Thursday, December 31, 2009

Saint Sylvester and Happy New Year :-)

Happy New Year's Eve to everyone - and Happy "Saint Silvester," too! I first became aware of Saint Silvester when I was living in Poland because there you do not celebrate New Year's Eve - instead, you celebrate "Sylwester," since this saint's day is on December 31. New Year's greetings are called "Życzenia Sylwestrowe" - "Silvester Wishes," in English. In Italy, New Year's Eve is called "The Night of Saint Silvester," La notte di San Silvestro. (Compare the way we celebrate the festival of Saint Valentine's Day, and have turned the name "Valentine" into the name of a holiday.)

Saint Silvester is the subject of both history and legend - and one of my favorite legends about Saint Silvester is the story of how he subdued a dragon! Below, you will find the Latin version of this story from the Life of Saint Silvester from the famous collection of saints' lives called the Legenda Aurea. You can read more about Saint Sylvester at Wikipedia and at the Catholic Encyclopedia online. The emperor referred to in the first line is Constantine, who converted to Christianity.

Here is the Latin story - I've broken it up into segments to make it easier to read:

Post aliquot dies
ydolorum pontifices
ad imperatorem venerunt, dicentes:
"Sacratissime imperator,
draco ille, qui est in fovea,
postquam fidem Christi recepisti,
plus quam trecentos homines cotidie interficit
flatu suo."

Consulente super hoc Constantino Silvestrum,
respondit:
"Ego
per Christi virtutem
eum ab omni cessare faciam laesione."
Promittunt pontifices
se, si hoc faceret, credituros.

Orante autem Silvestro,
sanctus Petrus ei apparuit, dicens:
"Securus ad draconem descende tu
et duo presbiteri, qui sunt tecum.
Cumque ad eum veneris,
eum taliter alloqueris:
'Dominus noster Ihesus Christus
de virgine natus, crucifixus, et sepultus,
qui resurrexit et sedet ad dexteram patris,
hic venturus est iudicare vivos et mortuos.
Tu ergo, Sathana,
eum in hoc loco, donec venerit, expecta.'
Os autem eius ligabis filo,
et annulo, signum crucis habente, desuper sigillabis.
Postea
ad me, sani et incolumes, venietis
et panem, quem vobis preparavero, comedetis."

Descendit itaque Silvester
cum duobus presbiteris
in foveam per gradus CL,
duas secum ferens laternas.
Tunc draconi praedicta verba dixit
et os ipsius, stridentis et sibilantis,
ut iussum fuerat, alligavit;
et ascendens, invenit duos magos,
qui eos secuti fuerant
ut viderent
si usque ad draconem descenderent,
ex draconis foetore paene mortuos,
et eos secum adduxit, incolumes atque sanos;
qui statim,
cum multitudine infinita,
conversi sunt
sicque
populus Romanorum
a morte duplici liberatus est,
scilicet a cultura demonis et veneno draconis.

Maso-Di-Banco c. 1340 Miracle of the Dragon
(be sure to click here for larger view - in the larger view,
you can see the two Magi almost dead from the stench,
and notice here how the saint's assistant is holding his nose!)

The pioneering English printer William Caxton published an edition of the Golden Legend in English - here is his version of the story of the dragon (with the spelling modernized):

Then came the bishops of the idols unto the emperor and said unto him: O thou most holy emperor, sith the time that thou hast received christian faith the dragon which is in yonder fosse or pit slayeth every day with his breath more than three hundred men. Then sent the emperor for S. Silvester and asked counsel of him of this matter. S. Silvester answered that by the might of God he promised to make him cease of his hurt and blessure of this people. Then S Silvester put himself to prayer, and S. Peter appeared to him and said: Go surely to the dragon and the two priests that be with thee take in thy company, and when thou shalt come to him thou shalt say to him in this manner: Our Lord Jesu Christ which was born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, buried and arose, and now sitteth on the right side of the Father, this is he that shall come to deem and judge the living and the dead, I commend thee Sathanas that thou abide him in this place till he come. Then thou shalt bind his mouth with a thread, and seal it with thy seal, wherein is the imprint of the cross. Then thou and the two priests shall come to me whole and safe, and such bread as I shall make ready for you ye shall eat. Thus as S. Peter had said, S. Silvester did. And when he came to the pit, he descended down one hundred and fifty steps, bearing with him two lanterns, and found the dragon, and said the words that S. Peter had said to him, and bound his mouth with the thread, and sealed it, and after returned, and as he came upward again he met with two enchanters which followed him for to see if he descended, which were almost dead of the stench of the dragon, whom he brought with him whole and sound, which anon were baptized, with a great multitude of people with them. Thus was the city of Rome delivered from double death, that was from the culture and worshipping of false idols, and from the venom of the dragon.

