"He gives an egg to get a chicken" (Dutch).[417] "Giving is fishing" (Italian).[418] "To one who has a pie in the oven you may give a bit of your cake" (French).[419]
Have a horse of thine own, and thou may'st borrow another's.—Welsh.
"People don't give black-puddings to one who kills no pigs" (Spanish).[420] In Spain it is usual, when a pig is killed at home, to make black-puddings, and give some of them to one's neighbours. There is thrift in this; for black-puddings will not keep long in that climate, and each man generally makes more than enough for his own consumption. "People lend only to the rich" (French).[421] "People give to the rich, and take from the poor" (German).[422] "He that eats capon gets capon" (French).[423]
He that has a goose will get a goose.
When the child is christened you may have godfathers enough.
Offers of service abound when a man no longer needs them. "When our daughter is married sons-in-law turn up" (Spanish).[424]
When I am dead make me caudle.
When Tom's pitcher is broken I shall get the sherds.
Tom's generosity is like the charity of the Abbot of Bamba, who "Gives away for the good of his soul what he can't eat" (Spanish).[425] The dying bequest of another worthy of the same nation is proverbial. One of his cows had strayed away and been long missing. His last orders were, that if this cow were found it should be for his children; if otherwise, it should be for God. Hence the proverb, "Let that which is lost be for God."
They are free of fruit that want an orchard.
They are aye gudewilly o' their horse that hae nane.—Scotch.
Their good-natured willingness to lend it is remarkable. "No one is so open-handed as he who has nothing to give" (French).[426] "He that cannot is always willing" (Italian).[427]
Hens are free o' horse corn.—Scotch.