Jamais ne vivra à s’n aise.
In all countries and in all ages jealousies and dislikes have existed between neighbouring communities. The inhabitants in Guernsey and Jersey are not exempt from these feelings, which find vent in malicious tales told of each other. The saying quoted above is common in Guernsey; probably its counterpart exists in Jersey, substituting “Guernesiais” for “Jerriais.” It by no means follows, however, that the want of comfort in these mixed marriages may not be quite as attributable to the one side as the other.
Il y a terjoûs quiqu’ùn qui a sa qu’minse à sequier.—There is always some one wanting to dry his shirt. The weather never suits everybody’s wants.
I’ n’a que vie d’alàngouraï (languissant).—Equal to the English saying “A creaking door hangs longest.”
Si un houme n’a pas le sens de pâlaïr (parler) il est bien sâge s’il a le sens de se taire.—A man who has not the sense to speak is still a wise man if he has the sense to hold his tongue.
I’ faut savèr ouïr, véer, et se taire.—One should know how to hear, see, and be silent.
La s’maïne qui vient.—is the equivalent of the English “To-morrow come-never.”
Chu qu’ nou n’a jamais veu, et jamais ne verra, Ch’est le nic d’une souaris dans l’oreille d’un cat.—In the Folk-Lore Record, Vol. III., Part I., p. 76, we find the Breton equivalent of this saying:—“One thing you have never seen, a mouse’s nest in a cat’s ear.” We are not told, however, whether the proverb is found in the French patois of Upper Brittany, or in the Celtic dialect still spoken in Lower Brittany—la Bretagne bretonnante.
I’ va d’vànt ses bêtes, or I’s’met d’vànt ses bêtes.—He is going before his team, is said of a prodigal, one who is out-running his income.
Ch’est une pouquie (pochée) de puches (puces) or de souaris.—Is a sackful of fleas, or of mice, is said of a person who is very lively and always on the move.