Round-Up: December 31

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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed and at the IVLIVS CAESAR feed (Plutarch's Life of Caesar twittered trilingually).

HODIE: pridie Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too.

Leo Senex, the story of the indignities suffered by the lion in his old age.

Musca et Calvus, the story of a bald man who was annoyed by a fly.

Serpens et Lima, the story of what happened when the snake tried its fangs against the metal file.

Canis et Ovis, the story of how the dog took the sheep to court and won on the strength of false witnesses.

Canis et Umbra, the famous story of the dog who was fooled by a reflection in the water.

I've picked out my favorite one, Canis et Ovis, to share with you here in the blog, about how the so-called justice system failed to protect the honest sheep:

Olim canis ovem accūsābat canis quod nōlēbat sibi reddere pānem quem sibi praestiterat. Illa negat: iūdex testēs petit. Lupus haec inquit: Vīdī quod iste tibi pānem praestitit. Milvus et accipiter eadem testificātī sunt; sīc illa pānem canī reddere cōgitur, et, quia nōn habuit quō pānem reddere posset, illa prō pretiō lānam suam vendidit. Sīc saepe vir simplex, tūtōre carēns. fraude coactus, hoc quod nōn habuit reddere solet.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Virtute me involvo (English: I wrap myself in excellence).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Amor caecus est (English: Love is blind).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Igne semel tactus timet ignem postmodo cattus (English: The cat who has been touched once by fire, fears the fire thereafter).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Stipendia peccati mors (Romans 6:23). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Longae Regum manus: Kinges have longe handes. They can bringe in men, they can plucke in thinges, though they be a great waye of (it's kind of "extraordinary rendition," Elizabethan-style).

Today's Poem: Today's poem is one of the rhyming couplets collected by Wegeler, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com:
Omnia sunt mundi, quasi bulla caduca, rotundi:
In pratis ut flos, sic cadit omnis honos.
English: "All the things of this round world are wavering bubbles; like the grass in the meadow, so perishes all pomp." Note that this is internal rhyme in both lines: mundi-rotundi, flos-honos. Nice!

And for the holidays...

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs - the last of this year's holiday season - from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Auld Lang Syne, a Latin version of the Robert Burns song, along with In hoc anni circulo - with a Scottish "Quaich" below in honor of Auld Lang Syne, for those of you who will be drinking toasts at midnight tonight!




Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Round-Up: December 30

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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed and at the IVLIVS CAESAR feed (Plutarch's Life of Caesar twittered trilingually).

HODIE: ante diem tertium Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too.

De Morte et Amore, the story of what happened when Cupid and Death got their arrows mixed up!

Leo et Socii Eius, the famous story of the lion's share in an elegiac verse version by Alexander Nequam.

Cervus ad Fontem, the sad story of a deer with a deluded body image.

Leo ab Homine Occisus, the story of the debate between the lion and the man as to who is the most powerful.

Auceps et Perdix, the story of the treacherous partridge and what she did when she was captured.

I've picked out my favorite one, Leo ab Homine Occisus, to share with you here in the blog:

Tabula ōlim mōnstrābātur, in quā artifex leōnem immānem ab ūnō homine interfectum pīnxerat. Spectātōrēs cum dē illā stultē glōriārentur, leō quidam praeteriēns "Vōbīs sānē," inquit, "hanc victōriam dat pictor iste; sed solitā fingendī licentiā vōs dēcēpit. Quō certius nōs victōrēs essēmus, sī contubernālēs meī pingere scīrent."

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Fatum inevitabile (English: What is fated is unavoidable).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Nihil sine labore (English: Nothing without hard work - or, as we say in English, "no pain, no gain").

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Camelus, cupiens cornua, aures perdidit (English: The camel, hoping for horns, lost its ears - a story told in one of Aesop's fables).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Omnia probate, quod bonum est, tenete (English: Try all things; what is good, keep).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Maleam legens, quae sunt domi obliviscere (English: You forget the things that are at home when sailing around Malea; from Adagia 2.4.46; Sailing around the cape of Malea was so perilous that people would forget even what they held most dear; Cape Malea separates the Ionian and Aegean Seas, and was notorious for its deadly weather, as reported already in Homer's Odyssey).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Λύκω συννόμω καὶ ἵππω· λέοντέ γε μὲν οὐκέτι. (English: Two wolves can feed together, and two horses - but two lions can never do so).

And for the holidays...

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Frigus vir nivis, a Latin version of "Frosty the Snowman," along with In Dulci Iubilo.




Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Round-Up: December 29

Hello, everybody - and I hope you all have had a very happy holiday season! You will see below the new format for the round-up in the coming months. My goal for the summer is to pull together the big book of Aesop's fables with macrons, so I will be focusing heavily on the Ictibus Felicibus blog in the coming months, publishing 4-5 fables per day there. I hope you will enjoy them! The new layout of the round-up reflects the emphasis on the fables, although the proverbs are still there, too! :-)
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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed and at the IVLIVS CAESAR feed (Plutarch's Life of Caesar twittered trilingually).

HODIE: ante diem quartum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too.

Mus et Rana, the story of the treacherous mouse and how he was punished in the end!

Taurus et Mus, a quite different story about a mouse where he teaches the bull a lesson about size.

Alius peccat, alius plectitur, a story about a dog who doesn't understand who his real enemy is.

Accipiter Columbam Insequens, the story of a hawk who learns the lesson of the "Golden Rule."

Vas Fictile et Vas Ferreum, the story of the dangerous friendship between two pots, one made of clay and the other of metal.

I've picked out my favorite one, Taurus et Mus, to share with you here in the blog:

Strātus humī fuerat Taurus; Mūs forte momordit
   Crūra: petēns hostem cornibus ille ruit.
Hic nusquam cernī potuit: bōs cornua frustrā
   Vībrat: dēnsa tamen, quem petit, herba tegit.
"Parvula nē spernās; tē Mūs impūne lacessō,
   Ā minimō laesus maximus," inquit," erās."

Here it is in prose order:

Taurus humi stratus fúerat; forte, Mus crura momórdit. Ille, hostem petens, córnibus ruit; hic nusquam cerni pótuit. Frustra, bos córnua vibrat; densa tamen herba tegit quem petit. Mus inquit: "Ne párvula spernas. Impúne Mus te lacésso! A mínimo máximus laesus eras."

Here's an illustration for the fable (image source) from a 15th-century edition of Aesop's fables:


TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Vincula temno (English: I scorn the chains - the chains of any kind of bondage, real or metaphorical!).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Dulcius ex asperis (English: The thing is sweeter from bitter experiences - in other words, the more bitter the fight, the sweeter the victory!)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Unus lanius non timet multas oves (English: One butcher does not fear the many sheep). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Irritare est calamitatem, cum te felicem voces (English: To call yourself happy is to provoke disaster - so, don't boast; the jealous gods might be listening!).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Simia in purpura (English: A monkey in royal robes - which is to say, a laughing-stock; from Adagia 1.7.10).

And for the holidays...

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Tinnitus, Tinnitus, a Latin version of "Jingle Bells," along with Christe, Redemptor Omnium and also O praesepe vile, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Ach, ubogi żłobie."




Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Holiday Hiatus: December 23-29

Iucundissimum festum Nativitatis exopto, plenum laetitae atque felicitatis vobis et vestris.

Happy holidays, everybody! I'll be taking a few days off at the blog here, so I thought I would preview here the "holiday songs of the day" for while I'll be away from the blog.

December 23. The Latin holiday songs for today are: Veni, Veni, Emmanuel!, along with Flos de radice Jesse and also O Stella de Bethlehem, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "O gwiazdo Betlejemska."



December 24. The Latin holiday songs for today are: En, Nocte Venit Media, a Latin version of "It Came upon a Midnight Clear," along with Misellum, silens, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Mizerna cicha."



December 25. The Latin holiday songs for today are: Procul in Praesaepi, a Latin version of "Away in a Manger," along with Triumphi Regis, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Triumfy Króla niebieskiego."



December 26. The Latin holiday songs for today are: Rex Wenceslaus, a Latin version of "King Wenceslas," along with Veni Redemptor Gentium and also Ad stabulum, pastores, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Do szopy, hej pasterze."



December 27. The Latin holiday songs for today are: Duodecim Dies Natalis, a Latin version of "The Twelve Days of Christmas," along with In noctis umbra desides and also Caelo ex excelso, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Z nieba wysokiego."



December 28. The Latin holiday songs for today are: Somnio Candidum Diem, a Latin version of "White Christmas," along with Dormi Jesu and also Prope accedamus, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Przystąpmy do szopy."



December 29. The Latin holiday songs for today are: Tinnitus, Tinnitus, a Latin version of "Jingle Bells," along with Christe, Redemptor Omnium and also O praesepe vile, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Ach, ubogi żłobie."


Tuesday, December 22, 2009

Round-Up: December 22

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 undecimum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S POEM: Here is today's little poem, from the Poetry Widget. This is one of the tiny iambic fables by Desbillons, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com as usual:
Tui me miseret, aiebat Testudini
Lacerta; quae, quocumque libeat vadere,
Tuam ipsa tecum ferre cogaris domum.
Quod utile, inquit illa, non grave est onus.
English: "The lizard said to the turtle, 'I feel sorry for you, since wherever you might want to go, you are forced to carry your house with you;' - 'Something useful is not a heavy burden,' said the turtle in reply." The motif of the turtle who carries her house with her is a popular subject for Aesop's fables, as in the story of how the turtle got her shell to begin with.

