"Think but how vile a spectacle it were, To view thy present trespass in another. "There's some wi' big scars on their face, JAMES HOGG, A.D. 1770-1835. VARIANT PROVERBS He that has a roof of glass should not throw stones at his neighbor. (Spanish, Danish, Italian, German, Dutch). He that hath a body made of glass must not throw stones at another. (English). He who lives in a house of glass should not throw stones at people. (Hebrew, Arabic). If you have a head of glass do not throw stones at me. (Spanish). Let him that hath a glass skull not take to throwing stones. (Italian). Let him that hath glass panes not throw stones at his neighbor's house. (Spanish). Let him that hath glass tiles not throw stones at his neighbor's house. (Spanish). When your house is of glass do not throw stones at your neighbor's house. (Kurdish). Who hath glass windows of his own must take heed how he throws stones at his house. (English). ALLIED PROVERBS Barefoot men should not walk on thorns. (English). This is an admonition to those that laugh at the Don't use ridicule, some of it is sure to fall on your own head and feet. (Bannu). Evil that cometh out of thy mouth fleeth into thy bosom. (English). He has need o' a clean pow that ca's his neighbor nitty now. (Scotch). He that courts injury will obtain it. (Danish). He that flings dirt at another dirtieth himself most. (English). He that goes barefoot must not plant thorns. (English). He that hath a head of wax must not walk in the sun. (English). He that hath horns in his bosom, let him not put them on his head. (English). He that hurts another hurts himself. (English). He that mischief hatcheth, mischief catcheth. (English). He that strikes with his tongue must ward with his head. (English). He who threateneth hunteth after revenge. (English). He who throws a stone above himself may have it fall on his own head. (German). If dogs (busybodies) go about they must expect the stick. (Japanese). Look out as you move for there are many uneven places within your own body and you might slip into one of them. (Assamese). Oil your own wheel first. (Bengalese). O Mother-in-law should you accuse me and bring a reproach on yourself in return. (Telugu). One stone is enough to destroy a house which is made of glass. (Persian). Spit a-de sky, he say fall a-you face. (British Guiana). Spit at the sun and the spittle will fall on your own face. (Hindustani). Sweep away the snow from thine own door and heed not the frost upon the neighbor's tiles. (Chinese). The threatener sometimes gets a drubbing. (French). They that do what they should not, should hear what they would not. (English). They wha will break rude jists maun put up wi' rude answers. (Scotch). They who play with edged tools must expect to be cut. (English). Threats are arms for the threatened. (Italian). What you put into the pot you will take out in the ladle. (Arabian). Who has a head of wax must not come near the fire. (French). TO CARRY COALS TO NEWCASTLE To take material of any kind to a place where it abounds, or to give to another that of which he has plenty. The origin of the saying is unknown. The form is evidently English and has been in use by the English people since the sixteenth century but the thought has been expressed in some adage everywhere for untold ages. The old Rabbis declared that when Moses first demanded that the children of Israel should be delivered from Egyptian bondage he wrought miracles in attestation of his right to prompt obedience as a messenger of Jehovah, but Pharoah ridiculed him and said that miracles proved nothing in Egypt as the magicians there were masters of the art. Then he asked, "Art thou bringing straw to Eprayne?" and calling some children from school bade them perform some wonders in magic before Moses, which they did. Pharoah's wife, the Rabbis tell us, also wrought miracles. Having thus disproved Moses' claim as he supposed, Pharoah asked Moses whether any man could be considered wise who "carried muria to Spain, or fish to Acco"; whereupon Moses answered by repeat ing proverb for proverb saying, "Where there is a market for greenstuff, there I take my greenstuff." Aristophanes, the comic poet of Greece, who lived over three hundred years before Christ, spoke of "Carrying owls to Athens" where the image of the bird of night was stamped on the coins and where it was held sacred. It was common during the middle ages to speak of any superfluous act or bestowment as 'carrying indulgences to Rome." One of the strangest forms that the proverb has ever taken is that used by the natives of Africa speaking the Oji language. Knowing that mushroom gatherers are in the habit of looking for a supply of the fungus on anthills where it is frequently found growing, they laugh at any one who gathered mushrooms elsewhere and foolishly put them on such hills for safekeeping. They therefore speak of men who seek a market for their goods in a place where similar goods abound, or who give to others that of which the recipient has an abundance: "Nobody gathering mushrooms deposits them on an anthill." Perhaps the most humorous form that the proverb takes is that which has been adopted by the French who use the expression-"To jump into the water for fear of rain," thus presenting to the mind a picture of a man who fearing that he will be overtaken by an approach |