Part 183

Wha comes oftener, and brings you less?

Spoken jocularly by a person who is in the habit of visiting a friend frequently.

Wha daur bell the cat?

In addition to the fabulous illustration of the mice and the cat, this proverb has also an historical fact attached to it, which is well known in Scotland. The Scottish nobles of the time of James the Third proposed to meet at Stirling in a body, and take Spence, the king's favourite, and hang him. At a preliminary consultation, Lord Gray remarked, "It is well said, but wha will bell the cat?" The Earl of Angus undertook the task--accomplished it--and till his dying day was called Archibald Bell-the-cat.

Wha may woo without cost?

Wha never climbs never fa's.

What a'body says maun be true.

For "There's never much talk of a thing but there's some truth in it."--Italian.

What better is the house where the daw rises soon?

"Spoken often by mistresses to their maids when they have been early up, and done little work."--Kelly.

"Early up, and never the nearer."--English.

What carlins hain, cats eat.

What fizzes in the mou' winna fill the wame.

What is pleasant to the palate may be very unsubstantial for the stomach.

What maks you sae rumgunshach and me sae curcuddoch?

Literally, why are you so rude or unkind to me when I am so anxious to please or be kind to you?

What may be done at ony time will be done at nae time.

What may be mayna be.

What puts that in your head that didna put the sturdy wi't?

"Spoken to them that speak foolishly, or tell a story that you thought they had not known."--Kelly.

What's gotten ower the deil's back is spent below his belly.

What's gude for sick John's gude for hail Janet.

What's in your wame's no in your testament.

An injunction to a person to eat more: if they eat what is before them they will not leave it in their will.

What's like a dorty maiden when she's auld?

"'Dorty,' applied to a female who is saucy to her suitors."--Jamieson.

What's my case the day may be yours the morn.

What's nane o' my profit shall be nane o' my peril.