Thursday, January 31, 2008

Round-Up: February 1

What a busy week this has been - apologies for no posting yesterday! Here is a round-up of Thursday's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

Vulgate Verses. The Vulgate Verses book is now available (from Lulu Publishers), and I'm adding Study Guides at the Vulgate Verses blog. The Study Guide I've added today is for Group 20, which includes the famous saying about the spirit being willing but the flesh being weak: Spiritus quidem promptus; caro vero infirma.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De asino tubicine et lepore tabellario: The Donkey Trumpeter and the Rabbit Courier. This shows the lion as a sensible ruler, able to make the best use of every one of his subjects!

I've recently discovered that there is a whole sequence of Abstemius fables retold in verse by Osius (1574, Phryx Aesopus Habitu Poetico) - with illustrations! So here is an illustration from Osius for today's fable about the lion, the donkey and the rabbit:

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Round-Up: January 29

Here is a round-up of Tuesday's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

LatinViaProverbs.com: I'm working away on the online guide to the Latin Via Proverbs book, with grammar notes and English translations, working through the book group by group. Today I've posted notes for Group 164, a group of proverbs includes the famous question about watching the watchers: Quis custodit custodes? (Very fitting as I watched the movie "Breach" this evening, about the Soviet spy in the FBI, Robert Hanssen!)

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes this saying about the power of proverbs: Verba sapientium sicut stimuli.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De culice cibum et hospitium ab ape petente: About the gnat asking for food and shelter from the bee. This is a recognizable variation on the famous traditional fable about the cricket seeking food from the ant when winter arrives!

For an image today, I'll let the Greek Divinity of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's god or goddess!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Monday, January 28, 2008

Round-Up: January 28

I hope everybody had a great weekend! Here is a round-up of Monday's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatin.com: Proverbs: Here is the audio for 10 more Latin proverbs - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English translations and commentary on the proverbs, too. Today's group includes this wonderful saying about the difference between between a wise person and a foolish one: Animo imperat sapiens, stultus servit.

Vulgate Verses. The Vulgate Verses book is now available (from Lulu Publishers), and I'm adding Study Guides at the Vulgate Verses blog. The Study Guide I've added today is for Group 19, which includes the famous saying from Ecclesiastes: Vanitas vanitatum, omnia vanitas.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange (when available). Today's fable is De Leone porcum sibi socium eligente: About the lion choosing the pig as his ally. I'm not quite sure how the pig got such a good reputation for loyalty to its friends, but so this fable tells us. L'Estrange's adaptation into English is rousing, as ever!

For an image today, I'll let the Roman Emperor of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's ruler!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Friday, January 25, 2008

Round-Up: January 25

HAPPY FRIDAY, everybody! Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email. Have a great weekend, and I'll "see" you again on Monday. :-)

ReligiousReading.com. In conjunction with the Vulgate Verses book, I've posted about the version of the First Beatitude as found in Luke: Beati pauperes, quia vestrum est regnum Dei. (There is a dramatic grammatical difference, as you can see, from the more commonly cited verison found in Matthew.)

LatinViaProverbs.com: I'm working away on the online guide to the Latin Via Proverbs book, with grammar notes and English translations, proceeding through the book group by group. Today I've posted notes for Group 163, a group of proverbs that includes the proverbial sleeping Endymion: Endymionis somnum dormit.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De Luscinia cantum accipitri pro vita pollicente: About the nightingale promising to sing for the hawk in exchange for her life. Unlike the old version of the hawk and the nightingale in Hesiod, this Aesop's fable makes the hawk out to be a wise fellow, not so foolish as to give up a bird in the hand for one in the bush (or, rather, for a song in the bush!).

Here's an illustration that I found by John Thompson for this fable:



Thursday, January 24, 2008

Round-Up: January 24

Here is a round-up of Tuesday's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes the famous "blessed are you, the poor": Beati pauperes quia vestrum est regnum Dei.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De sene iuvenem poma sibi surripientem saxis deiiciente: About the old man using rocks to dislodge the young man stealing his apples. This is one of the more bizarre fables in Abstemius, but it is really quite striking and memorable - plus the use of the word "moped" in L'Estrange's version is delightful!

