1234 Sicilian Proverbs / Page 22
421.
If it isn't wintry in January then expect the worst in February.422.
If it's a cock it will crow and crow, if it's a chicken it will peck its hip.423.
If March is late in coming, June will suffer.424.
If Messina had gardens Palermo would be a bunch of poor country houses.425.
If she's a nun in the abbey, she treats Jesus as an owner, but if she's a nun in the home, she serves Jesus and kisses him.426.
If someone can take whatever you have, give them whatever they ask for.427.
If the dowry doesn't support her, even the executioner is disinterested.428.
If the mare jumps, the filly will jump higher.429.
If the mule isn't kicking, it's biting.430.
If the North Wind takes to blowing, it will rain for a week.431.
If the olive trees blossom in April, you'll have enough to collect them with barrels; if they bud in May, you'll have enough to fill a small measure; but if as late as June, you'll only be collecting handfuls.432.
If the rich man is fawning over the poor man, you can be certain that he needs something.433.
If the tree doesn't bear fruit, cut it off at the base.434.
If the winter doesn't winter, and the summer doesn't summer, the farmstead will be in trouble.435.
If the young had the motivation and the old had the strength, there'd be nothing that couldn't be accomplished.436.
If they are roses they will blossom, if they are thorns, they will prick.437.
If you close the door, the devil will turn his back on you.438.
If you continually harvest without fertilizing the land will soon be exhausted and you'll have bad years.439.
If you don't collect the sheep early, you get neither the sheep nor the wool.440.
If you don't have money, you're not worth listening to.