Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Gr9r A7
ARABIC PROVERBS:
THE MANNERS
AND CUSTOMS
MODEEN EGYPTIANS,
ILLUSTRATED
CURRENT AT
CAIRO;
SECOND
EDITION.
LONDON
BERNARD QUARITCH,
15,
PICCADILLY.
MDCCCLXXT
GIORGIO
X LIBR
LONDON
UIBRISON AND SONS, PKINTEBS IN ORDINARY TO HER MAJESTT, ST. martin's lane.
TRANSLATOE'S PREFACE.
Many
{sJ\
^\
^J\^\
who
lived, it
is said,
a very high
reputation.
The
translator
nme
or ten leaves
mth whom
commentary.
pubhc, although
excelled in wit.
it
with an asterisk.
The
quoted
original
collection
Where
IV
TRANSLATORS TREFACE.
it,
has explained
meaning
commonly assigned
of language
by many
intelligent
Arabs of
Cairo.
The
and of witty
low
life,
allusions
every
common
Many
is
of these sayings
tremely happy
translation,
possible,
sacrificed
lost in a plain
literal
as
and
to
elegance.
in
the
few who
classes.
These Proverbs
offer a
how
men and
and
in
this respect
are
dictated by
wisdom and
Several Scrijotural
sayings and
maxims
here
naturalized
among Arabs
as
well
as
some
TRANSLATORS PREFACE.
European
origin.
among the
of
period
;
their
state
and
of
their
language
offers to
;
our
it
dialect,
little
and alludes
to vices
known among
means
so
It
not by any
corrupted
as
various
principles
travellers
have
of virtue
and
and true
charity,
of inde-
but the translator refrains from completing the thousand, adopting here a notion prevalent
among Arabs,
by the
that even
particularly affected
He
to indicate
and
that
used
by
the
ancient
Arabian
VI
writers.
vulgar idiom of
inhabitants familiar to
him
and
collection
may
interest
and gratify
in
some
information,
and
not
criticised
as
the
elaborate
grammarian,
surrounded by
position perfect.
all
CAIRO,
That
To Burckhardt's short Preface a few lines must here be added. accompHshed traveller has suflSciently explained his
in his original collection. It
seems necessary
not
Editor
should
account
as
why
this
volume does
contain
even
so
many
and ninety-nine).
The numerical
series
by chasms,
which amount
in
some instances
to
VU
These
omissions
may
not
from the
1
writez''s
in fact the
of
upper
might
for
also be
to
made
the effect of
which our
danger, or inconvenience, he
may have
manners,
while his
to
offers a variety
of
curious and
respecting
the
;
who
are desirous
understanding-, with
critical
accuracy,
with
sufficient correctness
it
in
some
places,
meaning beiug on
j
all
served
even where
terms or phrases
than decent,
it
words
and
signification
with others
liberties
given
by the
Editor.
WILLIAM OUSELEY.
London,
May
21st, 1830.
138.
c^^U
AEABIC PEOVERBS
MODERN
EGYPTIANS,
i_asi
No.
1.
from
ivithin.
This
is
2.
mine.
Among
(liji)
the Arabs
ears.
it is
is
con-
2
sidered a
face.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
much
is
the neck,
expressed in the
Egyptian dialect
upon by Ui.
him a blow on his neck," (Uj <tu^) is exactly equivalent in its meaning to the English phrase, " I boxed his ears."
3.
Thus
sparrow in
the fist.
The crane
perly signifies
^^
is
a bird
common
in the Delta,
but in Egypt
is
4.
If
the
moon
5.
thee,
do not
let
him
go, or
to thee.
The general meaning is, that we should bear present ills rather than, by endeavouring to remove
them,
expose ourselves to greater.
This saying
ARABIC PROVERBS.
is
often
The word
The word
i-_->-^.^.
in
common
let it
u*^ is
used
in
Egypt
character
a
JU-
6.
i-uJ^l
^_j^,
^)}
luuiil
^_JSJij
>A^\
u::^!^ Ijl
If
he the state
of the
mner
draivei^s f
This proverb
is
murmur
much
aLJ],
'L^\ flatus,
^JLi\
in the
Egyptian
dialect
used
for
^
i^l
\^\
worn
7.
^\j^\
J^
JLj\
^\j ^^j
If my husband
kadhys
inter-
ference be necessary.
when two
parties
who
not requisite.
more
many
in the
by the kadhy.
Egyptian
dialect,
signifies
the
J^
meddling, officious
AEABIC PROVERBS.
8.
jjiob
iJ-A)
Jk/i^kwl
L::.-^-^
\j\
If thou forgettest
to
say "Praise he
ivilt
to
God"
f
in ivhat
other ivords
Tills
is
thou 'pray
addressed to persons
who
neglect the
and execute
J^^^ means
is
<dl
^^a^S,
(^
t^V-
verb in interrogations, as
Syrians invariably place
9.
If thy neighbour
dislike thee,
house.
The intimacy with neighbours is much greater in the East than in Europe and the repose of a family often depends upon the harmony subsisting between it and those who occupy the adjoining house.
;
10.
If thy neighhour shaves (somebody), do thou soak head of the person whom he shaves).
(the
Always endeavour
ARABIC PROVERBS.
of thy neighbour.
Jjo to wet,
5
to
meaning here
wet
If God proposes
the destruction of
to
an
ant, he allows
wings
grow upon
her.
The sudden elevation of persons to stations above their means or capacities, may often cause their ruin.
12.
^
If thou
seest
>-:^;\;
\^\
hy,
turn up a
The people of Cairo turn up a stone or break a water-jar behind the back of any person whom they
dislike, just
this is a
kind of incantation.
The term one-eyed here expresses a person disagreeThe Arabs regard a one-eyed able on any account. man as of bad omen ((*-ij), and nobody wishes to meet him.
13.
l^Irsr
If thou
seest
it.
is
tottering, or
whom
is
Lj.*-
ARABIC PROVERBS.
14.
^\^4'\
^^.
^ ^\
^*j-\
JP\ ^/^
it
'^\
If
number,
becomes hiown
of neighbours.
wants of their
feasts.
friend's kitchen
on occasion of family
evident that he
"
i.^}\
L::-^yi
L:j\y^\
CL)j:^ \j\
If
the sailors
become
too
sinks.
cL>jj^
instead of Luy^.
The lu
is
seldom pro-
nounced in Egypt.
16.
If a serpent
him as a necMace.
If dangerous people
j\,*j>~
,^As>-
J-4^ J^snJl
ijut
j^^
\>^\
on an ass-load.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
18.
^Lsn.--j
^Ji\^
Sj^jmL*
aS'jJl
^^
\J\
If the winding-sheet he ragged, and the corpse-washer one-eyed, and the hier broken, and the hurialgrou7id a saltish soil, then truly the deceased must belong to the inhabitants of hell.
If everything in a person's business goes wrong,
last.
<i^j
is
properly a
removed
to the grave.
19.
be thy
lot,
knock at
Ask
power of helping
shall
21.
C>1^\,
If they
ARABIC PROVERBS.
vince people that thou deservest the reputation that
If
sand
is
discontinued.
is
practised
during poverty.
^^<>J1
is
J.^w>
J^t> ^^^^
it
^^-r^
^'^^
If the ivind
blows,
is
A
affair,
lucky person
25.
t_iy^
^jj\j\\
c-yl
^Ji
d.^.^\
^ji^^ t_>Jj3
it
J^
^^^
If
off at thy
nearest friend's.
Let your own kmdred, and not strangers, share in your superfluities, or the fragments from your
ARABIC PROVERBS.
table.
sA
is
Jo
and pronounced
ought to
26.
be.
<^s:b
^\
JLc-\
<UauJ
ajulj
\3\
If thou
seest
Mm reproaching and
dlcltur.
swearing at him,
De
amatorlbus
c_,uj Is
commonly used
swearing at a person.
27/"-
c-CU-j
^.::^^ c-iCJu^
J-1
^li_jL
U\ U-
\3\
If
the water
come
like
Save
thyself,
kindred or friends
the Levant.
selfish principle
very general in
the water
children
Noah
felt
little
heads
but at
when
water.
The
thief
who understands his husiness does not from his own quarter (of the town).
steal
10
ABABIC PROVERBS.
29.
iU]!
^j
JJ^\
^1
At
This sajdng
good fortune,
night
to
The
may have
by drunkards, jDrofligates coming from the houses of pubhc women, or by robbers, who generally commit depredations at
that time,
asleep.
to
be
30.
is
cautery.
must
be at
last adopted.
31.
Those who have the strongest claim find themselves dispossessed of the advantage by others. This
saying alludes to a crowd of fellows
who have
make room
as-
and
for
themselves.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
32.
11
it.
The whims
of pregnant
The miller takes (steals) handful by handful, hut the Lord takes {sums up his reckoniiig) mule (load)
by mule
Jci^b
(load).
in
Egypt used
J.
for
j^ri-b
^the
J being gene-
rally
pronounced as
34.
Rather be scarified
ivith
from
a^lLl for -UIs-^L
might likewise mean a thing, or (as hereafter remarked), and so understood would signify, *' better to be scarified with an axe than to owe or be indebted to others for anything." Lol^^ means cupping, also^to make mere
It
scarifications
common
^Jl
Among
the Bedouins, a
"if
father threatening
liis
you do so we
shall
cup (or
12
ARABIC PROVERBS.
35.
The
hand
on the
sail.
He who
is
favoured by government
may do any
36.
(Yes)
like
my
mother-in-law,
and I
she should
make a
{disgusting) smell
under
my
This refers to a
sists in
it is
silly,
obstinate fellow,
who
per-
In the East
name
37/'
Play ivith a
slave,
he will show
to thee his
hinder parts.
Low
famHiarity,
if
is
equivalent to jA)
or rather to
ARABIC PROVERBS.
38.
i]l\
13
Jljj
^Lli
l^^lA\
<U-^
jJ
t.::-^^
jji\
He
had
arrived.
This refers
to those
who judge
own
sensations,
feel as
they do.
39.'"
He
practised
is
by a rope dancer in wheeling round whole body with the head forwards.
his
40.
He
^yj^\
is blind,
and
still
ogles the
women.
at
^^J^
L^^, o^
ci^^^. is
commonly used
man
passing in
the
women
sit.
14
ARABIC PROVERBS.
41.-"-
/^
^0
if
Aee
speak,
my
{fair) neighbour
hut truly
This
is
comprehend
a slight hint.
his
own
wife,
was desirous of giving a hint to his neighbour's wife, whom he was the gallant, and who overheard the conversation but she did not understand him, and
of
;
42. 'ixJ^
L^
u?J
i'jJ^_j!l
^Jy
^jS:A
'iS\d^\
CjIss-
^\
If
the midivife
happen
to
a corrupt
The humane
little avail, if
'i>J\^\
the midwife.
^d
used
Egypt
for i_?j^.
ii-jo-
may
43.^'^
IAjc-._^
V^jJ
ijl;!^^
C::^ikljJ3
{Jmj\
Whatever the halfhlind wife cooJcs for her husband, he sups on it.
Custom
reconciles us to
bad
living.
^Ji^ half-
ARABIC PROVERBS.
blind, sore-eyed. "
15
imprecation,
lA^ )
The L-j of ^<^ is according to the Egyptian dialect, and often prefixed to verbs but stiU more commonly
;
in Syria
than in Egypt.
What
is
in the cauldron
is
spoon.
Every
and
to
its
own
it
peculiar treatment,
:
own
people to
brmg
to a conclusion
also,
mode must be
^Ik> has
adopted.
^\
many
'^J^\
significations
it
here means
is
legs.
it
aj
as if
were written
loo,
46.
The burial
is
signifies
a burial or
when it is
" hot
attended by multitudes.
16
ARABIC PROVEUBS.
47.
Play
ivith
^^-alLo is the
To
gain, begin
humbly.
48.
from
the egg.
most
which
This
is
likewise expressed
by the saying
The words
^ji and
are synonymous.
(SJj^::^
49.-"'^
L^jy
The world
is
a mirror ; show
and
it
will
it
peoj3le),
and
it will let
thee
see its
image
" (i.e.,
(CJu
1$jjj^.
In the Egyptian
h\^
ARABIC PROVERBS.
50.
17
From
it
48)
is
d:^]j.
Play the
fool as
much
ribbands of
Idiots fasten
c^"^,
signifies
them
"to
like turbans
tie
a turban."
52.
hss.,<
a ferry-boat.
The
until the
complement of passengers be
53.
full.
name, hut
Emshyr.
"the
common
saying, h^\s jy
is
applied to any
lb
ARABIC PROVERBS.
Tooba
is
the Coptic
:
month comprehending the greater part of January but the coldest month in Egypt, although it has not the character of being so, is Emshyr, the month next
after Tooba.
54.
c o ^
From
the
mother s
birth of
a male
child.
" Parturiunt
montes,
nascitur
ridiculus
mus."
Sons are much more desired than daughters throughout the East.
bed."
55.-'^
woman
in child-
Work
single grain,
and reckon up
the profits
cLs-
often
means "a
Thus
it is said,
lo-
"
trifle."
56.
If thou find her, cut her veil in tvjo. " The object is now tofnd the chance of meeting her," he replied.
It is not sufficient to
must favour us
veil,
in executing them.
a woman's
JL is
here
ARABIC PROVERBS.
put
for Jjlill
Jli'.
19
ij^j
means
turn."
is
"now,
J^'uiJl
for once,
above
all."
ijjtii
"in
my
together
what
separated
The expression
^U
i>',.jJl
often
signifies
"if, if!"
57.
/ best
my
oivn country.
afiairs,
own
and those
58.
The Zalahye
is
{a dish)
forbidden
to the dogs.^
^Jij
The higher classes only can enjoy certain pleasures. are round cakes made of flour, butter, and
;
sugar
not
much
The needy
is
at the dishonourable
The term ^{jj Cuckolds and (cuckold) is no longer used at Cairo. procurers are generally comprised under the same
wife.
appellation
insult
^jj^ .j^o
which
is
the
common
expression of
occasion.
and
20
ARABIC PROVERBS.
60.
The
beetle is
a beauty in
On
(luJLAri-)
the
is
infatuation
cited
of
parents.
The
beetle
markable
for its
of "handsome."
61.
oil,
rather than
at home.
oil
and which
paras
every night.
much
as
would pay
for
the
oil."
^^xc
62.
Gain
ivpoyi dirt
rather than
loss
upon mush.
Endeavour
signify
to gain in
more
fre-
quently employed.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
63.
21
//* ^Ae
house he relieved
from
Sayd^
no other
This relates
iii
ivill
truding
(called
visitors.
tliose j)arasites
J-.ii')
who
were established as
They have their chief or sheikh, and obtruded their company at every private feast, unless they were induced by a present
to all
who gave
entertainments.
The wise
ivith
a wink,
to
understand).
65.
to
a ruined place.
i^^^.
On
in
constant use
signifying
"to
the face
of the
milk-'seller.
girls.
22
wlio,
ABABIC PROVERBS.
when they
amusement of
company, pay attention particularly to those whom they soon discover to be the most inclined towards
them.
The
68.
The
devil
knows
still
practises
evil.
On
religion,
a person
who understands
tji^^Lku
the precepts of
In the
Egyptian
for
cUAio^^
"to practise
69.
The Sultan
is
70.
To us belong
the house,
and
we
our
own
affair
for
ARABIC PROVERBS.
71/"'
23
A
bad
in
actions.
for
a procuress,
Egypt
72."'
'j~i^J
Jj^^ll
(J^y'^'l
J^-^i
enjoying
In this proall
verb
it
is
the
leaving the
members of
73.
Mingle thy
Drown your
griefs in pleasures.
It is used
among
the lower*
and peasants.
mixed with raisins (called Zehyb) and tobacco, and smoked in the Persian j^ipe from which mixture
;
the
name
of
24
ARABIC PROVERBS.
74.
the
upon the camel, or upon camel-driver, or upon the owner of the camel.
if
he
is
unfortunate in every
whether with
'i.^l\
jSi ^^^
;
if*-*-^*
''^*'^^
lAH?
^'-*^
;
'^y
Light a candle
thou wilt
On
white
lz^_^
are small
shells
and
as counters in the
^^^ilj'
game
of mangal.
^i::^>
The
little
bird picks
its
sjwrtsman
properly a sparrow,
^J^^\
is
often
in the original
vermin
off the
head or body
pleased.
The birds
to be
,^Ul)
much
^j[^ to express
happy
is
;"
and
an
ARABIC PROVERBS.
auxiliary verb in constant use.)
25
meat
is
in the
pan
;"
here
the frying-pan."
s-
ill-natured companions.
the
is
Jew
(to assist
them)
this
my feast-day.
oblige.
Many lovers or gallants cause less shame to a woman than one Mostahel. According to the Moslim
law a person who has once divorced his wife cannot
re-marry her, until she has been married to some
other
next morning
after
and divorces her the which the first husband may his wife. Such cases are of
as
men
26
eJouiJi?
ARABIC PROVERBS.
which
cannot be retracted.
In order to
regam
rate)
his wife a
man
some peasant,
whom
is
called Mostahel,
and
is
80.
Aj]
ti
^;lii^
^^
^^^^^
^^if-^^
^\
What
of a ivhole year,
monk
81.
^m
What
l.Lv
U-i^
J^" u^}
cities
of the dogs?
On
"be
care."
attentive to
:"
thus
it is said,
^o
" take
82.-"
(the traveller
is
home
or country.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
83.
27
A secret
jyi
confided
to
if it were
the chief
officer of police, in
84.
He gave
This
^tij is
him
relates
to
unjust
or
unequal
divisions.
^ Jl
85.
^\j^\ iLs^p-b
J^^
to
!i\x^\
He
flies.
He
devised
ignominious
He
let
him
is
This proverb
who
faint,
and every
28
AEABIC PROVERBS.
87.
When
the
monhey
reigns,
88.
ship)
means one
another.
Of a person who
c-jLo-
is
not used
for
but stands
^\
or
Thus
it
is
said
t::,,^.^^-
uJLjb
to thee, be
not
present
when
measured out
(else)
thy beard
will be dusted,
and
removing of
it.
Do
^'^j\
the Egyptian
The
clever
and
active valet
right.
him
spurs.
{J^\j^\
in Eg3rpt
ARABIC PROVERBS.
signifies the valet
29
de chambre,
is
clothes
and keys,
the
and generally his confidant. The Egyptians use the word jUf< to express a man who is lazy hunself and The Mogonly occupied in the affairs of others. " spurs." In Egypt ^Ui grebyns give this name to denotes one who is both active and clever in his
business.
91.
an
ass's
Of
those
small means.
ears.
93.
He
the onion
and
the
On
people.
smell."
the
21^
consequences
is
30
ARABIC PROVERBS.
94.
On
family broils.
95.
Feed
the
ivill
he bashful.
ashamed not
saying
is
to look
This
very
common
He
sells his
friend more easily than the brethren of Joseph sold him. one
_jIJ1
signifies at Cairo
who abandons
his old
is
the
97.
{He
is)
m.
^.^
O ^J
A
lama,
a false prophet)
ARABIC PROVERBS.
remarkable for the vices here imputed
to
31
them.
fine
so that
(to
I helieved
it to
he true.
thy abode)
People
Ashab!'
99.
To
ascertain
c_>U
J1
100.-"-
What does
same
as
c_-;;i
woLf.
101.
Gay
hut) concealed
and
the Tdk.ye.
who declaim
32
ARABIC PROVERBS.
El
TikJce is
sasli of silk or
are
hidden
El Tdkye
a white
worn
close to the
Tai'hosh. In the Egyptian dialect 'ij>^\ means " high gaiety," " fashion," " liberality," " heartiness,"
"jollity."