For an image today, I'll let the Greek Beast of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's mythical creature!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Round-Up: January 23

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

ReligiousReading.com. In conjunction with the Vulgate Verses book, I've posted about the words of Pilate Ecce homo, and how they are an anagram for another Latin phrase: Est vir qui adest.

AudioLatin.com: Proverbs: Here is the audio for 10 more Latin proverbs - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English translations and commentary on the proverbs, too. Today's group includes this nice Latin version of "when the cat's away," or when the cat's asleep: Dum felis dormit, saliunt mures.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange (when available). Today's fable is De adolescente ex coitu infirmo et lupo: About the young man exhausted by having sex and the wolf. This is an example of L'Estrange at his finest!

For an image today, I'll let the Greek Divinity of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's divine being!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Round-Up: January 22

I hope everybody had a good Martin Luther King Day! Here is a round-up of Tuesday's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

LatinViaProverbs.com: I'm working away on the online guide to the Latin Via Proverbs book, with grammar notes and English translations, working through the book group by group. Today I've posted notes for Group 162, a group of proverbs includes this great frog proverb: Rana in paludem ex throno resilit auro. (In other words: you can take the frog out of the swamp, but you can't take the swamp out of the frog, ha ha.)

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes the famous phrase, "where are they (now)?" - ubi sunt: Patres vestri ubi sunt?

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De rustico per vocem haedi ad iuriscultum admisso: About the farmer who was admitted to the lawyer's office thanks to the voice of a goat. In other words: bribery will get you anywhere!

For an image today, I'll let the Roman Emperor of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's ruler!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Sunday, January 20, 2008

Round-Up: January 20

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatinProverbs.com: Today's proverb is Stercus optimum vestigium domini. In English: The master's footstep is the best fertilizer. Listen to the audio, and read the story of a most amusing mis-translation of this proverb by a very well-intentioned Latin student.

Vulgate Verses. The Vulgate Verses book is now available (from Lulu Publishers), and I'm adding Study Guides at the Vulgate Verses blog. The Study Guide I've added today is for Group 18, which includes the famous Cretan liars paradox: Cretenses semper mendaces..

RomanSudoku.com: For your numerical amusement - Roman Sudoku. Yes, it's Sudoku played with Roman numerals: enjoy! You can visit the blog for a larger version, easier to print out and play. Here's a small image of the puzzle:

Friday, January 18, 2008

Round-Up: January 18

HAPPY FRIDAY, everybody! Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatinProverbs.com: Today's proverb is Dominus habet oculos centum. In English: The master has a hundred eyes. Listen to the audio, and read an Aesop's fable that could have this saying as its moral (you can see the fable illustrated below).

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes a motto for all of us misunderstood eccentrics (I count myself one!): Non est propheta sine honore, nisi in patria sua. :-)

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De equo inculto sed veloci et ceteris eum irridentibus: About the shabby, but speedy, horse, and the other horses who mocked him. This is one of those many fables that tell us "not to judge a book by its cover," although it's possible to tell a more lively story about horses than about books!

For an image today, here's the illustration that goes with the fable about the master's eyes, from Barlow's Aesop:



Thursday, January 17, 2008

Round-Up: January 17

Hello, everybody! I missed posting yesterday (one of the very busiest days of my semester teaching online; if you are curious, you can read more here about my real life job). Meanwhile, here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatin.com: Proverbs: Here is the audio for 10 more Latin proverbs - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English translations and commentary on the proverbs, too. Today's group includes this saying about the swiftness of rumor (even before the Internet speeded it up even more!): Et terram rumor transilit et maria.

