*Tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se casse = The pitcher that often goes to the well gets broken at last.
[This has been travestied: Tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle s’emplit. The Germans have an equivalent: Der Krug geht so lange zum Brunnen, bis er bricht.]
*Doucement va bien loin = Fair and softly goes far; Slow and sure wins the race.
[The Italian equivalent is: Chi va piano va sano e va lontano. “Qui trop se hâte en cheminant
En beau chemin se fourvoye souvent.”
“On en va mieux quand on va doux.”—La Fontaine, Les Cordeliers de Catalogne.]
Il y allait du bonheur de ma famille = The happiness of my family was at stake.
Ce jeune homme ira loin = That young man will make his way in the world, has a future before him.
Au pis aller = Should the worst come to the worst.
Un pis aller = A makeshift.
Aller son petit bonhomme de chemin = To jog along quietly.