Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Brevissima: The Book is Done!

Whoo-hoo, it's done! I am the proud author-mom of a one-pound, 6 inch x 9 inch bouncing baby book. It's available at Lulu.com for people who like the heft of the book in their hand, with a free PDF copy for the digiterati. I've had more fun with this book than any book project I've done before... so I am hoping it will be a pleasure for others as well.

Also, please spread the word - I'll share a note at LatinTeach, but I am sure there are people here who belong to all kinds of Latin discussion groups and forums. The more people who grab a free copy of the book, the happier I will be!

This URL - Brevissima.BestLatin.net - will take people to the Brevissima blog (one of the many Bestiaria Latina blogs), which has all the poems online, along with information about ordering the book from Lulu and/or downloading the free PDF. Plus, you can also get a free PDF copy of the book from two summers ago: Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. (Yes, I like the notion of 1001 things...). Enjoy!

Round-Up: July 31

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: pridie Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Labyrinth ; 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 Verba rebus proba (English: Test words with deeds).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Varia vita est (English: Life is many-sided).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Caecat amor mentes atque interdum sapientes (English: Love sometimes blinds the minds even of the wise).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Dulcis est somnus operanti (Ecc. 5:12). 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 Conybeare: Nil recrastines: Delay not thie matters, but spede the while the time serveth, when the sunne shineth make haye.

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Parcae et Iudices, the fates and the judges of the dead.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Testudo et Iuppiter, the story of the turtle who was late for Jupiter's wedding (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Wolf and the Shepherd's Boy, the famous story of the boy who cried wolf.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes, Lupus, et Pisces, a story of what happened when the fox tricked the wolf into fishing in the icy water.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Puer et Paedagogus, the story of a boy and his useless teacher: Puer ad fluminis profundi oram ludens pede lapsus est. At salix opem dat, prensa labentis manu, et eum pendulum sustinet ne pereat in undae voraginem mersus. Paedagogus, cum huc venisset, inquit, “Istos nebulones meos sic evagari! Hoc sinam? Sic mihi non obsequi! Hoc patiar? Te quidem periculo praesenti eripiam, ludio proterve, at profecto non feres impune. Namque te modo, simul ac domum reduxero, flagris perbelle admonitum dabo, quantum satis erit ut facti memineris diu.” Puer, diro flagrorum metu externatus, salicem relinquit et perit, fluctu obrutus. Libido magis increpandi quam iuvandi quoddam paedagogorum genus permovet.

Puer et Paedagogus

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Round-Up: July 29

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I had a snag with the book; I did something wrong with the layout of the front matter of the book, so I had to get a second test printing from Lulu - I'm not quite sure if I will make my August 1 target for getting the distich book out, but I will come close! The actual body of the book looked really good, so I'm optimistic that this next print will be ready for prime time. When I'm sure, I'll put the PDF up here for everyone to download.

HODIE: ante diem quartum Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Achilles and Chiron; 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: Nocumentum documentum (English: An injury is a lesson).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Paulatim, sed firmiter (English: Slowly but surely).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Scit multa vulpes, magnum echinus unicum (English: The fox knows many things; the hedgehog knows one big thing).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Argento obediunt omnia (English: All things obey the coin).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Pasetis semiobolus (English: The half-penny of Pases; from Adagia 2.7.31 - Pases was a famous magician who would pay for his purchases and would then use a conjuring trick so that the coins ended up back in his own pocket).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Καρκῖνος ὀρθα βαδίζειν οὐ μεμάθηκεν (English: The crab hasn't managed to learn to walk straight).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Pluto, the story of the god of the underworld.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Tigris et Venatores, the sad story of how the hunters trick the tiger moms and steal their cubs (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Two Bald Pates, the ironic story of the bald men and the comb.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Mures et Catus Mortem Simulans, the story of a cat who tried to trick the mice.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes in Puteum Delapsa et Lupus, the wonderful story of the fox who needed the wolf to help her get out of a well: Delapsa et Lupus. Vulpes, cum in puteum fortuito incidisset, lupum in ripa praetereuntem vidit rogavitque ut funem sibi compararet opemque daret ad se ipsam a tanto periculo extrahendam. Cui lupus, “Miserrima vulpes, condoleo tuum infortunium. Dic, precor, quomodo in hunc puteum incidisti?” Respondebat vulpes, “Non opus est ambagibus. Quin tu funem comparato, et deinde omnia tibi in ordine expediam.”