TODAY'S TWITTER:

Vita Caesaris: You can see my IVLIVS CAESAR feed with a sentence from Plutarch's Life of Caesar each day in Greek, Latin and English. Today's portion starts up with Caesar's war against the Helvetii and Tigurini: Primum bellum Gallicum ei contra Heluetios fuit & Tigurinos qui quum suas urbes numero duodecim ac uicos quadringentos combussissent, per Galliam Romanis subditam procedebant, quemadmodum olim Cimbri ac Teutones; quibus neque audacia inferiores uidebantur itemque trecenta hominum millia erant, atque ex his centum nonaginta millia ad pugnam apti.

Proverbiis Pipilo: You can see my Proverbia feed of Latin proverbs which I "tweet" while I am online each day (in English, too). Here's one from today about subjective memories: Memoria beneficiorum fragilis est, iniuriarum tenax (English: The memory of good deeds is fleeting, but the memory of wongs is tenacious).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS

You can get access to all the proverb of the day scripts (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Cogito (English: I think - a motto made even more famous by Descartes's declaration: Cogito, ergo sum).

3-Word Mottoes: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Libertas pretiosior auro (English: Freedom is more precious than gold).

3-Word Mottoes: Verbs: Today's 3-word motto with verb is Quod potes, tenta (English: What you are able to do, go for it!).

2-Word Proverbs: Today's 2-word proverb is: Utere loris (English: Use the reins - and watch out for that sneaky imperative form of the deponent verb uti, "to make use of" something).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Beati mundo corde (English: Blessed are those with a pure heart - which also happens to be a very nice use of the Latin ablative as a mode of describing someone or something; we might say "pure-hearted" in English).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word proverb with verb is Necessitas feriis caret (English: Necessity knows no holidays... so, if you get a big snowstorm on Christmas day, you're going to have to shovel that snow, whether it's a holiday or not!).

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Dat veniam corvis, vexat censura columbas (English: The censor forgives the crows and harasses the doves). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Piscium vita haec, minorem maior ut devoret (English: This is the life of the fishes: that the greater should gobble up the smaller).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Quisquis amat ranam, ranam putat esse Dianam (English: He who loves a frog thinks that frog is the goddess Diana... although, alas, "frog" and "Diana" do not rhyme in English like the Latin rana-Diana).

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Quam miserum auxilium est, ubi nocet, quod sustinet (English: How wretched is the assistance which harms what it should help!).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Patres comederunt uvam acerbam, et dentes filiorum obstupuerunt (English: The fathers eat the bitter grape, and the teeth of their sons grow numb).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Comede in laetitia panem tuum et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum (Ecc. 9:7). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Exspectat bos aliquando herbam (English: The ox hopes for grass to eat, sooner or later - as all of us who pull the plough, real or metaphorical, expect our reward; from Adagia 3.4.80).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Inelegantior Libethriis (English: More clumsy than the Libethrians; from Adagia 1.6.48 - the Libethrians, a Thracian people, were proverbially uneducated, enemies of all art and music; according to some sources, the Libethrians were the people who slew the musician Orpheus).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Conybeare: Tollere cristas: To set up the creaste. Applied to them that be proude or arrogant, and do stretche upp there browes with a disdaynefull countenance.

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἅπας μήν ἀὴρ ἁετῲ περάσιμος· ἅπασα δὲ χθὼν ἀνδρὶ γενναίῳ πατρίς (English: All the air is open to the eagle, and all the earth is a homeland for the man who is noble).

TODAY'S FABLES:

Ictibus Felicibus: Today's fable with macrons and accent marks is Lupus et Vulpis Iudice Simio, the story of the wolf and the fox who took their court case to the monkey judge.

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: O Parve Vice Bethlehem, a Latin version of "O Little Town of Bethlehem," along with Magi, omnis orbis reges, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Mędrcy świata, monarchowie."




Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Round-Up: December 21

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 duodecimum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S POEM: Here is today's little poem, from the Poetry Widget. This is another one of Owen's epigrams, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com as usual:
Trita magis iuris quam iustitiae via, quanquam
Iuris iter longum, || iustitiaeque breve est.
English: "The way of the law is more well-worn than the way of justice, even though the journey by way of law is long, while the journey by way of justice is short." In an ideal world, on the other hand, we would live guided by justice without need of laws, and we would reach perfection all the more quickly. :-)

TODAY'S TWITTER:

Vita Caesaris: You can see my IVLIVS CAESAR feed with a sentence from Plutarch's Life of Caesar each day in Greek, Latin and English. Today's portion concludes the discussion of Caesar's leadership skills and style: ln itinere aliquando ui tempestatis in tugurium pauperis cuiusdam compulsus, quum nihil reperisset praeter unum cubiculum uix uni recipiendo sufficiens, ad amicos dixit : Honestiora optimis, necessaria infirmissimis concedenda; idque cubiculum Oppio ad quietem concessit, ipse cum reliquis sub uestibulo ostii dormiuit.

