Meaning & Analysis
If someone offers you a pig, you should open your bag (poke) to receive it—accept an opportunity when it presents itself.
Insights
Seizing Opportunity
Emphasizes the importance of readiness and willingness to take advantage of a good opportunity as soon as it arises, without hesitation or unnecessary delay.
Pragmatic Receptivity
Suggests the wisdom of being open and receptive to unexpected benefits, even if they come unannounced or without prior planning, underscoring adaptability as a virtue.
Action Over Hesitation
Warns against indecision and procrastination, advocating for decisive action when favorable circumstances present themselves, as delays may lead to missed chances.
Historical Symbolism
The 'poke' (a bag or sack) and the offering of a pig reference rural market life, where pigs were sold and carried away in sacks. The phrase encapsulates a common-sense wisdom rooted in the agrarian and trading economies of early modern England.
Cultural Parallels
Closely related proverbs exist across cultures and eras, such as 'Take time by the forelock' or 'Never refuse a good offer.' This universality attests to the enduring human awareness of opportunity’s fleeting nature.
Psychological Dimensions
The proverb appeals to an underlying psychological tension between caution and boldness—while prudence has value, excessive hesitation may result in regret and lost advantage.
Rhetorical Devices
Concrete Imagery
The visual of a pig and a sack grounds the abstract advice in vivid, everyday details, making the lesson memorable and relatable.
Imperative Tone
The direct call to action—'hold up the poke'—creates a sense of urgency and clear guidance, reinforcing the need for immediacy in seizing opportunity.
Metonymy
The 'poke' (bag) stands for readiness or willingness, while the 'pig' symbolizes any favorable offer or opportunity.
Transcription
Quotations
It is sayd comenly, whan the pygge is profered: open the poughen.
(is profered it is good to apen the poke).
Whan I profir the pig, opin the poke.
Than haste must prouoke, Whan the pygge is proferd to holde vp the poke.
In this lucky tyme also, no lesse occasion of victory, was offred to the Englishemen, beyng in another parte, yf, when the pigge had been profered, thei had opened the poke.
When Pig is proferd, ope the poke.
It will be requisit alwaies, to open the poake when the pigge is presented.
(hold ope thy poke).
(While the pigge).
(is offered, hold ope the poake).
(hold open the poke).
(hold open the Poke).
*Never refuse a good offer.
Cross References
Related Proverbs
Original Scan
Used under CC BY-NC 3.0.