The words
j^^^^
and
ijjjkxc
are
very
in
common
their
affect
who
and among their own acquaintances Those who do not to be smart and dashing.
station
by an open display of gay fashions, console themselves by having these two hidden articles of costly materials and expensive workmanship. Both the Tikhe and
the Tdkye are
sent
among the
first
tokens of affection
by a lady
to her lover.
The
TikTce
affords
subject for
many
102.
What can I
onion
as
Said of
onion.
men who
is
Here
to be understood,
and
stands for
^'A
ARABIC PROVERBS.
103.
33
[the
Koran).
Sing,
and
each other.
If the verb
^jiu
stand by
]yb
itself, it is
often to be
understood as ^\^\\
104.
ij:>-
(3J.
^
on
i_s*^
'^j^
u::--ccJ5
my
ear.
if
I shall
the
woman
continue virtuous.
free-born
virtuous,
" as
becomes a
woman."
105.
last.
Beware of the pains that must be taken with a half-bred man. Purchase the slave either when he is quite young and raw, so that he may be educated as you please or when he is full grown and all his good or bad qualities can be discovered.
;
106.
We
bought
him
{the jackass) to
Paris) mill; but he proved Jit only for the corn mill.
On
disappomted expectations,
ij^^-^
gypsum, or
F
34
plaster of Paris.
to turn the
mill.
its
ARABIC PROVERBS,
It requires
much
greater strength
mill,
Almost every
mill
is
respectcible
own
worked by a jackass.
107.
A
This
is
[or reality).
of persons
,j-.us-
who
little
bear honourable
^iiu.3-0
names.
Such
s^s^\
dillj^ ^JU
&c.,
answer to their
names.
108.
Lending
is
rimious
is
{to
lenders
and
:
borrowers).
There
a similar proverb
in the
Egyptian
dialect,
" to
advance or
lend money."
109.
Work
thou,
^^^/^^
one
who
sits
at ease reclining
upon
his
cushions
luxury.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
110.
35
for
cU:s^a!1
'^i^-Aj
^\
If the harlot
a procuress.
:
the following
112.
Thou art
On
If
eat
it; if
it
depart,
ive
do not regret
We
whom we
after-
^^
is
here
36
t
ARABIC PROVERBS.
114.
The father
house)
is
is
lover {of
is
the
mother
the
daughter at
home
puzzled how
to act.
115.
God grant
116.
He
ivho steals
the asses,
selling each of
An honourable man
is
above
(in
No. 104).
is
Of
tion at Cairo
as follows
El horr horr
the English
word
owl.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
118."
37
The inconsiderate
nearest
to loss).
Some
was forced to give them a hundred pieces of coin all base money, the robbers were
detected in the bazar, where they went to
purchases.
make
One
of
them on
his
way
to the scaffold,
but the
man
repHed,
:"
"
There
^^:^\sji
is
common
phrase at Cairo,
^^^\
lost
"I
such a thing."
jJj in the
thus,
^^\
cl^j^j
\j\
this is probably
The tongue
is the neclcs
enemy.
the neck of him
To have patience
ivith
lose
him
for
many terms
are used in
38
ARABIC PROVERBS.
L_-^a-U
i
denotes the
or
l_,>:s^^
first class
then
is
follows
^-.-s^
and
the
superlative
J^.Jv-^.
121.
To haul
the rope is
Every one
business.
ij^sn.11
has,
is
and should
know,
j^lx.
his
d;^j&i
own
JA^^
Here
to be understood
The word
'ij\
jA^I
is
stream.
:s^\
are the
rope,
122.
(^,^s. Hall
i^sT ^
j^S)^
^/Wil^
to
last
to the mill.
into the
hands of
123.
enemy.
^M
Throw him
<L2
jJ
j-i^,
r^r^^
ivill
^rri}^
and he
rise with
a Jish
in his mouth.
j-^s^'-H
here put
for j:s^J^
all
throughout
The term jsr expresses Egypt the Nile or J-Jl jsr The
ARABIC PROVERBS.
i
39
not only marks
(as in
K^J)
noun
bird
;
is
singular
'ijJb
a single
is
frequently
124 *
Advance or lend
him
hion (money),
;
and play
or joke ivith
tJioic
125.
Improve or
clea.r
conscience)
and
126.
He
and has
noiu
Said of boasters
this
man
wishes
others
to
trees.
In Egypt
it
is
generally
40
families
ARABIC PROVERBS.
and cannot
is
easily be purchased.
:
Of
similar
meaning
the proverb
Let him wJio owns one herdt of the mare, mount her.
whom
possesses a certain
into
number
animal
is
which the
supposed to be divided.
127.-^'
to
become black.
^^^-^
or j^\\
j1^-j
(Moslim)
it
Day
of Judgment.
In
common
j^^
discourse
means
" shame."
to his son, or
blacken
my
" do not
128.
He
falls
more frequently
than flies
here used as the comparative of _jj an form often employed by the Egyptians. It irregular
^^\
is
is
equivalent in meaning to
c^jj jJ^\
ARABIC PROVERBS.
129.
41
is
a beauty
blind.
in the
country of the
130.
Whither can
the
sun
who cannot
elude the
The bleachers
may
.Lai
in the dialect of
Egypt,
is " a bleacher."
131."
'iyi\j^\
CJ>^-J1
^J=^
"^W^*^^
"^^
signifies
and "
in a
good
132.
They
7net
a inonkey making
ivater in
(" Indeed,")
he ivere
to
change
me
into
a Gazelle."
Gazelles and
42
ARABIC PROVERBS.
i^\
"May
God metamorphose
of insult
;
thee
is
to
which
ujCk\.-^
<dll
^^
Here
is
to be understood' ^\
lJ'ustU
133.
Custom
is ctjifth
nature.
the choleric
(t_?jUt>),
the
the melancholy
(^/^b^-:),
and the
phlegmatic (^^b).
134.-"
l%e
Z>ac/
(the house),
He
gains,
keeps an account of
what
his
neighbour
;
i.e.,
he
is
your
ARABIC PROVERBS.
43
Ul^
^_^
135.
<W-=^j
'"t/*"
<^j
^'<=
'^'V
[to
animal that he
7'ode).
When
man
is
to
Isldm, he affected to he a
Sherif
Success renders a
137.-"
man
bold.
miserable Bedouin
thi'own aivay.
"
found a date
Whither
shall
{that
had
been)
he,
go," said
become treasures
to the poor,
its
j-jy^
is
Hteral
meaning
express ''miserable,
They
for^ "a
dry date."
44
ARABIC PROVERBS.
138.
'ijixi]
c-'l^
'ijJL.^
Ijfc^il)
Lc
i^xj
to
the
watchmen.
On
sJlc.
^.jjLc.
in the plural
watchmen stationed
town.
139.
is
a clever impostor.
signifies a
who
known
to be vile impostors.
in the
usual acceptation
of
the word,
jLc
in the
Egyptian
140.'-
She sold
" is
the
[to
hide her
Thus (J^^ " they make a public scandal of me." The word <x-)/^ is likewise ijL^ ^.w^sr- "finely exused in the same sense.
ILfSjb
plained, giving a
ARABIC PROVERBS.
141.
^<Ci^.
a4/7;e?^ /ie
45
*.C^
'^^.j^^
J^
^^'^
J^^
^*
^V
sofa, he
^ac? eaten
''
and
ivas reclining
on the
said,
When
parage
it.
he began to
dis-
"
upon sofa-cushions, when coffee is presented to them. j^Ju-x in the Egyptian dialect signifies " bread."
142.
Our tovm
This
is
each other.
said
fraud or deception.
143.
life
before you
JUj
are stilts or
wooden
slippers, four or
in the
and the
for " a
rag
;"
"
46
ARABIC PROVERBS.
144.
forward
to
get
kiss.
On
145.'"
{That
is)
a had exchange,
{like giving)
a j^aivn for a
bishop.
game
of chess.
Betiueen
lost.
man one
and so
him
Hana and
almost
{l:l>jJ
alike
he went
to
Khirt
Birt
"
cl^j^),
foolish
(ut!'*
errand
iJir^)'
or
" he
went
to
Hersh Mersh
in a state of
ii^ipljing that
was placed
by
used
ARABIC PROVERBS.
in this
47
It
may
here
be remarked that
many
Adam
on his departure or
separatio
from Paradise.
This
is
She went
to
husband
is
haher.
^^.^
in
Egypt used
149.
for ^^^U-
In a town
do ivhatever
thou
nicest.
Most people are ashamed only of those by whom Here is to be understood jJj they are known.
150.
house
from which
pray for
its
48
ARABIC PROVERBS.
151.
ivell
from which
152.
hum
them.
to lose the
expected
custom
is
it
I^zaj^^^
of the
means
all
at other times
is
merely a superfluous
to
particle, or
some phrase.
153.
Selling
and
buying,
and nothing
&^
or iiJJ?
is
pedlars
goods for
154.
(Like)
(i.e.,
flying about
it).
disposition,
ARABIC PROVERBS.
49
jUi
is
a par-
thin pieces of
'bil
^j^
155.
He
if
left off
who think
for
it sufficient
make
exclaimed,
''
to
take
up or lay hold of
harlots
V
;
and on the
<u^
to
express a harlot
or
public
woman,
^j
is
an
exclamation.
He
is
^\^\ the chief police officer at Cairo. also entitled exclusively " El Aga."
50
AH ABIC
TROVERP.S.
157.
kiiJl
^Iki ^Ji\
t_?J
1^ yiO'
in this
Come,
let
us circumcise the
Icalijt
crowd.
is
A
kJj
is
not
sometimes
and which
would render the operation of circumcision extremely Kalyt among the vulgar
a nickname frequently applied.
158.
luithout
any (more)
this pelisse.
quarrelling,
sit
down ujwn
husband
for
t^-jj&
good humour.
iJjrJ
^^
signifies
"complaint," "quarrel."
another
may
sit
upon
it
is
and attention.
159.
his eye is
{still)
smaller
species,
ARABIC PROVERBS.
51
idksnJl
Syria.
the
The verb
off
keepers.
160.
Thou
and
criest
"Jhe."
161.
It
may
he afljve
on the morrow
it ivill
he ashes.
162.
Thou
Thou
ruinest the
man
completely.
ijl^
means
who
163.
Thou
and
On
perly
means "a
for "
but in Egypt
generally
used
a lover
it signifies
52
ARABIC PROVERBS.
164.
Thou
readest the
Psalms
to
tomhs.
Thou doest what nobody else does. The Psalms are seldom read by Moslims, because they assert that the Christians have interpolated them yet they acknowledge that David was inspired by heaven when he composed and sung them. Nobody thinks,
;
165.
They behaved
like
ivere
firmly established.
On
" poor
the
artful
system of
t:,nCw<5
Eastern governors.
"
;"
probably arising
from
the circumstance
J^b
''
a poor, honest
fool,"
;
and perhaps
the former
because here no
one
is
but
be cheated.
Few who
;
among poor
fools.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
166.
ij j,:j&
53
>^~}^A
L_--ik)'
J j^s.<
(^j
^Ji^^
(to
He
lays
them)
On
is oval,
unreasonable expectations.
nearly
round.
167.
Wind and
"
sea combat
ive shall
"this
have the
ivorst
of
it."
contend for the government, the subjects are most to be pitied. ^_y in the Egyptian
rivals
When
two
dialect
means "for
it
is
Lj^
c;:-^xj.
I' .3
"for once
the misfortune.
There
or "
also a saying
u:-^^ iJJ
"for once or
the goodhap,)
come ujjon
us,"
^z^^^
{i.e.,
we
shall be gainers."
168.
The ivind
hloivs
On untoward
" to run
;"
circumstances in general.
oyr'
it
motion.
54
ARABIC PROVERBS.
169.
Under
this {fine)
apparel a he-goat
is,
{is
hidden).
A
goat,"
he-goat
(ij^'-')
of a stupid clown.
is
fj^'J
lt-^^ " be
silent,
thou
170.
is
humility.
in
signify
in
what is manly, but what belongs to the general "good disposition," "kindness," "zeal."
''who likes to be
who
is
\^
^\
171.
We
what
is
our
own
property.
vXKABTC PROVERBS.
172.
55
is
not to he muzzled.
See Deute-
ronomy XXV,
iv'^Ui
4.
We
in
whom we employ
a muzzle
made
the
;
prevent
fields
of strangers in passing
173.
Three
{jpersons)
toivn will
ruin
it.
weU
The smallest number of evil-disposed persons, united, can work considerable mischief.
174.
*^.
if
t^- \j^^
is
J^
;
"rf^
cT*
Jj^^
'^.y.
His gown
full of holes
hand
at
ivhatever place he
Poverty
is
sometimes an advantage, as
A;y for
^.-y
it
insures
freedom of action.
175.-i^jJi\
oJkl
Jli jJJj
^oi^j
ti
*jU
^<1p>-
^j^
i^cLc
^jL^J
56
ARABIC PROVERBS.
pond.
Some one
said, (indeed,)
this stinking
and
^5jJ
the serpent).
for
^i-Ai)
Jl
or
l\s>^
tJ-^c^
of
A common
term
is
great serpent
called
eel.
in
'Ls^
is like-
j-s;al^
^j^
176.''^
the justice
of
By
who, in the
Mammelouk
call their
times,
The Bedouins
\'
themselves often
and
all
other Arabians,
they distinguish
Fellah,
who are not of Arab tribes, by the appellation of Hadhary or which with them are terms of reproach or
contempt.
ARABIC PROVEEBS.
177.^'
57
The tyranny of
in the
West
Mice are
j^
sig-
178.
aJu:
JjU
utter
k-.Ll
'>-^}j
^\^
^-^\
^-^^--^iPr
I came
to
found
who
is
already
a^U
J.'U
"in-
"ready to
179.
fall
upon him."
his
answer on
the
The
comes
fool
answers without
whatever
fool,"
first
^^^
58
ARABIC PROVERBS.
is
The tongue of the wise is in his heart, The heart of the fool is in his mouth.
180.
Silence
Au.
is the {best)
answer
to the
stupid.
cijl^l
means likewise
'*to leave
him
alone."
"leave him alone" is a common expression, signifying " neither speak to him nor meddle with
A:^
u:^X^l
him."
181.
He
He
came
to the
impious
to
blaspheme.
all
liis
With a
similar
meaning
settled,"
or equally super-
182.
to
teach
its
father hoiv
to feed.
183.
l^L>-j
X*^Aia!l
to
'JLJs^
l-iLH
J-^
^^^^^^
V^the beetle
Theu came
Fashd ;
be shod).
On
ridiculous pretensions.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
184.
l__5,-J
59
U-^^
cloiim
f^?"*
cJ"^^
on
the
place of another
camel.
This
is
said
when one
In travelling,
are
distinguished
from
the
siuToundrng
A
This
is
ivell is
when trifling presents are offered powerful person who is known to be greedy.
said
186.
/ came
his
to the
scahhy-headed {^person)
;
company
he uncovered his
he
ened me.
Friendship ceases
is
when a
187.
known.
One came
count the waves of the sea he erred (in " There are {at all events) more the reckoning).
to
;
On
paltry expedients
to
conceal
ignorance or
60
negligence.
is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
^\ clA^\^
some
the
disap23ointment,
is lost,
means
"
one opportunity
CL-jl-^^s^in
itself."
Egyptian
188.
They came
to
he hr
ke nd.
iv
his
The stupid clown disappoints those who require services. \j>- used in Egypt for yU189.
The
ej^'orts
of the poor
for
the misfortunes of
;
this is a
Thy neighbour
is
thy teacher.
We
191.
{Like) the
hanger of
the louse
upon
the
head of
the
scabby.
Is said
when
ARABIC PROVERBS.
192.""
CL?J^::<:
61
Ji\ to
SU.
j^^W
U-
Grief came
The
afflicted
said of a person
who
retires
ii\jj
from
office
^ is
to be under-
194.'''
^j^jD
'^-^^
(J--
\^
^JCr*-
The
cap
In Egypt ^^'-^
The
term
for
"to send."
195.
A paradise
Said of a beautiful
is
ugly.
62
ABABIC PBOVEBBS.
196.
me
is
I must
support.
fool,
197.
"thy ignorance is stronger than thy impiety." The wordyl^ is a very common term of insult among the Moslim Egyptians themselves, and means, v^^hen ajDplied by one of them to another,
Verbatim
:
''
impious."
198.
his projects,
and
the
his projects.
The
<-i)
is
here to be understood as
199.'"-
jd-jj
^Ji'"^
J'^'
'
^^
'^y.
^-^^-^^
u^^^
Sit
down
and when
ARABIC PROVERBS.
thou receivest presents
;
63
and
With
respect
'Un u_j^
200.
Is
thy
mother-in-law quarrelsome
daughter.
Divorce her
Cut up the
evil
by the
root.
201.
[In truth)
my
lover is
st)-aiv
^tx)
" to
and
" to
made
of dry reeds in
packed the charcoal sent to Cairo from the country about Thebes.
64
ARABIC PROVERBS.
202.
Afflicted, because
Said of one
who
want of
a whip
is
made
their
mills
it is
likewise called
^:>~j
The word
'ijtJii
must
^^
or "hair," although I
have so translated
of the head;
it is
it
this latter
means the
" hair
"
but
Ijdii
them
to
grow
for
months.
203.-^''
a broomstick
and some
oil.
Of the same
diately preceding.
imme-
204.
Of
^.^^--c
for
S1^.c
ARABIC PROVERBS.
205.
'
65
the serpent
our reckoning.
We
is
The
derives
I
said to have
forty-four feet,
whence
it
its
name.
It is
never happened to
206.
she
drew hack
face
is
in
a surly
from
stuff:'
(one
that
(surely)
had
affectation
orrimace and o
by a
service that
would
reflect
honour on himself,
will
^^iiO
in
unlawful
" or
" for-
bidden," but in
common
Q6
ARABIC PROVERBS.
207.
{is)
a blow ready.
to
whom
he
is
inferior in strength,
ajl^^
may
expect to receive a
blow,
in the
Egyptian
as well as "stupidity."
It is said, Ai^
irU-
"1
is
from rank
"
a blow on the
neck/'
208.
Loose
me from
pillar to pillar
perchance
it
may
them
cause liberation.
Loose
my
may
my release.
Among
This
signifies, that
the unfortunate
other meanings
implies deliver-
circumstances.
In this sense
God
is
styled
-ly
for deliverance
from misfor-
The expression ^y
!'
<Li
is
manner
the best
to console a person,
ARABIC PROVERBS.
209.
Q7
storm in the
shoiJ
of a glass-dealer.
is
quite
out of place.
210.
He
put him
Meloukhye
he came
Said of one
who
is
The Meloulchye
is
is
among the
likewise
Egyptians.
^,jj
^$^*t**^
^=:l.^
)iJ
1,1
l^
'^*rlj*'
had no
house, she
made a
lived).
livery
of
which she
On
means a
for Lju
derision this
cows are kept in the town at that season when the open country is inundated. Similar stables are found
in every quarter of the town,
68
ARABIC PROVERBS.
212.
i2<^6
/oa/'
against a
loaf,
no doubt of
its
crumbs
{coming forth).
Set two
men
213.
Remove
This
is
reputed of
evil
omen
to
by which he hopes
is
enemies.
JjJatfl
(or
Jjda-j^)
the
origin
of
214.
Said of a hypocrite.
21.5.
We
men
in the desert.
our expectations,
sense of
i^.^^^-^
is
"thinking;" thus
^j-^
u_C^
l::->-w..^
"I
ARABIC PROVERBS.
