Łaska pańska na pstrym koniu jeździ
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What it means
“A lord’s favour rides on a dappled horse.” The goodwill of people in power can change without warning. It can vanish as quickly as it comes, so do not depend on it.
English equivalent
Don't rely on the favour of the great.
Vocabulary
- łaska — favour, grace, mercy
- pański — lord's, master's, of the gentry
- pstry — dappled, motley, multicoloured
- koń — horse
- jeździć — to ride
Grammar note
'Na pstrym koniu' uses the locative case after 'na'. 'Pstrym' is the locative of 'pstry'.
Cultural context
In old Poland, a dappled horse could suggest something hard to predict or control. The image fits the warning about unreliable support from the nobility.
Intermediate
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