DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49272#0210
194 HARVARD AFRICAN STUDIES
36. Egzenif gdbin bode adzemtu. “ The tail and repentance go behind.”
37. Atu fiddi atu fitti. “ Thou broughtest; thou thyself destroyest.”
38. Kan nma ’o’e elle galdtti namd bitilld. “ He who is warm for anyone will cook
cakes for him under the oven.”
For friends and favorites, one attempts anything.
39. Hdda yu'nqabu akkaoNiqabd! gette qamalen. “ ‘ If I have no mother, I have my
grandmother! ’ said the monkey.”
If one has not the most desirable thing, at least one has always something good.
40. Itti qabatdd czni holla gird. “ What keeps him is that there is a wedding at his
neighbor’s.”
Therefore he does not go to the festival of those at a distance, even if they are relatives.
41. Ani girdn sea goganko gabd gird! gette kuruppen. “ 11 thought I was alive and in-
stead my skin is already at the market,’ said the gazelle.”
This means the same as the Italian: Vender la pelle delV orso prima d’averlo ammazzato,
“ To sell the bear’s skin before you have killed him.”
42. Hinqdbnu hinadddnu! gette qdqzen. “ ‘ We have none and we do not shave,’ said
the bald-headed man.”
One must resign oneself to misfortunes and assume bonne mine.
43. Qalbin yartun bisdn kiessa dabate dzeboti. “ The fool was thirsty in the midst of
water.”
44. Nd qaldnu ndumun qalldtti dumd male! getti tafkin. “ ‘ If they cut my throat, they
could not kill me, but with boiling water I am destroyed,’ said the flea.”
Against each enemy, use the suitable weapon.
45. Gabbin hotuNimar’atu. “ A calf that is sucking does not bellow.”
Thus the vassal does not rebel so long as he has a rich country to exploit.
46. Sorus cdmus iggi misird lama. “ Whether it rains or stops raining, the lentils have
two eyes.”
For one who does not conform to circumstances and events.
47. Harki namd rukutd male hdmd^nalelu. 11 The outsider claps his hands but nothing
moves.”
48. Lafti''mbzekne qarqa duwdda wan itti'mbzekne ddfqa duwdda. “ The ascent to an
unknown land is useless; what is not known, is useless to toil for.”
49. Yd dubbatdn bubbe yd cal geddn buqqde. “ If they speak, they are wind; if they are
silent, they are gourds.”
Of futile people.
50. Kan qaban qabd Nigane gadi dlsdn bakke gutti. “ They took it and it did not fill the
ring of the thumb and forefinger; they left it and it filled the whole plain.”
For example, when a person is asked questions and he says he does not know; whereas,
if he had not been asked, he would have said even more than was necessary.
36. Egzenif gdbin bode adzemtu. “ The tail and repentance go behind.”
37. Atu fiddi atu fitti. “ Thou broughtest; thou thyself destroyest.”
38. Kan nma ’o’e elle galdtti namd bitilld. “ He who is warm for anyone will cook
cakes for him under the oven.”
For friends and favorites, one attempts anything.
39. Hdda yu'nqabu akkaoNiqabd! gette qamalen. “ ‘ If I have no mother, I have my
grandmother! ’ said the monkey.”
If one has not the most desirable thing, at least one has always something good.
40. Itti qabatdd czni holla gird. “ What keeps him is that there is a wedding at his
neighbor’s.”
Therefore he does not go to the festival of those at a distance, even if they are relatives.
41. Ani girdn sea goganko gabd gird! gette kuruppen. “ 11 thought I was alive and in-
stead my skin is already at the market,’ said the gazelle.”
This means the same as the Italian: Vender la pelle delV orso prima d’averlo ammazzato,
“ To sell the bear’s skin before you have killed him.”
42. Hinqdbnu hinadddnu! gette qdqzen. “ ‘ We have none and we do not shave,’ said
the bald-headed man.”
One must resign oneself to misfortunes and assume bonne mine.
43. Qalbin yartun bisdn kiessa dabate dzeboti. “ The fool was thirsty in the midst of
water.”
44. Nd qaldnu ndumun qalldtti dumd male! getti tafkin. “ ‘ If they cut my throat, they
could not kill me, but with boiling water I am destroyed,’ said the flea.”
Against each enemy, use the suitable weapon.
45. Gabbin hotuNimar’atu. “ A calf that is sucking does not bellow.”
Thus the vassal does not rebel so long as he has a rich country to exploit.
46. Sorus cdmus iggi misird lama. “ Whether it rains or stops raining, the lentils have
two eyes.”
For one who does not conform to circumstances and events.
47. Harki namd rukutd male hdmd^nalelu. 11 The outsider claps his hands but nothing
moves.”
48. Lafti''mbzekne qarqa duwdda wan itti'mbzekne ddfqa duwdda. “ The ascent to an
unknown land is useless; what is not known, is useless to toil for.”
49. Yd dubbatdn bubbe yd cal geddn buqqde. “ If they speak, they are wind; if they are
silent, they are gourds.”
Of futile people.
50. Kan qaban qabd Nigane gadi dlsdn bakke gutti. “ They took it and it did not fill the
ring of the thumb and forefinger; they left it and it filled the whole plain.”
For example, when a person is asked questions and he says he does not know; whereas,
if he had not been asked, he would have said even more than was necessary.