216.
i-i-Jt*a!\
69
L5^
4^^*^^
(*^
[Like] the
government of
virtuous
woman had
patience
{ivith
her husband),
means here "to be peopled/' or to continue inhabited by all its inmates in opposition to ci^jci. [f^ words which would have been used if her husband had divorced her and she had left the house
is^^\
;
:
cu^
here
is
to be understood ej,^^
^\
i"-^
218.
Your
talking
is fine,
is
far
distant.
far
In spite of
all
your
reasoning I
ci^'^r*/il^
am
from
desire,
is
often used
(JL?Jcs.^j
as the verb
219.^
hand
tremhling.
Denoting a
misery.
^Ili
woman
in the
afflicted
Egyptian
70
debility.
Jo
is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
because Instead of ^j^^ it ought to be <J.'-aj feminine but the Egyptians very often con;
It
i^^j^\
s^'^
- ^
c;-*
^'^.
220.
-
3fay
Franks) love
hate thee.
thee,
and
the
Lord
and
says,
is
" I
love thee,"
or
t_,.,osa]l
disease."
221.
May
An
*jO'
enemy
or jealous
for
rival of a
woman.
j^'J
in the
Egyptian dialect
iyt-i
It
means,
her."
"may
222.
A
very
single grain
makes
Where two
parties of equal
power contend, a
will
decide the
for
JxU
ARABIC PROVERBS.
223.
71
She
is
with child,
and nurses a
child,
On
affluence of riches.
224.
The
[bi'oken)
to
the
account of the
retailer.
for the
mishaps
" pots
in the It is
Egyptian dialect
and
jars of earth."
to be understood here
fji,yuSX\
who
of
The name of j^j^^^ is given to those J^^\ carry the earthenware upon their heads about
If
any
are
225.
The dream of
the cat
is all
226.
[Like)
{still)
keeps
company
ivith the
fire.
Most
likely to suffer
Ixl^ is the
arundo
72
epigeios,
ARABIC PROVERBS.
that grows particularly
in
Upper Egypt
:
the
it
as fuel.
j^U^j
is
the Egyptian
The lower classes frequently pronounce the ^ like ^ Thus they say j^s. l::^<^j\ and aj {jj^^sr also i'r-as^.o for 'ij^x^ for ^ lx)j\
-i^Uj
for
i.::-^^
is^-^j
for
l::.-^*>-j
likewise
c:-n^c
for
t::^-t>
strongly
in other
words when
it is
end of them.
227.-'-
Thy
beloved
is
it
even
a monkey.
Love
is
blind.
'\^\
^j^
228.
The
Such
Li\^ is
best
food
is
is
meaning.
taken
to satiate."
ARABIC PROVERBS.
229.
73
They wooed
her,
and
she resisted
and
On
who
*JiJ
among
it is
Egyptian
dialect,
the same as
ci-^jtUaj'
j^LiJ "to
fall
in love," because
understood
230.
Baker and
(at the
His interest
duty.
will cause
is
him
Mohteseb
the public
who
super-
231.-''
sister.
A
lap,
poor
woman complained
had half-a-dozen
ones in her
and did not know how to supply them with food. The person is therefore advised to take warning from her and not to form rash wishes.
L
74
ARABIC PROVERBS.
232.
The
it
possession of luxuries.
233.
A
of
like
On
At
Cairo the
;
name
J^Ls:;S^
cucumbers,
234.
Acquire leariiing and information {even if they come) from the mouths of cows.
Never object
derive
useful
to
knowledge,
the snout of
?i
235.
ivere
it
but
stone.
Do
ARABIC PROVERBS.
75
may pay on
account.
it is
considerable debt,
hog
is
236.
J_j-4csn4^
J-elLl Jaj\
JU
j-ljtx^l
<il>-b aLojiU
J-i
^l...ji--..<.
iee^^e i^^ow
" Zoo^,"
sai'c?
" a^ the
and
The
the hotel
a31^^1
deposited.
The
riding
237.
Jcc
The saying
but
not
" fuss
about
trifles,"
"
nothing."
A man
keeps toys in
his
plements.
76
ARABIC PROVERBS.
238.
He
He
her to
left
floor.
239.
whom
The expression ^Lc \y^ stands for ^^ Jo ^J^ \y^ or ^jJl jj^ "upon whose hand they gained,"
J..;
i.e.,
The
241.
Do
no good
thou
shalt not
find
evil.
On
ingratitude.
242
yam
to
be
untwisted by the
effeminate or pusillanimous.
J-.:kall
intei-woven,
intricate,
disordered
this
J.'J^1
sense
is
likewise expressed by
L^U
The word
ARABIC PROVERBS.
in the
77
signifies " effemi-
Egyptian diaject
for
JjU
nate,"
i^jJ
make
exertion."
for ^sJi
must be suited to the capacity or character of a man, and the puny or weak-hearted must be employed in women's work.
243.-"
Of empty
A
among
manners of
great people.
common
or,
practice in
Egypt
as
it is said,
to facilitate
244.
Take
his
it
^y^y*
is
who come
luggage.
their back,
and carry in
it
their food
245.
proper place.
Literally, "
side."
78
ARABIC PROVERBS.
246.
He
is
who
rejoices in the
welfare of others.
2A7.
(^k
With
ipj^.
d/^^^
is
repaired.
With
saying,
politeness
and
be effected in quarrels.
."*rsxJl
common
been bored
248.
manliness.
deeply impressed on the minds of ci-*U-lLl " affairs," " business," people in the East.
This
maxim
is
249.
Be
ARABIC PROVERBS.
250.
<Cc'
79
jSi
i"jo-u
jo-i
^''^.
**^>-
he
Of one who
The man
had married an old woman, and might therefore have expected from the first not to be very happy with her.
'ss>~\
is
jJcf "
similar
often employed
Take
{the wine)
not take
it
more probably betray thee in this instance than the drunkard. The U of Ui.:>- refers 'y^:>- or "wine." ^>-l^ "one who is awake," "in to
will
The sober
252.
Take
or,
its
address.
character,
view teaches us to judge of a person's and whether he be a fit object for a nearer acquaintance. Such is generally thought in the East, where a Lavaterian system of physiognomy
first
The
prevails.
is
a phy-
80
ARABIC PROVERBS.
formed.
His bread
is
j^
is
is
Take
it
for nothing.
contain
it)."
On
whom more
is
a sack of black
or white
hair, in
which the
^jLh for
^h
the
common
Egypt
c:jJ\
u^j!
k-k^
U^-Jl J
Jul
it
Take a piece of mud, strike it against the wall, if do not stick it will leave a mark.
On
81'
had rider
This
learning.
*'
is
who
affect to display-
" du-t,"
is
often used
to express a
^jJ^
thing as bad as
257.
Take
258.
foot to-morrow.
Be kind
"take
to
me
favour two-fold.
i_f
J^
^^^
is
equivalent to
c^Jl>
jci.
my
The beggars at
^dS!
"
God
assists
^<^,
3o-Ij
^1 "
May
The expression " I will take thee by the foot," means that on a future occasion I will assist thee more powerfully than thou assistest me at
assist thee."
God
present.
82
ARABIC PROVERBS.
259.
He
exposes himself
{to
But this is not the usual signification of the word in Egypt, where it commonly means " not to be in want e:-^-.iii-il Thus a very frequent expression is of." " I do not want it," " I can dispense with it."
iJJc>J\ is
^^y:^\
J^^:^
260.
Take
(at
same
time).
is
The miser deserves no better treatment. *-.Ul properly ^JJ^ J-jki!^ "the miser." signifies " to reproach a person with his bad quahties,"
here put for
or c--oUlt
^J
JU^
''/>-
261.
The house of
troyed,
tl
must
he) des-
lugh
ARABIC PROVERBS.
262.
83
The
riches of
Egypt has never been governed by national rulers, but constantly by j^s^ jb is said in the same sense as foreigners,
Since the time of the Pharaohs
j^i
jb
or hy^\ j\^
263.
Something has entered into his bach never come out again.
This
is
applied to a person
who cannot
rid himself
The word
j^
pronounced '^baka/'
is
constantly employed as
an adverb, sometimes quite superfluously and without any meaning at other times it signifies " now,"
;
''
264.
The
265.
house with
its
gate
and
the
crumb of bread in
On
84
stances.
is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
"
house with
its gate,"
implies that it
for
a well-conditioned
dwelling.
false step,"
^j_
^*j
"to
" to
is
stumble/' " to
make a
and therefore
upon."
^j\^i
l->Ij
at other times
inclose the
means a "by-gate."
called ^^y
(Like)
a hear
<-_>j
often pronounced
t_-jj
*'bear.^'
hibit bears in
Turks came in 1814 from Romelia to Cau-o with half-a-dozen bears. The people then said, that in
Mohammed
to
is
man was
On
the
were immediately banished from the country. i_^irsx> comes from ^--^^^ a horse led in parade before a
great
man
in public processions.
267.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
money.
cu^-jJ is the plural of
LJ.-^-;0
85
"a
boiler/' or
"large pan/'
268.
the door.
"
"
Who
is
there ?"
Enter" he
What
is
given gratis
is
always acceptable
and
this
On
cited
What
is for
nothing, get
still
more of it ; what
it.
is
for
money, avoid
<ti
j^
meet
it."
for
'*
Ijjb
^
is
is
the
who
1
there
say
^-o
and likewise
JJ&
a.:^^
instead of
/'
is
its
true meaning
It is a term heard may be found much moi^ frequently in public than Europeans would suppose, who geneirally entertain very false
86
ARABIC PROVERBS.
269.
The worms of
This
is
itself.
said
when something
by one of its
disagreeable happens
ill-natured
in a family caused
members.
270^
Leave
{or
is spoiled,
good things
(^\j in the
*'
Egyptian dialect
is
the same as
said of
i-JiJ
to
be spoiled," and
principally
lot of
food.
<__>IL
"
what
fell
to
thy
is
good things."
The
ancient verses
271.
ilibl
ilLi
^
it.
jLl ^b
it
TAe
6oaj werzi
met
with
On
and at
musk,
^^\
II
is
a small box
made
civet,
of ivory
or
&c.,
Egyptian dialect
^^^^^ks^
same as
and then
means "until."
ARABIC PROVERBS.
272.
Bf
Money
It heals all wounds. in the East.
is
sweet halm.
Such
is
273.
dSjSuc
cij^-***J'
^\'^\
The animal
is
As much
is
as to say "it
worth nothing."
LyLo
a scourge or whip
still
made
thin sHps,
wand
"
it
tjjl*^'
" it is equal,"
is
In
the
Egypt
say,
pronounced as
"
written
\y^^
thus they
what
is
Ijw
(j^\
what
is
worth
?"
"
price of it
V
274.
is to
have patience
said,
J ic:^
jT^^ ^j^
ijt^j^
4_5pi&J
i.::-J^lj
Thou
88
years
;
ARABIC PROVERBS.
ivait then
when
it
its
hack
teeth.
is
^jJl
275.
(That
is)
<^:^A
stands
<Ui
JUs-1
or
^
is
<::^\
^_^\
The
^}\^\
t-Jr=-
276.*
They mentioned Misr to Kahera; on which Bdh Look rose with its loeeds.
In
ridicule of those
el
who push
themselves forwards
nobody pays them attention. They mentioned Misr (or Fostdt, the first-built Moslim city, southward of the present Cairo,) to Kahera, the town erected by the Fatemites, on the Bdh el Look is a small and at north of Fostdt.
present half-ruined
ARABIC PROVERBS,
to Fostat, but
89
now
;
Southern Cairo
it
in
many
it
had, there-
Misr
it
formed
J 15
TJiey
"
Jij}
\yf^]
Jli
\jL
;
4_c.il ^
Vj/i
mentioned
the
Prophet
the
people
tvept,
Hear," cried
than
weep).
278,
That
is
a patty,
[tliey said,)
hut
we are not
{Jit to he)
its stuffing.
A
bazar,
foi'
fine affair
ticipate.
ujL^i.-.^ is a flat
\-^ according to
.
^rsT
4,^.^
^ of
^lij=-l is
the
common appendage
to
iUlil
^,^\
t-ilo
teeth.
Pull
This
is
of thy
not
made
for you.
^}
in the
Egyptian
90
AEABIC PROVERBS.
280.
That
is
a lattice-work
On
half-measures.
is
a lattice-work used
balconies,
as sheds in gardens, or
upon
which are
It is
made
1
for
jjb.
" to
keep
off,
to stop or hinder."
281.
282.
That
is
a plaster
of a horse doctor.
evil.
veterinary surgeon.
283.
That
is
It is of a very
low
price.
t_5ls
or uJC-j
"a blow
on the neck."
ARABIC PROVERBS.
284.
91
That
is
a hunger that
hi^eahs
cuirass.
i*::-^.
Egyptian dialect
is
^^-Jo
" to
break."
A
whole
life,"
" during
his
any reference to
286.-'"
fly
is
nothing
yet
it
creates loathsomeness.
The most
agreeable.
disgust/'
*'
insignificant
person
may
prove dis-
ij:-tUj
in the
to
become loathsome."
"he has
uJ^Ju"
disgusted me."
Of the same
287.
sense
the term
The,
removal from
the
office ivhich is
despised, laughs at
pride of government.
When we
92
ARABIC PROVERBS.
it.
Ji
is
the
is
''
dis-
mean, miserable."
J}*11
This
here
which
the removal
from
office,
rank, or power.
" puffed
up
pride."
288.
Lectve off
ambiguous
talking, should
it
even be true,
289.-''^
Debased
aujLu
is
impudent." So are called ia Egypt those persons whom their masters, patrons, or friends employ in fighting their quarrels or in disputing for them with their insolent behaviour and impudent language people of this kind are easily found at Cairo. The followmg verse expresses the same sense
:
" insolent,
290.
in
at
home
{or
of my family).
On
first,
but proving
young man
her pretty
;
followed a
woman
ARABIC PROVERBS.
93
when she
her
veil,
led
him
to a
in those words.
291.
TJie
(j/jLwJ
a species of the
a baboon.
conjugated
;
^
it
monkey
tribe, I believe
is
in the
Egyptian dialect
seldom
ought here to be
y^
292.
reflection came.
293.
Dogs are
left to
be
The extravagant
those
fool
who
it is
little
deserve
is
jjj here
means "the
In this
so in the
it
lot," or
"whatever
assigned by destiny."
sense
often employed,
and we
find
94
ARABIC PROVERBS.
Koran,
To
this
sentence
we might
here suppose
prefixed ^\ Joo>In Syria the term jj^ is often used to express " merchandise," which in Egypt is
called
ilcUij
294.
a monkey.
Said of persons
I saw
thee go
On
tardiness.
296.
He
went
to
make
his ablutions in
drowned.
He
it
met with
297.
a^A
ii^\
L::->3l^
<u^
dill
^rwj
j^^'ofligafe
God
bless his
mother
she
was more
than
hisfatlier.
Beviling language.
The meaning of
<d51
^j
is
literally
**
God have
ARABIC PROVERBS.
mercy
;"
95
God
bless
him
!"
298.
\^ \^
jjj
to the
morrow.
Do
Give
Its
ive
{therein).
only,
we want no
profit
L-iilii^
a basket
made
of date-leaves, in
fruits
300.
Li^b
jr.^
cT*
'^J
A
This
is
word inadver-
tently dropped
and giving
301.
He
luent
away from me
kidneys.
Used to express that the person left me and took away even the smallest trifle of what was due to
96
ARABIC PROVERBS.
;
him
so that
by a private person some the bystanders often take away the kidneys, or
killed
least the fat that incloses them, as
When
a sheep
of
at
from him who slaughters the sheep, Egyptian plural of L^ " kidney."
302.
the
it.
An
^^
is
^^ ^^ <dll
,.t^
(**v
God
The
bless
visits,
and
short visits.
visits in
women
day
men
" to lighten,"
304.
himself
On an
ARABIC PROVERBS.
that he
^jj\
97
his
principal.
for
in the
^jjy
SOS.''"'
Blessed he the
his
evil to others.
306.
among
ruins.
On
who seem
attentive
base worldly
affairs.
sor."^*
The head in
On
308.
beetle, leather
than ivalking
u2>on carpets.
and
after they
98
ARABIC PROVERBS.
foot
beyond the
is
thresholds of their
of <Lju1?
"
own
:"
houses,
^j^'oi^
the plural
* jLsa-.
a carpet
it is
more usually
called
in Egypt.
309.
{ivho
hut the
{to
Said
when the
from an interested
310.
{Like)
wind in a
cage.
Said
of
frivolous
nonsensical
actions
and of
effect.
^^^ a cage
made
Sometimes
love
312.'"
{The fire of) more than one ivar has been enkindled
by a single ivord.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
313.
99
Perhaps
the drinker
of water
is
nearly choked by
it,
and
We
seemed
first,
the conclusion of
signifies the
-.-^
Egyptian
dialect,
gurgling noise
made
in the throat
by
In the
same
dialect \^,
signifies
;"
"perhaps," or "it
may
is
sometimes happen
''perhaps."
the more
common meaning
uij^
'-*>
314.
The husband of
tiuo
parrots
{is like)
a neck
betiveen
On
the misfortunes of a
man
married to two
narrow
lane,
and
the ass
is kicking.
Said of those
who
100
ARABIC PROVERBS.
through
an
it.
the
common term
of beasts.
316.
My
husband
tells lies
to
me, and
tell
lies
to
the
neighbours.
X do according to
what
I learn.
My
husband
[although)
my
lover
came
search for
me
ivith
a candle.
On
318.*
27ie
husband of
the harlot is
a base
ivretch by his
own
testimony.
319.
the ivall.
said of a
man
Zayt
and
Mayt^
are
words
without
any Hteral
meaning, expressing merely the noise of a busy crowd, (See Proverb No. 146.)
ARABIC PROVERBS.
320.
101
Thejifer of Ms {own)
camp
The
home
than abroad.
321.
liJLJj
(J,
Ijcjj
Our
oil is
[mixed]
ivith
Egypt; the
oil
used
is
lamp-oil (jU-
322.
He
Said
addition,
is
added singing
either
to the
drum.
when
j^^
323.
X o ^
>
this
{proceeded)
from
the
lady).
was spoiled because the person entrusted with the management of it yielded to the
affair
The
impulse of his
own
passion or interest.
A lady rode
102
ARABIC PROVERBS.
ass,
upon an
fall,
ji>-j\
" to
slip, slide,
&c.
^-./.Jl
t*r-
324.
"
My
uncle's
name
is
Shayh," he replied.
J L>.
is
* the
father's brother.
325.
They entrusted
-, J
in
Egypt
ill
the
name given
to the pigeon-
houses, which
much resembhng
ARABIC PROVEKBS.
326.'''
103
They have
they
"If God
to
ijlease^'
said,
the
just
{measure) J'
Thy
much.
it
Rddjeh is frequently used as a man's name ako in the Egyptian dialect signifies " to increase
it is
equal the
327.
heart,
thy Lord.
328.
lean
little
thing of a lady;
childbed.
and
{moreover) in
She was miserable enough, and still became more miserable (by the labours of childbed). (_jw used in the Egyptian dialect for l::,^-. ^^^J ^ is
said
mstead of
^-i
^^
common
expression to
the state of a
woman
for
104
ARABIC PROVERBS.
which
time the
MosHm law
is
always open.
" erect
;"
if
means
"open."
330.
ij^J^
i:^^
liiJI
^\s.
Vo
^ijtx:^
l_X-j
331.-"'
sense absent.
On
a passionate
man ready
332.-''
He
is
proceeding
to the
Govern
\y^^^
is
the rabble by
opposing them.
LL
u^y^.
The substantive is LjL-. which means the government or administration of the executive power, in
ARABIC PROVERBS.
opposition to that of the judicial
dialect ^--L-:
105
^jL\\
body or
*^
In the Egyptian and means " to talk gently to a person," " to coax or wheedle him." a::^L--> means then, " I have talked gently with him, enticed him by soft words." The
called
{j^^^
(singular ^/^L>)
The proverb means, that low people can only be governed by acting in direct opposition to
their inclinations.
