Thursday, May 31, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Fallit Imago Sui

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #28: Croesus et Irus and Essay #29: Partes Anni (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #30: Fallit Imago Sui

Disticha Round-Up: May 31

The distichs below are all keyed to the vocabulary in the DCC Latin vocabulary list: DCC Latin Vocabulary Distichs. Plus, don't forget to check out the "Latin Without Latin" distich essays - there will be a new one every day this summer.

For vocabulary and additional information about each poem, click on the title.

Scientia
Iudice me, soli semperque perinde beati
Sunt quicunque sciunt omnia, quique nihil.

Senex Iuvenem Alloquitur
Est mea vita brevis, nec tempore longa futura est;
Est tua longa, brevi fiet et illa brevis.

Quae tibi sunt ingrata...
Quae tibi sunt ingrata, aliis ne feceris umquam:
Fac aliis contra, quae tibi grata forent.

Factus homo Deus...
Factus homo Deus ipse suo nos sanguine lavit,
Amissum nobis restituitque decus.

Scis, Deus e nihilo...
Scis, Deus e nihilo quonam te fine creavit?
Scilicet aeternis ut fruerere bonis.



Saepe loqui nimium...

Saepe loqui nimium nocuit, nimiumque tacere
Saepe nocet cunctis; mensuram credo valere.

Melius Consilium Quam Vires
Consilio utilius quam viribus arma geruntur;
Militis est robur, consiliumque ducis.

Iam frater fratrem...
Iam frater fratrem, iam fallit filia matrem;
Iam socius socium, iam fallit amicus amicum.

Ad Quendam Divitem
Magnus amor tuus est, si multum hoc tempore dones;
Si multum credas, est tua magna fides.

Gerundia et Supina
Di-do-dum Aeneas aberat, caruisse gerundis
Dicitur, et nullum nosse supina virum.


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Partes Anni

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #27: Semper Pauper Eris and Essay #28: Croesus et Irus (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #29: Partes Anni

Round-Up: May 30

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem tertium Kalendas Iunias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Clytie; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Vincit vigilantia (English: Watchfulness is victorious).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Bene qui pacifice (English: The man who lives peacefully lives well)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Quam cito transit gloria mundi (English: How quickly the glory of the world passes by). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Is minimo eget mortalis, qui minimum cupit (English: He who wants least needs least).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Lupus circum puteum chorum agit (English: The wolf is dancing around the rim of the well; from Adagia 2.2.76 - although the wolf cannot reach the water in the well, he will not leave and runs in circles around it).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Puer Otiosus, a story about a boy who learned a lesson from the animal kingdom.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Asinus Res Sacras Portans, the story of a self-important donkey (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 901, Aegrotus a Medico Interrogatus, through Fable 910, Fur et Puer, including Fur et Caupo, a fable that invokes the ancient legend of the werewolf.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Two Bags, a story about the bag where we carry our vices and the bag where we carry the vices of other people.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Milvus Aegrotans, a story about a bird's deathbed repentance: Aegrotavit aliquando milvus periculose, remedia nil effecerant; accersiti frustra medici monent disponat rebus suis. Is tandem moriturus matrem vocat, rogat, quando in medicis humanis spes nulla salutis esset, eat precatum Deos pro sua valetudine. Respondet illa incunctanter, “Nil tibi, fili, ex illa parte sperandum puta; nec quicquam tuo nomine, aut causa, Diis supplicandum, quorum sacra et aras tuis toties rapinis violasti.”

Milvus Aegrotus

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Croesus et Irus

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #26: Spes Alit Agricolas and Essay #27: Semper Pauper Eris (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #28: Croesus et Irus

Disticha Round-Up: May 29

The distichs below are all keyed to the vocabulary in the DCC Latin vocabulary list: DCC Latin Vocabulary Distichs. Plus, don't forget to check out the "Latin Without Latin" distich essays - there will be a new one every day this summer.

For vocabulary and additional information about each poem, click on the title.


Est mihi paene nihil...
Est mihi paene nihil, quod vitae in fine relinquam:
O bene! Sic veniet mors minus atra mihi.


