FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
Reading edition
“Omne epigramma sit instar apis; sit aculeus illi, Sint sua mella, sit et corporis exigui.” Martial.
[Thus Englished by Archbishop Trench:
“Three things must epigrams, like bees, have all; Its sting, its honey, and its body small.”]
[And thus by my friend, Mr. F. Storr:
“An epigram’s a bee: ’tis small, has wings Of wit, a heavy bag of humour, and it stings.”]
“Celebre dictum, scita quapiam novitate insigne.” Erasmus.
“The genius, wit, and spirit of a nation are discovered in its proverbs.”—Bacon.
“The people’s voice the voice of God we call; And what are proverbs but the people’s voice?” James Howell.
“What oft was thought, but ne’er so well expressed.” Pope, Essay on Criticism.
“The wit of one man, the wisdom of many.”—Lord John Russell (Quarterly Review, Sept. 1850).
FRENCH IDIOMS AND PROVERBS
A COMPANION TO DESHUMBERT’S
“DICTIONARY OF DIFFICULTIES”
BY
DE V. PAYEN-PAYNE
PRINCIPAL OF KENSINGTON COACHING COLLEGE ASSISTANT EXAMINER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LONDON
FOURTH REVISED AND ENLARGED EDITION
[Fifth Thousand]
LONDON DAVID NUTT, 57-59 LONG ACRE 1905
“Tant ayme on chien qu’on le nourrist, Tant court chanson qu’elle est aprise, Tant garde on fruit qu’il se pourrist, Tant bat on place qu’elle est prise. Tant tarde on que faut entreprise, Tant se haste on que mal advient, Tant embrasse on que chet la prise, Tant crie l’on Noel qu’il vient.”
Villon, Ballade des Proverbes.