334.
tyrannical sultan
is better
anarcliy).
335.
S\s>-
/l-:J
^-^^1
9^
Tlie
hearing of music
is
a poignant pain.
This
is
who
are re;
proached for
in
attributed to
them
L-JNia^i
f-i^^,
l^l^jj!)
The person
he rejoices in
;
it,
spends
money
he grieves
(Ly
and
dies.
106
disease
sicians,
;
ARABIC PROVERBS.
it is
naturalized in
and
signifies
the brain.
336.
it
it,
and reported
is
it
v_^
a party of
337.
to)
separation.
of another
may
cause
a disagreement and
separation.
338.'"'
The sultdn
teaches,
and
is
not
to
he taught.
339.-"'
ARABIC PROVERBS.
340.
107
The cat
To be
successful in taking
caution.
pro-
(_^j--tUI
I*/="
341.
We
is
On
jA^
aL^ is
employed
also in the
same
sense.
342.
We have eaten nothing tvhy should tee drink f We have not done anything to render necessary
;
It
is
usual
among people
draught.
they
is
may
the
more
enjoy the
^c5^
as the pre-
positions
J^
and Jl are
in general
used mdiscrimi-
108
nately.
^^ ^j^
"why,
or
for
what
me ?"
343.
They lorepared me
they girded
me
hut
have not
is
i.^^jji,
from
j^Ij
" to
make
ujd
and prepare
for travelling."
344.
it.
my
translation,
is
The construction
is
^JJl
^_^l'i
345.
jjjj^
c^^'
;
^%rL
kill
\j^i^
They i^raised
the cat
the meal-box.
Said of those
who become
insolent
and over-
ARABIC PROVERBS.
346.
109
Thejj took
it
it
into the
moustaches.
347.
The buying of a
slave
The Eastern
task
it is
peoj)le
know
well
how
difficult
to educate a slave
and break
his stubborn
temper.
348.
his society
(then)
became
agreeable.
349.
Of a month Do
By
is
ci-'^^
cl:\s>\J^
^^
luIjs^^
commonly used
in
110
Egypt
"a beggar."
It
is
'ilkx^ is
mouth and
of friendshij^
each other.
is
to
agree with
352.
Greyheaded and
353.'"'
vicious.
S\Jii\
L::--Jli.j
jLuS.1
Ajl,^-ij
the heart.
354.
ijiL^
^f^
ij\jj^
single sparJc
Trifles
ivhole quarter.
may
355.-"
ARABIC PROVERBS.
356.-"-
Ill
Take away
thine, that
mine, for
am
On an
every one must
haste.
him aDcl give way to t-jCclixj and ^^l::^ his desires or caprices. are expressions commonly used in Egypt for thine " and " mine." In the same manner u-^^^l:;^ and ^l:x^ are and the Arabians say used by the Moggrebins
for
'"'
make room
uJobs-
and ^Ji^
From
is
thus formed in the vulgar dialect, ^fj and we hear Jr^\ "my horses," <X^ l^^\ "his books,"
^^
lJCc^
SijT^
^'thy chddren."
357.
satiated,
and
then
made
presents
to
men towards
358.
each other.
Part {of
it)
ivas hurnt,
part of
it
spoiled,
and part
For money frivolously spent, such given to him who had possessed it.
is
Llk-
112
plural of
lajj
ARABIC PROVERBS.
The term Lb
is
figs
they are
of
ripe,
with a pointed
iron, so as to tear
;
out
them a
piece,
this is
done
has
more sweet,
for experience
is
shown that an
increase of sweetness
air to enter
the conse-
by that operation
Lb or spoiled.
The operation
itself is styled
"the
U^s^W
^^^
359.'"'
Take
from
burnt.
Said to expose an insidious adviser whose object was that he might have the broth for himself
J jxsr
in the
Egyptian
J^l
dialect for
jy.^
^ (^^
In
is
360.
little
gay
^i^-.--.
^^Ub from
"to
AHABIC PROVERBS.
361.
113
do not order
it
to he
cut doion.
362.
a kind of meaning in
It implies
many
difficulties," or
few words," or
" at
last
:"
"we
'
travelled,
we became very
us,
we had
brother'
to
fight
take
we
came upon
off
and hunger,
^^.iL^ L^
until at last
arrived."
363.
dirt.
"
Welcome,
my frieiid,"
he said.
This
soldiers,
is
to ridicule
Welcome, brother,
114
ARABIC PROVERBS.
364.
Evil
is
of old date,
365.
TJie
barley
poetry,
engrossed
my
and
This had things quite different in my head. saying, which is without wit, puns in the Arabic text. <U i^jiiA-i " it engaged my leisure or attention and prevented me from adverting to the other." This is an expression much used.
I
jUI ^j^
366.
i^y:Li)
d3^\
Cl^L?
Of
d3u^
1*1
those
who undertake
qualified.
ajyJ!
professions for
which
called
more commonly
denominate
ARABIC PROVERBS.
367.
115
The
asses have
met with
,^t^'i'J
the sacks.
Misfortunes return.
(See No. 254.)
is
the plural of
,j**Aj
368.
He
vjho
made a
preacher.
A
hole,
l-j\ju
more
Thus \zX^
signifies
one
wall that he
may
by the thieves of
Upper Egypt. j\J^ the plural of 'ij\j:. a corn bag it is shorter but wider than the carried by camels
;
^..-\v
^
h\J:.
is
corn measure.
369,
He fasted for
his fast
We
or to
forfeit their
obtain
is
Ramadhdn
When
the
their fast on
lie
ARABIC PROVERBS.
the morning of the great feast (y^:) with some dainty morsels from their kitchens. It is thought
meritorious on that occasion to eat
after the
first
a few dates,
it
shameful to use so
term jkij
of the
appHed to the
month of Eamadhdn and it is thus said of a person ^l?li or "he is breakfasting," when he
^ji,
expression.
370.
The
little
371.'"
The
little
Ayshe
ivcll
suited
Abd
el
Kerym.
suit each
On
other.
fits
who
-^^. in the Egyptian dialect means " it or suits me," "it is of use to me," or "proper
for me."
^ly^
is
the diminutive of
372.
<Ll-
to the bean-seller,
and
not to
the druggist.
like a peasant,
than
ARABIC PROVERBS.
rich but require the apothecary's medicines.
117
The
word -L*
is
first
meeting
According
seen on
it is
the day
is
influenced
by the object
Thus
is
fortunate or
early in the
Jj
;
is
the
man who
(called
day
sells
coarse
horse-beans
when
boiled
but
it
of a peasant to digest
butter or lamp-oil.
time the
common
373.
the
On
374.
Who 2^ossSses
little
to
it.
375.
J\^\
c^U
\^^\\\
Jli j\]^
d\^\J
^U
seller
118
butcher.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
" (There,)"
they said,
house!'
" the
dirt has
come
to the
gate of
{its)
it is
\J^\
U-
The
all
called vJ^--^^
who
;
sells
purchased
by poor
people.
376.
He
has smoothed
Ms
cloak
and cleaned
his heard.
^}jua
He
when
means
:"
if
spoken of paper,
means "to glaze it." ij^s^ is the under vest of j^s in the Egyptian cloth as worn in the East, " to cleanse the beard from dust ;" the word dialect _, is used in the same sense.
377.
is truth.
this
maxim
as their guide.
;
ARABIC PROVERBS.
instance
119
difficult
:
of
its
appearing under
circum-
my
observation
but on
called
who
themselves
friends,
betrayed
each other
on
the
through
fear, or
some
Who
ivants
a thing
is
blind
(to its
faults).
l._--^2^U
means "he
or also " he
who
d^lk>l
asks
it,"
the thing."
In the
t
first
sense
.L>-lLl
-.L-..-^^!
and
js-U
means then
379.
A Jew found
On
"It
stinks," he
by a
miser.
380.'''
ti,**uiJ
^c^
cash
^J^
J^^
<SxiJ
iMua
ready blow
ivith
is better
*xcj
120
ARABIC PROVERBS.
oU\
381.
Rather {hear)
the Jlatidencies
jprayers ofthejlshes.
to
The most fatiguing journey by land is preferable " Take thy passage the pleasantest sea voyage.
sea,"
by
see
said a
fishes
many
devotions."
"No,"
"I think
it
The Egyptians dislike sea voyages so much that most of them choose the tedious and fatiguing journey by land to Mekka, rather than the shorter passage by sea. ^-f^^^ is the prayer ^\ (^U^i- and in general any homage paid to
better to hear,"
&c.
the divinity.
382.
Two
Said of a person
the same manner.
twice cheated in
ARABIC PROVERBS.
383.
121
it
to
he true.
On
usually
^^
;"
\^^:^J>
at Piim
but some-
"joked
with him."
<L.>u*r>.
^^^-'^-^
havmg
''
thus
hasabooe/'
384.
The guest of
Or he
evinced
it
who have
respect-
towards him.
;
man
by any
may
own
whom
he had
He
beat
me and
cried out
and complained.
Said of those
successes.
who complain
122
ARABIC PROVERBS.
386.
clothes.
The Bedouins of Egypt have the worst reputation amongst the townspeople and
ingratitude.
;
On
many
free
the
<^
is
387.
hloiv
from our
of
lies
merely
the Arabic
rhyme of
with hahyh,
lover.
388.
Fight
ivith
may
he seriously injured.
When
it
each other
manner
ARABIC PEOVERBS.
389.
123
His understanding
Said of a person as
in mind.
tall
in stature as
he
is
stupid
390.
two stones.
391.
<NJciyt
U_5n*^'
^.-ej'^-e
jy^^ V**
ivill
Put
the
put
thee
his
due and
right,
and thou
make
^J^^^ ^-^M
C_?<'=^
Lj.-t-^
'-t't^^
may
confess.
What
an
a judicial
maxim
It
is
related that in
intricate
law
suit,
When
the
man
124
ARABIC PROVERBS.
compassion.
393.
This in purport
serpents
is
To torment
of
it
the
children
the hisses
serpents
the serpents."
'i^^
is
unextinguished lime
the same
name
to
is
made
of this lime
and
mercury, which
is
a ''leather
bag."
394.
[He
This
is
is)
of nai'TOiv throat.
said of a person
who
al^^
in
Egypt
^^\
^,.
\^\
who never
Blind
men
force
and eagerness.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
396.
125
Applied to business of a
is
difficult nature.
Ll-^l
j*.--
We
(Ss>-
find in the
Koran
LLk;!^
J,
J.*^!
^_
" until the camel shall enter into the needle's ear."
M
397.
aivay,
and another
took
it.
luck, or of the
398.-''
{Like)
a high cap,
it
falls off at
a single
hloiv.
This
^jil^J^ or
is
said of an
j^\:>Jb
(See No.
In the Egyptian
violent.
126
ARABIC PROVERBS.
399.
Thou hast obtained thy wishes, now rejoice, this The Egyptians frequently is the time for mirth. The drum and the pipe are quote this saying. instruments much used, especially among the peasants.
400.
He
to Jiy
aivay,
it.
and then
tvent
running after
On
inconsistency of conduct.
401.
The
hole {which he
made) opened
into
a granary.
thief contrived to
make
it
to find a
side
;
room
full
but instead of
little
-^'ij
is
the hole
made
in the wall,
is
an open yard
government
is
is
kept.
In every town
is
;
of
Egypt
there
such a yard,
As
far
127
this
was
lately erected at
Alexandria by
Mohammed Aly
402.
Pasha.
Who
him
sieve.
403/""
iu\sj
^LM\
^^
Obedience
to tJic
Who
404.
(Like)
a physician curing
is
distempered.
(A
verse.)
405.
The food of
wolf
surfeit, indigestion,
406.
leads
to
perdition.
^-vL
means
''avidity,"
128
ARABIC PROVERBS.
for pecuniary gain, or for power, or fame, latter sense it
whether
in
which
ja^^
in
off,"
&c.
M\
-v^
407.
The
408.
ivoy^ks.
Striking characteristics
of a
worthless person.
it
Ui
is
ill
of others, because
is
understood *j^b
i_5JJl
409.
i_^ means
is
bad omen
it
stands for
which
L_^J?
is
omen
^^^*^^
'^^
to
^^^^
its
possessor
^lIc
a^
"his
good
for it," or
L/"-?'''
ARABIC PROVERBS.
heel in passing
for
129
(u^y^
over
it
will
be unlucky."
yb
U)
With
horses'
respect to
^-'^-'^^
and the
forelocks ;"
meaning that
to the
houses, men,
evil
and
horses,
are
most exposed
is
This
probably derived
/yu!l
^^^
'i\J,\
j\jii\
c?l)
;
omen
reside
The ancient Arabs were extremely and even now the fear superstitious on this subject of a bad omen .is universal, and pervades every
;
transaction.
;^^11
C_5>
410.
(When)
the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve.
Be not an eye-witness
411.
of misfortunes.
In proportion
Accommodate thyself
to
the circumstances in
130
ARABIC PROVERBS.
tliou art placed.
which
To stretcli out one's leg beyond the cloak, so that any part of it should appear, is reckoned highly indecent and unmannerly
among
Before
a superior the
man who
his
sits cross-legged
must enhe
In the
toes, in fact
face.
si is often
for jSi
412.
lT^^
3Iy enemy
I
is the
S>J
Jlc
washer of my corpse.
is
am thrown upon the mercy of my enemy. il^Ull the woman who waslies the corpses of females
previously to interment.
413.
Naked
to pur-
The vanity of
living
beyond
is
;
and
very
while
common among
by
living as poorly as
is
com-
ARABIC PROVERBS.
414.
131
ivith
each other.
415.
The enmity of
of
the fool.
416.
At
the
ford over
the river
the Jcalyt
becomes con-
Sjncuous.
On
bad
qualities of a person
must show themselves. aj>\^x< is a fording j)^^^ where the water is shallow. The peasants in crossing over hold up their loose skirts, and on such occasions
the kalyt (see No. 157,) becomes conspicuous.
417.
At
the roasted
the vinegar
my
teeth ache."
;
He
vinegar
uJl
but when
"to
to
encircle,
to cover,
or
means
some
where
bread as
practised at dinners in
tlie
East,
132
ARABIC PROVERBS.
is
;
accompanied to
the mouth with a piece of bread or, if possible, wrapped up in it. ij^ja is that unpleasant sensation
of the teeth
when we
nature or taste.
used by
summer
418.
Jyixll
t^JbjJ
is
(j^iaJ^
J*^^
When
the
is
stomach
concerned,
wisdom withdraws.
Wisdom
419.
At
the narroiv
passage there
friend.
is
no brother and no
Jh-^^
"a narrow
pass,"
"a
difficult
moment."
420.
A
On
affairs.
blind
woman
improper persons
iajL^ is derived
employed
t-J^-
in
ridiculous
from
The
libdn
shdmy
^U)
is
a white shining
gum
of a glutinous
ARABIC PROVERBS.
quality, a
133
is
imported into
from
It
Scio,
is
where
it
is
of
fir.
used in a melted
it
dipped into
process
all
by which
eradicated.
sticks
is
The women
obscured by
421.
To thy
eye,
MercJmnt.
The whole
thy eyes, for
if
is
fault.
422.
^Ul.^
Li^b
JJJI
^i
4lij
^z^^
Jx
To
the
good luck of
my
became penitents.
is
applied to
way
of rejoicings.
i_Jljj
is
the plural of ^:
is
carried to the
;"
and
it
whole
consummation of matrimony,
134
ARABIC PROVERBS.
last
which
night
is
called
Alri-jJ^
a3J
Wliile I
am
and
two men, one disguised as a French soldier, the other dressed up as a French woman, play their
tricks before a large assembly of Arabs, in front of
a third
Arab
personifies a
according to their supposed native idioms, a circumstance which causes roars of laughter.
lady's heart
is
won
by the Turkish
;
soldier,
The mockwhose
pockets are
full of
gold
him
turban.
pubHc women those who were expected at of a loose description the wedding feast suddenly felt symptoms of repent-
The female
ance
(l::.^Ij),
As
MosHm wedding
ceremony at Cairo have not been mentioned by former travellers, I shall here give some account of them.
When
a girl
is
relation, or the sheikh of the young man, (who has instructed him in reading the Koran,) goes to the
girl's father,
for her.
It is a
affections are
never con-
her
(w::^:Ji
as they call
it,)
taken into consideration, provided the stations in life of both parties sufiiciently correspond but even in
;
ARABIC PROVERBS.
this respect the
135
Among
the
is
among
;
money immediately
the property
of the
in advance, this
father
;
sum becomes
he should die or
but
if
On
the
day of
betrothing (Lkkill
the
girl's
bemg
The day
is
If any festivity
for six or
and various-coloured lamps, suspended from cords drawn across the street. Three days before the
marriage ceremony the festivities usually begin
;
if
the house
is
kept.
But on the
136
ARABIC PROVERBS.
women
are
illuminated.
Next morning when the nuptials are to take place (al^jJl A^), (which in Egypt is always on Monday
or Thursday, the other days being considered of bad
accompanied by
some of his friends, in order to conclude the marriage compact ( J^') after a plentiful dinner the mutual friends assemble in a circle, the girl's father and the
;
give to thee
my
daughter
N
^\
,,^
^,.
,,,
God and
'ijCj]\
of his prophet."
iJ^J
<ulUS^
L^y
:
(_j.:.)
i,.J<:s>-^j
AJi\)
replies
"I
take thy
daughter
,<.
,,,
The ing to the law of God and of his prophet." father asks, " Dost thou accept my daughter ?"
(^:j
(l$:dJ)
e:-Xj!^)
The answer
(l^J
i-jCS
is,
her."
bless
The
God
^jW.
^j^-<)
aUI)
groom
replies, " I
('i^iW
blessing."
^J
is
The Fatha
company, and all present shake hands with the bridegroom, and congratulate him. No document or
marriage contract
is
when two
witnesses
ARABIC PROVERBS.
and the payment of the money.
is
137
this
While
left
ceremony
house,
her
own
and accompanied by
in
She
is
completely
;
veiled,
a large
canopy of red
is
head
her.
from morning
When
many
in
have seen
Mohammed Aly
all
a carriage, and
fessions of the
town appeared personified upon richly decorated open waggons drawn by horses in these waggons the tradesmen and artists had estabHshed their shops, and sat working in the same manner as
;
in then-
own
regular abodes
sixty or seventy of
Before them went rope-dancers, harlequins, &c., and at their head was a masqued figure that is frequently seen parading in
inferior order,
firont
of nuptial processions of
an
and conducted with much less pomp and splendour; this figure is a young man whose head, arms, legs, and entire body are patched over
* In Syi'ia, wliere this procession
is
ceremonies and
it is
reckoned a very bad omen to pass with the bride before a public bath, and therefore those streets are carefully avoided into
138
ARABIC PROVERBS.
pow-
dered over.
that
object
He
which constituted
the
distinguishing
of the gardens
Boman god
enormous proportion, two feet in length, and covered with cotton; and he displays it with
all
indecent gesticulation in
staring multitude,
procession.
How
which
is
not
known
in other places,
began among the Egyptians, I am unable to ascertain but it seems not improbably
;
some remnant of the worship paid by their forefathers to that god, whose temple at Karnak is the most considerable now existing in Egypt. Towards evening
the bride arrives, half fainting from fatigue, before the gate of her spouse's dwelling, from which he
issues,
if
by
all
violence,
and running
off
with his
where
women
is
;
This
evening
last
past with
much fewer
festivities
than the
there are
streets,
and intimate
in
he parades in hi newest
by the
light of torches
drums, a short way through the town, accompanied by his friends he then goes to the Mosque, and
;
which
he returns to
his
home.