Vulpes in Puteo et Lupus

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Round-Up: July 26

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 septimum Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Triptolemus; 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: Mediocriter (English: In moderation - that is, according to the "Golden Mean" or Aurea Mediocritas - the connotations are positive in Latin, unlike English "mediocrity").

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Post acerba prudentior (English: After bitter experiences, more wise).

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is E verbis fatuos, ex aure tenemus asellum (English: We hold a donkey by the ear; we hold fools by their words). 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: Quod fugere credas, saepe solet occurrere (English: You often run into something you thought you were fleeing).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Athos celat latera Lemniae bovis (English: Mount Athos hides the flanks of the great bull of Lemnos; from Adagia 3.2.90 - This refers to a fabled bronze statue of a bull on the island of Lemnos; even though it was enormous, it could be covered up by a shadow cast by Mount Athos, a full forty miles away - the proverb thus emphasizes how ranks of greatness are all relative).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Neptunus, the god of the sea (this fable has a vocabulary list).

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Mures Duo, the famous story of the city mouse and the country mouse (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Sow and the Wolf, the story of a mother pig who wisely refused the wolf's offer to babysit.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Sol et Ventus, a story about how warmth wins out over bluster.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes et Catus, in which the fox is trapped on the ground while the cat ends up safely in the tree: Contrahebant inter se amicitias catus et vulpes, cui vulpes astutiarum suarum grandem recensebat numerum. Catus replicuit, “Ast ego uno tantum consilio et, quod Natura ad meipsum praeservandum suggessit, contentus sum.” Inter haec, odoram canum vim appropinquantium audiunt. Catus confestim altissimos arboris scandebat ramos et secure despectans sedebat. Vulpes autem et hic et illic trepide currebat et, nulla aufugiendi spe relicta, nulla uspiam latebra inventa, a canibus apprehensa laceratur.

vulpes et feles

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Round-Up: July 24

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 nonum Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Lykaon; 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 Elige viam optimam (English: Choose the best way).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Sapientia omnia operatur (English: Wisdom works all things).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Est piger agnellus, qui non gestat sibi vellus (English: The little lamb who doesn't want to carrry his own wool is lazy).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Quaerite et invenietis (Matt. 7:7). 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: Aequalem tibi uxorem quaere: Marry thy like. What inconveniences proceede of unegall mariages, as when the olde persone marieth with the yonge, the poore with the riche, the ignoble with the noble, who seeth not?

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Venus, the story of the goddess of love.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Canis Vetulus et Magister, the story of a dog and his ungrateful master (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Sick Kite, the story of the bird's deathbed repentance.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Struthiocamelus Perfidus , the story of a treacherous ostrich.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes et Pardus, a story about inner v. outer beauty: Vulpes et pardus de pulchritudine concertabant et, pardo suam pellem versicolorem extollente, vulpes, cum suam praeponere non possit, dicebat pardo, “At quanto ego sum speciosior et quam longe formosior, quae non corpus, sed animum versicolorem et variis notis insignem sortita sum!”

vulpes et pardus

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Round-Up: July 22

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm sending the book off to the printers today; fingers crossed! If all goes well, I should be able to make it available a week from now.