Non nostra in terris sedes....
Non nostra in terris sedes: caelum aspice: regna
Nos illic, obita morte, beata manent.


Nescio tam multis...
Nescio tam multis quid scribas, Fauste, puellis:
hoc scio, quod scribit nulla puella tibi.


Versiculos in me...
Versiculos in me narratur scribere Cinna:
Non scribit, cuius carmina nemo legit.


Difficilis facilis...
Difficilis facilis, iucundus acerbus es idem:
Nec tecum possum vivere, nec sine te.



Semper pauper eris...
Semper pauper eris, si pauper es, Aemiliane:
dantur opes nullis nunc nisi divitibus.


Non quid agunt alii...
Non quid agunt alii, naturae at respice quid lex,
Quid ratio suadet recta, Deusque iubet.


Qualis haberi optas...
Qualis haberi optas, talem te redde: parandae
Non alia est famae certior ulla via.


Paucis fide...
Paucis fide: tibi quem tu nunc reris amicum,
Post horam ille tibi, fors, inimicus erit.


Sola quies animi...
Sola quies animi nos omni ex parte beatos
Efficit: hanc verum dixeris esse bonum.

Monday, May 28, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Semper Pauper Eris

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #25: Themis, Suada, Minerva and Essay #26: Spes Alit Agricolas (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #27: Semper Pauper Eris


Round-Up: March 28

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. On alternating days this summer, I'm posting a separate disticha round-up, too!

HODIE: ante diem quintum Kalendas Iunias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Hector and Paris; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Nolo servile capistrum (English: I refuse to wear the slave's halter).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Mors omnia aequat (English: Death makes all things equal).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: O bona fortuna, cur non es omnibus una? (English: O Good Luck, why are you not one and the same to everyone?).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Qui servat ficum, comedet fructus eius (Proverbs 27:18). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Sero sapiunt Phryges: The Troyans are wise to late. When the saege of Troy had endured for the space of ten yeares, then at last the Troyans which now had suffred innumerable mischiefes, began to take counsaile, whether it were best to send home againe faire Helene, the occasion of al their miserie. But when theyr countrey was now with continual warres wasted and destroyed, it was to late to be wise. Even so it is of manie at this day, They be wise, but to late.

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Societas Leonina, the famous story of the lion's share.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Canes Duo et Os, the story of two dogs fighting over a bone (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 891, Astrologus Stellas Contemplans, through Fable 900, Medicus Imperitus, including Sacerdos et Pira, a very funny story about how "hunger is the best sauce."

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Trees and The Woodman, a story about why trees are their own worst enemy.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Mors et Cupido, a story of what happened when Death and Cupid got their weapons mixed up: Mutabant pharetras Mors et Cupido. Mortis sagittae senile pectus penetrant et caeco amoris igni carpuntur venae. Cupidinis tela, morbis solummodo et frigore armata, gloriabantur illa corda quae iuvenili igni calefacere debebant. Cum hoc Cupidini innotescebat, Mortis telis Morti remissis, Cupido suam reposcebat pharetram, quam illi Mors remisit. Sed quamvis ambae suis iam potiuntur spiculis, delirus tamen Error remanet; saepius etenim fit ut quaedam Cupidinis sagitta nivibus et glacie, et aliae sagittae Mortis ignibus et flammis sunt armatae.

Cupido et Mors

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Spes Alit Agricolas

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #24: Senex et Iuvenis and Essay #25: Themis, Suada, Minerva (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:


Disticha Round-Up: March 27

The distichs below are all keyed to the vocabulary in the DCC Latin vocabulary list: DCC Latin Vocabulary Distichs. Plus, don't forget to check out the "Latin Without Latin" distich essays - there will be a new one every day this summer.

For vocabulary and additional information about each poem, click on the title.

Sunt bona, sunt quaedam...
Sunt bona, sunt quaedam mediocria, sunt mala plura
quae legis hic: aliter non fit, Avite, liber.

Dentes et Lingua
Dens quasi dictus edens, lingua a lingendo vocata,
Traxit ab officio nomen uterque suo.

