nearer the bane the sweeter, as your honours weel
ken; and--there's the heel of the ewe-milk kebbuck, wi' a bit o'
nice butter, and--and--that's a' that's to trust to."--_Bride of
Lammermoor._

Nearer the rock, the sweeter the grass.

Nearest the heart, nearest the mou.

"Spoken to them who, designing to name one person, by mistake names
another, perhaps a sweetheart."--_Kelly._

Nearest the king, nearest the widdy.

"Widdy," rope or gallows. Meaning that those who occupy political or
subservient positions do so only during the pleasure of their
superiors.

Near's my kirtle, but nearer's my sark.

Near's my sark, but nearer's my skin.

The two last sayings are common to many nations. "Some friends are
nearer to me than others--my parents and children than my other
relations, those than my neighbours, my neighbours than strangers;
but, above all, I am next to myself."--_Ray._

Near the kirk, but far frae grace.

This fact is so well ascertained that there is another to the same
effect. "Farthest frae the kirk aye soonest at it;" and the English
are of a similar opinion, for Spenser writes:

"At kirke the narre from God more farre,
Has been an old sayed sawe."

Necessity has nae law.

Necessity's the mither o' invention.

Neck or naething, the king lo'es nae cripples.

"A prophane jest upon those who are like to fall, wishing that they
may either break their neck or come off safe; for breaking a limb
will make them useless subjects."--_Kelly._

Need gars naked men run, and sorrow gars wabsters spin.

"Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood."--_Italian._ In the second
clause we have another discreditable imputation on the weaving
fraternity, implying that they only work when compelled by hunger,
and are not naturally industrious.

Need gars the auld wife trot.

"'This is your mother, is it not?' (Cuddie nodded.) 'What can have
brought your mother and you down the water so late?' 'Troth, stir,
just what gars the auld wives trot--neshessity, stir. I'm seeking
for service, stir.'"--_Old Mortality._

Need maks a man o' craft.

Need maks greed.

Need maks the naked quean spin.

Ne'er break out o' kind to gar your friends ferlie at you.

Do not do strange acts merely for the sake of astonishing your
friends.

Ne'er count the lawin' wi' a toom quaich.

"Quaich," a smal