Category:Twelve Proverbs (Bruegel)

1. Ontydich tuyssc[hen] en droncken drincken, maeckt arm misacht den naem doet stincken.

Dicing and drinking at an inappropriate time bring poverty, contempt, and a ruined reputation.

2. Een placebo ben ick ende alsoo gesint, dat ick de huyck alom hanch naeden wint.

I am a flatterer and adjust my cloak according to the wind. (Opportunism)

3. In deen hant draghe vier, in dander waeter, met clappaers en clappeyen houd ick den snaeter.

I carry fire in one hand, water in the other; with gossipers, I keep silent. (Hypocrisy, saying one thing and doing another)

4. Int slampampen en mocht my niemant verrasschen, al quyt, sit ick tusschen twee stoelen in dasschen.

In feasting, no one could surpass me; now that I’ve lost everything, I fall between two stools. (Being indecisive and losing both options)

5. Wat baet het sien en derelyck loncken, ick stop den put als tcalf is verdroncken.

What use is looking sad? I close the well after the calf has drowned. (Taking action too late)

6. Die lust heft te doen verlore wercken, die stroyt die rosen voor de vercken.

He who enjoys doing pointless work scatters roses before swine. (Wasting effort on those who don’t appreciate it)

7. T' Harnasch maeckt my een stouten haen, ick hanghe de kat de belle aen.

Armor makes me bold; I am the one who puts the bell on the cat. (Bravery with protection, but also reckless courage)

8. Myns naesten welderen myn herte pynt, ick en mach niet lyden dat de sonne int waeter schynt.

My neighbor’s fortune pains my heart; I cannot bear to see the sun shining on the water. (Jealousy)

9. Crygel ben ick, en van sinnen stuer, dus loop ick met den hooffde tegen den muer.

I am irritable and stubborn, so I run my head against the wall. (Self-destructive stubbornness)

10. My compt het mager, aen andere het vet, ick vische altyt achter het net.

I get the scraps, while others get the best; I always fish behind the net. (Always missing out)

11. Ick stoppe my onder een blau huycke, meer worde ick bekent hoe ick meer duycke.

I hide under a blue cloak, but the more I hide, the more I am noticed. (Hypocrisy, trying to avoid exposure but failing)

12. Vat ick vervolghe en geraecke daer niet aen, ick pisse altyt tegen de maen.

Whatever I pursue, I never succeed; I always piss against the moon. (Making futile efforts, working in vain)