162 FOX 



Chu d'fliuair am madadh-ruadh riainh ceachdaire b'fliearr nil 

 e fhein. 



The fox never got a messenger better than himself. 

 Cha mhair an sionnach air a shior ruith (or cha lean) bithidh e 

 sgith uair-eigin. 



The fox will not run for ever, he will tire sometime. 

 Cha 'n 'eil mi a' m' sgoilear 's cha 'n aill learn a bhi, mar 

 thubhairt a' madadh-ruadh ris a mhadaidh-alluidh. 



I'm not a scholar, and don't wish to be, as the fox said to 

 the wolf. (See Nicolson, and Campbell's W. H. Tales, 

 I., p. 278; and 111.^ p. 98.) 

 Cha teid an sionnach na's fhaide na bheir a chasan e. 



The fox will go no farther than his feet will carry him. 

 Cho carach ris a mhadaidh-ruaidh. 



As wily as the fox. 

 Coltach ri cuilean a mhadaidh-ruaidh, mar a's sinne 's ann 

 is miosa. 



Like the fox-cub, the older the worse. 

 Feitheamh an t-sionnaich ri sithionn an tairbh. 



The fox's waiting for the bull's flesh. A model of patience. 

 Ge b'e bhios na fhear-mhuinntir aig an t-sionnaich feumaidh e 

 'earball a ghiulan. 



Whoever is servant to the fox must bear up his tail. 

 Gleidheadh an t-sionnaich air na caoraich. 



The fox's keeping (or herding) of the sheep. Devouring 

 them. 

 Is eallach earball fhein do'n t-sionnach tha sgith. 

 Even his own tail is a burden to the weary fox. 

 Is fhurasda buill' an treun fhir aithneachadh. 



The mighty man's stroke is easily known. Said by the 

 fox to the cock-wren. (See Nicolson's note hereto — also 

 " wren.") 

 Is math an latha 'ni am madadh-ruadh searmoin. 



It's a fine day when the fox turns preacher. 

 Ma ruitheas an sionnach 'am broilleach a ghadhair, co aig 

 tha 'choire } 



If the fox runs into the hound's embrace, who is to blame } 

 Sionnach ag iarraidh a ruagaidh. 



A fox asking (or liking) to be chased. 

 Sliochd nan sionnach, Clann Mhartainn. 



The race of the foxes. Clan Martin (see ante). 

 "Tha biadh 'us ceol an seo," mu 'n dubhairt a' madadh-ruadh 

 's e ruith air falbh leis a phiob. 



"There's meat and music here," as the fox said when he 



ran away with the bagpipes. A fair sample of Celtic 



humour. 



Tha thu cho lurdanach ris a bhalgaire bheag. 



You are as sly as the little fox. 