Proverbiis Pipilo: You can see my Proverbia feed of Latin proverbs which I "tweet" while I am online each day (in English, too). Here's one from today about the imperative of hunger: Etiam stultis acuit ingenium fames (English: Hunger sharpens the wits even of fools).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS

You can get access to all the proverb of the day scripts (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Serviendo (English: By serving - a great motto, and one which shows that you can create a motto by the gerund form of any verb that expresses your purpose and plan for life).

3-Word Mottoes: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Citius, altius, fortius (English: Faster, higher, and stronger - a motto made famous by the Olympics).

3-Word Mottoes: Verbs: Today's 3-word motto with verb is Crescam ut prosim (English: I will grow so that I can do good).

2-Word Proverbs: Today's 2-word proverb is: Ignem dissecas (English: You're trying to cut a fire to pieces - a proverbial fool's errand, since the fire doesn't mind being cut!).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Magna vis necessitas (English: Necessity is a mighty force).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word proverb with verb is Amor tollit timorem (English: Love removes fear).

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Vitae sal amicitia (English: Friendship is the salt of life). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is In tali tales capiuntur flumine pisces (English: Big fish are caught in big rivers, little fish in little ones - a proverb you can see illustrated in my Proverbia de Piscibus).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Saepe etiam stultus fuit opportuna locutus (English: Often even the fool has said something to the point).

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Necessitas quod celat, frustra quaeritur (English: If is fruitless to look for what necessity has hidden).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Maledictus homo qui confidit in homine (English: Cursed is the man who puts his trust in a man - a saying from the book of Jeremiah).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Ecce, merces vestra multa in caelo (Luke 6:23). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Decipula murem cepit (English: The trap has caught the mouse; from Adagia 3.4.92 - a saying used whenever someone has gotten his just deserts).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Annus clibanum (English: Annus invented the oven; from Adagia 1.10.75 - Annus is a legendary Egyptian credited with the invention of the oven and baked bread; the proverb refers to someone who discovers a marvelous invention).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Conybeare: Calidum prandium comedisti: Thou haste don that will tourne to their great hurt and damage. (The saying itself comes from Plautus and refers to the fact that you pay the price of indigestion for the hot food you've eaten!)

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Πέτρας σπείρεις (English: You're sowing stones… which is not going to give you a very profitable crop!).

TODAY'S FABLES:

Ictibus Felicibus: Today's fable with macrons and accent marks is Passer ad Leporem, the story of a sparrow who mocked a rabbit in the clutches of an eagle.

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Silens Nox, a Latin version of "Silent Night," along with Hodie Christus natus est and also Usque Bethlehem, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Do Betlejem pełni radości."



If you are reading this at the blog, here is an audio performance of Hodie Christus natus est.





Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Sunday, December 20, 2009

Round-Up: December 20

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 tertium decimum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S POEM: Here is today's little poem, from the Poetry Widget. This is one of the tiny iambic fables by Desbillons, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com as usual:
Fecunda Sus Leaenae vertebat probro,
Catulum quod unum quolibet partu ederet
Unum, at Leonem, retulit indignans fera.
Res dignitate praevalent, non copia.
English: "The prolific sow addressed the lioness with this insult: the lion at each birth produced only one cub; the wild beast indignantly replied that she produced only one cub, but that it was a lion. Things are superior by virtue of their worthiness, not their quantity." You can read a version of this same story where it is the fox who tries to mock the lioness for her single cub.

TODAY'S TWITTER:

Vita Caesaris: You can see my IVLIVS CAESAR feed with a sentence from Plutarch's Life of Caesar each day in Greek, Latin and English. Today's portion tells us that Caesar did not fuss about just eating the food set in front of him: Quam tenui uictu usus fuerit, argumento est quod Mediolani apud hospitem suum Valerium Leonem cenans, cum is asparagum apposuisset et pro oleo recenti conditum instillasset, ipse nihil moratus comedit, amicosque indignantes increpuit: Satis erat, inquiens, non vesci iis quae displicerent, inurbani vero hominis est talem rusticitatem arguere.

Proverbiis Pipilo: You can see my Proverbia feed of Latin proverbs which I "tweet" while I am online each day (in English, too). Here's one from today: Pacem cum hominibus habe, bellum cum vitiis (English: Keep peace with people; be at war with their faults).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS

You can get access to all the proverb of the day scripts (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

2-Word Mottoes: Today's 2-word motto is: Irrideo tempestatem (English: I scoff at the storm).

