_He that crabbs[108] without cause should mease[109] without mends[110]_. Spoken to remind those who are angry without cause, that they should not be particular in requiring apologies from others. _He is worth na weill that may not bide na wae_. He deserves not the sweet that will not taste the sour. He does not deserve prosperity who cannot meet adversity. _Kame[111] sindle[112] kame sair_[113]. Applied to those who forbear for a while, but when once roused can act with severity. _Kamesters[114] are aye creeshie[115]_. It is usual for men to look like their trade. _Let alane maks mony lurden_[116]. Want of correction makes many a bad boy--(Kelly). _Mony tynes[117] the half-mark[118] whinger[119] (for the halfe pennie whang_)[120]. Another version of penny wise and pound foolish. _Na plie[121] is best_. _Reavers[122] should not be rewers_[123]. Those who are so fond of a thing as to snap at it, should not repent when they have got it--(Kelly). _Sok and seill is best_. The interpretation of this proverb is not obvious, and later writers do not appear to have adopted it from Fergusson. It is quite clear that sok or sock is the ploughshare. Seil is happiness, as in Kelly. "Seil comes not till sorrow be o'er;" and in Aberdeen they say, "Seil o' your face," to express a blessing. My reading is "the plough and happiness the best lot." The happiest life is the healthy country one. See Robert Burns' spirited song with the chorus: "Up wi' my ploughman lad, And hey my merry ploughman; Of a' the trades that I do ken, Commend me to the ploughman." A somewhat different reading of this very obscure and now indeed obsolete proverb has been suggested by an esteemed and learned friend:--"I should say rather it meant that the ploughshare, or country life, accompanied with good luck or fortune was best; _i.e.,_ that industry coupled with good fortune (good seasons and the like) was the combination that was most to be desired. _Soel_, in Anglo-Saxon, as a noun, means _opportunity_, and then good luck, happiness, etc." _There's mae[124] madines[125] nor makines_[126]. Girls are more plentiful in the world than hares. _Ye bried[127] of the gouk[128], ye have not a rhyme[129] but ane_. Applied to persons who tire everybody by constantly harping on one subject.