As soon
as
he enters the
"
ARABIC PROVERBS.
139
their
hands upon
liis
back
He
is
in his
then sent
He
sofa with
or aunt,
seen by the
At
her
is
and
An
invariable
and indispen-
sable
money
called
and likewise
to
is
{^^y\
IA^ (J^)'
if
;
he
is
poor, he gives
something, however,
must be
consent.
the
gill's
The two women then retire, and none remain but the bride and bridegroom. During this
first
many women
assemble
and shouting
any conversation
On
self that
no
man
140
of the fair one,
ARABIC PROVERBS.
whom
also
to boast of being a
in
maiden
The mode
it
is
sometimes so
repugnant to manly
must describe
,^ d'-j^
"^^^^
i_53a$'
^^ijub
his
bride
it
should
^^^
Koran
i^\
j^
<-^^
Cairo
J.i
Among
is
it
h.er
some
travellers
But
this practise
is
is
women assembled
and
in
many
it.
demn even
allow
and no longer
On
that night,
^ conclusion of their first interview, the bride and '^idegroom retire to separate apartments next
^ ;
and
for seven
days
some female
not
ARABIC PROVERBS.
141
The bride furnishes herself with clothes for the she brings likewise marriage, and with ornaments
;
to
much
furniture, bedding,
kitchen utensils, &c. (called J^j) often of greater value than the price which was paid for her those
;
articles continue
her property.
marries,
If a
widow
;
take place
but
an express stipulation
;
bride
else the
insulted.
It is always expected that those
who
;
are invited
some presents
sugar, coffee,
and wax
Divorces
are
extremely
common
at
Cairo
beheve there
are
not
Polygamy is much less frequent than Europeans imagine. Of one hundred married men in this city there certainly is not more than one who has two wives and not more than one in five hundred who has more than two. The privilege of having four, which the Moslim law allows, is enjoyed
;
by the richest
class
only, those
who can
aiford to
To estimate the condition of the Arab women at Cairo, by that reported to exist at Constantinople
142
ARABIC PROVERBS.
in
and
the
large
erroneous.
and whether
for that
some accessory
than the
women
and Hedjaz.
423.'''
The
424.
It
is
Mueddin
to call to
prayers.
There are appropriate persons for the performance of every business. J-c sometimes means "the business
of,"
is
"belonging
to."
my
business or
\j^ "this
*'
this obligation
425.
Exhorting a
to despond, as
will
it
and not
change
ARABIC PROVEEBS.
426.
143
Let us alone,
and
begone.
is
dear
who do not
427.'-
lT-"^'
l5^^
ivho
J^^
Live
ivith
him
j^'i'ciys,
the singer,
live
with
tail's
p^roudly
and
affects
prudery.
..liUi
^JlL:^
which
in the
Egyptian
"
signifies
" miserable
baggage,"
trumpery
cant term
employed only in
this
it
and
serves to
rhyme
" par-
with iJJ^
sense ,^Ai
In a wdder
"
means
also "
baggage in
general,'''
cels of goods."
aLi^L
^jAi^
ijLJL,
thrown
an imitative
narrow opening of
144
earthen jars
ARABIC PROVERBS.
when poured
from
out.
From
this
is
derived
bling,
Lilc-j
" to
429.
The
cat
still
mice.
430.
To keep
the
to
destroy
When
the words
'ij\^
ijl^
house or family),
(a
in
husband and children ;" and h\j:>- means " to ruin the family by divorcing the mother and obliging her
to quit the house."
^-^:---i^\
^J^
^^
likewise used
when the
431.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
432.
145
wealthy,
but "half-naked,"
The
substantial mer-
wide
sleeves, to
433.
o
.^
We
taught
him
begging,
the start
of us at the gates.
his master.
434.
A pap
of the cookery of
Om
Aly.
To express a thing prepared with great care and Is^^^^s. is a pap made of meal, butter, and nicety. water, much used among the negroes and also among the peasants. ^U m\ a woman's name as women
;
by the name of
146
ARABIC PROVERBS.
435/'-
The
kettle
"
Thou
Of
those
who
ai^\ is a large they themselves are more guilty. JjUu has not in Egypt wooden kitchen spoon.
always the
literal signification,
bad
by
shrewd words."
436.
thij j^ctinti^ig,
wipe
from
Do what
is
right
is
thinkest of what
merely ornamental.
so is
and those
this
is
produced by
temples, dis-
posed in separate
figures.
their hands
and
feet
it is
made
either
of Cinnabar.
''
is
an insulting expression,
It originally signifies
wench."
labia
AEABIC PROVERBS.
437.
147
is better
438.
(J^j
^^
^j1 ^ ^J^^^
<.i
<^r^
^is
e?/e
upon
^L
is
a board or
room whereon
cries
and
is
it
^j
^J
439.
\2JcJ
v-5'
>mAj1j| / f^JU.C^J^\
^J^
notwithstanding every
,j..;uiJ)
effort
made
to conceal them.
;
1^^ and ^^^^.^ are often said indifferently it also means the body of the sun, or the solar rays.
This proverb
is
f^^ijoj
jj-*^ulJl
(^-x
L:i^l3
(Lo^Jkiil
U>yac
In the
first line
terms
expressing wine.
148
ARABIC PROVERBS.
440.
great shame.
This
is
j^ and
j\c
441.
ivedding,
and by
its
side
a circumcision
{fectst).
A
term
The
^^l:^::^'
in
Egypt than
when an
oppor-
442.
*
iiX,.,^]
The jewel of the necklace, the canopy of the throne, the vanguard of the army, the point in discourse, the best verse of the poem.
The "eye
precious
stone,
of the necklace"
or
{'iiS^\
^^-c)
is
the
medallion,
or gold
coin,
which
*a^^^ or
i^yi^f^
" an
army
or large
thus,
^}^}^
^^
body of troops in actual warfare ;" "the army agtiinst the '^^:.j^^
ARABIC PROVERBS.
149
Wahdby."
*J^.-lj^^
Jj^ is
h^
under discussion."
verse
(L::-^-J)
;
ci:-^
so
is
styled the
powers
A
may
a
it
liquid extracted
be.
'^j^j^'-
444.
May
that
lohich
drum
on the feast-day.
Much beating; verbatim, "to him what drum on the day of festival."
445.
to the
May
adxdteresses.
May
he suffer stoning.
c:-;L...is4^
Here
is
to be understood
oUyi
or those
women whom
the
Koran
condemns
to be stoned (*^y)-
150
ARABIC PROVERBS.
446.
i-::-wJl
t_>UsUpl
1^^
to
&J^
of the Sabbat men.
May that
fire
lot
The Sabbat men, or the Jews, are doomed to hell by the Koran. All these imprecations are in common and frequent use.
447.
is
Said of a blockhead
who
however openly
of .^diJl
he practises them.
but
The nieaning
j^
is
;"
constantly used to
express
terrace."
448.
Custom
is the
449.
fly-brains.
scarce.
^j*j means
ABABIC PROVERBS.
originally (as here) "a fly"; but in the
151
common
dialect
of
Egypt
this
name
is
and are
also
450.
lion.
it is diflficult
to take
More
Said of a person
is
adhesive than a
tick.
whom
off.
o^
152
signifies
ARABIC PROVERBS.
the lock of hair that
falls
on the horse's
forehead.
454.
It is
an excuse
own
work.
The construction
one's self," "
J**^^
is
^JL\
^^
^f<i
jJ
J^_
one's
,^iUuij
often
by
or
own
jji
labour/' equivalent to
(_/iJlj
-s^***j
"to weave."
for
weaving
is
and a weaver
^jJ^\
(_J^
455.
The
A verse
which
:
is
same meaning
And when
Ichneumon
sings.
or ^J^y^
^Ws
ARABIC PROVERBS.
ferret
153
very
common
in
Egypt
is
it
houses, feeds
upon meat,
is
of a gentle disposition
play and
the Ichneumon
/j
that has a
sharp
shrill
voice.
^j in
means
poem."
456.
ex2)ectation.
Scarcity
and had
(corn) measuring.
Bad
458.
\^\^
\^\\ jJibO
Jli
is the
J^
^\
;"
Jli
i-r'^ji
truth
become a preacher."
is
sometimes meaning "there," "therefore," "altogether," or " in short ;" but at other times it has not any signification
whatever and
is
quite superfluous.
(See
" to search
154
ARABIC PROVERBS.
459.
hoy-servant of all
ivorJc,
who have
for all
lAs^
house.
'^-:^^
is
the
common term
Egypt
for
460.
i^
'ij}^\
ijSs.
1}J
JusaJiH
^_xc
The jealousy of
the harlot
(is
woman
461.
constant friend-
The
is
expression iz^
often heard.
u^^
^^
"I
am
462.
The dinner
This
is
is
in
Upper Egypt
it is
not far
off.
(J^) who
for the
run from one end of the town to the other sake of a good dinner.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
463.
155
is the
key
to
her divorce.
464.
is
like
a dead body
without perfumes.
When
collect
the singing
women perform
all
in
Egypt they
money from
the persons
;
present, the
and according
voice
plate,
the
on the
the company,
liberality wishing to
have
;
his
as the
most generous
society,
and
the pockets of
\sy.j signifies the money given to the ^i>. is a mixture of by the company. camphor and rose-water, with which the face of a dead person is sprinkled before the body is placed
in the coffin.
465.
My
debtor
is still
I am
This
is
myself.
156
as our
ARABIC PROVERBS.
own
*jy^ in the
also
the
is
in
is
backward
in
what
is
his
Give dinner
to the
drunken
hut
tipsy.
The drunken,
the evening
;
it is
night.
jyJs^^* " a
completely drunk."
tipsy."
i^'yiJl
ti
^js>'J
^U
" one
man who is
stage of drunkenness.
German
467.
His anger
Ever ready
signifies
nostrils,
is
to
forth.
^^^
properly
but
for 7iose,
or
uJjl
familiar conversation.
468.
He
ARABIC PROVERBS.
157
M\
469.
mouse feared
ciently luide
;
j)ci7't
was not
suffi-
On
for
more pohtely expressed by c:^^.! The word 1::^ means a thick heavy iron ckib held by both hands, and used by the public coftee-roasters
Ij jj
to
in large mortars.
470.
others, although
doing so than others. Uii " with a distorted mouth." The pot-herb meloukhya
less qualified for
is
boiled with
meat
till
it
they eat
it
with
woman with
158
ARABIC PROVERBS.
to
do
so,
because
she will
probably
spill
it,
about.
The
Cairo,
at
and
l-^^Lo
according to the
of
s
pronunciation of
the lower
is laid
classes
by
upon the
at the end
471.
AXusJb
/io
^\^
its favour.
Afedddn may
A trifling
great one.
.
thing
may
be sacrificed in favour of a
:
It
^Uu2j
\ss^
^i
The fedddn
is
an Egyptian land
^^Fedddn
24 kerats
el Jcamel,''
or "el Djerhasy"
is
composed
and
is
computed at
on many occasions.
Fedddn of 333 J- square kassabas or 20 kerats. Fedddn of 300 kassabas or 18 kerats; this is the feddan most used at present. The kassaba that composes it has 3 i-q-o metres. But this kassaba, or
rod,
the sown
new
has
regulations
of
Mohammed
Ali
Pasha, (who
ARABIC PROVERBS.
districts at
159
large,
and every two or three years an inch is lopped oif from it. The poor fellah is little aware of this diminution at the moment, but he has, however,
peasants,
(in
still
same
number
itself is
of rods.
The manner
in
ought to
as
meaning such
hand and
it,
thus
No exact measure has ever been determined, and it may be easily conceived that government does not
choose the largest hands to fix the length of the
rod.
6J
Cairo
pikes.
The peasants
or
160
think
it
ARABIC PROVERBS.
of little
moment
it
as
numerous
tricks
and
secret
measures
by which
without
government
curtails
the fellah's
pittance
now under
at
actual cultivation in
Then 2,000,000
of feddan
the rate of 3|
it
or
may
be
now
I believe, little
Pasha of Egypt a sum that forms, more than half of his income.
;
As
Egypt,
I
it
may
him
The following
field
it
an account of the
1813-1814.
It
expenditure on a
winter
of
by means of wheels, or of buckets worked by men, who draw the water up from the river. A society of twenty- six peasants had hired a
piece of ground comprising
seventeen feddans, of
for durra,
and three
ARABIC PROVERBS.
for
161
water-melons
it
fellahs,
Expenses incurred in
the
Cultivation of Seventeen
Fedddtis.
associates
were
made
day
to
field.
This
Those
who
its issue
from the
and one man superintended the whole of the labourers, and excited them to exertion. The sheikh, or head man of the company,
his
share
of
Piasters.
The
bucket (which
of a
field
paras,
of
in cash,
oil
and
lentils,
or durra
making the labour of each man during the three months amount to the value of
cakes,) thus
thirty-four piasters
.850
Y
ARABIC PROVERBS.
Piasfers.
162
when
Jjjlij)
were nearly
persons were
to
The
daily
pay
men
is
them
90
of water-buckets
and
4
drawing them up
whole, or
. .
2^
1
Seed
field
Labour of throwing the durra seed Labour of planting the melon seed
four days, at fifteen paras per day
... ...
for
.
3
2
18
winnowing
it,
which
is
when
collected in a
3
large heap
H mud
for
each fedddn,
we may
say
20
field 1
^
ARABIC PROVERBS.
Produce of Seventeen Fedddns.
163
Piasters.
The water-melons of the three feddans, sold m the market of Esne at from two to
three paras each
280
associates for his
Each of the
from
off
own
eating
the
field
....
40
melon
field,
every evening
and asses
to their
in that
town
part of
;
The
may be commaking
for
piasters per
head
390
associate
home
four
and-a-half
tellys,
or forty
mud
soogy,
worth at that
in all
stalks,
time thirty-two
832
which
after
the
individual,
cattle
canes of
fuel
or
;
for thatching,
or in the whole
104
164
ARABIC PROVERBS.
Piasters.
Each
associate
besides
fattened at
home
which he could
sell
we may say
six
.
or in the whole
field
156
piasters
1802
the stalks
of the
832
the
How;
innumerable
or low water,
worms
are
in the ground,
and expense of
misfortunes,
if
circumstances that
:
for those
fail,
does
not
entirely
1802
993^
808 J
this year
The taxes of
were twenty-nine
493
piasters per each feddan of durra and melons, which are usually sown together, making in all
Remained
piasters
oloi
ARABIC PROVERBS.
165
dedvicted)
was
Each of the
piasters,
after
during
the
whole
winter season.
(if
ever)
As the durra fields are very seldom sown twice in Upper Egypt, the man had
by joining some other society to sow summer seed, or by hiring himself out as a labourer. The produce of the corn field is better, although
the seed produces
much
less,
At
the expenses
may be
upon
calculated at 15 piasters,
and 40^
corn
fields
were then
jDiasters.
The com measures of Upper Egypt are the erdeh and the tellys. The erdeh has 12 muds, or 24 kadalis, or 48 raftans. The tellys has 16 muds. Of the mud there are two kinds, the mud el shoone (or the granary mud), and the mud el soogy (or souky), the market mud 16 of the mud el shoone make 9 mud el soogy. The seed of the 14 fedddns of durra was 3^ mud soogy. The produce yielded 40 muds for each associate, or 1040 for the whole, which makes
;
297
for each
mud
of seed.
1
of seed.
Esne in middling years 25 from 1 in the better ground of the neighbouring plains of Thebes, it
produces 35 for
1.
IGG
ARABIC PROVERBS.
The present system of government is to oblige the peasants to sow the whole ground belonging to
their village,
or
not,
and
whether
irrigable
or
not.
in
Of
late all
it,
a thing never
known
in
The grain
families,
their
at
own
sell
pleasure,
but
must
let
government have
it
at a fixed price.
The
erdeb of durra was then worth at Esne 5f piasters 1 piaster 40 paras. 8 piasters 1 Spanish dollar
472.
month
that prays,
a hand
that
kills.
On
hypocrites.
473.
hi
hidden treasures.
Wealth
\j\^\
plural of
llj^
word of frequent
use.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
474.
167
He
jled
from
the
rain,
and
sat
down wider
the
ivater-spout.
475.
One
^ji
single
word only
j^-lj
is
instead of
;
much used
in the Syrian
dialect
In every head
is
some wisdom.
477.
In
needle.
used in Egypt.
i3wu^
478.
cV M^ ^j
The young
ones of the duck are swimmers.
are inflamed
Young minds
^ytj
by example.
^ ^ or
in the
common Egyptian
is
dialect, signifies
"to
swim."
^^
168
ARABIC PROVERBS.
479.
{Standing)
in
the
middle
ivindow,
tvho
sit
he tickles
in
the
the
ujyper
and
the loiver
window.
indecency to
He
among many
/Ox
^^^z^juj
means
" a
window."
in the
Egyptian
person
;"
dialect,
it
j_jlsaj
<U*sa}
_j
Jljj
,*Ar^
j^^i
the
pilgrimage.
" Yes^'
and for
a
his
resident at Mekka."
i.lsn,j
to
become
neighbour
either
of
Beitullah of Mekka,
or
or of the
;
Mosque
of Medina,
any other celebrated mosque or to reside there for some time, which is regarded as very meritorious.
Those persons,
lectures
in
especially
foreigners,
who attend
called
a mosque,
are for
that reason
^lj\^^
{^ji\
Thus
Azhar
481.'"
pliant tempers.
^vjlr
in
ARABIC PROVERBS.
169
it
is
482.
,
-^ Iv;^
napkin
tvith {fine)
it.
Puff without
reality.
Presents to
people
of
fine
483.
y^\ f^y^ ^y^. J ]y*j They are poMpers, and walk about loith
grandees.
484.
the air
of
We
rejoiced at
the Nile
the Nile
came and we
drowned.
485.
He
utterance.
pensities.
The saying is
inci^eases in neiv
understanding.
170
Arabic proverbs.
4!B7.
T^e wedding
concluded
;
{i.e.
the entertainments)
and
When
tageous
disguise
the
natural
resumed.
At
dress, if not in
"a
rag."
488.
^j^
l::^!
^1 JU
fell
alll
^
the
hxW
<d
J'i
c-g.t-J\
^
take
,J_j
^U
mouse
from
roof
cat.
" Com.e,
some
off,''
refreshment,"
she 7'eplied,
said
the
''Stand thou
Mistrust any
adjl
^_
is
offer of assistance
the reply
thee!"
is
(^
^^\
"
May
a
it
be
to
^^
common
off,"
expression
implying
with
harshness
"keep
"stand off"
489.
{He
LiJI\
is)
is
furniture, &e.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
490.
l^l
{only)
a key in
plural of
is
'i^ij
'
a charm/'
to
" enchantment/'
addressed
a malicious sorcerer.
is
extremely
not
There
is
any
into
it.
^^
He fled,
Said
disgrace upon
slain,
himT
is better
ii2:)on
than,
"
''He
was
him
in
derision
<d]l
cowardly
soldiers.
The
say in
expression
i^\js-~^
as they likewise
Egypt uJoj^. ^^
is
very common.
493.
One misfortune
after anather.
172
ARABIC PROVERBS.
494.
The merit
is
J^\
This
is
celebrated
into
among
the
Introduction of his
Makamat, assigning
e
Zamdn.
/Jw'aJI
jJ-J
i_Jji]^
i^s^yJut)
,_cjccwJ
igi
i:^ JJi
.:U.
^,
If
Sada
h^iid
caused
my
I
tears to flow,
my
But The
I cried,
belongs
to the
predecessor.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
173
jliil
-i^
495.
an indecent
woman.