3-Word Mottoes: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Iustus et fidelis (English: Righteous and faithful - although, of course, for us ladies, it would be: iusta et fidelis).

3-Word Mottoes: Verbs: Today's 3-word motto with verb is Tenax propositi, vinco (English: Firm in purpose, I conquer - that adjective tenax takes a genitive complement, in the sense of grabbing hold "of" something).

2-Word Proverbs: Today's 2-word proverb is: Daedali alae (English: The wings of Daedalus - which worked for Daedalus, but not so for poor Icarus).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Locus medius tutus (English: The middle place is safe - and this refers to moderation in all things... so take it easy on that holiday eggnog!).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word proverb with verb is Medice, cura teipsum (English: Physician, heal yourself - of course, this does not have to apply only to physicians; teachers need to teach themselves, and governors need to govern themselves, etc. etc.).

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Mitior columba (English: More peaceful than a dove). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Pullus de nido avolat (English: The chick flies away from the nest).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Per risum multum poteris cognoscere stultum (English: Because of his abundant laughter, you will be able to recognize a fool... which I guess marks me as a fool since I laugh a lot, probably to excess, ha ha).

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Paucorum improbitas est multorum calamitas (English: The wickedness of a few is a disaster for many).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Nolite iudicare secundum faciem (English: Don't judge based on appearances - something I always have to keep in mind at the beginning of the semester, when all I can see of my students is the pictures from their photo IDs, mostly showing their faces from freshman year).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Propheta in sua patria honorem non habet (John 4:44). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Colubrum in sinu foves (English: You're nourishing a snake close to your breast; from Adagia 4.2.40 - you can see some illustrated snake proverbs in this Tarheel Reader: Proverbia de Serpente).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Sero sapiunt Phryges (English: The Phrygians get wise too late; from Adagia 1.1.28 - the Prygians here are the Trojans, who wised up about the Trojan horse too late).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time a comment on two related proverbs by Conybeare: Necessitati parendum est, or Necessitas inexorabilis: Necessitie hath no lawe, or needes must that needes wille..

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Λύκος ποιμήν (English: The pastor is a wolf... which is bad news for the sheep indeed!).

TODAY'S FABLES:

Ictibus Felicibus: Today's fable with macrons and accent marks is Muli Duo, the story of the two mules and what happened when they were attacked by robbers.

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Lapsi Caelo Super Gentes, a Latin version of "Angels We Have Heard on High," along with Jesu, dulcis memoria and also Laetissimam famam, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Wesołą nowinę."



For those of you viewing this at the blog, here is an audio performance of Jesu, dulcis memoria.




Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Round-Up: December 19

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 quartum decimum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S POEM: Here is today's little poem, from the Poetry Widget. This is another one of the emblems of Alciato:
Bellerophon ut fortis eques superare Chimaeram
Et Lycii potuit || sternere monstra soli;
Sic tu Pegaseis vectus petis aethera pennis.
Consilioque animi || monstra superba domas.
You can read an English version of the poem and see the emblem at the Memorial University Web Edition of Alciato.

TODAY'S TWITTER:

Vita Caesaris: You can see my IVLIVS CAESAR feed with a sentence from Plutarch's Life of Caesar each day in Greek, Latin and English. Today's portion tells us more about Caesar's communication style - don't you know he would have loved email??? - Ferunt id quoque primum omnium Caesarem excogitasse, ut per codicillos cum amicis colloqueretur, quod coram de rebus maxime necessariis agere et urbis magnitudo et negotiorum multitudo non pateretur.

Proverbiis Pipilo: You can see my Proverbia feed of Latin proverbs which I "tweet" while I am online each day (in English, too). Here's one from today: Tota hominis vita unus est dies (English: All the life of a man is one day).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS

You can get access to all the proverb of the day scripts (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is a single word: Teneo (English: I have it in my grasp).

3-Word Mottoes: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Per mille ardua (English: Through a thousand challenges).

3-Word Mottoes: Verbs: Today's 3-word motto with verb is Ad astra sequor (English: I reach for the stars).

2-Word Proverbs: Today's 2-word proverb is: Remis velisque (English: With oars and with sails - which is to say, with all available speed!).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Crambe repetita mors (English: Warmed over cabbage is death... this one always makes me laugh because my husband can't stand cabbage the first time around, much less leftovers).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word proverb with verb is Labor omnia superat (English: Hard work overcomes all things).

