Multa cadunt inter calicem, supremaque labra

Entre la bouche, et le verre,
Le vin souvent tombe a terre.
Many things happen between the cup and the lip, was the saying of a servant to his master, whom he saw anxiously tending a vine, from which he promised himself an abundant produce of excellent liquor, of which, however, he was not permitted to partake; for, at the moment he was about to taste the wine, the reward, as he thought, of his labour, he was told that a boar had broke into his vineyard, and was destroying his trees; running hastily to drive away the beast, it turned upon him, and killed him. We are hence taught, not to be too sanguine in our hopes of success, even in our best concerted projects, it too often happening that they fail in producing the intended advantages. De la mano a la boca, se pierde la sopa, is the same sentiment in Spanish. The adage may also be explained, as admonishing us to take time by the forelock, that is, not to let a present opportunity, or advantage, to pass by, a similar one may not again occur. Strike, therefore, while the iron is hot, and
He that will not when he may,
When he will he shall have nay.