Disce velut nullo...
Disce velut nullo umquam sis moriturus in aevo:
Vitam, ceu semper sis moritura, age.

Furor Poeticus
Vatibus aeternis caelo descendit ab alto
Ad nova divinus facta canenda furor.

Pax
Securus placida mundus sub pace quiescit:
Tranquillum est summi pax opus alta dei.




Philautia
Crimina qui cernunt aliorum, nec sua cernunt,
Hi sapiunt aliis, desipiuntque sibi.

Christus Via
Ad caelos vis scire viam tibi qua sit eundum?
Ad te descendit caelitus ipsa via.

De Morte
Nudus ut in terram veni, sic nudus abibo:
Quid frustra sudo, funera nuda videns?

E multis unam...
E multis unam didicit qui sedulus artem,
Non timet ille hiemem, non timet ille famem.

Dulcis Amor...
Dulcis Amor, tu vera animi, tu summa voluptas,
Ah! mihi tu flammis pectus adure tuis!


Saturday, May 26, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Themis, Suada, Minerva

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #23: Deus et Homo and Essay #24: Senex et Iuvenis (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:


Round-Up: March 26

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm using Google+ a lot these days - highly recommended as a thought-provoking place to hang out online!

HODIE: ante diem septimum Kalendas Iunias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Flight of Aeneas; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Exempla docent (English: Examples teach).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Pro mundi beneficio (English: For the good of the world).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Pastor bonus animam suam dat pro ovibus (English: The good shepherd gives his life for the sheep).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Lupum auribus teneo (English: I've got the wolf by the ears - which means it's dangerous to hang on... and dangerous to let go!).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Ne mihi Suffenus essem (English: I would not be my own Suffenus; from Adagia 2.5.12 - Suffenus was a poet quick to criticize others with no awareness of his own faults).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἄκρον λάβε, καὶ μέσον ἕξεις (English: Grab the top and you'll have the middle - in other words, it's better to aim high, because then you can afford to settle for less).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Regulus, a story of one of Rome's legendary heroes.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Mustela et Lima, the story of the weasel and the metal file (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Vultures, Leo, et Aper, the story of a quarrel between the lion and the boar, with vultures avidly looking on.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Ox and the Toad, the story of a mother toad, fatally inflated with self-importance.

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 881, Philosophus et Cucurbita, through Fable 890, Divinator et Latrones, including Aesopus et Arcus, a great little fable about the need to relax (a perfect summer fable!): Cum quidam Atticus Aesopum in puerorum turba nucibus ludentem vidisset, restitit et quasi delirum risit. Quod simul sensit Aesopus (senex derisor potius quam deridendus) arcum retensum in media via posuit. “Heus,” inquit, “sapiens! Expedi quid fecerim.” Concurrit populus. Ille diu se torquet, nec quaestionis positae causam intellegit. Novissime succumbit. Tum sophus victor “Cito,” inquit, “arcum rumpes, si semper tensum habueris; at si laxaris, utilis erit cum voles.” Sic aliquando lusus animo dari debent, ut ad cogitandum melior tibi redeat.

Aesopus et Arcus

Friday, May 25, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Senex et Iuvenis

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #22: Omnia Mea Mecum Porto and Essay #23: Deus et Homo (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #24: Senex et Iuvenis

Disticha Round-Up: March 25

The distichs below are all keyed to the vocabulary in the DCC Latin vocabulary list: DCC Latin Vocabulary Distichs. Plus, don't forget to check out the "Latin Without Latin" distich essays - there will be a new one every day this summer.

For vocabulary and additional information about each poem, click on the title.

Sic fac ut nulla...
Sic fac ut nulla sine fructu transeat hora:
Sic fit hora brevis et labor ipse levis.

Non umquam magnum...
Non umquam magnum te dicam nomen habere,
Ni vere magno nomine digna geras.

Quod Paucis Orandus Deus
Da bona sive rogere Deus, seu nulla rogere:
Et mala sive rogere nega, seu nulla rogere.