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Noli irritare leones (English: Do not provoke the lions!). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Praebet candoris lac nigri vacca coloris (English: The cow who is black proffers milk that is white... a nice agricultural example of how paradoxical appearances can be).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Doctrinae cultus spernit nemo, nisi stultus (English: The cultivation of learning is rejected by no one, unless he's a fool).

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Necessitati quodlibet telum utile est (English: Necessity makes use of any weapon at hand).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Fodere non valeo, mendicare erubesco (English: I haven't the strength to dig; I am ashamed to beg - a passage from the Gospel of Luke about the steward facing sudden poverty).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Sit vestrum est est, non non (Sit vestrum est est, non non). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Leo cordula vinctus (English: The lion is bound with a little rope; from Adagia 4.5.73).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Boeotis vaticinare (English: To prophecy to the Boeotians; from Adagia 2.3.11 - which is a dangerous thing, because of what happened to a certain Bombus who prophesied to the Boeotians that in order to win in battle they would have to sacrifice one of their generals; the Boeotians decided to sacrifice Bombus instead).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Conybeare: Terra defossum habes: Proverbially spoken of hem that hideth his giftes and doth not exercise them to the use of other.

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἡ κάμηλος ἐπιθυμήσασα κεράτων, καὶ τὰ ὦτα προσαπώλεσεν (English: The camel, wanting to get horns, lost her ears in the bargain - a story told in one of Aesop's fables).

TODAY'S FABLES:

Ictibus Felicibus: Today's fable with macrons and accent marks is Lupus et Gruis, the story of the wolf and the crane, told in both prose and verse forms.

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Tres Naves, a Latin version of "I Saw Three Ships," along with Quem Pastores Laudavere and also Fratres, en spectate, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Bracia, patrzcie jeno!"




For those of you reading this at the blog, here is a video performance of Quem Pastores Laudavere:




Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Friday, December 18, 2009

Round-Up: December 18

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 decimum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S POEM: Here is today's little poem, from the Poetry Widget. This time it's another one of the elegant little epigrams of Owen, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com as usual:
Tempore Troiani belli si nata fuisses,
Digna fuit causa || Troia perire tua.
English: "If you had been born at the time of the Trojan War, Troy would have been worth losing for your sake." It's a round-about way of telling a woman that her beauty rivals that of Helen of Troy - although she's got to figure that out for herself since the poem does not mention Helen by name!

TODAY'S TWITTER:

Vita Caesaris: You can see my IVLIVS CAESAR feed with a sentence from Plutarch's Life of Caesar each day in Greek, Latin and English. Today's portion further describes his efficient time management while on campaign: Ea expeditione exercuit se praeterea ut inter equitandum epistolas dictaret, idque duobus, et, ut Oppius ait, etiam pluribus diuersas.

Proverbiis Pipilo: You can see my Proverbia feed of Latin proverbs which I "tweet" while I am online each day (in English, too). Here's one from today: Duos insequens lepores, neutrum capit (English: By chasing two rabbits, he catches neither… a good thought to keep in mind during the hectic holidays!).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS

You can get access to all the proverb of the day scripts (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny one-word motto is: Ascendo (English: I rise up).

3-Word Mottoes: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Sincere et constanter (English: Sincerely and steadfastly).

3-Word Mottoes: Verbs: Today's 3-word motto with verb is Certa bonum certamen (English: Fight the good fight).

2-Word Proverbs: Today's 2-word proverb is: Pulsanti aperietur (English: It will be opened to the one who knocks).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Dei omnia plena (English: All things are full of God).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word proverb with verb is Certa praestant incertis (English: Sure things are preferable to things that are not sure).

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Fames optimus est coquus (English: Hunger is the best cook). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Hic cocti porci ambulant (English: Here there are roast pigs walking around - a Latin version of the "Land of Cockaigne").

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Saepe natatores submerguntur meliores (English: Often swimmers drown, even the better ones).

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Quem diligis, ni recte moneas, oderis (English: You will come to hate the man you love, unless you admonish him rightly).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Lerna malorum (English: It's a Lerna of troubles - most famously, Lerna was the home of the savage hydra).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Non in pane solo vivet homo (Matt. 4:4). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is In pace leones (English: Lions in time of peace - although, of course, it's easy to roar like a lion when there are no enemies around; from Adagia 4.5.80).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Nunc pluit, et claro nunc Iuppiter aethere fulget (English: Now Jupiter rains, and now he shines forth from the clear sky; from Adagia 1.8.65).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Iustitia in se virtutem complectitur omnem: Justice compriseth in it al vertue. He that is a perfect righteous or iust man, without question lacketh no vertue.

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Βίος ἀνεόρταστος, μακρὴ ὁδὸς ἀπανδόκευτος. Vita expers festi, longa via sine hospitio (English: Life is long without holidays, the road is long without a wayside inn).