"
jyj^^
decent
in
circum-
stances
;"
condition of a person.
^ ^.<,
or l^^^^
is
woman
who
frequently
lifts
np a corner of her
veil so that
people
may
jewels, or
and
as
much indecency as
<Ljs:i3
her character.
is
nil
sorts of
There
is
a particular
some
notices
it
indeed
whom may prove interesting. In every town, may be said in almost every large village,
{h^
or in the plm^al
They are a race distinct from all Ghowdzy ^J^^)other pubHc women, and relate with pride that their origin is Arabian, and that they are of the true
174
ARABIC PROVERBS.
blood.
Bedouin
Among
or
name
of
Barameke
Barmehy
{K^\^),
by
wliich,
however,
known than by
that of Ghoivdzy.
They boast that their origin is Barmehy (or Barmecide) of Haroun er' Basheed but in
;
what manner any descent can be traced to them, why they emigrated to Egypt, and how they chose to adopt their vile profession, not one of them knows. They usually marry among themselves, at least the males never marry any girl but a Barmeky and few of the Barmeky females condescend to take a husband of any other triVje. All their females,
;
without exception, are educated for the purpose of Their law is, tliat a girl, as soon as prostitution.
she
is
stranger,
and soon
after
be married to a young
is
man
of her
own
tribe.
never
the
first
favours
bargain with the highest bidder, generally in presence of the sheikh of the village, or chief of the
man
also
who
he
is
the musician
public,
who
and
is
persons
ARABIC PROVERBS.
17')
whom
for
Ghazye would think herself disgraced, or at least would be exposed to the sneers of the sisterhood, if
it
any
(but
enjoyment of
the male
follow
her charms.
Among
am
called)
any
profession
nor artists
They
is
are as
much
despised
considered by a Ghazye
is
mere incumbrance
and
in every
town or
where they
houses
;
whom
rank.
they regard as
much
inferior to themselves in
They
and
singers,
travellers
have seen
fairs,
it
or the
camps of the
troops.
a law
to
may
be
176
his condition,
ARABIC PROVERBS.
so
that he I3ays
at
country
fairs,
therefore,
Ghazye, glittering
of any clown or
Some
of
wealth
and
black
Half-a-dozen
of
female slaves,
whose
prostitution
many
not
dress
while
the
females, consisting in
gowns, and
many
chains
of
In
may be
common
Their
beauty
is
the greater
of
Phryne
for
a painter
their
skin
not being
uncommon
of a
Ghazye
honour to carry
Arabs settled in Upper Egypt, who consider it an off so fair a prize, nor would the
Ghazye bestow herself in matrimony on any common But these instances only occur when the peasant. Ghazye has lost her husband, or divorced him, and
has become tired of her
mode
of
life,
in
the out-
ARABIC PROVERBS.
set of
177
When
such an event
is
sheikh,
makes a solemn vow upon the tomb of some new husband, and
sheep in honour of that patron.
I
have
The number
that
in
Egypt
is
very
considerable
believe
they
may
be fairly
thousand persons.
in the
hundred individuals.
Saint
el
On
Bedowy, at Tanta
times
celebrated three
every year,)
an
hundred
all
many
respects that of
At one
the
of those festivals
Some
of
tlie
to
themselves in
The Ghowazys are protected by the governof Egypt, to which they pay an annual In the time of the Mamelouks their capitation tax.
ment
178
ARABIC PROVERBS.
tlie
and
protection
of a
CJliazye
was courted by
many respectable jjei'sons. The Arnaut soldiers, who are at present masters of Egypt, have plundered
several
and
many have
They have a custom in Upper Egypt, on the feast-day after Eamadhan, of paying visits to all the first people of the town or village, when they
open country.
dance for a few minutes in the court-yard of the
parting.
Their
who do
affections
they captivate
At every
them
is
place
assumes the
Emeer
;"
el
Nezel
"
{^^y^W
.^c^)>
At Cairo
all
itself their
number
is
but small
they
live
Hosh
Bardnl-,
just
below the
castle.
women
of every rank
so
scarce
as
at
The Ghowazys have established among themselves a vocabulary of the most common nouns and phrases,
in
them.
called Ilcdebye
Egypt fewer in numbers ^^^J than the Ghowdzys, but like them intermarry among
is
There
women
in
ARABIC PROVERBS.
themselves.
doctors
;
179
tinkers,
and horse or
ass
the
believe not
women for the greater part, but I They wander all, common prostitutes.
much Hke
here
Gypsies.
Of
the latter,
(in
;
which
are
called
^^i Ghadjar
Syria
Egypt
they
more numerous
in Syria.
496.
is
here equivalent to
^
,^;xu.s:b
It
is
handiwork.
for
meaning
" I cannot
express by
U
497.-"'
oivii
498.
r:S!i
uJ
'li.^
^yJ
tc
iiLjs^^Ji]!
and water
in a
jar does
is
kept for
180
ARABIC PROVERBS.
'-r-'^.
is
apj)lied to
milk when
is
it
called
499.
Moonshine and
oil,
win of a
house.
is
To
is
light the
an
500.
u^. ;^^ J
U^j^^ J^^
J^'
u^<J L"^V.
'^
monkey
Look," said
the crop."
jjw^lU
sants frequently
field."
used instead of
"the sown
a small
Tormus
little
is
and but
esteemed.
person to
whom
^j^tj
compliment
by returning it and saying to the donor "(buy and) chew some tormus with it."
The meal of
this
bean
is
used
it is
very generally
cultivated in Egypt.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
501.
181
They said
to
''oil is
become dear''
They
replied,
a thing
ivith
which we can
dispensed
ij>jc^\
of Proverb 259)
means here (as observ^ed in tlie explanation "not to be in want of.'' \d used
Lvj^
instead of
182
ARABIC PROVERBS.
503.
The
hetter fish
7ne."
The hinny
whose vanity
is
fish of
appHed to
fools
distinguishes
them among
their
504.
He
is
On
[Like) assignments
j^-L^jJj
upon
p)<^upers.
or
^\j^\
used instead of
^^
or
^.i-;llu.,ij
or
tj^'^^i
506.'"
A
Said
of
lock
on a ruined
j^ains
2^l(^(ce.
unnecessary
taken to
preserve
what
is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
507.
jl>-^\
83
^.
UL-
l:._^
jiJ j^.
Jjb^J
h^
c^L-
to the
Why
ill-
"On
account of your
applied to a person
who
expresses
having any
friends.
Fahamyn, who trade in the produce of their native country. They have the reputation of being ill-bred, surly, proud, and very obstinate, and are therefore
disliked
;
The word
of a
Moggrebyn
{l^_f^
uK) has
become a proverbial
Turk.
508.
They
said,
"
priest
may God
''That
brother
ivards,''
once
more!'"
a step down-
he replied.
On
t_5jj
Tn saying
a compliment
is
intended, meaning
"
!
"God
Thus they
say l^V^\
ujly
"
!
aUI
or c_>li
^<j^j
thee to health
"
God
restore thee to
184
ARABIC
mo VERBS.
509.
^juV^
^.Li
(J^^-ri
^^-^
u^^^
''Very
they replied,
" he used
to
spit
upon
the
On
spittle
attendants.
patient
his
be, of coarse, in a
state of
.510.
They said
replied.
to
the hen,
[the
corn) about"
"[cannot
my
habits," she
It is useless to instruct
an inveterate scoundrel
in morals,
jlx^^
among
the Egyptians
;
means
" to
throw about,"
\\ord
r-'-tj
" to scatter
"
it
but
differs in signification.
511.
This
is
said of a person
;
whom
all
it
is
difficult
to
catch or find
one
who
eludes
search.
L^^* kar-
ARABIC PROVERBS.
moot
is
185
Seder
[j^-^) signifies
the
class
in
washing their
the Egyptian
same sense
512."
^.LUj
^xi
^iauj_
jj
J\
^J
"
JL'
^^^Jl
^\j<
JlA
JIj
" ?
It
ivas
asked,
What
is
the ivish
of the blind
may
like butting."
The
blind
men
quarrelsome temper.
daily fed in
fighting
one with
513.
They asked
sleep?"
replied.
the cock,
"
What
"I
saw people
he
2 B
186
ARABIC
mo VERBS.
514.-"
Ls-A
^Z^\
Jl*
\ux^
Jib
ii^i
J--V.
lJ^^^'
,^}
V.
J'^^
he
to
eat ivith
usV
also,''
he replied.
On
in
wishes,
but finds at
last
that
his
own man
which alone
is
used at meals.
515.
They said
fee
is
to the
letter
to the
cat."
"
The
{the
good
etiough,"
she
replied,
" hut
business) is tiresome."
c-^l::^
often used in
Egypt
516.
They asked
**
Why
do
7iot
you ruminate
"
^1^11
and camels."
verbatim, "deceit
ARABIC PROVERBS.
cannot be gilt
me,"
(or laid like
187
than I am."
often used,
is
as " this
my
" I
am
517.
To
hemp
oil, is
not too
much
expense.
Do
an enemy.
The hemp
oil
mixed with
arsenic
is
used
518.
J
He
Ujfe
JU
i-Jji^
Jli
^^
"
\\
J^-'
said,
"
slave,
have bought
"
thee."
That
is
aivaij?"
" That
is
my
business," he answered.
519.
i^^j^ikil
L::-..^:s^^
UjxLi
ivell
They cut
it to
pieces;
it
served
for
{the covering
of) the
drum.
Commonly
employed in
to be wholly useless.
"
18
ARABIC PROVERBS.
520.
They said
to the wolf,
"For
He
is
replied,
"The dust
little
On
The
diminutive
expression
and
Bedouins especially
Thus "poor little thing" might be applied in a kind and compassionate manner to a person by no means diminutive in stature or wanting money. c:j\:j^^ is the diminutive i,<3 U is a common or jJc^ of ^_^^^ the eyes.
use
it
on
many
occasions.
"what
ivith
is it
to
?
thee
"
"
but,
" what
is
?
the
"
matter
thee
in the
521.
They asked
you
into
the cows,
shrouds
die,
rep)lied,
"Would
/"
to
God
they
may
upon us
Instead of
sav
sj.-^
,
u::^!
and then
would stand
\1^\. ^-m.
"
ARABIC PROVERBS.
522.
189
*'lf?/
?>e(7
jjeels."
" Alan,"
" thy
Lord
eats
the
melon
melon
peels."
shops, he
is
the peels,
which they
eat,
when hungry.
523.
monkey
"Yotmg
is
gentleman,"
they
replied,
quite
empty of provisions."
It
in the
is
t_jU
,
Egyptian dialect
,jX
in
opposition to
^J^, which
^Ji}
hospitality.''
^-.-ll^
is
title
pohteness
and
equivalent
'i^y^^
to
is
"young gentleman."
if
to be understood as
preceded by j\^\ " the house from which everv thing has been removed," or " which has remained
empty
of provisions.
190
ARABIC PROVERBS.
524.
way whom
which
blind
men
guide.
verse
:
is
cited
expresses
the
same
meaniug
When
carcases of dogs.
525.
Even
the
the mis-
This
is
526/"
its
scabbard.
527.'"
From
t_a^_
his
but malice.
originally
to Eastern writers.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
Oriental authors are
distil igiiished for
;
191
great gentle-
and
if
The
total
new
doctrines
contribute
indulgence.
528.
i^rjl
Ij^
d\^ii
c-jLiJiil
The hutcher
is
punction.
J^ "to be
afraid," or
^'
amazed."
The
.530.
^y^
[It is
still)
"k
j^-*
^^
^^^
performance,
J^
192
AUABTC PROVERBS.
i^\
i.!y>-
531.
Be
^
diligent,
"
and God
small
luill
send
or
profit.
pills
"
;
.,^^j
to
make
balls
this
work
carefully."
_,.^-^!
<dll
"
is
God
is
the
first
cause,
This
is
"
God
The word
" trade,
c_^L~j^
in the
Egyptian
dialect,
signifies
"
buying and
i..,>-.aux
selling in general."
^.-r^^'^\
be
trades."
Jj>-j
J^j
al'l
c:-J,:;i
^i^\)'^^
^s^f-'i^
'^Jr^~^^
4^^'^
0"
^'^
As
of
the water-ivheels
This
e^l-j
saymg
is
means the
ARABIC PROVERBS.
back teeth of a person, also
wheel,
"a
tlie
193
teeth of a watert_jl-->
e-^
ox
is
;
young man
If
name
to a strong
place.
which occurs
in this
that
draw
soon
excessive
labour.
the
their
Baeotians
of
Eat
Do whatever you
hite.
Hoiv many
sheej) at
the roaster's ?
How many
who
sells
the person
2 c
194
AHABIC PROVERBS.
53G.
hand accustomed
^_^*j
to
take is
far from
giving.
Am*.'
is
^^^^J
537.
The
of labour or fatigue.
" scratched."
538.
J ivhatever manner
person {on
thou, strikest
a scahhy-headed
A man is
easily
wounded
in his
weak
part.
539.
He
ivas
an iron block
07'
anvil,
and
then become a
hammer.
is
also
expressed by the
Beaten
ARABIC PROVERBS.
540.
195
The lazy
is
not fed on
lioneij.
541.
Eat of
the
ivith
a bleeding
nose; hut do not eat the bread of her ivho constantly remiiids thee of having given
it.
The
dirtiest bread,
made by a
lizj
''a
woman
In the
much
as being
reminded of
people are
probably because
ingratitude.
tlie
own
542.
L\j
will
l^ursT
tL!?lk<
i^j
Ji'
divell
a thousand
This
is
said of persons
who
the
^^
in the
Egyptian dia-
bent downwards."
196
ARABIC PROVERBS.
543.-""
'^-?
Jr^^
j^'->
J^*
er'=
lK
Whoever
544.
This proverb
is
saying of
:
Mohammed
The
best 'works
last,
although they
the
" coarse
lA^
''the flour of
meal"
Iz^
"cut
off,"
"at
intervals only."
545.
Every sheep
is
suspended by
tered sheep.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
540'.
197
Xe^
7?ie 0??/^
he excused
from
thy
had smells ; I do
A
wife.
Leave
oft'
thy rudeness,
.347.
I require
no
civihties.
As
often as
strike a
[another) harley-sacJc.
No
about
sooner
anotlier.
is
Among Arab
it is
attached by
called woted,
As soon
the horse
and hangs
it
upon a post or
nail.
fill
From
it
in the evening
and
with barley.
horseman
wliose
like-
barley-sack
is
hung
up, ajid
whose
ivoted
must
"
198
Be
hrothcrs,
and
hcej)
merchants.
541).
titan
a woehe of
Woehe
which six
{^-^i,')
is
make an
550.
He
ivas ivont to
swear
!
of his right
hand!" He
money
This
aequh^e
novj sivears
to the 2)oor
who having been poor wealth and inunediately assume the kmguage
is
said of persons
of rich people,
"
May my hand
is
be cut off
"
(the amputation of
the hand
rich
a thief's punishment).
men
my
551.
let
ABABIC PROVERBS.
552.
199
Every one
sells his
own
circle of acquainta.nces.
553.
For
palace shall
ive
is
or reeds,
its
^di
From
el
plural
J^1^
oksor,
iJ
mean
in the
but merely
" for
my honour/' my sake."
55-1.
"
\
or ''to
my
honour,"
\f
>
The generous
is
He
others.
wants money
may bestow
it
on
555.
We
God
is the
physician.
200
ARABIC PROVERBS.
55 fi.
EcU
and break
hroiight).
ivhich
it
was
The
gation.
you of the
obli-
on the inside
it is
is
sweet.
Every man
and
Every person
instead of
&.^^
lias his
share of trouble.
put
Be a thorough Jew,
Be
or else do not
pla.ij
Testament.
sincerely attached to a religion
this,
however bad,
il^^dl
thy
religion,
the
Mohammed was
ARABIC PROVERBS.
560.''
201
Like a cat that eats her own young ones. Said of a mother
who
.561.*
The day
el
Rasheed by a beautiful woman who at night had promised that she would bestow her favours on him but when day appeared she the next morning
;
It
is
has
similar saying
more
" the
current at
the night the
Cairo,
is
expressing
ivith
that
promise of
melts
ruhhed
shines
i'jJj.'
butter,
which
away when
day
upon
it."
^.-^_ J j\^\
^i
^lia.;
^sy^^-^
iSi^\
(^J^
tail, it
never increases,
and never
diminishes.
in
the
same
condition.
There
is
a popular notion, I
2
know
202
ARABIC PROVERBS.
fact,
that the
tail
of an ass
it
was
when
of hair,
t-^o
is
is itself
naked.
alludes
to persons
and
is
is still
more
forcibly expressed
/ have become
like
564.*
Be
liar.
Like the
truffle, luithout
not
il.'u
is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
of Syria,
(I
203
believe
nourishment to
many Bedouin
Like the
is
European
truffles
it
known how
566.
567.-"'
is
prodigal in
568.
569:'
is
hungry
steals,
and when he
is
On
minded
204
ARABIC PROVERBS.
570.
signifies
J^ij
^.
t_5%il^
J\
He
is the
who says
''
"
Behold,
I am
My father
vigour,
was.''
is
What
is
above
translated
for
in
the
original Arabic a
term
may
be consulted.
r^'
571.
Hearsay
^Lc
is
is not like
ocular testimony.
^,^1 ij^^Uu
ARABIC PROVERBS.
572.
aJJUu
(^'.^.mh^
205
lS"^.
'-^*j.'2j'
4j
If thou wert
to see
my
luck, thou
wouldst trample
it
under
Said by the unlucky.
foot.
573.
Did
its
oivnself!
Could we but
whom
we have
meals
It
is
commonly
although
574.
If a
man were
to
manner of
it.
575.
If the fellah were made of gold, certain j^arts of him would he of wood.
Although a low person may attain an exalted station, and however his manners may be improved,
some remnants of
his former
meanness
will
always
206
be conspicuous.
verse
ARABIC PROVERBS.
576.
ivere in
Said of one
who
577.
Were
it
woidd
he no pottery.
for
yjS
578.
[or filthiest)
part of a
eat
it.
On
.obtaining profit.
"
ARABIC PROVERBS.
579.
Aiijj
207
l::^-^
^cj^
4^^^
If his mouth
speak.
Alluding to one
who
talked incessantly.
581.'''
c;:.'
If
the falcon
thing, he
woidd
On
J:j\i
^1^
"
me
" I
Cursed he
to see.
me
the hinder
like
should not
is
disagreeable to us.
208
ARABIC PROVEKBS.
583.
his
meat cannot
he cooked together in
" the
preparing of victuals."
In this sense
also ufj^'. is
If it
have appeared.
To
hand has
seized.
Were
it
587.''-
^*XJJ
^'^^^^f^,
i^r^
LJ^^
The mare
is
not
{to
housings
Jj>-
and
its
ornameyits in front.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
588.
209
{He
is)
he found).
reply to those
is
regions in the
Mohammedan
hell.
589.
If a
hloiu
were
to fall
from heaven
it
his neck.
(Respecting a blow on
and Arabs,
see
No.
2.)
590.
If I were
to
On
tions.
591.*
am
a hlacksmith."
2 E
210
ARABIC PROVERBS.
592.
t^nith.
593*
If
the
gain
ivere
to
approach
his
to
mouth, he would
it.
lii
signifies
not only the hinder part of the neck, but also the
back.
594.
hand
others,
do not stretch
it
out
in
quest
of high
places.
The
^s^'j
is
'i
selfish
person
is
unworthy
of a high station.
the final
" the
called
by the Arabs
such good
^J
kind
By
i_J^-ll
is
expressed
others
;
rendering
oflfices
of
services
it
to
his
"
duty to perform towards his fellow creatures. term in this sense is very commonly used;
t_J^y^
LT*"*
("J"*^'
The
thus
" ^'^^
ARABIC PROVERBS.
