But the proverbs,—the philosophy of the older and, presumably, married men,—show a very different outlook, and I have gathered orally and from various local pamphlets the following choice specimens, chiefly to illustrate this point of view:—[The spelling follows the local dialects.]
1. Stan vërslusa, n'autran spusa.
This year (a) stye (on the eye), next year (a) bride.
2. Marièsse a l'e ün brüt afè,
Ma, Nossgnur, femlu pruvè.
Marriage is a bad business,
But, O Lord, let me try it.
3. A l'e scrit sü la porta dël dôm
Che na bella fia a pia ün brüt ôm.
It is written on the door of the church
That a beautiful girl marries an ugly man.
4. L'ôm basta ch'a sia pi bel dël diavul, (o ch'a l'abia nen i corn).
It is enough for a man to be more beautiful than the devil, (or not to have horns).
5. Se ün l'è bin marià,
A l'à el paradis anticipà:
S'a l'è mal marià,
A l'à l'infern anticipà.
If one is well married,
It is Paradise anticipated:
If one is ill married,
It is Hell anticipated.
6. 'L prim ôm a l'è de Dio.
El secund a l'è del mund.
E l'ters a l'è dël diaval. (Of widows.)
The first man (husband) is god-like, (i.e. gifted with virtues, because beloved).
The second is worldly, (i.e. has virtues and vices).
The third is diabolic.
7. El cör d'lè fumne a l'è a mlon.
A na dan na fëtta a prün.
