299. Si moin té gagnin moussa, moin té mangé gombo. (Si j’avais du moussa, je mangerais du gombo).
“If I had some moussa[124] I would eat some gombo.” If I had the necessary I could enjoy the superfluous.—[Martinique.]
[124] Moussa is a word used in Martinique for hominy, or a sort of corn-mush which is used to thicken gombo-soup. In Louisiana boiled rice is similarly used.
300. Si té pas gagné soupé nens moune, moune ka touffé. (S’il n’y avait pas de soupirs dans le monde, le monde étoufferait).
“If there were no sighing in the world, the world would stifle.”[125]—[Quoted by Alphonse Daudet.]
[125] I found this proverb cited in Daudet’s article on Tourguèneff in the November Century [1883]. The accentuation was incorrect. Moun, or moune, Creole form of French monde, is generally used to signify people in general—folks—not the world.
301. Si zannoli té bon viann, li sè pas ka drivé lassous baïe. (Si le lézard était bon à manger [lit.: bonne viande], il ne se trouverait point sous une baille.)
“If the lizard were good to eat, it would never be found under a tub.”[126]—[Martinique.]
[126] Thomas gives us a briefer Trinidad version: Si zandoli té bon viâne, le pas sé ka drivé (il ne se trouverait pas): “If a lizard were good meat, it wouldn’t easily be found.”
302. Soleil couché; malbèr pas jamain couché. (Le soleil se couche; le malheur ne se couche jamais.)