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Dictionary of Proverbs (1721)

Taken from Divers[e] Proverbs by Nathan Bailey; I have a 1917 reprint from Yale and OUP.

This is the Table of contents; there is also an alphabetical listing and a transcription with the definitions and explanations.

Title page (1917) (328KBytes)
(Title page from 20th Century Yale/OUP edition)
pp0-1 (136KBytes)
[woodcut: bald stout man sitting on snail reading book]
A Burnt Child dreads the Fire
pp02-03 (256KBytes)
As you brew so you shall bake
Every bean has its Black
it is an ill wind that blows no body good
pp04-05 (224KBytes)
What is bred in the Bone will never be out of the Flesh
One Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Bush
A Cat may look upon a king.
pp06-07 (168KBytes)
I talk of Chalk and you of Cheese
Charity begins at Home
Cut your Coat according to your Cloth.
What can't be cur'd must be endur'd.
pp08-09.pg (168KBytes)
Curs'd Cows have short Horns
Much falls between the Cup and the Lip.
No longer pipe no longer dance.
pp10-11 (168KBytes)
He who has a mind to beat a Dog will easily find a Stick.
Naught is never in Danger.
Faint Heart never won fair Lady.
pp12-13 (176KBytes)
Fast bind, fast find.
Like Father like Son.
pp14-15 (176KBytes)
A Fool's Bolt is soon shot.
Birds of a Feather flock together.
Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire.
pp16-17 (200KBytes)
He sets the Fox to keep his Geese.
[woodcut: fox watching geese]
pp18-19 (136KBytes)
[blank]
As sure as God's in Gloucestershire.
Every Man thinks his own Geese Swans.
pp20-21 (176KBytes)
Good Wine needs no Bush.
Kissing goes by Favour.
A Lark is better than a Kite
pp22-23 (184KBytes)
All goes down Gutter-lane
As Wise as a Man of Gotham.
As goodas George of Green.
[woodcut: stout man drinks from mug, holds saussage with a fork]
pp24-25 (136KBytes)
[blank]
Save a Thief from Hanging, andhe'll cut your Throat.
Jack will never make a Gentleman.
pp26-27 (184KBytes)
Harm watch, Harm catch.
It is a good Horse that never stumbles.
pp28-29 (176KBytes)
Hungry Dogs will eat dirty Pudding.
He that would live at Peace and Rest, Must hear and see, and say the Best.
pp30-31 (216KBytes)
Sue a Beggar and catch a Louse.
Many Hands make Light Work.
[woodcut: well-dressed man scratches his head standing near a beggar with outstretched hat]
pp32-33 (152KBytes)
[blank]
Fat Paunches make Lean Pates.
pp34-35 (176KBytes)
Give a Man Luck and throw him into the Sea.
Money makes the Mare to go.
Much falls between the Cup and the Lip.
pp36-37 (176KBytes)
Little Pitchers have great Ears.
Many talk of Robin Hood who never shot in his Bow.
pp38-39 (200KBytes)
Need makes the old Wife trot.
[woodcut: barefoot old woman hitches up skirts to cross a stream]
pp40-41 (136KBytes)
[blank]
Better play at small Game than stand out.
Give him a Rowland for his Oliver.
pp42-43 (176KBytes)
Give him a Rowland for his Oliver.
Penny Wise, and Pound Foolish.
He that Reckons without his Host must reckon again.
pp44-45 (168KBytes)
Proferred Service stinks.
The Receiver is as bad as the Thief.
Reckon not your Chickens before they are hatched.
pp46-47 (176KBytes)
It's neither Rhime nor Reason.
What is got over the Devil's Back will be spent under his Belly.
pp48-49 (168KBytes)
To buy a Pig in a poke.
Robin Hood's Pennyworths.
He looks one way and rows another.
pp50-51 (184KBytes)
A Rolling Stone gathers no Moss.
It is good to make Hay while the Sun shines.
pp52-53 (176KBytes)
Near is my Shirt, but Nearer is my Skin.
pp54-55 (192KBytes)
One Man had better steal a Horse than another look over the Hedge.
[woodcut: highayman with hat and cape leads a horst]
pp56-57 (136KBytes)
[blank]
He makes a Rod for his own Breech.
pp58-59 (168KBytes)
The more Haste the worse Speed.
When the Sky falls we shall catch Larks.
pp60-61 (176KBytes)
'Tis too late to spare when all is spent.
One Swallow does not make Summer.
pp62-63 (176KBytes)
When the Steed's stolen, shut the Stable Door.
pp64-65 (328KBytes)
After sweet Meat comes sour Sauce
[woodcut of stout man, seated, with bndaged foot]
pp66-67 (288KBytes)
[blank]
A Shoemaker must not go beyond his Last
pp68-69 (352KBytes)
The Traceys have always the Wind in their Faces
To cut large Thongs out of another Man's Leather
Too much of one Thing is good for nothing
pp70-71 (360KBytes)
One good Turn deserves another.
He steals a Goose, and gives the Giblets in Alms.
pp72-73 (352KBytes)
An old Dog will learn no Tricks
If you trust before you try, You may repent before you die.
pp74-75 (352KBytes)
Nothing venture, nothing have.
Virtue which parleys is near a Surrender.
pp76-77 (352KBytes)
Well begun is half ended.
All is well that ends well.
pp78-79 (360KBytes)
Many Words will not fill a Bushel.
The younger Brother the better Gentleman.
pp80-81 (360KBytes)
One scabbed Sheep marrs a whole Flock.
Tread on a Worm and it will turn.
pp82-83 (312KBytes)
Brag is a good Dog, but Holdfast is a better.
The Belly has no Ears.
woodcut: mouse by house perhaps made from candle with snuffer]