(Livonian). "Never speak of a rope in the house of one who was hanged" (Italian); or, as the Hebrew form of the precept runs, "He that hath had one of his family hanged may not say to his neighbor, 'Hang up this fish.'" Formerly the French used to say, "It is not right to speak of a rope in presence of one who has been hanged;" and they could say this without apparent absurdity, because it was customary to pardon a culprit if the rope broke after he had been tied up to the gallows, and therefore it was not an uncommon thing to meet with living men who had known what it was to dance upon nothing. The memory of this usage is preserved in a proverbial expression-"The hope of the man that is hanging, that the rope may break "3 — to signify an exceedingly faint hope. But so much was this indulgence abused that it was abolished by all the parliaments, that of Bordeaux setting the example in 1524, by an edict directing that the sentence should always be, "Hanged until death ensue."

If the cap fits you, wear it.

"Let

"Let him that feels itchy, scratch" (French).* him wipe his nose that feels the need of it" (French).5

Nothing was ever ill said that was not ill taken.

"He who takes [offence] makes [the offence]"

1 Non recordar il capestro in casa dell' impiccato.

2 Il ne faut pas parler de corde devant un pendu.

3 L'espoir du pendu, que la corde casse.

4 Qui se sent galeux, se gratte.

5 Qui se sent morveux, se mouche.

(Latin).1 "What do you say 'Hem!' for when I pass?" cries an angry Briton to a Frenchman. "Monsieur Godden," replies the latter, "what for pass you when me say 'Hem ?" "

Ye're busy to clear yourself when naebody files you. Scotch. That is, you defend yourself when nobody accuses you; and that looks very suspicious. "He that excuses himself accuses himself" (French).2

1 Qui capit, ille facit.
2 Qui s'excuse, s'accuse.

FALSE APPEARANCES AND PRETENCES, HYPOCRISY, DOUBLE DEALING, TIMESERVING.

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Appearances are deceitful.1

Always judge your fellow passengers to be the opposite of what they strive to appear to be. For instance, a military man is not quarrelsome, for no man doubts his courage; but a snob is. A clergyman is not over straitlaced, for his piety is not questioned; but a cheat is. A lawyer is not apt to be argumentative; but an actor is. A woman that is all smiles and graces is a vixen at heart snakes fascinate. A stranger that is obsequious and over-civil without apparent cause is treacherous: cats that purr are apt to bite and scratch. Pride is one thing, assumption is another; the latter must always get the cold shoulder, for whoever shews it is no gentleman: men never affect to be what they are, but what they are not. The only man who really is what he appears to be is - a gentleman.'

The Livonians say, "The bald pate talks most of hair;" and, “You may freely give a rope to one who talks about hanging."

1 Fronti nulla fides. Schein betrugt.

2" Maxims of an Old Stager," by Judge Halliburton.

All is not gold that glitters.

Yellow iron pyrite is as bright as gold, and has often been mistaken for it. The worthless spangles have even been imported at a great cost from California. "Every glowworm is not a fire" (Italian).1 Where you think there are flitches of bacon there are not even hooks to

2

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hang them on" (Spanish). Many a reputed rich man is insolvent.

Much ado about nothing.

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Great cry and little wool," as the fellow said when he sheared the pig.

"Meikle cry and little woo'," as the deil said when he clipped the Sow.-Scotch.

"The mountain is in labor, and will bring forth a mouse" (Latin).3

Likely lies in the mire, and unlikely gets over.-Scotch.

Some from whom great things are expected fail miserably, while others of no apparent mark or promise surprise the world by their success.

You must not hang a man by his looks.

He may be one who is

Like a singed cat, better than likely.

"Under a shabby cloak there is a good tippler" (Spanish).*

1 Ogni lucciola non è fuoco.

2 Adó pensas que hay tocsinos, no hay estacas.

3 Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus.
4 Debajo de una mala capa hay un buen bebedor.

Affected indifference is often a trick to obtain an object of secret desire. "I don't want it, I don't want it," says the Spanish friar; "but drop it into my hood." "It is nought, it is nought,' saith the buyer; but when he is gone he vaunteth.” The girls of Italy,

who know how often this artifice is employed in affairs of love, have a ready retort against sarcastic young gentlemen in the adage, "He who finds fault would fain buy." 2

He that lacks [disparages] my mare would buy my mare.

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Sour grapes," said the fox when he could not reach them.

Empty vessels give the greatest sound.

Shaal [shallow] waters mak the maist din. - Scotch.

Smooth waters run deep; or,

Still waters are deep.

Scotch.

This last proverb, we are told by Quintus Curtius, was current among the Bactrians.3 The Servians say, "A smooth river washes away its banks;" the French, "There is no worse water than that which sleeps." "The most covered fire is the strongest" (French); and "Under white ashes there is glowing coal”. (Italian)

1 No lo quiero, no lo quiero, mas echad lo en mi capilla.

2 Chi biasima vuol comprare.

3 Altissima flumina minimo sono labuntur.

4 Il n'y a pire eau que l'eau qui dort.

5 Le feu le plus couvert est le plus ardent.

6 Sotto la bianca cenere sta la brace ardente.