E. Cobham Brewer 18101897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. |
| Beggar. | |
A beggar may sing before a pickpocket. (In Latin, Cantabit vacuus coram latrone viator.) A beggar may sing before a highwayman because he has nothing in his pocket to lose. | 1 |
Set a beggar on horseback, and hell ride to the deil. There is no one so proud and arrogant as a beggar who has suddenly grown rich. | 2 |
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Such is the sad effect of wealthrank pride |
Mount but a beggar, how the rogue will ride! | |
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Peter Pindar: Epistle to Lord Lonsdale. |
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Latin: Asperius nihil est humili cum surgit in altum. | 3 |
French: Il nest orgueil que de pauvre enrichi. | 4 |
Italian: Il vilan nobilitado non connosce il parentado (A beggar ennobled does not know his own kinsmen). | 5 |
Spanish: Quando el villano está en el mulo, non conoze a dios, ni al mundo (when a beggar is mounted on a mule, he knows neither gods nor men). | 6 |
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