No. 23.— 1881.] SINHALESE PROVERBS. 21 



218. 2550 #3<5 218. If not for his mouth 

 ^C^C ^ ©GD-^cSS}. (loquaciousness) jackals and 



dogs would carry him off. 



Spoken of a "poor and helpless 

 man, but who is full of bluster. 

 The idea is that the man 

 appeared so weak and helpless 

 that if he did not speak people 

 would take him for a carcase. 



219. ^0q>i^^0g dOsl 219. They say, that those 



who have the mouth (braggarts) 

 have also the country for 

 themselves. 



220. end @oMi5&cflS>«J 220. Although the mouth 

 §6 <D&d<5v&>&&j<D&3 ^)i«25Di. raa y (intend to) speak a lie, the 



tongue will not utter it. 



Spoken of a man ivho unin- 

 tentionally speaks the truth. 



221. 25)c)€>E)2d ^§8 221. If a thorn be not 

 #303^ S3 <5 ^q(d@3q$<&)(9C£)&$ removed by a thorn, can it be 



cascade ? extracted by a rice-pounder ? 



*• A delicate matter requires 



delicate treatment. 



222. asgdeeaerar tsxsS 222. Like the bit of gold 

 Qi£5<3 6&6&§<3'& 03(9ed". tied to the neck of the lizard. 



Applied to an upstart proud 

 of the position he has acquired.^ 



* " He that has but impudence, 



To all things has a fair pretence ; 

 And put among his wants bat shame, 

 To all the world may lay his claim." 



Hudibrds, Part II., " Epistle to Sidrophel" 



f The following story has given rise to the above. — A certain king going 

 to his pleasure garden observed a lizard nodding towards him, seated on the 

 top of the gate-way. He enquired of the prime minister what the lizard 

 meant. The minister replied that the lizard wished to pay obeisance to his 

 majesty. The king, pleased, caused a bit of gold to be tied to its neck. A 

 few days afterwards, the king passing through the same gateway saw the 

 lizard seated as before, but it took no notice of the king. The king again 

 enquired of the minister why the lizard did not salute him as before. The 

 minister replied that the lizard thought that he was now on a par with the 

 king, as he himself wore a gold ornament, and that he was not therefore 

 bound to pay homage. 



