When the Frenchman sleeps the devil rocks him. — French.1 The Italians weep, the Germans screech, and the French sing.

- French.2

This is found word for word in Italian also, though it seems devised for the special glorification of Frenchmen. The Portuguese say

The Frenchman sings well when his throat is moistened. - Portuguese.

The Germans have their wit in their fingers. - French.1

That means they are skilful workmen.

The emperor of Germany is the king of kings, the king of Spain king of men, the king of France king of asses, the king of England king of devils. French.5

It is better to hear the lark sing than the mouse creep.

This was the proverb of the Douglases, adopted by every Border chief to express, as Sir Walter Scott observes, what the great Bruce had pointed out that the woods and hills were the safest bulwarks of their country, instead of the fortified places which the English surpassed their neighbors in the art of assaulting or defending. The Servians have a similar saying :

1 Quand le Français dort, le diable le berce.

2 Les Italiens pleurent, les Allemands crient, et les Français chantent.

3 Bein canta o Francez, papo molhado.

4 Les Allemands ont l'esprit au doigts.

5 L'empereur d'Allemagne est le roy des roys, le roy d'Espagne roy des hommes, le roy de France roy des asnes, et le roy d'Angleterre roy des diables.

"Better to look from the mountain than from the dun

geon."

He that has missed seeing Seville has missed seeing a marvel.

1 Quien no ha vista Sevilla, no ha vista maraviglia.

2 Vedi Napoli e poi mori.

3 Il n'y a qu'un Paris.

- Spanish.1