HODIE: ante diem undecimum Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Birth of Apollo and Artemis; 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: Praemonitus praemunitus (English: Forewarned, forearmed).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Dux mihi veritas (English: Truth is my guide).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Lepores duos qui insequitur, is neutrum capit (English: He who chases two rabbits catches neither).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Malus homo de malo thesauro profert mala (English: A bad man brings forth bad things from his bad storehouse).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Polycrates matrem pascit (English: Polycrates takes care of the mother; from Adagia 2.7.58 - This refers to Polycrates of Samos who had a welfare system for the mothers of his soldiers killed in battle).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἡ κύων ἐν φάτνῃ (English: The dog in the manger - alluding to the famous Aesop's fable).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Festa Bacchi, an account of the festivals of the god Dionysus.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Simia et Catuli Eius, the story of the contest to see which animal had the most beautiful baby (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Ram, the Stag and the Wolf, a story about a very wise ram.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Olitor et Canis, a story about how no good deed goes unpunished.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes et Vermiculus, a funny story about a worm who pretended to be a doctor: Emersus de sterquilinio, vermis coepit profiteri apud animantes se esse medicum summum, neque cedere Paeoni, deorum medico, usu et experientia artis. Quem rugis deformem et nutantem intuita, vulpes “Medice,” inquit, “teipsum curare prius atque ita profiteri artem debueras.”

Vulpes et Vermiculus

Friday, July 20, 2012

Round-Up: July 20

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. Things are going great with the book and with the book blog; I've got one more big round of proofreading this weekend and then hopefully I will be done (and get my life back, ha ha).

HODIE: ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Deianira and the Cloak; 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: Iuncti valemus (English: Joined together, we are strong).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Auriga virtutum prudentia (English: Wisdom holds the reins of excellence)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Nihil annis velocius (English: Nothing is faster than the years). 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: Bonum est fugienda aspicere in alieno malo (English: It is a good thing to see what things should be avoided in another person's troubles).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Citius elephantum sub ala celes (English: You'd more quickly hide an elephant under your arm - something like "when hell freezes over," but with a hidden elephant instead; from Adagia 2.5.56).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Bacchus et Bacchantes, the story of Dionysus and his followers.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Corvus et Mercurius, a funny little story about a perfidious crow (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Pike and the Herring, the story of a pretentious fish.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Serpens et Vespa, the story of a snake's fatal mistake.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes et Asinus Pelle Leonis Indutus, the story of the fox who sees through the donkey's disguise: Asinus, pelle leonis indutus, per nemora, reliqua bruta perterrens, vagabatur. Vulpe autem conspecta, ipsi quoque timorem iniicere conatus est. Sed haec, ubi casu eius vocem audivit, “Scias velim,” inquit, “quod et ego te sane pertimuissem, nisi rudentem audivissem.”


Asinus in Pelle Leonis

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Round-Up: July 18

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm half-way done with the book layout now, and if you are curious about the sources that I used, I've got the bibliography online, with links to the online sources.

HODIE: ante diem quintum decimum Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Odysseus and Circe; 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 In veritate triumpho (English: In the truth, I triumph).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Mediocritas optima est (English: Average is best - unfortunately, our use of the word "mediocrity" has lost the notion of the Golden Mean).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Non durant actus, homo quos facit ipse coactus (English: The acts do not endure which a man does against his own will).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is In domo Patris mei mansiones multae sunt (John 14:2). 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: Bonae leges ex malis moribus procreantur: Good lawes be gendred of evill manners. Lawes, as testifieth the Apostle Paule, be not made for the righteous persons, but for horemongers, aduouterers, theves, traitours and such other. If al were good, we should neede no lawes.

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Bacchus, Iovis Filius, the story of the god of wine, Dionysus.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Asinus et Grammaticus, a hilarious story about a witty and bold schoolmaster (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Mouse and The Lion, the story of the mouse who rescued a lion.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Alauda, Pulli, et Agri Dominus, the famous Aesop's fable that was told by Ennius among others.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes Mortem Simulans et Canis, the story of the fox who played dead: Vulpes, simulans se defunctam ut aves ad se tanquam ad cadaver accedentes interciperet, luto oblita, in quodam agro resupina iacebat, exspectans cornices, corvos et huiusmodi rapaces volucres, quas devoraret, cum superveniens canis eam mordicus captam coepit dentibus lacerare. Quod illa animadvertens, “Digna,” inquit, “patior, nam dum fraudibus aves capere studeo, ab alio capta sum.”

Monday, July 16, 2012

Round-Up: July 16

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I had a very productive weekend, finalizing the contents of the book. Actual page layout starts on Monday, just as planned. So far, so good! Meanwhile, I'm adding lots of new posts over at the Disticha Latina blog, aligning that with the contents of the book.

