the Arabic—"A thousand cranes in the air,
are not worth one sparrow in the fist."

"Enough is as good as a feast." The best
comment on this proverb that occurs to us
was the reply made by Rooke, the composer,
(a man who had a fund of racy Irish wit in
him,) at a time when he was struggling with
considerable worldly difficulties. "How few
are our real wants!" said a consoling friend;
"of what consequence is a splendid dinner?
Enough is as good as a feast."—"Yes," replied
Rooke, "and therefore a feast is as good as
enough—and I think I prefer the former."

"Love me, love my dog." At first sight this
has a kindly appearance, as of one whose
interest in a humble friend was as great as
any he took in himself; but, on looking
closer into it, we fear it involves a curious
amount of selfish encroachment upon the
kindness of others—a sort of doubling of the
individuality, with all its exactions. My dog
(in whatever shape) may be an odious beast;
or, at best, one who either makes himself, or,
whose misfortune it is to be, very disagreeable
to certain people; but, never mind—what of
that, if he is my dog? Society could not go
on if this were persisted in.

"Set a beggar on horseback, and he'll ride to
the devil." The direction in which he will
ride depends entirely on the character of the
beggar—or poor man suddenly risen to power.
Some sink over the other side of the horse,
and drop into utter sloth and pampered
sensualism; but others do their best to ride
well, and sometimes succeed. Masaniello
and Rienzi did not ride long in the best way;
but several patriots, who have rapidly risen
from obscurity to power, have set noble
examples.

"Throw him into a river, and he will rise
with a fish in his mouth.'' (Arabic.) Some
men are so fortunate that nothing can sink
them. Where another man would drown
they find fish or pearls.

"The monkey feared transmigration, lest he
should become a gazelle." (Arabic.) The matchless
conceit of some people, and utter
ignorance of themselves, either as to appearance
or abilities, are finely expressed in the above.

"The baker's wife went to bed hungry."
(Arabic.) How often is it seen, that those
who follow a profession or trade are among
the last to display a special benefit from their
calling! Our proverb, that "Shoemakers'
wives are the worst shod," seems to be
derived from the same source.

"Chat échaudé craint l'eau froide; " the
scalded cat fears (even) cold water. This is a
better version of the English proverb of "A
burnt child dreads the fire." That the proverb
is by no means of general application, the
experience of every one can avouch. It would
be the saving of many a child, of whatever
age, who having been burnt should entertain
a salutary dread of the fire ever after. But
it is not so; witness how many are burnt—
i.e., ruined wounded, shot, drowned, made
ridiculous, who had all been previously well
warned by "burning their fingers" with
losses, injuries by land and sea, and failures
in attempts involving dangerous chances.

"Crom a boo;" I will burn. This Irish
proverb, or saying, may serve in many
respects as an adverse commentary on the
preceding. There are people who are never at
rest when they are out of hot water—nor
contented when they are in. "I will burn"
is the motto of the Duke of Leinster. It
would do capitally for Mr. Smith O'Brien.
Perhaps, however, it should not be read as a
resolution to suffer, but as a threat to inflict
a burning. Still, the vagueness of this threat
—a dreadful announcement with no definite
object—would render it equally applicable.

"Bis dat qui cito dat;" he gives double
who gives promptly. The truth of this is
well illustrated by the converse it suggests;
that he who long delays and tantalises before
giving, earns less gratitude than scorn. It
requires more generosity and a finer mind
to confer a favour in the best way, than to
confer double the amount of the favour in
itself.

"What I gain afore, I lose ahint." (Scotch).
To be engrossed with a fixed object, is
to forget what is going on all around us.
I am closely engaged with what is passing
before my eyes, while I am deceived and
injured behind my back. This quaint old
proverb has been ludicrously illustrated by a
characteristic story. A Highlander, in a somewhat
scanty kilt, was crossing a desolate moor
one winter's night, and being very cold, he
hastened to a light he saw at no great
distance. It turned out to be a decomposed
cod's head, which sent forth phosphoric
gleams. He stooped down to try and warm
his hands at it; but finding the bleak winds
whistling all round his legs, he made the sage
observation above, which has passed into a
proverb.

"Entfloh'nes Wort, geworf'ner Stein, die
kommen nimmermehr herein;" the hasty
word, and hasty stone, can never be recalled.
How truthful, how home to the mark, does
this proverb fly; how excellent is the warning
and the self-command it inculcates!

"To-day afire, to-morrow ashes." (Arabic.)
Violent passions are the soonest exhausted;
to-day all-powerful, to-morrow nothing, or the
consequences.

"Reading the psalms to the dead." (Arabic.)
This is the original of our "Preaching to the
dead," to express the fruitlessness of exhortations,
applications, or petitions, to certain
insensible people.

"Follow the owl, she will lead thee to ruin."
(Arabic.) A most picturesque proverb, giving
its own scenery with it. But it strikes one
as curious that this should come from the
East, which seems so familiar to our
apprehensions. Not only are the habits of the owl
the same, but the owl is equally regarded as
the symbol of a purblind fool. Yet, on the