Vulgate Verses. The Vulgate Verses book is now available (from Lulu Publishers), and I'm adding Study Guides at the Vulgate Verses blog. The Study Guide I've added today is for Group 17, and it includes this great saying about the joys of inward peace of mind: Secura mens quasi iuge convivium.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange (when available). Today's fable is De lepore calliditatem et vulpe celeritatem a Iove petentibus: About the rabbit who asked Jupiter to make him sly and the fox who asked to be swift. L'Estrange did not include this in his adaptation of Abstemius, perhaps because of its close resemblance to the traditional fable of Juno and the peacock.

For an image today, I'll let the Greek Beast of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's mythological creature!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

Round-Up: January 15

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

LatinViaProverbs.com: I'm working away on the online guide to the Latin Via Proverbs book, with grammar notes and English translations, working through the book group by group. Today I've posted notes for Group 161, a group of proverbs includes this nice item about the mythological Tantalus: Tantalus inter undas sitit.

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes Cain's famous question: Num custos fratris mei sum? (a verse I had blogged about recently at ReligiousReading.com).

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De vulpe carnem leporis cani laudante: About the fox who told the dog how good the rabbit's flesh was. Like yesterday's fable, this one is a warning about false friends - especially if you are a rabbit and it is a fox who pretends to be your friend!

For an image today, I'll let the Roman Emperor of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's ruler!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Monday, January 14, 2008

Round-Up: January 14

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

ReligiousReading.com. In conjunction with the Vulgate Verses book, I've posted about the Latin Bible phrase Ex Aegypto vocavi filium meum and - even better - I have included the Latin text of the "Holiday of the Donkeys," celebrated on January 14, a medieval burlesque. HILARIOUS. If you have never reveled in rhyming medieval Latin verse, this is a great way to start:
Orientis partibus
Adventavit Asinus,
Pulcher et fortissimus,
Sarcinis aptissimus.
Highly recommended. :-)

AudioLatin.com: Proverbs: Here is the audio for 10 more Latin proverbs - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English translations and commentary on the proverbs, too. Today's group includes one of my favorite sayings about chickens and eggs: Ex frixis ovis pullus numquam venit ullus.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De viro amicos experiri volente: The man who wanted to test his friends. As you can guess, most of the "friends" did not pass the test!

And here is an image in honor of the Festum Asinorum: it is the flight into Egypt as painted by Giotto:

Sunday, January 13, 2008

Round-Up: January 13

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatinProverbs.com: Today's proverb is Dum vitant stulti vitia, in contraria currunt. In English: When fools try to avoid errors, they run into the opposite errors. Listen to the audio, and read some examples from one of Horace's satires that illustrate this saying.

Vulgate Verses. The Vulgate Verses book is now available (from Lulu Publishers), and I'm adding Study Guides at the Vulgate Verses blog. The Study Guide I've added today is for Group 16, which includes this beautiful saying about justice from the book of Wisdom: Iustitia immortalis est.

RomanSudoku.com: For your numerical amusement - Roman Sudoku. Yes, it's Sudoku played with Roman numerals: enjoy! You can visit the blog for a larger version, easier to print out and play. Here's a small image of the puzzle:

Friday, January 11, 2008

Round-Up: January 11

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

LatinViaProverbs.com: I'm working away on the online guide to the Latin Via Proverbs book, with grammar notes and English translations, working through the book group by group. Today I've posted notes for Group 160, a group of proverbs includes this nice proverb about keeping silent when in doubt: In dubiis melius est tacere quam dicere.

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes this Bible saying which has a very nice word-play in the Latin lex lux: Mandatum lucerna est, et lex lux.

LatinViaFables.com: I've got a new experiment today - a video, based on the fable of the fox and the eagle. I created the video with iMovie: it's got my audio of the fable, along with some images from some early printed editions of Aesop; you can find the text with commentary, together with the video, at my Aesop wiki; embedded videos can go anywhere, which is very handy indeed. I'd be curious what you all think about it - the video is online and shared thanks to Andrew Reinhard and his great eClassics.ning.com website!