HODIE: ante diem septimum decimum Kalendas Augustas.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Perseus on Pegasus ; 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 Virtus omnia vincit (English: Excellence overcomes all things).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Sapit qui laborat (English: The man who works hard gains understanding).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Luxuriat vitis, nisi falce putare velitis (English: The vine grows out of control unless you are willing to prune it with the sickle).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas (Ecc. 1:2). 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: Faber compedes quas fecit ipse gestet: The fetters that the smith hath made, let him were them him selfe. The Proverbe whiche commonly we use in english, for this purpose is this: such ale as he hath brued let him drinke him self. Verely manie there be, which make a rod for theyr owne arse.

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Templa Dianae , including the famous temple at Ephesus.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Ursa et Vulpes, a story about a fox and a hypocritical bear (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Lion in Love, the sad story of the lion who fell in love with a woman.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpecula et Tintinnabulum, the story of the fox who was fooled by the sound of a bell.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Vultur Convivium Faciens, the story of the vulture's fatal birthday party: Vultur, volens laute prandere et ventrem suum delicatis cibis infarcire, invitavit aviculas ad convivium, natalem suum, ut dicebat, celebraturus. Haec fama exiit inter eas et hoc aucupio incautas fefellit. Veniunt igitur undique, existimantes invenire mensas omnis generis deliciarum refertas, non de suo paraturas. Sed ubi, adventatis ac coactis omnibus, fores occlusae sunt et vultur rapere et mactare et occidere coepit, “O insanas nos et vecordes,” inquiunt, “quae vulturi, inimico nostro, fidimus, et apud eum putantes reperire escas, ipsae eius escae factae sumus.”

vultur et aves

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Round-Up: July 14

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. Everything is going great with the distichs book - I'm proofreading all weekend and then starting the actual page layout on Monday. Meanwhile, I'm adding new blog posts over at the Disticha Latina blog, based on the poems that will be appearing in the book! The usual round-up follows below:

HODIE: pridie Idus Iulias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Oedipus at Colonus; 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: Proteo mutabilior (English: More changing than Proteus).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Vigilia pretium libertatis (English: Watchfulness is the price of liberty).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Ex auribus cognoscitur asinus (English: You recognize a donkey by the ears - alluding to the famous fable of the donkey in the lion's skin).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Qui altam facit domum, quaerit suam ruinam (English: He who builds a high house seeks his own downfall).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Omnia sub unam Myconum (English: XXX; from Adagia 2.4.47 - this saying refers to how Heracles buried the defeated Giants by throwing rocks on them and those rocks became the island of Mykonos; since those last Giants were of various shapes and sizes, the proverb refers to a hodge-podge of things being put into one place).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Τὴν ἅλμην κυκᾷς, πρὶν τοὺς ἰχθύας ἑλεῖν (English: You're mixing the fish-sauce before you've caught the fish - kind of like counting your chickens before they're hatched, but with fish instead of chicken).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Phaeton, who wanted to drive the sun god's fiery chariot.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Avarus et Poma Marcescentia, a wonderful story about a greedy old man, his good-natured son and their apple orchard (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Lazy Housemaids, a hilarious story about unintended consequences.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Rana et Bos, the story of a self-important frog.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Vulpes et Uva, the story of the (allegedly) sour grapes: Vulpes, extrema fame coacta, uvam appetebat, ex alta vite dependentem. Quam cum summis viribus saliens attingere non posset, tandem discedens, “Nondum matura est,” inquit; “nolo acerbam sumere.”

Vulpes et Uva

Thursday, July 12, 2012

Round-Up: July 12

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. The book is rolling merrily along; now that I have the contents (almost) finalized, I've started adding new posts again at the Disticha Latina blog so that every poem in the book will have a blog post by August. :-)

