ish._

Eild and poortith's sair to thole.

This saying is of similar import to the preceding one. Literally,
age and poverty are hard to bear.

Eild should hae honour.

Either live or die wi' honour.

Either prove a man or a mouse.

Either win the horse or tine the saddle.

Win the horse or lose the saddle. "Neck or nothing."

Eith keeping the castle that's no besieged.

"It is easy to sit at the helm in fair weather."--_Danish._

Eith learned soon forgotten.

"Easy come, easy go."--_English._

Eith to that thy ain heart wills.

Eith working when will's at hame.

The two preceding maxims have a similar meaning to the French
sayings, that "Will is power;" and "A willing heart helps work."
"Where the will is ready the feet are light."--_German._

Ell and tell is gude merchandise.

Ell and tell is ne'er forgotten, and the best pay's on the peck bottom.

"Ell and tell," if we mistake not, refers to good measure and prompt
payment; and the latter saying may be construed thus:--The grain is
emptied from the "peck" measure, the measure is inverted, and
payment for the grain is "told" on the bottom of it.

Enough's as gude as a feast.

Enough's enough o' bread and cheese.

Meaning, that too much of one thing is not good. The French and
Dutch say, "Enough is better than too much," while the Italians are
of opinion that "Enough is enough, and too much spoils."

Envy shoots at a high mark.

Even stands his cap the day, for a' that.

"It took its rise from a minister in our country, who, in a sermon
preached most fiercely against the supremacy of the Pope, at the
conclusion said, 'Even stands his cap for all that I have said,
drinking good Romany wine this day.' Applied when we signify that
all we can say against any great man can do him no harm."--_Kelly._

Ever busy, ever bare.

"Great cry and little wool."--_English._

Every ane loups the dyke where it's laighest.

Every one leaps the wall at the lowest part,--a man may "loup the
dyke" by oppressing those who are unable to resist.

Every bird thinks its ain nest best.

Every cock craws crousiest on his ain midden head.

"Every cock crows loudest on his own dunghill," is a saying common
to all nations.

Every craw thinks his ain bird whitest.

All think well of their own offspring. "Every mother's child is
handsome," say the Germans