A king's cheese goes half away in parings.
His revenues are half eaten up before they enter his coffers. Before Sully took the French finances in hand such was the system of plunder established by the farmers of the revenue, that the state realised only one-fifth of the gross amount of taxes imposed on the subjects; the other four-fifths were consumed by the financiers. Under such a wasteful system as this, or one in any degree like it, one might well say that
Kings' chaff is worth other men's corn.
The perquisites belonging to the king's service are better than the wages earned elsewhere.
The clerk wishes the priest to have a fat dish.—Gaelic.
FOOTNOTES:
[734] Das Amt lehrt den Mann.
[735] Wein Gott ein Amt giebt, dem giebt er auch Verstand.
[736] Celui gouverne bien mal le miel, qui n'en taste et ses doigts n'en lesche.
[737] Chi maneggia quel degli altri, non va a letto senza cena.