An di sint...
An di sint caelumque regant, ne quaere doceri:
Cum sis mortalis, quae sunt mortalia, cura.

Quidquid agis, fac...
Quidquid agis, fac illud agas virtutis amore;
Hoc semper teneas, et bene semper ages.

Quae vitae concessa....
Quae vitae concessa tibi sint tempora, nescis:
Ergo fac citius quae facienda vides.

Quam bene conveniens...
Quam bene conveniens sortita est curia nomen:
A gravibus curis curia dicta venit.

Lites, Leges
Lis genuit leges, legum lis filia. Vivi
Non sine lite solet, nec sine lege potest.

Pacem ne vites...
Pacem ne vites; per pacem te quoque dites:
O quam difficiles sunt sine pace dies.

Tempora longa...
Tempora longa tibi noli promittere vitae:
Quocumque incedis, sequitur mors corporis umbra.

Thursday, May 24, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Deus et Homo

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #21: Finis Ab Origine Pendet and Essay #22: Omnia Mea Mecum Porto (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #23: Deus et Homo

Round-Up: March 24

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem nonum Kalendas Iunias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Andromache and Hector; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Conanti dabitur (English: To the one who strives, it will be given).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Suum cuique pulchrum (English: To each his own is beautiful)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Repetitio mater memoriae (English: Repetition is the mother of memory). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Avarus ipse miseriae causa est suae (English: The miser is himself the cause of his own misery).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Habet et musca splenem (English: Even the fly has its spleen; from Adagia 3.5.7 - in other words, even a little guy can get angry!).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Ova Aurea, the famous story of the chicken that laid the golden eggs.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Taurus et Culex, the story of a self-important gnat (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 871, Demades Orator et Fabella, through Fable 880, Philosophus Atheniensis, including Apelles et Alexander Rex, a story about Apelles' painting of a horse.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Man and The Snake, a fable about how no good deed goes unpunished.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Cervus Oculo Captus, the sad story of a one-eyed deer: Cervus, altero oculo captus, iuxta mare pasci consueverat ita ut integrum oculum in terram haberet versum; nihil enim periculi videbatur e mari impendere. Cum autem forte navis praeterveheretur, qui in illa erant, directa in cervum sagitta, incautum confixere. Ille ictus, “Me miserum,” inquit, “quantopere deceptus fui, qui a terra metui, undis fretus, e quibus mihi mors immittitur.”


Cervus et Mare

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Omnia Mea Mecum Porto

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #20: Phoenix and Essay #21: Finis Ab Origine Pendet (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:


Disticha Round-Up: March 23

The distichs below are all keyed to the vocabulary in the DCC Latin vocabulary list: DCC Latin Vocabulary Distichs. Plus, don't forget to check out the "Latin Without Latin" distich essays - there will be a new one every day this summer.

For vocabulary and additional information about each poem, click on the title.

Zoticus hic...
Zoticus hic nomen nudum vanumque reliquit;
in cineres corpus et in aethera vita soluta est.

Dilige sic homines...
Dilige sic homines, ut eorum crimina vites:
Oderis et culpas, non illum, qui facit ipsas.

Fac multum studeas...
Fac multum studeas, non multis; noscere cuncta
Qui vult cumque, audax, non mihi doctus erit.

Dic mihi quis caelum...
Dic mihi: quis caelum stellis ardentibus aptum,
Quis terras late condidit, et maria?

Cognita bella...
Cognita bella, mea quae gessi plurima dextra,
Inde mihi Magni nomina Roma dedit.



Auctores miror...
Auctores miror veteres, mirorque recentes:
Pulchra mihi, quisquis dixerit illa, placent.

Si quid sors praebet...
Si quid sors praebet, sapiens homo sumere debet,
Ne, dum plus capiat, perdat et id quod habet.

Libertas etiam tibi...
Libertas etiam tibi sit iucunda, sed omni
In primis quae te liberat a vitio.

Facta aliena...
Facta aliena tibi si quis solet usque referre,
Hunc fuge, facta aliis ne tua mox referat.