595.*
211
He
Said of a person
who always
frightens
t__;U*ll
others
ijl
are
passages
of the
(^[^^ alludes to
^ji) which has a work written by Ibn Hadjar ( for its title " The burning Thunderbolts " j.c^j^\
^'ijss\^\
Ibn
Hadjar
is
among the Olemas of Cairo several of his works on the Hadyth or Tradition (especially his Annotations to Kastellany's Commentary on the Hadyth,) serve as guides in the lectures delivered at the Mosque el
Azhar.
596.
Not a
single grain of
his
Mustard seed
is
extremely small.
597.
Do
not
put 'Ho
day
till
to-morrow.
j=^^_
212
ARABIC PROVERBS.
598.*
Do
599.
little
serpent.
600.
Who
601.*
Do
and
thin-bearded, as long
a beard.
For
<L:^
-f^-s/
the Egyptians
In J
the
ma
stands for
U ^Uj
or
J^L
602.-^
The hawk
It
j_f;Ul
is
is
is
common
in
Egypt and
Syria,
ARABIC PROVERBS.
603.
213
Heji^ids no ascent
to
r^'
tSfS''
604.
ivill
605.
^Z^ that
is
known
is
not told.
606.
T'/ie
to
214
ARABIC PROVERBS.
607.''
T^e
affiicted
lost
her children
hire.
is
not
like the
ivoman
ivho
weeps for
now use the word A'jljj " pleureuses," or mourners. to express those hired
For
'i:^\j
the Egyptians
608.
He
He knows
heaven.
only
the
most conspicuous
^^art
of
609.
fool
a7id free
^^u-jJ
The word
in Arabic has
two
significations.
who
is
circumstance
the
case
vernors' favourites.
It is also
used as an exclamation
on entering the houses of strangers, and passing by the places occupied by women, that they may be
warned
to retire
it
then
;
is
"
and
in this sense it is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
610.*
215
Not
In
to
every face
is
Egypt Us-^* implies " welcome." In the Hedjaz it means " you are welcome to it," or " I am ready for it," and is the usual reply given by servants when commanded to do any thing by their masters. In Egypt the servant says on that occasion ^^U''
am
ready."
611.
<t]U<_^i-c-
l5^.
(^^^ cK J^ d*,<W
so
^jUJsail
"
Why
*'
is
the
funeral
hot ?
"
One answered,
JEvery person
state."
'ij\ujs^
is
t_i3
(see
"what
is
the
burial or funeral
mourners attend
those occasions
crying loudly.
The women on
bier,
wave
sing
What
"
"
What
was
"
"
What
wore
216
ARABIC PROVERBS.
612.
He
entered
it.
613.
No
up by demands.
614.
T^e bad
coivs only
remain at
the
mangers.
Said of those
who
families or friends.
or
*'a
employed
manger."
in the field.
615.
i.r^ial?
L::,-N.sn.iJ
J^
to
It is not every
woman
that
cooks also.
It
may
likewise
mean
woman who
puffs herself
up
or assumes airs
" for
the word
i^
may be used
616.
Jx^ssj-
<s-J^\
-ry*^
^
is
^
not
a camel.
"
ARABIC PROVERBS.
617.
217
/(^
{5
We
who pretend
to con-
i^-^)
are as well
known
in the
East as in Europe.
618.
No
finds
*J'
The word
J "he
remained
sit-
(J.>.
,:^_
jw'
619.
On
to
ivoo
Said ironically of a
or vulgar manner,
dialect for
(J->*j
in a
mean
ljj..^
620.
He who
is
This saying
whom
2 F
218
ARABIC PROVERBS.
entreat to render us some service, or to pay a
If
we
debt.
we
we
custom
in the
this
cousin,
and here
name stands
continue to
each
because the
more sacred than that of matrimony, which may be, and is frequently, dissolved at the momentary caprice of
of first-cousinship
is
universally regarded as
either party.
in the
;
daughter of house j^ i^:^u} Ij " the wife says to her husband ^^^
my
^j\
uncle
Ij
"
and
"
son of
my
uncle."
621.
He
is like
dung and
Said of one
who
is left,
notwithstanding
all his
services, to live in
is
The cock
calls
the
devotions.
^ij^.
^Si^
is
the Egyptian
pronunciation of
The phrase "for God's sake," " gratis," is expressed by .dl or The Bedouins (here designated by the word Arab,) have no criers or
ARABIC PROVERBS.
622.
219
The
dispute.
^^^ is
meaning
exactly
"
was
fell
had,"
"it
.f^
is
623.
To him
come
ivhose
is
mother
is
and
ivhose
father
?
health
parents.
^-sr
in
the
Egyptian dialect
for
624.
No
man.
To every
jl.:yt\\
own
the person
who works
or oil-mill.
625.
He who
leaves {the
fame of good
or great
ivorl's)
220
ARABIC PROVEIlBg.
626.
covered dish
farthing's
The construction
the inversion
A'X*
is is for
is
J^:>J^sr_
hj\^)
(_>%Lc
i>jU- j <LC*
dishes
them
before
the
guests.
The
upon
female slave
the
The small
sprats of from
two
they are
fish of
the
river sinks,
it
so shallow
by means of wicker baskets dragged along the bottom. In order to feed the young fish, or hisarye,
they throw oil-cakes called hoJcma
the dregs of
fattens
(A*;uij)
(made of
hemp
in
oil,)
and
this
them
a short time.
At
present the
fishery a public
In
them
is
sufiicient to satisfy
ARABIC PROVERBS.
a person.
221
name of the bisarye, as I Of the Jjj^ (an ancient have heard, is ^^^j^j copper coin of Egypt) few now remain, they being no longer current ten of them were equal to one para. The preposition ^-^^ is put here for J^^J and thus in the common in this sense is often used " for what ? " or " what for ? " ^\ "question ^^
The
original
; ;
^^J
or
c_,,^^
^^J
627.
He
The ^aj
noticed.
is
here
(See
as
already
"
No. 263.)
JjLl^
Zarour is a small fruit seller "). resembling a cherry in size, and an apple in taste and colour. It grows upon a low thorny shrub in different parts of Syria, where I have seen it, espeof dried
cially in
is
the
YaUey
of the Jordan.
it is
I believe that it
rarely to be found
sell
dried
628.
He
loas not
a match for
his mother-in-law
he
then
Finding
the
actual
enemy
too
powerful,
he
222
attacks the
dialect
(or
^-.l^
ARABIC PROVERBS.
weak and
jSi\
\j\
innocent.
" I
In the Egyptian
signifies
am
quite a match
an overmatch)
for him."
^JLz jSi\
"I am not
Instead of Aji^l
^^Jlz
we
find
i-w2j:
,__c.r^
AjJy^
''^^-^A^
fJ^
^^
Death
moreover must
It is believed
p7^ess
upon him.
presses
upon
the deceased.
Here
IS\jj
^s>~
means
l^S ^U
having no
reference to time.
" he
Thus it is said ^yj ^Jlr*. a.;Mji, abused him and even (or moreover) struck
him,"
630.
The fraud
is
it
he practised
upon
and
cunning persons.
^Iki
also
the
plural
of
Jb\J:>
^'able,"
"active/'
and
"
in business."
ARABIC PROVERBS.
631.
223
JJ\
dj^-^W
J^
^J^
J^J\
^j^\
J^j.^.
U
shrewd
False coin
is
the
<uLc
The over-shrewd are most easily cheated. J^aj " it enters upon him " that is, " it is passed
;
upon him."
i^ -^oyP^
Each has
in his
shop
and received by
tates
his
transferring
This system
much
facili-
payments,
and
is
conducted with
sufficient
security.
632.
{He
is) like
who
calls
upon God
only ivhen he
under
the load.
He
never thinks of
is
suffering
from misfortune.
"
The
accustomed to
I
O God
God
is
"
!
^1 l
^Ul
porter
called in
Egypt
Jlj^ also
Jl^ or Jlli
224
ARABIC PROVERBS.
633.
w
^^
L<\
^jiS |i-c
lS'^I
(^-^
J^-J
<
^'^^
(^
iUrsr
|^<!
''That
I most
whose
It
strictly ivatch."
The must be
father
loves
most
that child
of
The Arabic
literal translation.
634.
i_cjlr
cA.c y~2^
^J'<
f^j^
^J^
^j:~^\
o"-iJ
*^
Thou didst
and thou art my neighbour, (and) comest from Cairo upon my jackass.
not visit me,
deficient in polite
Said of a person
attentions
towards those
him.
who had a
right to expect
them from
635.
is the
Here
is
new
ever
wife
So universally
is
no blame what-
attached to a
man
or
ARABIC PROVERBS.
225
636.
Him
ivho
makes chaff of
He who
this
own
"
dignity will
be slighted and
"
No
God
!
El hamcloo
is
illahy
foible
!
Thanks be
to
that
not
my
"
637.
iiU-.^J
c_?li.
CjIc
^^
share {or his share
He
loses his
absents itself).
a share or
638.
harher opened
{his shoiD)
so7i
ivhom he
"a barber," the same as jL^ after J3 is understood ajl^j "he opened his shop." In the Egyptian dialect " and the word ,^JlL^\ is for jSj\ " to begin with is
;
^j^
generally used
by shopkeepers
2 G
226
sale
ARABIC PROVERBS.
they make in the mornmg.
it
Thus they
say, " I
sold
sale)
might begin
(this day's
639.
They
640."
<^u^
(JiV.
t-?*^
cj^-i
!f^
fj'*
He
from
it.
thing, eats of
it.
The promoter
641.'''
Who
is
Oweyshe in
the
own immediate
neighbourhood,
lost
when he
a woman's name.
applied to the
names
of children
who
are favourites
Every morning,
spun
women
home,
JjAll
j^), where
AEABIC PROVERBS.
of course there are great crowds
227
of
women, and
her
own
quar-
The sale by which of this yarn is one of the few means females can earn an honest hvelihood at Cairo, and an industrious woman may support herself by
not distinguished from the others.
spinning.
642.
Who
distance,
him ; and ivho ivishes thee at a wish him at a still greater distance.
"give him more."
t-^Ji?
a^j
literally
Here
similar
is
to be
understood j^^
is
:>s:j
Of a
:
meaning
Who
abandon him, for surely thou hast no occasion to meet him ; and who sold thee for a dindr, sell him for a hens egg.
abandons
thee,
jlj
and
sjjJ^
in
the same
likes
thus,
Jjj^.
JH
"such a one
643.
He
who
is
not
likes.
228
ARABIC PROVERBS.
(*f^
jL
^L5 uy^J^
(*y j--'^
(^
He
ivho intimately
U^
is
j*^>
645.
to
646.
^Jo-
t^^
li
^J^^ Jil
^
abandoned
in his
-ftTe
it'Ao
The
^_^ to cough with the throat crammed, or when one has been almost suffocated by somemisfortunes.
It is reckoned a
shame
in the
647.
This
is
This
is
saying
square
derived
is
called
or
*'
house."
ARABIC PROVERBS.
648.
229
hair dresser,
and
This
is
said of
is
executed by
ali^U
skilful artists
among
the
when they work "con amore." peasants signifies " a woman who
earns
wards
week.
plaits,"
an operation to which
the respect-
able Turkish
women submit
is
This business
performed
towns at the
baths by professional
women
called iiL
649.
How
very great
is
the yiumher of
how small
the quantity
of
my wooers my furniture.
hut
A
ip\jSL^\
pretty
girl,
beds,
sofas,
amounting often to a greater value than the price paid for the girl to her father. She
retains,
however,
the property
of
this
furniture,
unless
when
the husband
may
clairn it
230
ARABIC PROVERBS
650
Nobody
used for
j^:^'
and a^^
commonly
foi-
^^i
651.
He
luho talks
tvill
7iot
concern him,
to
him.
652/'<
>i(L>
<
>.ijiJl
Is.
U
to the
^0?/;
many
is
heart
here to be understood as
653.
Among
none
like
him.
He
panions.
is
distinguished only
among
his
low com-
654.
JE/e
ly/io
cannot reach
to
the
is
of
it,
"It
ARABIC PROVERBS.
655.
231
He
ivJio
distributes
bran in
alms, for
him
it
is to
ivritten
receive
is
The
serat
MosHms
avenues of Paradise.
656.
Women
in the different
b^zdrs of Cairo.
^:sn]b \^^^j
is
^JJ^.i
Here
to be understood cGE>
^^
off in haste,
expressed thus,
^ j^^^^,
\^jj^
JL
"
he said
In the East on
company
it
is
not usual to
make long
o]'
adieus
man
"
good
may
if
232
ARABIC PROVERB?.
657.
From
the heginning
affair
it.
The
j_^o.o
first.
in
"dregs or
lees,'
the same as
G
658.
(He
is) like
the icorld
no corifidence
him.
is to
be placed
ill
659.
UjkLs^
(^="J^
(J-^-V.
lAt*^^
S?
^^^^
J^*^'
J^u
As
pidse does
x'i
mimosa called k;,^ or l^u.^ pod resembling that of carobs. It contains several beans, and when fresh is excellent food for cattle when dried it is used by the tanners in Upper Egypt and all the Bedouins of
is
It
is
ivritten
upon
the
cucmmber
slee2')s
leaf,
^'
He who
unfit for
He who
ARABIC PROVERBS.
business during the day.
cuciiTuher leaf,"
signifies
^'
233
It
is ivritten
it is
upon
the
that
written where
In ^1^1 are here put for jjJJb and jl^Jb or JJJl J, dispense witli this manner the Egyptians frequently
the prepositions
^.
and
j,
661.
vV<
There are
^^\y
7io
fans in
''
hell.
the plural of
^>-j)/*
a fan
made
of the
chips of date-leaves."
662.
He
ivho loses
(eating)
broth.
the
meat,
Arabian story relates that the bird komhar {j^i of the lark species,) once invited King Solomon to dine, and requested that all Iris courtiers might
An
accompany him.
was a pany
sufficient
and received
answer,
that
everythmg
and seated themselves near the banks of a river when dinner time approached the kombar came flying with a locust in his
bill.
234
of
it liiinself, lie
ARABIC PROVERBS.
threw the rest into the water, and
him
The
host,
and departed.
J^^l
^-^'
'J^
L>J^
(^
U'^
He
who
talks with
the Zoity
himself.
of
their manners.
still
664.-"
-
exists).
said
in derision of the
praises
which
was a place
Jj'uc)
Tigris,
am
;
ignorant
nor can
imagine
it
why
the Egyptians
duced
signifies a village in
ARABIC PROVERBS.
665.
235
There
is
any
[gratis or)
for
God's sake.
fare.
^U is
" for
used
God's
sake/'
gratis.
666.
c^yi
J'/^e
cZiti"^
^J!
^j1
^^
U;:
U
of man.
ct/o7ie
Man
he
"
is
Common
"his eye
his
expressions
is
are ^^LL
(for
JL,
^^^z)
full,"
or
is
he
possesses
;
every object of
desire,
fill
he
satiated
"
^:^ i;u
U b
" tliis
does not
his eye,"
or content him.
is
restored in
to
fill
the eye."
here
signifies
j\i]\
(_j\j
the
"dust of the
resembling this
:
grave."
saying of
is
Mohammed
proverb in sense
recorded as follows
667.-'-
He
is
intrusted
to
the
236
ARABIC PROVERBS.
The poor
have
are not
buy
sheep's heads
and
for a trifle
them
by persons who
^^J
^jw^j
668.
Of
of this pro-
The word
\r^
means the
first
days of mourning-
by
his rela-
sumptuous enterInstead of
*:u.*
which
is
a corruption
of ^-'U
669.
He who
^^l^*J\
is
is
to sit
down when he
237
iiave
no cows,
noi'
do I
set
myself up as a
sorcerer.
I
have no money
left to assist
the want of thy lost cow). ^y\ to be), " I suddenly begin to be."
do or
671.
He
ivho
is
Pharaoh.
to
who
to the
Mohammed
Aly.
should
^^y
^y.
^-^y^
jX=c:
^j
^*
672.
Magians.
Said to a person
finally
who
must hurt him. The Madjous, or adore the same element which burns them.
238
ARABIC PEOVERBS.
673/''
He
jmH
of the) meat
the lungs.
The poor must be content with that which the The lungs are eaten only by the lich disdains.
poor.
Instead of
ij^
commonly
^P^ ^fi
Of him
^^j^
U
is
^j<.:>-
^\
ark Us
Ji ^c
whose cook
beetle,
the dishes f
What
if
fools
are
employed to execute
species of 'Ljc^
latter, as
^^j^^ y}
the largest
or scarabseus,
and
cited, like
filth.
the
It
is tlie
Jjt^
675.
He
ivho eats
a hen of
to hitn
a cow.
On
who emJil
constantly used to
illegal gain."
Thus ^jU
''
he has eaten "he has cheated me ;" ^^^^1 ^^ ^\ But it always (embezzled) some of the money." that the- eater has betrayed at the same supposes
ARABIC PROVERBS.
time the trust or confidence placed in him.
fore it is not said of a
239
There" he
customer by overcharges
cheated him
;"
J^^
but
^J.,^
&ji,^
but
if
my
servant overcharges
J^l
me
in
an account of
cheated me."
my
expenses, I say
"he has
Him
On On
mend.
such
incorrigible
persons
as
cannot
be
by punishment.
;
677.
He
who
loves
a thing
often talks of
if.
it."
678.
Who
is
to
One
is
impossible
as
the
other.
This
is
240
reach of
ARABIC PROVERBS.
human
power,
^j^^'j
(from
j^l?)
to cover
i^laster,
&c.
679.
Among
tvofide^fid things is
is
a sore-eyed person
ivho
an
oculist.
A man
to
should
first
attend to his
the
eyes, for
employ a mixture of mineral or metallic substances, especially antimony, and from this they derive their
name.
680.
Mail
This
vile
is
only
is
man
by his money.
saying
or
King of
Neman Ibn
meanness of
his
look
his person.
The noble
lies
Bedouin
in
worth of a man
two of
!"
his
smallest
parts his
tongue
to the
King
of Persia.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
681.
- O - C '^
241
When
wert
tJioic
paivn
This
is
queen
(jj).
The
of
Lii^jyu'i
is
superfluous,
and
must be ascribed merely to the vulgar pronunciation. The ancient poet Abou Tamam has a similar
expression
:
682.'^'
Of him
time.
scalded,
should
it
be
even
at
a very distant
On
is
the
dangers
attending
those
who
accept
The ^\
^^^
here in
its
or "gain."
it is
Isj^
stands for
i>Jyo
Thus
"I
^^
J^
preceded
^, J^
242
ARABIC PROVERBS.
^^'^\ U^'
c_J>
683.
security to the
trifling circumstances.
water-jars,
may be kept
balanced,
in
an
upright
position
and
well
them.
684.
^_jJkX.
(J^'i]
^\j
(or becomes) his enemy.
The
advise)'
of the fool
jj^]
is
is
The word
a
fool,
applied in
to
ARABIC PROVERBS.
685.
lii-^Aj
U_j-I'U
u::-v:;.C:
243
[si^[j
They embraced
proached
her, she
remained
silent;
they re-
assumed
is
airs.
not ashamed of
L::.-^:saxj
society."
body from J^ which and coy motions of a woman impatient of reproach." The same word is often used to express similar
motions produced by coquetry or voluptuousness,
flatter
all
Ji
is
superior to that of
Levant.
686.
The blowing of
This
is
the stable.
said
on two occasions
first,
when a
at the
hoofs,
it is
nostrils,
and breathes high, blows out and strikes the ground with his
is
found to be tu^ed
secondly,
the stable,
who
puff themselves
244
ARABIC PROVERBS.
