Pashtun Proverbs - COWARDICE
In this group, the man is held up to scorn who cries out before he is hurt ; who, like Falstaff, waxes brave after the fight is over ; who uses his strength to crush his own kith and kin ; and who, though armed to the teeth, yet calls out he is defenseless. The term of abuse more likely than perhaps any other to be answered by a Pathan with a blow is " nd mard," "coward," literally "unmanly," "impotent."
1. He had burnt his mouth with the porridge, and was making death gasps. [Said of one who makes a fuss about nothing, or thinks him- self, wheu slightly indisposed, at death's door.]
2. When cowards obtained horses, they rode them first against their own villages. [That is, when such men have the means, they injure their own people instead of an enemy.]
3. When the fight grew cold, the slave grew hot.
4. Cowards cause harm to brave men. [Thus a coward in a village may, through some wrong deed, bring down a fine on the whole community. ]
5. A dog when surrounded turns tail, a man fights. [Here the dog means a coward.]
6. Though an army be numerous, it is nothing without a head.
7. When the friendless man passes beyond the deep place, what is his fear ?
8. Since you have changed color at a tale, don't go to the fight.
9. The fox said he would rather suffer one hundred hungers, than meet a dog's face.
10. Though you swoop down on chickens, Kite ! you have not thereby become a hawk.
11. Neither the master was aware, nor the dog barking, yet the thief ran away at nothing. [Means, a guilty "conscience does make cowards of us all."]
12. Who to-day is disgraced, to-morrow will be lost.
13. The owner (is) alive, his property (is) inherited. [That is, though the rightful proprietor was alive, another enjoyed his estate as if he were dead. Such cases do occur. ]
14. With a sword under his arm, he wants a club.
15. Neither has a brave man a fault. Nor a coward ignominy. [The latter being what he is, cannot feel shame.]
16. The fakeer's ass died, and each village cur claimed it. [The base will fight amongst themselves for what none of them has any right to.]
17. Fear and shame are father and son. [If a man is a coward he will soon be disgraced.]
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