Carmina de terris...
Carmina de terris scribis, Maro, culta colendis;
Tu lectoris agros ingeniumque colis.


Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Finis Ab Origine Pendet

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #19: Iustitia and Essay #20: Phoenix (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:


Round-Up: March 22

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. On alternating days this summer, I'm posting a separate disticha round-up, too!

HODIE: ante diem undecimum Kalendas Iunias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Death of Hyacinth; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Alis aspicio astra (English: Rising on my wings, I gaze at the stars).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Nemo nascitur artifex (English: No one is born a master craftsman).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Intima per mores cognoscimus exteriores (English: We know a person's inner being through his external habits).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Quis miserebitur incantatori a serpente percusso? (Sirach 12:13). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Sub ipsius iudicio sorex perit: The Rat dieth by utteryng of her self. This Proverbe toke the beginning of the propertie of this vermin for the Rattes be wonte to make a noyse muche more than mice do, and do more rumble about and make a noysom crieng while they gnaw candels endes or such other trifels to whiche noyse many men harkeninge forthwith though it be in the darke night throw at them and to kill them. Semblably many men and women there be which by theyr owne noyse, and be wraying of them selves, seke their owne bande and destruction.

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Cyrus Moriens, the last words of King Cyrus, as reported by Xenophon.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Formica Alata, the story of an ant who thought she would be happier with wings (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 861, Macellarius et Canis, through Fable 870, Scriptor et Aesopus, including Cantus Sacerdotis, a wonderful story about a priest, a woman, and her donkey.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Lion and the Man, a story about what lions might sculpt if they could create sculptures as we do.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Avara et Gallina, the story of a woman who gave her chicken too much to eat: Vidua habebat avem, quae ei quotidie unum pareret ovum. Largius ergo istam incepit alere, existimans fore ut, abundantius nutrita, duo pareret ova. Avis contra, nimiis alimentis facta obesior, ne unum quidem, ut antea, eniti potuit ovum. Qui maiora concupiscunt, parva quae possident saepissime solent amittere.

Mulier et Gallina Obesa

Monday, May 21, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Phoenix

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #18: Virtutes Cardinales and Essay #19: Iustitia (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #20: Phoenix





Disticha Round-Up: May 21

During the great "summer of distichs" I'll be adding new distichs to the Disticha Latina blog that are keyed to the vocabulary in the DCC Latin vocabulary list. For more information about how that works, see this blog post: DCC Latin Vocabulary Distichs. Plus, don't forget to check out the "Latin Without Latin" distich essays - there will be a new one every day this summer.

For vocabulary and additional information about each poem, click on the title.

Si duo proponas mala...
Si duo proponas mala, quaelibet ut faciamus,
Unum sumamus minus, ut maius caveamus.

Si tibi servierit...
Si tibi servierit aliquis, sua praemia tecum
Ne retinere diu cures, si diligis aequum.

Si non primus Adam...
Si non primus Adam peccasset in arbore quadam,
Non foret alter Adam natus de virgine quadam.

Quando conspicio damnum…
Quando conspicio damnum, tristis mage fio,
Sed dum non video, non nimium doleo.

Nulla Dies Sine Linea
Nulla dies abeat, quin linea ducta sit, usus
Solus erit, magnos qui facit artifices.



Aptus amicus...
Aptus amicus adest unus tibi; parce secundum
Quaerere; vix aeque tertius aptus erit.

Cursus fatorum...
Cursus fatorum nescit mens ulla virorum;
Solius est proprium scire futura Dei.

Ad bene vivendum...
Ad bene vivendum quidquid natura paravit,
Nil datum amicitia gratius est homini.

Pro Re Nata
Et tardus nimis, et praeceps nimis esse caveto:
Ille sapit medium qui inter utrumque tenet.

Si mala quis faciat...
Si mala quis faciat, sibimet solet ipse nocere;
Eius in exemplo debes nocitura timere.


Sunday, May 20, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Iustitia

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #17: O Dives, Dives! and Essay #18: Virtutes Cardinales (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #19: Iustitia





Round-Up: May 20

Here is a round-up of today's fables and proverbs - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm using Google+ a lot these days - highly recommended as a thought-provoking place to hang out online!