687.
lik.^\
iL^^
liU-Jl ^li
The
jive of reeds is of
rapid extinction.
of
The passions
of those
688.-"<Xi-iLuJl
ij,
_j
_^
LiJ
He
Of
Noah
in the ark.
689.*
Man
to the generous.
is
man
690.
?jj
i_5^
rr-^
Sr ^^^.
'^'^
CI-^JJ
xiv),
wherein
it
is
^j
kS^ ji^
^^^.
i^Hj'^
c;'*
^^^-^^^^
i^^
^^:j
by which valley
<ij^
is
or fJ
these
prepositions
being in
common
ARABIC PROVERBS.
691.
245
is
loathsome.
in the
&c.
(with people).
^Ju
Egyptian
dialect
is
" loathsomeness,"
" disgust/'
This meaning
as follows
:
ill! JilrsnU
'
^'j-Cii
^^^xA\
(_;,\Lc
ci^w^j
\S^,
If I should Jind my friend in the wrong, I reproach him secretly; hut in 2)resence of company, I
praise him.
G92.
People resemble
live,
still
more
the time in
which they
Men,
than
to
(Verbatim
to
it,
and manners, have more influence upon man than education or the example set by his
parents.
A
s.
maxim
equally just as
sagacious.
It
246
ARABIC PEOVERBS.
093.
The clarionet
is
in
my
sleeve
and
the breath in
my
Used
business."
to express
" I
am
^U
is
common
in
the Levant.
694.
[:]\
695.
The presents of our friends are [as dear to us as if they -were) upon the leaves of rue.
It
is
well
known
thing
placed
flowers.
herbs or
among
ARABIC PROVERBS.
the Turks and Arabs, whose
contain
it
247
drawing-rooms often
t-_?^jcw
in
pots.
It
is
Hkewise called
;,,
Is
Ujl^
696,
He
by
is
voice.
For
more usual
697.
to say
.^.
Give
me
ivool to-day,
and
Applicable
to
those
who
give
small
presents
makes a present
an European.
698.
He
is
699."
It is not
it
annoys
us.
The merest
may
248
jj is a silk
ARABIC PROVERBS.
button which fastens the gown about the
here " the innermost, the secret,
neck.
^\ means
^\
J;.*_t
"
it
it dis-
vexes
us
;"
so this expression
is
frequently used.
Of the
same sense
or
^IjjO"
y^\
i_,vcj
We
i^
''l^e is
vexed."
^^^
"do not
vex me."
700.
Is this a
the clothing f
The drum will be heard although it may be The question means, "Do you suppose hidden.
that so
awkward an attempt
it
to conceal this
''
mystery
can hide
701.
Musk became
so
common and
mean people
unworthy of
his acquaintance.
702.
It
is
thy face,
woman
and
in grief, ivhen
attired.
ornamented
reproof to an ugly
woman angry
at her face
ARABIC PROVERBS.
and endeavouring to deck
saying
is
ifc
249
This
with ornaments.
apphed
means
silver
"
ornaments of the
is
whatever
used at a
woman's
tion
for
;
"
703.
This
is
it
is
as a matter of
which
the knowledge
may
be easily acquired,
all
j-^^ in the
Egyptian dialect
spices,
signifies
simples, &c.,
shops,
and patience.
704.^''
It is It
is
an how's poison.
immediate
250
ARABIC PROVERBS.
705.
stock
expenses.
706.-"'
This dead
the iveeping.
707.
Tear
Doubt
In
its
covered.
remove the
be exposed.
veil of a
woman
may
Hence
and
East at-
by
force.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
251
,\,\\
708.=^
the
sycamore
tree.
a line
of
camels
walking
one behind
by
its
In the open
(J-*--)?
under
709.'''
The
The wound
deep.
710.
rested
upon
its hinges.
its
proper situ-
252
ARABIC PROVERBS.
711.
the head.
712.
^>
small
leaf,
and
it
was
ivetted.
poor
little creature,
fortune.
/
io.
-
y^
(J-*
lJ^
\^\i
^jxJ^
t^"-
i^vlii
<^^
(J^s*'
<\>-i
One shaved
his heard,
his hairs
liking.
own
cOV.uj
jfc
y&
stands for
^J^
to
-^
express
it
we should
say,
^j.^
is
^f*
u^
liT*
Respect-
Whensame
word heard
it
mentioned
in
the
their scruples
when a person
ARABIC PROVERBS.
253
may
his
at that
moment be
moustaches,
in the
act of touching
his
beard or
request
to
remove
hand,
which
714.
Cll-^^si*ji
^'J^ J
^JL*^
'^^1
Jo-lj
ijerson
embraces his
ivife
a female neighbour
wifes
Said of a bystander
who assumes
the air of
have heard
often
quoted
others
in
still
respectable
And
there are
many
more
indelicate, not
by the best-bred people, even in the presence of virtuous and most respectable women.
715.
^A^f
A^^j'wj)
c^V. J
'j^*
^"T 3
commits base
actions.
254
ARABIC PROVERBS,
716.
deceitful hearts.
dialect,
in the
Egyptian
ill-natured
countenance,"
in the East,
than which
nothing
is
is
more disliked
for
where a man
if
forgiven
he seems to despise
or dislike scoundrels,
717.
Rude and
morose, yet he
sits
company).
He
is
not entitled,
Orientals
that the
dislike
ij^^^ in
Egypt
is
see
No, 716,
_^
It
^_^^1^
pronounced by
be
many
persons
for
is
understood
718.
^j)\
^j
i,^^
His face
His face
is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
7J9.
255
^jj or
eit3^.|
in the
for
^\\
]\
or
720.-"'
"God
The
its
fall
of a great
man
is
to be dreaded, even in
remote consequences or
effects.
721.
^
A
rise
^^\
^Jl)
l^
^i-^J^
9^'^
LS-^.
"^^^
J'i-I^
God
the
We
enjoy
our wishes
or
we cannot
from the
them.
proverb
derived
following verse
The verb
sat,"
x-H
mean
^t^]
"
he
but
is
signify-
J^
thus,
l:^L
"be
256
silent,"
ARABIC rROYKRBS.
or
" sit silent,"
said to a person
(J,^ss^^ jj
whether
sitting or standing.
^"^
"
he did speak
to
me
until
"
"
or rather "
<Ui-l
he continued speaking to
[j\
me
until
Uj
li^'a.^
him
for
a long time," or
time."
" I
722.
More
easy
is
to
This
we
read.
ARABIC PROVERBS,
257
U^\
^^U^
^>
724.
^
2)o
710^
Lx\
Joy
ac?c?
wiore
mud
to
the Mohella.
Do
fire.
not
make an
is
evil worse,
iLi,!
feet,
'
and from forty to fifty feet square it is waUed up witli stones and level with the surface of the ground the floor is composed of unburnt mud
:
bricks.
They
flax
being worked.
floor
They
find
it
The mo-
and
this
manner
L^j
2 L
258
ARABIC PROVERBS.
725.'"
Do
Do
thee.
The people of Cairo say ^j ^n^ty meaning by force taken something away The word hjJ> is used in the from such a one." same sense and they also say, (_J-J: ^j^ J, c_y^' ^
" I have unjustly or
;
726.
It is neither (to he
found)
ivith thy
God nor
ivith
thy landholder.
It
is
no one can
give
it
to thee.
holders or
jliu*)!
The Egyptian peasants call the landproprietors of their fields by the name of
^jA^
But
as
landed
from the fiscus what they formerly received as rents from their farmers.
727.
will not
vjill
suit
thee,
nor
leave thee.
This
is
said
is
of a
wearisome
hanger-on,
who
knows that he
ARABIC PROVERBS.
his
259
Persons of
^^j.
comes from
^-.ij
is
The
proverb
derived
an
old
Arabian
saying
728.
Neither
afiects
whom
729.
Lend
may fancy
belongs to himself
730.
He gained
He
one
it
liberally)
nor did
unjustly took
it
^ ^
(the
money) from
to
another,
without rendering
else.
ti
profitable
to himself or
any
iJ\^
-r^^i>^^
^j
f^.j
here
"
-l^
is
be understood
jjuidl
of having
expended
it in
alms."
260
ARABIC PROVERBS.
731.
Z)o
??o^
/e^
^^5
thou
ivilt
it.
{if
thou purchase
throiv
away half of
j_^'
used for t_^ although other words of the sa,me form are correctly pronounced, such as u-i^ lJ<^>.
732.
T/ie
6a(i
stuff
remains
until
buy
it.
often
merchandise,
tiling,
some
it
is
article
of
&c.
frequently
synonymous with
"
^^ thus,
jx^]\
AVl^l
ks-
378.)
733.-"
734.
Do
i^i
the face of
gain
else it flies
away.
This
is
ARABIC PROVERBS.
should behave
reject
civilly
261
good
offers
harshly
may
735.-"-
jli3
one
who
expends money
liberally.
736.-"
Have
no dealings
and none
ivith
The lazy will do nothing for thee and the owner of the jackass will purchase food for his beast with the profits which he ought to divide with thee.
;
il^U^
signifies
" trade,"
^
concerns."
a.UU';
is
equivalent to
Jjf^
737.
Do
not
push forward a
ivorthless fellow,
else
thou
wilt be tired in
262
ARABIC PROVERBS.
738.
Do
and do
the sheep.
Be kind and mild towards friends and enemies. is the only maxim recommending miiversal charity that I have been able to discover among
This
tliose current at Cairo.
739.
{I have) neither
am
any vocation.
generally held in
is
and
al^Lt^
religion
is
women
instruct
young
girls
in
Among
a thousand females
who knows how to read, and perhaps not more than twenty who know how to pray or possess the least notion of Even among the highest classes the their religion.
at Cairo scarcely one can be found
is
totally neglected.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
740.
263
Do
not give
any money
to the
astrologer for
this.
-which
are ridiculous,
*.s^xi
and he
is
not
any remuneration.
^^ astrologer.
their pretended
who
by
skill in fortune-telhng.
741.''^
(A
2^<^f'son
Cowardly and
stingy.
U^
-j^
742.^''
We
must hear
the
medicine on account of
usefolness.
its
:2G4
ARABIC PROVERBS.
743.
He
and winhs
to
the
He
owes
obligations
to
the
captain,
yet enis
'-r'^l
here
-^IAj
to be
understood
" to
<\\
or
"'
^^y
The word
signifies
wink
at,"
make mutual
signals of intelli-
^^.
7U.
Among
things thrown
which
is
not
that
745.
He
He
of mail.
is
would con-
trive to slip
away through the wire-work of a coat The word j^aj is seldom used in Egypt,
in the
Black country
''he
is
jj<\
used
is
common.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
746.
265
He
He
is
icater.
of resources and
knows how
to avail
747.
JljklU
L-^Jti^^l
TT^^^'^:'.
The gold
ivants bran.
Gold
748.
longing for
it, sit
to eat it.
This
is
said
in advice to
those
who make an
\^:>-
in the
(
ji^iall
u:^
viz.,
by the
It is
where
travellers ^Dass,"
Eat with your own people. very usual in the Levant to eat before the gate of the house where travellers pass, and every
out of their way.
stranger of respectable appearance
is
quested to
sit
2G6
ARABIC PROVERBS.
Even the poorest man while he is eating invites any one passing by to share his humble meal. It must
be
to
food,
the
may
town
fellow creatures
must be
gratified on reflecting
when
they retire to
are few,
if
any,
individuals
who
without thanking
God
for
unknown.
This consider-
ation
counterbalances a
number
of disadvantages,
Beggars
of
if
suffer
from
the
;
inclemency
all
want of lodgings
the lower
to
go
inactivity
and indolence
carried
still
Montesquieu
soil,
and
ARABIC PROVERBS.
267
Where
man
is
tempted to
of Egypt,
By
the fertility
among
the mountains of
is
Yemen and
in
Syria,
necessary to
we
of
<U:
He
and
Everybody at Cairo knows the plant beshneen, and that it is not sown, but grows wild, ^j^-:^^ " to inquire," is a verb of very common use. The beshneen
is
The flower consists of four green -coloured outer leaves, and four of a violet or rose colour placed in
the interstices of the others
part,
;
stands the
v^How
and a
268
half high.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
The whole flower when half opened is one of the most beautiful plants in Egypt, which
is
why
is
It
five
upon a
stalk
which
under which
lies
The children play with this stalk, the inside of which is fibrous, and use it as a pipe-tube by placing some lighted tobacco at the place where the seed-vessel stood, the smoke of this they draw through the stalk. In their hands it closely resembles the plant which is held by the Theban priests in the pictures that decorate their
spotted with white.
temples.
They
the taste
The flower generally stands on the stalk from one foot to two feet above the surface of the water.
When
its
weight
for several
ingulphed.
near one of
ARABIC PROVERBS,
269
its full
height.
saw
in great abundance,
and
retires," (^lU
^-j^,
ll
'^y^')
said
my
It
is
emblem
it
of
life
in all
its
of plenty in Egypt.
an emblem of death
also,
when
Or
it
may be
covered
it
were, asleep
and
in-
when
life,
restored to
sown by the husbandmen thus, inundation in one sense, and death in the other.
50.
is
life
He
circumstances,
fortune.
eats
and
sighs.
complain of sickness or
is
murmur
at
" to
Ah Ah !"
!
270
ARABIC PROVERBS.
751.
He
He
is
occurring,
t::.^
" to
The man,
therefore, is
said
when the
be brought
smoke
is
on the
fire
it
will
to him.
I
in the Sinai
mountains to
Arab tent. Ayd, my old Bedouin guide, as soon as he had sipped his coffee, went out in these he brought back search of two large stones to the tent, sat down, and placed them by his side.
alight at an
;
When
asked
so, it
appeared that
his object
was
them
yet he
had never received the slightest intimation that such a circumstance was intended all present began to laugh, but Ayd had not indulged a vain speculation,
:
for
before us.
752.
He
Cupping
ARABIC PROVERBS.
271
hind part of the head, just above the neck. Thus in some hospitals of Europe the young surgeons learn
their
art
patients
who come
753.
He
is
upon
the asses of
the
Kurds.
is
This
immediately
preceding.
know
to
art.
754.
day
that is not
thine^
it
as
of thy
uj3 "thine,"
'*
thy own."
own
will.
272
ARABIC PROVERBS.
755.
A^\
All
I'
Jyi,j.
He
and
says,
God!"
He demands
which exposes him to danger. If security be thy object do not voluntarily run into the way of danger.
756.
J^jsu_arij-lk).
c_Jyi
J^rj
Jj^
He
descends
(like) (like)
the foot of
the
croiv,
and ascends
hoof of a camel.
many
guests
ai-e
good-breeding established
One
close
rule
is,
to take
proverb
whose hand, when it descends into the dish, appears very small to the company (as small as a crow's foot),
but v/hen withdrawn from the dish and ascending towards his mouth, incloses so large a piece within
its
grasp that
it
ARABIC PROVERBS.
757.
273
He
j^l
tells
lies
living.
(from which
dialect, to
Egyptian
which he
affirm boldly
innocent or ignorant
thus,
dj^
" dost
thou behe
that which
me ? "
is
or rather
"
?
''
me
a falsehood
758.
He
of doing This
is
evil actions.
said of a person
actions,
who
commit bad
to suspicion
men
of infamous charac-
&c.
j_j?l*i.^
means
and human
laws.
759.
He
and
his fodder.
He
variance
^,j
is
who
is
are
most
intimately
united.
"to throw,''
274
mentioned
;
ARABIC PROVERBS.
as
U^i^j
Jj^ caused mischief or enmity between us." Jj^ s:^ JU; " by cahimny or false accusation he has caused such
an one to
^,^,
become
my
enemy."
The meddHng
^l^j
760.
He
and
contracts {or
others.
makes
nevertheless
to
the
privilege
of
a distmguished
much room
to be
crowded
in their straightened
j,\^
K U
J^L
stands for
^\^
U
sit
J^
J^Ij
It is usual to say
J-c
ij^
"do not
me
time
ivill
ivill solicit
God^s mercy
for Pharaoh.
Times are
so
is
regretted.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
275
The Egyptians often mention this sovereign, and the Turks call the inhabitants of Egypt by the opprobrious
name
of ^.^.i
Jjiil
meaning
" impious."
It is said of a
man who
has
He
is
towards strangers.
j^
food.
in the
Egyptian dialect
principally with
respect
to
^\ Jx
Jii.
763.
rose issues
from
thorns.
worthless parents.
764.
He
and
sits
reclined in front of
the
company.
Of
276
ARABIC PROVERBS.
The
sitting
ARABIC PROVERBS.
277
ment
fore
to the great
man
of the company.
He
there-
who
is
either
man
of importance.
765.
thou
ivJio
of others,
to
thine
own
cares ?
^J
.^
He
\i]
my
bread
is
quoted
^U ^\
'U\
JlJlU
^}\i J',:^\
These
lines are
El komhar
kyky
Ma
ahlattyn arryky
Ma
bad
el
aysh mokhahhar.
278
ARABIC PROVERBS.
The kombar
fig for
How
sweet
is
breakfast
kombar," he replied,
The komhar and kyky are birds about as large as sparrows, and numerous in the vicinity of Cairo. Ic means that state of the stomach in the j.ij\
morning when nothing has been swallowed except spittle, when the person is still " upon his spittle,"
i.e.
(JjJ\
Jx
or
^j^\
means
fig
"a
"a
for
j..\j\
jh^
"to
from bed
;"
'iyiJ]
j^^
cL^yJ
" I
have assigned to
proverb
j\s^.^*
;
believe
as
neither
768.
Oil the
day of
victory no fatigue
is felt.
ARABIC PROVERBS.
769.''^
279
He gives
man.
He
builds
a
is
j^cdace
and ruins a
quoted
in
city.
This proverb
often
allusion
to
Mohammed Aly
and
is
villas.
..^^
also a
size.
name appHed to all cities of considerable Thus we read in the Mohammedan law that
in opposition to the ojDen country, of
all travellers,
are
make the particular prayer of noon The commentators explain this term ^^ as relating to any town or city governed by an emir or chief, and under the jurisdiction of a kadhy,
on Fridays.
or
justice.
He
He
actions.
is
unstable in
all
his
280
The mouse
is
it
773.
the
for
ever.
774.
He prays upon his rosary the prayer of the mouse, "0 most holy, who hast created me for vile doings."
Said of base hypocrites
who
is
and most
ARABIC PROVERBS.
775.
281
He
strikes
my
face,
"
Why
does this
man
On
who
expresses surprise at
^_^
for
^c^
776.
-He says
to the
thief,
" Steal
"
and
to
the house-
oivner, "
Applied to double-dealers.
777.
'ij^\}
^-Lj j
'ijii\
,^_^
^^i>
^e
same
time) swalloivs
a large
pole.
He
like
J^\
is
rigid in
judging the
affairs of others,
but
j-Lj
is
used
own nor
ijj^*
signifies
2 O
282
ARABIC PROVERBS.
778.
Thy
right
left
hand.
Mohammed
Scripture.
One
of his
recorded which
A man
distributes alms,
not
779.
He
children,
folly
and
Said of those
who
what
their
own
we
has caused.
spoil (a child)
for Jjjj
He
eats
and
{at
the
{at
ivhat
he eats).
j^^.
with j^^^_
ARABIC PROVERBS.
781.
283
One day
LiUll
is
in {perfect) health
is
much.
the most
common
is
salutation
;
which one
they pronounce
Howdfye."
The reply
(.jLiLo s^\
782.
The
THE END.
<:
0RG30
jH
ex UERIS
\V,1Q
[I
ST.
MABTIn'S LANE.
AA
Xl'^lro
CE
'RAL
vm\
r>l