A Polyglot of Foreign Proverbs

Selon le saint l’encens. Like saint like incense.

Selon le vent la voile. As the wind so the sail. (Set your sail to the wind.)

Sers comme serf, ou fuy comme cerf. Serve as a serf or fly like a deer.

Service de grands n’est pas héritage. Service is no inheritance.

Si ce n’était le si et mais, nous serions tous riches à jamais. Were it not for “if” and “but,” we should all be rich for ever.

Si c’était un loup, il vous sauterait au cou. Were it a wolf it would spring at your throat.

Si enfer n’est plein, jamais n’y aura d’avocat sauvé. Unless hell is full no lawyer will ever be saved.

Signer pour les deux parties. To sign for both parties.

Si jeunesse savait! si vieillesse pouvait! If youth knew! if age could!

Si le ciel tombait il y aurait bien des alouettes prises. If the sky were to fall we should catch plenty of larks.

Si le diable sortait de l’enfer pour combattre, il se présenterait aussitôt un Français pour accepter le défi. Were the devil to come from hell to fight, there would forthwith be a Frenchman to accept the challenge.

S’il est vrai, il peut être. ’Tis possible if true.

S’il fait beau, prends ton manteau; s’il pleut, prends-le si tu veux. If the weather is fine, put on your cloak; if it rains, do as you please.

S’il ne tient qu’à jurer, la vache est à nous. If it only depends on swearing, the cow is ours.

Si nous payons la musique, nous voulons aussi danser. If we pay for the music we will join in the dance.

Si souhaits fussent vrais, pastoureaux rois seraient. If wishes were true, shepherds would be kings. (If wishes would bide, beggars would ride.)

Si tu as la tête de beurre, ne te fais pas boulanger. If your head is made of butter, don’t be a baker.

Si tu ne le peux dire, si le monstre au doigt. If you cannot say it, point to it with your finger.

Si vous lui donnez un pied, il vous en prendra quatre. Give him a foot and he’ll take four.

Six choses au monde n’ont mestier: prestre hardy, coüard chevalier, juge convoiteux, puant barbier, mère piteuse, rogneux boulengier. Six things have no business in the world: a fighting priest, a coward knight, a covetous judge, a stinking barber, a soft-hearted mother, and an itchy baker.

Sois vraiment ce que tu veux qu’on te croie. Be truly what thou wouldst be thought to be.

Soleil qui luisarne au matin, femme qui parle latin, enfant nourri de vin, ne viennent point à bonne fin. A glaring sunny morning, a woman that talks Latin, and a child reared on wine, never come to a good end.

Son cheval a la tête trop grosse, il ne peut sortir de l’écurie. His horse’s head is too big, it cannot get out of the stable.

Songes sont mensonges. Dreams are lies.

Soubs ombre d’asne entre chien en moulin. The dog gets into the mill under cover of the ass.

Souffler le chaud et le froid. To blow hot and cold.

Soupçon est d’amitié poison. Suspicion is the poison of friendship.

Souris qui n’a qu’un trou est bientôt prise. The mouse that has but one hole is soon caught.

Souvent les railleurs sont raillés. The biter is often bit.

Suivez la rivière et vous gagnerez la mer. Follow the river and you will reach the sea.

Surement va qui n’a rien. He goes safely who has nothing.

Sur un ”oe]uf pond la poule un ”oe]uf. Upon an egg the hen lays an egg.

T

Tant doit-on le chien blandir qu’on ait la voie passée. One must talk soothingly to the dog until one has passed him.

Tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se brise. The pitcher goes often to the well and gets broken at last.

Tant vaut l’homme, tant vaut sa terre. As the man is worth his land is worth.

Tard donner, c’est refuser. To give tardily is to refuse.

Tel a beaux yeux qui n’y voit goutte. Some have fine eyes and can’t see a jot.

Tel a du pain qui n’a plus de dents. Some have bread who have no teeth left.

Tel croit se chauffer qui se brûle. Some who mean only to warm, burn themselves.

Tel cuide avoir fait qui commence. Some think they have done when they are only beginning.

Tel cuide venger sa honte qui l’accroît. Some thinking to avenge their shame increase it.

Tel en pâtit qui n’en peut mais. Many a one suffers for what he can’t help.

Tel maître, tel valet. Like master, like man.

Tel menace, qui a peur. A man may threaten yet be afraid.

Tel menace, qui est battu. The threatener sometimes gets a beating.

Tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera. He that laughs on Friday may cry on Sunday.

Tel vend, qui ne livre pas. Some sell and don’t deliver.

Temps, vent, femme, et fortune, changent comme la lune. Weather, wind, women, and fortune change like the moon.

Tendresse maternelle toujours se renouvelle. Mother’s love is ever in its spring.