit on la fille marier:] [Prov.] Betweene promising, and giuing the maid ought to be maried;
[Entre tels tel deviendras:] [Prov.] [Among such thou wilt be such; their co[m]panie will make thee like them;] or, among such be such; fit thy selfe to thy companie.
[En vain plante qui ne clost:] [Prov.] In vaine hee plants that hedges not.
[En vaisseau mal lavé ne peut on vin garder:] [Prov.] [In vncleane Caske wine will not keepe.]
[En vaisseau mal lavé ne peut on vin garder:] [Prov.] [Wine in ill-washed Caske will not be kept.]
[En vaisseau mal lavé ne peut on vin garder:] [Prov.] [Wine will not keepe in an vncleane vessell.]
[Envieux meurent, mais envie ne mourra iamais:] [Pro.] [The enuious are mortall, but enuie eternall.]
[Envieux meurent, mais envie ne mourra iamais:] [Prov.] Th'enuious die, but enuie liueth alwaies.
[Envieux meurent, mais envie ne mourra iamais:] [Prov.] Though enuious people die, yet enuie shall liue euer.
[Envis meurt qui appris ne l'a:] [Pro.] [He that hath not well learnt, is loath, to dye.]
[Envis meurt qui appris ne l'a:] [Prov.] Vnwillingly he dies, that hath not thought of death; or, that hath not learnt to die.
[En vne chanson n'y a qu'un bon mot:] [Pro.] [There's but one good word in a song.]
[En vne chanson n'y a qu'un bot mot:] [Prov.] And thats the last (in the opinion of harsh, and barbarous, people.)
[En vne herce bien denté e n'y faut nulles dents:] [Prov.] [A thing well done needs no addition.]
[En vne herse bien denté e n'y faut nulles dents:] [Prov.] A thing being once well done, what need additions?
[Eschar plaidoyeur est hardi perdeur:] [Prov.] [The miserable pleader is a miserable speeder; the sparing of a fee is often the spoyle of a cause.]
[Eschars plaidoyeur est hardi perdeur:] [Prov.] [The sparing Client's willing to be foild.]
[Escolier babillard prez le feu, & badin hors la classe:] [Prov.] [(Meant onely of a meere Scholler; as our)] A Master of Art is not worth a fart vnlesse he be in the Schooles.
[Es petis sacs sont les fines espiceries:] [Pro.] [The little head a daintie wit containes.]
[Es petis sacs sont les fines espiceries:] [Prov.] The finest Spices are in little bags.
[Es petites boistes met on les bons onguens:] [Prov.] [Men put in little boxes precious ointments; little men haue many times rare gifts.]
[Es petites boistes met on les bons onguens:] [Prov.] Sweet ointments are in little boxes put.
[Estre homme de bien c'est mestier iuré, il ne l'est pas qui veut:] [Prov.] [Euerie one cannot be honest that would (for some by ignorance, and others by necessitie, are, or must be, knaues.)]
[Et plus a le diable, & plus veut avoir:] [Prov.] The more the diuell hath the more he would; [(And herein, as in most points else, the greedie scrape-good humors him.)]
[Et plus gele, & plus estrainct:] [Prov.] [The more the earth freezes the closer it growes.]
[Evesque d'or crosse de bois, crosse d'or Evesque de bois:] [Prov.] The lesse a Bishops staffe, the more his vertue, shines; pompe first corrupted Prelacie.
[En fin les regnards [(viz. their skinnes)] se trouvent chez le pelletier:] [Prov.] [The craftie are at length surprised.]
Next letter: f
Return to French Proverbs from 1611