Rabbinical Proverbs And Sayings.

RABBINICAL PROVERBS AND SAYINGS .

IT is not so easy always to distinguish between " proverbs " and " sayings " as some might be induced to suppose ; indeed , there is a good deal of difficulty in the undertaking , for many " sayings " which are termed popularly proverbs" are only " sayings , " after all , and many " proverbs" which are commonly considered " sayings" are , iu truth , " proverbs , " and "proverbs" only , for there is a difference between them .

Evil communications corrupt good manners ; this is a proverb . Evening red and morning grey Tell the shepherd of a fine day ; Evening grey and morning red Send the shepherd wet to bed ; this is a saying . We admit at once that it is sometimes difficult to " which is which" for

say , the line of demarcation is very thin , indeed , ancl so we have grouped sayings ancl proverbs together , in the selection which , as our readers will see , ancl as best accords Avith the heading of our article . We have taken the " little collection" which we venture to call attention to from an interesting work termed " Selections from the Talmud , " by H . Polano , aud published by F . Warne and Co . It is a great itthat we have no good

py full English translation of the Talmud . Mr . Polano says that the Talmud takes up ten folio volumes , though , we presume he means by this the two Talmuds—the Jerusalem ancl the Bab ylon . It maybe a question whether the whole of the two Talmuds has ever been published , though partial selections and professed translations have been made both in Latin and French . A good English translation of the Talmud is a great desideratum in literature .

We shall all be struck with the truthful ancl simple-hearted wisdom of these old adages of the Hebrew " Chacamim" or wise men , to whom was committed " Halachah , " or the commentary on the law , and " Haggadah , " or the commentary of history . It is curious to note that this great college of " Scribes , " of " Men of the Great Synod , " of the " Princes and Fathers of the House of Judgment" was not merely composed of " Priests and Levites" but of men of all

, , classes , and all ranks , and all callings . Let us , then , carefully listen to and note to-day these " Voices of the Past , " as they will speak very pleasantly to us , both as Freemasons , philanthropists , and thoughtful and serious citizens of the world .

Open not thy mouth to speak evil . To be patient is sometimes better than to have much wealth . The horse fed too liberally Avith oats becomes unrul y . Do to others what you would have others do to you . The ass complains of cold even in July . First learn and then teach .

Few are they who see their own faults . The world is a wedding . Youth is a wreath of roses . A myrtle even in the desert remains a myrtle . Hospitality is an expression of Divine Worship . The rose grows among thorns . If thou tellest thy secret to three persons , ten know of it ,