EASTERN PROVERBS AND EMBLEMS. PART I. The Ant teaches the Sluggard.—PROV. 6. 6–8. ANIMALS teach us-thus the ass knowing his owner while man knows not God, Is. I. 3; the crow having no barns, yet God provides for it; the swallow knowing his time to emigrate, but man forgets his time for departure from the world, Jer. 8. 7; and the ant here teaches. Chanakyea states, the lessons which the dog teaches us are" of contentment with little-vigilant watching, gratitude and fortitude, the power of patience, indifference to cold and heat. The crow teaches providence for the future and agility; the cock early rising, sharing food, and protecting women." With respect to Ants, their uniform care and promptitude in improving every moment as it passes, the admirable order in which they proceed to the scene of action, the perfect harmony which reigns in their bands, the eagerness which they discover in running to the assistance of the weak and the fatigued, the readiness with which those that have no burden yield the way to their fellows that bend under their load, or when the grain happens to be too heavy, cut it in two, and take the half upon their own shoulders, furnish a striking example of industry, benevolence, and concord. The skill and vigour which they display in digging underground, in building their houses, in constructing their cells, and their B prudence and foresight in making use of the proper seasons to collect a supply of provision sufficient for their purpose, are admirable. Hebrew. As rust comes on iron, so do weeds on a field unused. Persian.-Water long stagnant becomes putrid. If you talk of dinner my body swells with delight." Badaga. The sluggard, like the peacock, is afraid of rain. Tamul.-The horse opens the mouth when one says oats, shuts it when one says bridle. Appearances Deceitful.-GEN. 13. 10–13. Bengal.-How long does a dam of sand last? Turk. Be the pig white or black it is still a pig. Tamul. While squatting a cat, when springing a tiger. Avoid the appearance of Evil.-I THESS. 5. 22. Japan.-In a field of melons do not pull off your shoes. Under a palm-tree do not adjust your cap. Bengal. Even a holy cow, if found in company with a stolen one, may be impounded. Basque.-Cover yourself not with the skin of a wolf, if you would not be considered a wolf. Telugu.-One associating himself with the vile will be ruined; it is like drinking milk under a palmtree, i.e., where, however innocent, it would be suspected he was drinking toddy. The Angry Fool as a Bear robbed of her Whelps. PROV. 17. 12. The female bear is eminent for intense affection to her young, and dreadfully furious when deprived of them, Disregarding every consideration of danger to herself, she attacks, with intense ferocity, every animal that comes in her way, and, in the bitterness of her heart, will attack even a band of armed men. The Russians of Kamtschatka never venture to fire on a young bear when the mother is near; for, if the cub drop, she becomes enraged to a degree little short of madness, and, if she get sight of the enemy, will only quit her revenge with her life. A she-bear destroyed the forty-two children who mocked the prophet, 2 Kings 2. 24. God's fury with the idolatrous Jews is compared to a bear bereaved, Hos. 13. 8. David had to defend himself against a bear, I Sam. 17. 34-36. Saul, 1 Sam. 20. 30, and Herod, Mat. 2. 16, are striking examples of a fool in his wrath. Jacob's sons, like a bear, for one man's faults destroyed a whole city, Gen. 24. Saul similarly destroyed the innocent priests, I Sam. 22. II-19; so Nebuchadnezzar when he heated the furnace seven times, Dan. 3. 13-19. Bengal.-Scratching the itch only produces a wound. Gujerat.-Anger and water descend. Tamul.-The irascible is like a man on horseback without a bridle. Bengal.-A fire in the thatch is quickly kindled, so anger. Badaga.-If a jackal howls, will my old buffalo die? If an angry man curses me, what shall I lose? Tamul.-Like the man who would not wash his feet in the tank because he was angry with it. Modern Greek.-The rancour of a camel is unforgiving. Turk.—The torrent (anger) passes, the sand remains. Man a Wild Ass's Colt.-JOB II. 12. The wild asses commonly inhabit the deserts of Great Tartary, they migrate to feed in summer to the north and east of the Aral Sea, in winter they retreat towards India, they go also to Persia. Like wild horses, they are very shy; they will suffer the approach of man for an instant, and will then dart off with the utmost rapidity, fleet as the wind. The vast salt desert is their home, they scorn the multitude of the city; the wild ass snuffeth up the wind at her pleasure, Jer. 2. 24. The European. ass is an emblem of obstinacy and immobility, not so the wild one. The Tartar asses exceed horses in speed, and are never caught alive, Job 39. 5-8. Ishmael is called a wild man like an ass, Gen. 16. 12. Ephraim is compared to a wild ass, Hos. 8. 9, as he traversed the desert as earnestly in pursuit of idols as the wild untamed ass did in search of his mate, Jer. 14. 6. The asses snuff up the wind like dragons, i.e., seek the air for want of water to cool their internal heat, Job 24. 5. Robbers are called wild asses, so the Bedouins; the desolate city, a joy of wild asses, Is. 32. 14. Nebuchadnezzar lived among wild asses, Dan. 5. 21. The natural tenacity of sin is also compared to the Ethiopian's skin, Jer. 13. 23. Turk.-In washing a negro we lose our soap. Tamul.-Though he wash three times a day, will the crow become a white crane ? Kurd.-Out of a dog's tail you cannot get fat. Veman. No man's disposition will alter, neither can a dog's tail be made straight; the stubborn woman will even put her husband in a basket and sell him. Veman.-If you take a bear-skin and wash it ever so long, will it, instead of its native blackness, ever become white? If you beat a wooden image, will it hence acquire any good quality? Badaga.-Even if you give milk to a young snake, will it leave off its habit of creeping under the hedge? |