Proverb Lore / Many sayings, wise or otherwise, on many subjects, gleaned from many sources

by F. Edward Hulme

PROVERB LORE

MANY SAYINGS, WISE OR OTHERWISE,
ON MANY SUBJECTS, GLEANED
FROM MANY SOURCES

BY

F. EDWARD HULME, F.S.A.

AUTHOR OF
"WAYSIDE SKETCHES," "MYTHLAND," "NATURAL HISTORY
LORE AND LEGEND," "SYMBOLISM IN ART,"
"WILD FRUITS OF THE COUNTRYSIDE,"
"FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS," ETC.

LONDON
ELLIOT STOCK, 62 PATERNOSTER ROW, E.C.
1902

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CONTENTS

CHAPTER I
PAGE
Value of Study of Proverbs—Difficulty of exact Definition—Definitionsby various Writers—The Saw—The Adage—The Essentialsof a Proverb—The Value of Brevity—Legitimate Useof Hyperbole—Proverbs often one-sided Views of Truth—Sometimescontradict each other—Figurativeness of Language—Avery characteristic Feature—Parables of our Lord—Proverbsoften condensed Parables—Examples of Word-Pictures—CommonestObjects supply Lessons—Interesting asreferring to Usages that have passed away—Some Proverbsenduring, some transient—May have more than one Significance—Somepalpable Truisms and Platitudes—GreatAntiquity of Proverbs—On Jewellery, Pottery, Furniture, etc.—RusticConservatism—The Aid of Alliteration—Rhyme asan Aid to Memory	[1]
CHAPTER II
Ancient Collections of Proverbs—The Proverbs of Solomon—Ecclesiasticus—TheWork of D'Anvers on Solomon's Proverbs—TheCollections of De Worde, Trevisis, and Lydgate—The"Adagia" of Erasmus—Tavernar's "Garden of Wisdom"—Heywood'sCollection of Proverbs—Camden's "Remaines"—Davies,the "Scourge of Folly"—The "Apophthegms" ofLord Bacon—The "Outlandish Proverbs" of G. H.—Herbert's"Jacula Prudentum"—The Work of Howell and Cotgrave—The"Gnomologia" of Fuller—The Difficulties ofProverb-classification, by Country, by Leading Word, bySubject, etc.—Ray's "Collection of English Proverbs"—The"Paræmiologia" of Walker—Palmer on Proverbs—The Sayingsof "Poor Richard"	[26]
CHAPTER III
"The Book of Merry Riddles"—Introduction of Proverbs in ourLiterature—A Surfeit of Proverbs—"The two Angrie Womenof Abington"—Fuller on the Misuse of Proverbs—The Sayingsof Hendyng—Proverbs in Works of Chaucer, Lydgate,Spenser, Dryden, Shakespeare, and other Writers—The"Imitation of Christ"—Glitter is not necessarily Gold—TheCup and the Lip—Comparisons odious—The Rolling-Stone—The"Vision of Piers Plowman"—Guelph and Ghibelline—Dwellersin Glass Houses—A Spade is a Spade—Chalkand Cheese—Silence gives Consent—A Nine Days' Wonder—Thelittle Pot soon Hot—Weakest to the Wall—Proverb-Huntingthrough our old Literature	[65]
CHAPTER IV
National Idiosyncrasies—The Seven Sages of Greece—Know Thyself—TheLaconic "If"—Ancient Greek Proverbs—RomanProverbs—The Proverbs of Scotland: Strong Vein of Humourin them—Spanish and Italian Proverbs—The Proverbs ofFrance—The "Comédie des Proverbes"—The Proverbs ofSpain: their Popularity and Abundance; Historic Interest:their Bibliography—Italian Proverbs: their Characteristics—TheProverbs of Germany—Chinese Adages: their Excellence—JapaneseProverbs: their Poetry and Beauty—Arab Sayings:their Servility: their Humour—Eastern Delight inStories—African Sayings: their pithy Wisdom—The Proverb-philosophyof the Talmud	[90]
CHAPTER V
Proverbs that are misunderstood—The Cheese—Raining Cats andDogs—Cattle-harrying—The Bitter End—By Hook or Crook—Proverbsof Evil Teaching—Necessity has no Law—ThePeck of Dirt—Howl with the Wolves—Sarcasm in Proverbs—TheFool—Selfishness—The Praise of Truth—The Value ofTime—Death—The Conduct of Life—Occupations that supplyProverbs—The Barber, Tailor, Cobbler, Physician, Lawyer,and others—The Cowl and the Monk—The Long Bow—TheMeditative Angler—Sayings associated with particular Individuals—Hobsonand his Choice—Plowden's Law—Mortimer'sSow—The Wisdom of Doddipol—The Fear of Mrs Grundy'sOpinion—Locality Proverbs—Rustic Humour—Local Products—TenterdenSteeple	[124]
CHAPTER VI
Proverbs suggested by Animals—Animal Characteristics: Sagacity,Fidelity, Cunning, Greed, etc.—The Horse—The Dog—TheCat: her Nine Lives; the Catspaw; falling on Feet; in Mittens—TheAss—Pearls before Swine—A Pig in a Poke—TheWrong Sow by the Ear—The Sheep—The Shorn Lamb—TheBull—The Goose—The Hen—Roasting Eggs—The Bird andher Nest—Birds of a Feather—Catching with Chaff—RoastedLarks—The Fox—The Wolf; in Sheep's Clothing—The Bear—TheMouse—Belling the Cat—Fish Proverbs—The LaboriousAnt—The Worm that turns—Similes: from the Animal Kingdom;from Household Surroundings; from various Callings;from divers Colours	[161]
CHAPTER VII
The Power of the Tongue—Speech and Silence—Knowledge andWisdom not Interchangeable Terms—Truth and Untruth—Travellers'Tales—Flattery—Industry and Sloth—Youth—Friends,True and False—Riches and Poverty—The Ladder toThrift—The Influence of Womankind—The Good Wife—TheShrew—The Testimony of Epitaphs—The Grey Mare—Home—Hope—Forethought—Excuses—Goodand Ill Fortune—Retribution—Detraction—Pretension—Self-interest—Briberyand Corruption—Custom and Habit—The general Conduct ofLife—The Weather—The Moon made of Green Cheese—Conclusion	[194]