HODIE: ante diem quartum Idus Iulias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Hector's Body Returned to Troy; 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: Interdum requiescendum (English: We need to rest once in a while).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Fructus laboris gloria (English: Glory is the fruit of effort)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Non formosus erat, sed erat facundus Ulixes (English: Ulysses was not handsome, but he was good with words). 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: Pereundi scire tempus assidue est mori (English: To know the time of your demise is to be dying all the time).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Carpathius leporem (English: The Carpathian and the rabbit; from Adagia 2.1.81 - originally there were no rabbits on the island of Scarpanto, and when someone imported them, they overran the island and ate the crops).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Apollo et Musae - see how many of the Muses you can name before you look at the story.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Fortuna et Puer, a wonderful story about what happens when Lady Luck gets tired of all the people blaming her for their own foolishness (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Jackdaw and the Sheep, a story about just why the jackdaw chooses to harass the sheep.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Graculus et Pavones, the story of a jackdaw who was not content with his lot in life.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Leo Senex et Vulpes, in which the fox knows very well not to go inside the lion's den: Leo, defectus annis, recubabat in spelunca sua et aegrum simulabat. Visitatum regem complures venerunt bestiae, quas protinus devoravit. Accessit etiam vulpes, sed cauta ante speluncam procul stabat, salutans regem. “Cur non intras?” interrogavit leo. Vulpes respondit, “Quod video vestigia intrantium multa, at nulla exeuntium.”

leo et vulpes

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Round-Up: July 10

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. As for the book, things are going very nicely; I've now got all 1000 poems picked out and am working on organizing them - a fun task, albeit daunting. If I can get them all in order, I'll be able to start laying out the book next week!

HODIE: ante diem sextum Idus Iulias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Phaethon; 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 Res crescunt concordia (English: With harmony, things prosper).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Vivorum oportet meminisse (English: We should remember the living).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Post vinum verba, post imbrem nascitur herba (English: After wine come words, as grass grows after the rain).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Quid timidi estis, modicae fidei? (Matt. 8:26). 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: Emere malo, quam rogare: I had lever bie, then begge. Or as the Englishe man pronounceth. He that goeth a borowing, goeth sorowinge. Hereby signified he that a thinge obteined, with much sute and prayer, is in deede dearelie boughte.

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Apollo, Neptunus et Laomedon, the story of how Apollo and Poseidon built the walls of Troy.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Cornix et Urna, the story of an ingenious crow (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Head and the Tail, which tells what happened when the snake's tail rebelled against the head.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Perdix et Galli, a story about a persecuted partridge and some mean-spirited roosters.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Leo Senex, Gemens, a story about the lion's karma: Leo, gravatus aetate et febribus, iacebat, spiritum trahens extremum. Supervenit aper spumans dentibus, veterem iram effundens. Taurus cornibus corpus eius undique confodit. Asinus pedibus suis eum attrivit. Et dixit vix spirans cum gemitu, “Heu! Cum esset virtus, erat honor; fuit et timor, immo et opinio mea terruit plures. Deficientibus autem viribus, deficit honor.”

Leo Senex

Sunday, July 8, 2012

Round-Up: July 8

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm still making great progress on the distichs book; it will be here in less than a month I hope: whoo-hoo!

HODIE: ante diem octavum Idus Iulias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Achilles and Patroclus; 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: Fuge magna (English: Flee from great things).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Post nubila sol (English: After clouds, the sun).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Invenit interdum caeca columba pisum (English: Sometimes a blind pigeon finds a pea).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Sapientia vino obumbratur (English: Wisdom is overshadowed by wine).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Lampon iurat per anserem (English: Lampon swears by the goose; from Adagia 4.1.34 - Lampon was a proverbial priest who would swear "by the goose," rather than invoking a god, since if Lampon later broke the oath, he could do so with impunity).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἐλέφαντα ἐκ μυιᾶς ποιεῖς (English: You're making an elephant out of a fly).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Daphne et Hyacinthus, Apollo's lovers.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Corvus Aquilam Imitans, in which the crow, of course, fails in his desire to be an eagle (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Frogs and the Tortoise, the story of a tortoise who was - briefly - jealous of the frogs.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Bos Laborans et Vitula, the story of the heifer who spent her short life on vacation.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Leo, Vacca, Capra, et Ovis, the famous story of the lion's share: Societatem aliquando iunxerant leo, vacca, capra, et ovis. Cervum permagnum cum cepissent, leo praedam divisit in quattuor partes aequales. Tum ita locutus est, “Prima pars mea est, quia sum leo; secundam mihi tribuetis, quia sum fortissimus; tertiam mihi sumo propter egregium laborem meum; quartam qui tetigerit, iram meam excitabit.” Sic totam praedam solus retinuit.


