Page:Shetland Folk-Lore - Spence - 1899.pdf/230

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Proverbs and Sayings


“He that winna when he can, sanna when he may.”
“He that's first at the hill sits whaar he will.”
“He that gaengs unbidden sits unsaired.”
“Justice never köst (threw) his rider.”
“It's ill to drive a willin' horse.”
“It's no ill döne a man döes to himsel'.”
“It's no an ill straik a dog gets wi' a bane.”
“Open doors, dogs gaeng ben.”
“The deil is aye kind to his ain.”
“The fat piece is shön cutted.”
“Seldom lies the best piece till hinmost.”
“They that come last must tak' what's left.”
“There's mony a change in a simmer dim, lat alane in a winter night.”
“They spo (prophesy) weel that ken.”

“They sail fast that sit at hame”—

They that anxiously wait for the fisherman's return do not take into account the numerous causes for his delay.

“Let be for let be.”

This saying or an equivalent will doubtless be found wherever there is a language. The Shetland version runs thus: “Lat be for lat be, as Robbie Glen said to the otter.” Now, who Robbie Glen was I am

not able to say. I have heard that he

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