HODIE: ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Iunias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Polyxena and Troilus; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Domus optima (English: Home is best).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Labore et scientia (English: With hard work and knowledge).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Ulula cum lupis, cum quibus esse cupis (English: Howl with the wolves if you want to be one of them).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Sufficit sua diei malitia (English: Sufficient unto the day are its own troubles).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Stentore clamosior (English: Louder than Stentor; from Adagia 2.3.37 - which is how we get the English word "stentorean," but with a lower-case s, which means people don't remember Stentor any more, who was a Greek herald during the Trojan war).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Μηδὲ μέλι, μηδὲ μελίσσας (English: Neither the honey, nor the bees).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Cornelia, Gracchorum Mater, the famous story of Cornelia and her "jewels."

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Quercus et Iuppiter, the story of the oak trees who were their own worst enemies (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Pastor et Lupus Familiaris, the story of a shepherd who foolishly entrusted his sheep to a wolf's care.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Hungry Dogs, the story of some dogs undone by their own greed.

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 841, Pastor et Canis Molossus , through Fable 850, Piscator Aquam Verberans, including Vetula Lac ad Forum Portans, the famous story of counting chickens before they are hatched: Vetula, dum in urceo ad forum lac portaret, coepit cogitare quomodo posset fieri dives. Attendens autem quod de suo lacte tres obolos habere posset, coepit cogitare quod emeret pullum gallinae et nutriret, ex cuius ovis multos pullos acquireret; quibus venditis, emeret porcum; quo nutrito et impinguato, venderet illum ut inde emeret pullum equinum, et tam diu nutriret ipsum quod aptus esset ad equitandum, et coepit intra se dicere, “Equitabo equum illum, et ducam ad pascua et dicam, ei, io, io.” Cum autem haec cogitaret, coepit movere pedes et, quasi calcaria in pedibus haberet, coepit talos movere et prae gaudio manibus plaudere; ita quod motu pedum et plausu manuum urceum fregit et, lacte in terra effuso, in manibus suis nihil invenit.

Mulier Lac Portans

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Virtutes Cardinales

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #16: Rusticus Est Vere and Essay #17: O Dives, Dives! (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:


Friday, May 18, 2012

Latin Without Latin: O Dives, Dives!

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #15: Ultro Se Voluere Capi and Essay #16: Rusticus Est Vere (you can see a complete list of essays here). And here is the new essay:

Essay #17: O Dives, Dives!

DCC Latin List and Distich Vocabulary

As promised, here is an explanation of what I hope to accomplish during the "Summer of Distichs" - and, first and foremost, I have to thank Christopher Francese and his partners in the Dickinson College Commentaries project who have produced a vocabulary reference (1000 Latin words selected by frequency) that is going to play a crucial role in my work this summer, allowing me to select distichs for ease of reading. So, my goal this summer is to produce a book (500 distichs? 1000 distichs? I am not sure yet), in which each distich will contain, at most, three words which are not on the DCC Latin Vocabulary List. I have just begun the process of parsing the vocabulary in the poems in order to identify on-list and off-list words. You will be able to see the initial results over at the Disticha Latina blog - as of now, there are appx. 400 poems here at the blog with DCC vocabulary listings:
By mid-July I will have accumulated a big heap of distichs which I can sort for vocabulary as I pull together the book. Many distichs, of course, have unusual vocabulary - in fact, I have even found a few distichs with eight or nine or ten words that are not on the DCC List! Charming as those distichs are, they will not be going into the book. Instead, I will be focusing my efforts on poems where readers can expect to find vocabulary that is, for the most part, already familiar to them.

