the dog that goes to many weddings: old spanish proverbs

From a book published in London dated 1834, these proverbs give a glimpse of a life rather more plainspoken than most early Victorians knew. . .

Perrillo de muchas bodas no come en ninguna, por comer en todas.—"The dog which goes to many weddings eats in none, from wishing to eat in all of them."—Signifying, that covetous and greedy persons generally lose what they have by endeavouring to get more.

Perrito de todas bodas.—" A dog at all weddings." Applicable to a person who is to be found at all places where there is feasting and amusement.

Perro alcucero, nunca buen conejero.—" A potter's dog is never good for catching rabbits."—He who has been brought up in luxury and ease, is never fit for industry or labour.

Perro en barvecho ladra sin provecho.—" A dog in a ploughed or in a fallow field, barks to no purpose."

Buscar cinco pies al gato.—" To seek for five feet in a cat."—It is used when a person attempts to persuade another to believe in some preposterous position, as, for instance, that the cat's tail is a leg.

Azotan a la gata, si no hila nuestraama.—" They whip the cat if our mistress does not spin."— It frequently happens that the most innocent and insignificant creature suffers from the faults and neglect of others.

- from John Collins, A dictionary of Spanish proverbs, tr., with illustr. from the Lat., Span. and Engl. authors (London: 1834) passim.