Wine neither keeps secrets nor fulfils promises.-E. In vino veritas.-L. Wine wears no breeches.-Spanish, for in liquor men expose their most secret thoughts. A drunken heart won't lie.-Gaelic. A FU' purse maks a haverin' merchant. A full purse makes the mouth run over.-E. Another version is, A fu' purse maks a man speak, i.e., gives him courage. A FU' sack can bear a clout i' the side. i.e., a slight misfortune does not affect the prosperous. A FU' wame maks a straight (or stiff) back. i.e., one fit for labour.-Kelly. The two preceding proverbs mean that when a man is in prosperous circumstances, he bears himself in accordance with his position, and cares little for the envious remarks of his less fortunate neighbours.Hislop. A GALLOPIN' Tam. A sermon re-preached in different churches. A GAUN fit aye gets gate aneuch. A willing worker never wants a job. A GAUN fit's aye getting, were it but a thorn or a broken tae. A man of industry will certainly get a living, though the proverb is often applied to those who went abroad and got a mischief, when they might safely have stayed at home.--Kelly. A GAUNT at the door. A yawner; a useless loafer. A GENTLEMAN of Wales, | With a knight of Cales, A yeoman of Kent, | Upon a rack's rent, Will buy them out all three. Osborne's "Traditional Memoirs of Queen Elizabeth," circa 1650. A Knight of Cales, a Gentleman of Wales, A Yeoman of Kent, with his yearly rent, Ray says:-Cales (Cadiz) Knights were made in that voyage by Robert, Earl of Essex, to the number of sixty, whereof (though many of great birth) some were of low fortunes, and therefore Queen Elizabeth was half offended with the Earl for making knighthood so common. Of the numerousness of Welsh gentlemen nothing need be said, the Welsh generally pretending to gentility. Northern lairds are such who in Scotland hold lands in chief of the King, whereof some have no great revenue. may countervail. So that a Kentish yeoman, (by the help of a hyperbole) A GI'EN game was ne'er won. It is easy to slay an enemy who enters not the lists.-E. A voluntary concession may be no tribute to the skill of an opponent. A GLASGOW Magistrate. i.e., a red herring. A soldier.-E. -Hislop. A GNARLED tree may bear good fruit, and a harsh nature may give good counsel. "Fortunes of Nigel," ch. 22. A GOOD man God-ward and man-ward. Old Scottish Presbyterian phrase. "The Antiquary," chap. 31. A GORDON in green | Should never be seen. A GOUROCK ham. i.e., a salt herring. A Gowk at Yule 'll no be bright at Beltane. i.e., he that is a fool at Christmas will not be wise in May. A GOWK's errand. i.e., a foolish undertaking. A sleeveless errand.--E. thread.-E. So, To send him for yard wide pack Sending him to chase the cuckoo.-Gaelic; and, Whistling on a cold track.-Gaelic. A GRAN' lift. i.e., great promotion. A GREAT rooser was ne'er a gude rider. A great boaster is rarely a good performer. A GREAT slave to the paper. i.e., a minister who reads his sermons closely. A GREEDY e'e ne'er got a gude pennyworth. Greedy eye never got good bargain.-Gaelic. A GREEDY e'e ne'er got a fu' wame. His eye is bigger than his belly.-E. A GREEN turf is a gude gudemither. There is no good mother-in-law but she that wears a green gown.-E. The best mother-in-law on whom the geese pasture.-Ger. A GREEN wound is half game. Because it commonly smarts more afterwards.-Kelly. A GREEN Yule maks a fat kirkyaird. A black Christmas makes a fat churchyard; and, A green winter makes a fat churchyard. -E. So in Gaelic. Ray says this proverb was confuted in 1667, when, though the season was unusually mild, the health of the community was excellent. A GRETNA Green marriage-see, A Coldstream marriage. i.e., an earthenware jar used to hold whisky. A GUDE calf is better than a calf o' a gude kind. The latter may perhaps turn out badly. So, A bird in the hand is worth two in the wood.