leo, vacca, capra et ovis

Friday, July 6, 2012

Round-Up: July 6

I've been super-busy with the book, but all is going well - still on schedule to be done by August (assuming we do not just MELT here before that happens: what awful weather!). Meanwhile, 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: pridie Nonas Iulias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Hecuba and Polymestor; 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: Cedamus amori (English: Let us yield to love).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Repetitio mater memoriae (English: Repetition is the mother of memory)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Non faciunt meliorem equum aurei freni (English: Golden reins do not make a better horse). 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: Quam malus est, culpam qui suam alterius facit (English: How wicked is the man who blames someone else for his own fault).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Equum habet Seianum (English: He's got the horse of Sejanus; from Adagia 1.10.97; this was a very unlucky horse, whose owners died: first he belonged to Sejanus, who was beheaded; then Dolabella bought him and he was killed by rebels in Epirus; the horse was then the property of Gaius Cassius, who also died, after which the horse went to Mark Anthony, who also died, and Sejanus's next owner, his last, drowned.).

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Latona, the mother of Apollo and Diana.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Lupus et Puer Mendax, the famous story of the boy who cried wolf (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Frightened Lion, the story of a lion fooled by the sound of a loud frog.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Leo et Pastor, the famous story of a shepherd (sometimes known as Androcles) and a lion with a thorn in his paw.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Mures Duo, the story of the city mouse and the country mouse: Mus rusticus, videns urbanum murem rus deambulantem, invitat ad cenam depromitque omne penum ut tanti hospitis expleat lautitiam. Urbanus ruris damnat inopiam urbisque copiam laudat, secumque in urbem ducit rusticum. Qui, inter epulandum attonitus insolitis clamoribus, cum intellexerat periculum quotidianum esse, dixit urbano muri, “Tuae dapes plus fellis quam mellis habent. Malo securus esse cum mea inopia quam dives esse cum tua anxietate.”.

Mures Duo

Monday, July 2, 2012

Round-Up: July 2

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. Also, I made great progress on the book this weekend so it's still on schedule to be done by August 1, fingers crossed.

HODIE: ante diem sextum Nonas Iulias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Death of Lucretia; 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 Occasio capienda est (English: Seize the opportunity).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Persevera per severa (English: Persevere through severities).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Ante Dei vultum nihil unquam restat inultum (English: In the presence of God, nothing ever remains unavenged).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Ne derelinquas amicum antiquum; novus enim non erit similis illi (Sirach 9:10). 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 Conybeare: Muli mutuum scabunt: Mules do gnap or rubbe one another. A proverbe applied to persons ill and defamed, when one of them doth prayse the other.

TODAY'S FABLES and STORIES:

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Iuno et Vulcanus, the sad story of Iuno and her reaction to newborn son Vulcan.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Canis in Praesepe et Bos, the famous story of the greedy dog in the manger (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Fisherman and the Fish, the story of why it is good to be a little fish instead of a big one.

MILLE FABULAE WIDGET: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Pisces, Magni et Minuti, which - entirely by coincidence, I have to confess - matches the English fable of the day today.

MILLE FABULAE: Here's a favorite fable from Mille Fabulae et Una: Leo et Homo, Concertantes, a wonderful story about fact and fiction: Homo et leo inter se concertabant quis eorum esset superior et, cum venissent ut quaererent huius altercationis testimonium ad monumentum ubi erat pictura quomodo ab homine leo suffocaretur, ostendit leoni homo testimonium in pictura. Cui leo sic ait, “Hoc ab homine pictum est. Nam si leo pingere posset, pinxisset quomodo leo suffocasset hominem. Veni mecum et dabo tibi verum testimonium.” Deduxit leo hominem ad amphitheatrum, et ostendit illi veram fidem quomodo homo a leone suffocatur et dixit homini, “Hoc testimonium non est color, sed opus in veritate factum.”

Leo et Statua