There is a set of Scottish proverbs which we may group together as containing one quality in common, and that in reference to the Evil Spirit, and to his agency in the world. This is a reference often, I fear, too lightly made; but I am not conscious of anything deliberately profane or irreverent in the following:-- _The deil's nae sae ill as he's caa'd_. The most of people may be found to have some redeeming good point: applied in _Guy Mannering_ by the Deacon to Gilbert Glossin, upon his intimating his intention to come to his shop soon for the purpose of laying in his winter stock of groceries. To the same effect, _It's a sin to lee on the deil_. Even of the worst people, _truth_ at least should be spoken. _He should hae a lang-shafted spune that sups kail wi' the deil._ He should be well guarded and well protected that has to do with cunning and unprincipled men. _Lang ere the deil dee by the dyke-side._ Spoken when the improbable death of some powerful and ill-disposed person is talked of. _Let ae deil ding anither_. Spoken when too bad persons are at variance over some evil work. _The deil's bairns hae deil's luck_. Spoken enviously when ill people prosper. _The deil's a busy bishop in his ain diocie_. Bad men are sure to be active in promoting their own bad ends. A quaint proverb of this class I have been told of as coming from the reminiscences of an old lady of quality, to recommend a courteous manner to every one: _It's aye gude to be ceevil, as the auld wife said when she beckit[135] to the deevil_. _Raise nae mair deils than ye are able to lay_. Provoke no strifes which ye may be unable to appease. _The deil's aye gude to his ain_. A malicious proverb, spoken as if those whom we disparage were deriving their success from bad causes. _Ye wad do little for God an the deevil was dead_. A sarcastic mode of telling a person that fear, rather than love or principle, is the motive to his good conduct. In the old collection already referred to is a proverb which, although somewhat _personal_, is too good to omit. It is doubtful how it took its origin, whether as a satire against the decanal order in general, or against some obnoxious dean in particular. These are the terms of it: _The deil an' the dean begin wi' ae letter. When the deil has the dean the kirk will be the better._ _The deil's gane ower Jock Wabster_ is a saying which I have been accustomed to in my part of the country from early years. It expresses generally misfortune or confusion, but I am not quite sure of the _exact_ meaning, or who is represented by "Jock Wabster." It was a great favourite with Sir Walter Scott, who quotes it twice in _Rob Roy_. Allan Ramsay introduces it in the _Gentle Shepherd_ to express the misery of married life when the first dream of love has passed away:-- "The 'Deil gaes ower Jock Wabster,' hame grows hell, When Pate misca's ye waur than tongue can tell."