Here are links to the DCC Latin List itself:
  • The DCC Latin List provides the 1000-word vocabulary, listed alphabetically, with macrons, essential forms, and a brief English definition.
  • DCC Latin List Methodology. This page provides a helpful explanation of the sources used in creating the list, starting with Diederich but with important supplements and adjustments.
  • Coming soon: As work continues on the DCC site, there will be vocabulary lists by parts of speech and semantic groupings, along with other materials to help Latin students who are still in the process of mastering the basic vocabulary. I will update this blog post as those materials become available.
In addition, I hope that others will feel encouraged to contribute to the great start made by Francese and his colleagues. For example, perhaps teachers working with specific textbooks will prepare lists of words in the DCC list which are not covered in the textbook and which, therefore, students will need to learn independently.

Meanwhile, speaking for myself, I am profoundly grateful to the editorial group at DCC for this list. Readers of this blog probably know that I have been waiting on a list like this for years - something that is frequency-driven, not textbook-specific, and freely available to one and all via the Internet. I hope it will allow me to produce a truly reader-friendly collection of distichs this summer, to be followed up by more reader-friendly Latin projects in future summers, too (I can begin work on easy-to-read fables at last, guided by a core vocabulary list, and I also want to update Latin Via Proverbs based on this vocabulary-driven approach). And for those of you who have not yet taken a look at the wonderful texts already available at DCC, you are in for a treat: enjoy!


  



Round-Up: May 18

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. This is the first SUMMER edition of the round-up; I'm done with my summer travels so I should be able to have a solid couple of months now to spend on Latin! I'll be doing two kinds of posts on alternating days: I'll be doing the proverb and fable round-up post like this one, and I'll also be doing a distich round-up. Plus, if all goes well, I should have a "Latin Without Latin" essay each day also. I'll explain more tomorrow about just how things are looking for the great summer of Latin distichs - whoo-hoo!

HODIE: ante diem quintum decimum Kalendas Iunias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Perseus Rescuing Andromeda ; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Veritas vincit (English: The truth is victorious).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Tempus magistrorum optimus (English: Time is the best of teachers)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Nemo cum sarcinis enatat (English: No one swims away with his bundles). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog - I actually thought about this proverb on the plane when the stewardesses were giving the perfunctory little speech about how, in case of emergency, you must leave all personal belongings behind when exiting the airplane!

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Homo semper aliud, fortuna aliud cogitat (English: A person has one thing in mind, his luck something else).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Ipsi testudines edite, qui cepistis (English: You who caught the turtles better eat them; from Adagia 1.1.87 - this is actually the punchline to a fable involving the god Mercury and some fishermen; you can read the Latin fable here).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Damon et Pythias, a famous story of exemplary friendship.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Sanctus Petrus et Rusticus, a Christian variation on the traditional fable involving the god Hercules (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Lupus Monachus, the story of an aged wolf and why he decided to become a monk.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Hares and The Frogs, a fable about the comfort people can take in knowing that there is someone in even worse shape than they are.

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 831, Agricola Invidus et Vulpes , through Fable 840, Pastor et Rex, including Olitor et Canis, a story about how no good deed goes unpunished: Delapsum in puteum canem olitor servare et retrahere cupiens, demisit et eodem se ipse. Canis, veritus ne descendisset sibi nocendi gratia et ut suffocaret demersum, dentibus illum petebat et morsu lacerabat. Tum saucius olitor, cum dolore, “Iure mihi,” inquit, “hoc accidisse fateor. Cur enim auctorem ipsum sibi interitus ego servare volui?”

Canis et Olitor

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Rusticus Est Vere

I'm back from my hiatus, and here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #14: In Spe et Labore and Essay #15: Ultro Se Voluere Capi (you can see a complete list of essays here). Meanwhile, here is the new essay:

Essay #16: Rusticus Est Vere

Saturday, May 5, 2012

Hiatus Brevis

Just a quick note to say that I am taking two weeks off - but I'll be back after two weeks with all kinds of summer projects that I'll be sharing here at the blog. Happy end-of-semester to all of you out there in the schooling world! :-)

Meanwhile, you can get daily content by visiting the Illustrated Daily Widgets - enjoy!