-E. A GUDE day's darg may be done wi' a dirty spade. A GUDE dog ne'er barkit aboot a bane. Only fools make an outcry about a trifle. A GUDE fellow is a costly name. A GUDE fellow ne'er tint but at an ill fellow's hand. i.e., one honest man will not cheat another. A GUDE goose but she has an ill gansel (gabble). Spoken when one has done a good turn, and by their after behaviour spoilt the grace of it.-Kelly. A GUDE goose may have an ill gaislin'. Also Gaelic, Greek and L. So the English say, Many a good cow hath an evil calf. A GUDE grieve (overseer) is better than an ill worker. A GUDE hairst makes men prodigal, and a bad ane provident. A GUDE ingle maks a roomy fireside. A good fire can accommodate a large circle.-Hislop. A GUDE name is sooner tint than won. And in Gaelic. Good repute is like the cypress, once cut it never puts forth leaf again.-Italian. A GUDE Scotch louse aye travels South. A hit at the tendency of Scotchmen to seek their fortune in England. A GUDE steel is worth a penny. A good article is worth a fair price.-Hislop. A GUDE year winna mak him, nor an ill year mar him. Spoken of slothful, idle, lazy fellows, who live from hand to mouth, and are equally poor all years.-Kelly. A beggar will never be bankrupt.-E. A GUDE yeoman (husband) maks a good woman. A good wife maketh a good husband.-E. A HAIRY man's a geary man, but a hairy wife's a witch. It would appear that when this proverb originated only rich men allowed their beards to grow. A HALF merk marriage. i.e., a clandestine marriage, from the price paid. A HALFLIN, or hafflin. Hoble-de-hoy, neither a man nor a boy.---E. A HALLAN shaker loon. "The Antiquary," ch. 4. A worthless character, a beggarly scamp; one who must take his place behind backs at the hallan. The hallan was the partition between the door of a cottage and the fireplace. A HALLOW Fair horse and a Sunday wife. A Sabbath maiden and a Lammas mare.-Gaelic. If thou desirest a wife choose her on a Saturday rather than on a Sunday.-E. i.e., don't choose a wife when the lady is specially dressed, or has her company manners on. Hallow Fair is held annually at Edinburgh, on the second Wednes. day of November. A HAME push. i.e., a telling hit. A HAN'-OWER-HEAD business. i.e., a peculiar affair. A HANTLE cry murder and are aye upmost. -A HARD beginning is a gude beginning. A hard beginning maketh a good ending.-E. A HASTY man is never lusty. A HASTY man is no better than a fool. A HASTY meeting, a hasty parting. Hasty love is soon hot, and soon cold.-E. So, Marry in haste, and repent at leisure.-E. A HAVERAL Woman's tongue is nae scandal. A HAWICK hug. A Cornish hug.-Ray. In wrestling, the Borderers grasp their opponents round the waist, the Cornish men hug their adversaries above the elbows. A HEARTY hand to gi'e a hungry mellith (meal). A sneer at one who makes a great profession of liberality, and really gives very little. A HEAVY purse makes a light heart. A light purse makes a heavy heart.-E. A HEN that lays thereout should hae a white nest egg. Efforts should be made to render home attractive to those who are disposed to wander. A HIGHLAND Cap. Ten miles.-" Fair Maid of Perth," ch. 27. A HIGHLAND plea. "The broadsword's pursuer or plaintiff, as you Englishers ca't, and the target is defender; the stoutest head bears langest out, and there's a Hieland plea for ye."-" Rob Roy," ch. 26. A HIGHLAND welcome. Peculiarly cordial. When death's dark stream I ferry o'er, In heaven itself I'll ask no more Than just a Highland welcome.—Burns. A HIGHLANDER'S privilege. i.e., rob the rich to help the poor.-"Heart of Midlothian," ch. 39. A HINGIN' lug. i.e., a grudge. A HOME! a Home! Slogan of the Earl of Home. A HORN Spoon hauds nae poison. There is little likelihood of a poor man being poisoned, as nothing is to be gained by murdering him. A HORSE sall gang on Carrolside brae till the girth gaw his sides in twae. Carrolside lies on Leader water, and the desolation here predicted by the Rhymer has never been fulfilled. A HOT trod. A Border expression which refers to a hunt after a criminal. A burning turf was carried on the point of a spear, indicating that the |