Find more videos like this on eLatin eGreek eLearn


(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the video in action.)

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Round-Up: January 10

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatinProverbs.com: Today's proverb is Bos currum trahit, non bovem currus. In English: The ox pulls the cart, not the cart the ox. Listen to the audio, and read Erasmus's revealing comments about this particular saying.

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes this famous Bible quote: Stipendia peccati mors.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De auriga et rota currus stridente: The driver and the cart-wheel that squeaked. As you can see from L'Estrange's translation, the fable has at least something in common with the proverbial squeaky wheel getting the grease.

For an image today, here is the horse before the cart, to go with today's proverb:

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Round-Up: January 9

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

ReligiousReading.com. In conjunction with the Vulgate Verses book, I've posted about the Latin Bible phrase Ecce homo, and its use in the art history tradition (and also in the television series, Mr. Bean, a.k.a. Dominus Faba).

AudioLatin.com: Proverbs: Here is the audio for 10 more Latin proverbs - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English translations and commentary on the proverbs, too. Today's group includes a saying that could be a perfect commentary on the fable below: Adversus deum non oportet contendere.

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De Ove pastori convitiante: The sheep criticizing the shepherd. This is a seriously harsh fable; I think I am very glad that I am not a sheep, although Abstemius's message to us is that we are all sheep in the divine shepherd's flock. Ouch.

For an image today, I'll let the Greek God or Goddess of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's divinity!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

Round-Up: January 8

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

LatinViaProverbs.com: I'm working away on the online guide to the Latin Via Proverbs book, with grammar notes and English translations, working through the book group by group. Today I've posted notes for Group 159, a group of proverbs includes this nice item about the dangers of getting and wanting: Qui multum habet, plus cupit.

AudioLatin.com: Verses: Here is some more audio for the Vulgate Verses book also - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English notes and commentary on these verses also. Today's group includes this famous Bible quote: Quid est veritas? (which, I should note, is also an anagram for a possible answer: Est vir qui adest).

LatinViaFables.com: I'm continuing to work my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De Lupo pisce fluvii, maris regnum affectante: About the "Wolf-Fish" of the river who claimed to rule the sea. I'm not entirely sure if the "wolf-fish" is a pike or a sturgeon - you will see that Sir Roger considers it to be a pike!

For an image today, I'll let the Roman Emperor of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's ruler!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)

Monday, January 7, 2008

Round-Up: January 7

Hello, everybody! I hope you have had a good holiday season - I'm back online after a week off getting my courses reading for spring semester. So, starting out the new year of 2008 with Bestiaria Latina, here is a round-up of today's blog posts (you can browse through previous round-ups at the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives). You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you can subscribe by email.

AudioLatin.com: Proverbs: Here is the audio for 10 more Latin proverbs - just the audio, but there is a link to a page where you can get English translations and commentary on the proverbs, too. Today's group includes this fine rhyming saying about the dangers of trying to please everybody: Multum deliro, si cuique placere requiro.

Vulgate Verses. The Vulgate Verses book is now available (from Lulu Publishers), and I'm adding Study Guides at the Vulgate Verses blog. The Study Guide I've added today is for Group 15, and it includes this famous reflection on mortality from the book of Isaiah: Omnis caro faenum.

LatinViaFables.com: Now that the holidays are over, I'm picking up where I left off working my way through the 15th-century Latin fables of Abstemius! With each fable I'm posting the Latin text, a segmented Latin text, along with an English translation by me, plus the rollicking 17th-century translation by Sir Roger L'Estrange. Today's fable is De aquila filios cuniculi rapiente: About the eagle abducting the rabbit's children. This is a variant on the traditional fable of the eagle and the fox (Perry 1); Sir Roger L'Estrange's translation is particularly inspired in describing the demise of the eagle's chicks, alas, at the end.

For an image today, I'll let the Greek Beast of the Week widget supply us a portrait of this week's mythological creature!

(If you are reading this via email, you will need to visit the blog to see the image in action.)