Thursday, May 3, 2012

Latin Without Latin: Ultro Se Voluere Capi

Here's a new Latin Without Latin essay! The previous two essays were Essay #13: Beatus and Essay #14: In Spe et Labore (you can see a complete list of essays here). Meanwhile, here is the new essay:

Round-Up: May 3

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem quintum Nonas Maias.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Lubrano's Suaviludia Musarum and Gouvea's Epigrammata.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Heracles and the Lion; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.



TODAY'S DISTICHS and EMBLEMS: All the distichs come with vocabulary lists!

RHYMING DISTICHS: The two new Rhyming Distichs are Quisque suo Marte, Quisque suo Marte, sic quilibet utitur arte, / Quam sibi sors dedit, hac utitur omnis homo; and Olim despecti, Olim despecti tenebantur multa loquentes; / Nunc sunt despecti sapientes pauca loquentes.

CATO'S DISTICHS: The two new Cato Distichs are Ereptis opibus, Ereptis opibus, noli maerere dolendo, / Sed gaude potius, tibi si contingat habere; and Contra hominem iustum, Contra hominem iustum prave contendere noli; / Semper enim deus iniustas ulciscitur iras.

MARTIAL'S DISTICHS: The two new Martial Distichs are Non amo te, Non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare: / hoc tantum possum dicere, non amo te; and Semicinctium, Det tunicam locuples: ego te praecingere possum; / Essem si locuples, munus utrumque darem.

VERINUS DISTICHS: The two new distichs by Verinus are Qui Habet Maiorem Charitatem, Cui maior caritas, debetur gloria maior; / Quantus amor fuerit, praemia tanta feret; and Virtutis Principium Asperum, Finis Amoenus, Est opus incepto: finis virtutis amoenus, / Principiis quamvis aspera prima via est.

OWEN'S DISTICHS: The two new Owen epigrams, with Harvey's English versions, are Caesaris, Pompeii, et Crassi Sepulchra, Africa Pompeii tellus, Asiaticae Crassi, / Tertia pars mundi Caesaris urna fuit; and Semper Idem, Spes eademque fides sit semper, amorque sit idem, / Ingeniumque tibi sit sibi semper idem.

CAMERARIUS'S EMBLEMS: The two new emblems are Opis Indiga, Stratus humi absentem palmes sterilescit ob ulmum: / Indiget alterius quilibet auxilio; and Exitus In Dubio Est, Sunt dubii eventus incertaque proelia Martis: / Vincitur haud raro, qui prope victor erat.

ROLLENHAGEN'S EMBLEMS: The two new emblems are Discite Iustitiam, Discite iustitiam moniti et non temnere regem, / Qui longas tendit, per loca cuncta, manus; and Non Est Mortale Quod Opto, Munde immunde vale: non est mortale quod opto, / Sidera sublimi vertice summa petam.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Semper liber (English: Always free).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Tempus edax rerum (English: Time is the eater of things)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Echinus partum differt (English: The hedgehog postpones its giving birth). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent (English: We like other people's things more, and others like ours more).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Bos lassus fortius figit pedem (English: The ox, when tired, fixes his hoof more firmly; from Adagia 1.1.47).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Mausolus, the story of the mausoleum of King Mausolus.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Mus in Olla, the story of a greedy mouse's demise (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Asinus et Viatores Duo, the story of two men who found a donkey... and then lost it.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Dog in The Manger, the famous fable of the snarling dog.

MILLE FABULAE: The "chunk" of Mille Fabulae et Una today is Fable 821, Rusticus et Vox Haedi, through Fable 830, Agricola Sorte Sua Non Contentus, including Rusticus de Arbore Delapsus, which offers some humorous advice about not falling out of a tree: Qui in arborem ascenderat rusticus, de illa delapsus, graviter femur dextrum laesit. Huic alius forte praeteriens se consilium daturum dixit, quo usus numquam de arbore caderet. “Utinam,” inquit ille, “ante casum meum dedisses, sed profuerit tamen etiam in posterum; dic igitur.” Tum ille alter “Cave,” inquit, “ne velocius terram repetas unde ascendisti quam in arborem ipsam evaseris.” Fabula docet saepe cunctationem et moram esse laudabile.

De Arbore Descendens