Mingrelian Proverbs
1. Turn to the right, or turn to the left,
’Twill all be one in the end.[1]
2. The rat that came from outside,
Drove out the house-born rat.
3. Fight for the outlying village,
If thou wantest the one nearer home.
4. Wish thy neighbour to have an ox,
And God will send it to thee.
5. The wolf was abused as wolfish,
While the jackal ate up the flock.
6. The hen scratched and scratched till she dug up a knife,
With which her own throat was afterwards cut.
7. The road runs where an old road ran,
The river flows in the bed of a former river.
8. ‘Give me room to stand,’ quoth the bull, ‘and I
Shall make myself enough room to lie.’
9. If the bear overcome thee—then call him Papa.[2]