TODAY'S FABLES:

Ictibus Felicibus: Today's fable with macrons and accent marks is Vulpes et Uvae, the famous story of the fox and the supposedly sour grapes.

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Canticum Turbonis, a Latin version of "The Dreidel Song" in honor of the end of Hanukkah, along with Heu! quid jaces stabulo and also Heri nocte prima, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "A wczoraj z wieczora."



Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Round-Up: December 17

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 sextum decimum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S POEM: Here is today's little poem, from the Poetry Widget. This is a famous little epigram by Catullus, with a word list at Diictionaries.com as usual:
Odi et amo; quare id faciam, fortasse requiris.
Nescio, sed fieri sentio et excrucior.
English: "I hate and aI love; perhaps you ask why I do it. I don't know, but I feel it happening, and I am torn in two." This is one of the items which Orff included in his Carmina Catulli.

TODAY'S TWITTER:

Vita Caesaris: You can see my IVLIVS CAESAR feed with a sentence from Plutarch's Life of Caesar each day in Greek, Latin and English. Today's portion describes Caesar's excellent horsemanship: Equitare ab ineunte aetate didicerat, ac se assuefecerat ut retro abductis manibus et tergo applicatis summo impetu equum citaret.

Proverbiis Pipilo: You can see my Proverbia feed of Latin proverbs which I "tweet" while I am online each day (in English, too). Here's one from today: Gratis accepistis, gratis date (English: You have taken freely; give freely - what you might call the philosophy of share-and-share-alike on the Internet).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS

You can get access to all the proverb of the day scripts (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

2-Word Mottoes: Today's 2-word motto is: Deo iuvante (English: With God's help - these little ablative absolutes make for very expressive 2-word mottoes).

3-Word Mottoes: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Victoria vel mors (English: Victory, or death).

3-Word Mottoes: Verbs: Today's 3-word motto with verb is Fac aut tace. (English: Do, or be silent - in other words, don't talk about doing something: just do it).

2-Word Proverbs: Today's 2-word proverb is: Hylam vocat (English: You're shouting for Hylas - but, like poor Heracles, you will not get a response, since the water-nymphs have taken him!).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Sale nihil utilius (English: Nothing is more useful than salt).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word proverb with verb is Contra stimulum calcas (English: You're kicking again the prick of the spur).

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Camelum saltare doces (English: You're teaching a camel to dance). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Scelerosum mordeat et mus (English: Even a mouse would bite a rogue - and not the very nice use of the adverbial et).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Rebus tranquillis, metuas adversa sub illis (English: When the situation is peaceful, watch out for dangers lurking).

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Felicitatem in dubiis virtus impetrat (English: Courage achieves a happy outcome when things look doubtful).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Ferrum ferro acuitur (English: Iron is sharpened with iron).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Si regnum in se dividatur, non potest stare regnum illud (Mark 3:24). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is E cantu dignoscitur avis (English: You know the bird by its song; from Adagia 4.2.21 - there are some birds, though, whose songs I recognize from hearing them in the woods, but I don't know what the bird itself looks like!).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Herculana scabies (English: Hercules's itch; from Adagia 2.4.26 - supposedly Athena was nice enough to supply Heracles with a bath which was able to cure the itch).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, again by Conybeare: Graculo cum fidibus nihil: The Jaye hath nought to doe with the harpe, spoken of them which lacking eloquence or good letters, do skorne them that have good learning.

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἐν τοῖς τόποις τυφλῶν λάμων βασιλεύει (English:In the places of the blind, the blear-eyed man is king - the word λάμων there is a variant of γλάμων).

TODAY'S FABLES:

Ictibus Felicibus: Today's fable with macrons and accent marks is Vulpis ad Personam, the story of the fox who found an actor's mask.

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Orientis Reges Tres, a Latin version of "We Three Kings of Orient Are," along with Nascitur cum Christus, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Gdy się Chrystus rodzi."




Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Round-Up: December 16

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 septimum decimum Kalendas Ianuarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S POEM: Here is today's little poem, from the Poetry Widget. Today's lines come from one of Horace's Sermones, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com as usual:
Quam temere in nosmet legem sancimus iniquam.
nam vitiis nemo sine nascitur; optimus ille est,
qui minimis urgetur. [...]
English: "How rashly we pass a law which weighs against us! For no person is born without faults; the best man is the one who is least burdened by them." Very true words indeed: especially as teachers, we promote perfectionism at our own peril! :-)

TODAY'S TWITTER:

Vita Caesaris: You can see my IVLIVS CAESAR feed with a sentence from Plutarch's Life of Caesar each day in Greek, Latin and English. Today's portion provides further praise of Caesar's efficient way of doing business: Adeo autem magna itinera faciebat, ut primam Roma expeditionem faciens, octauo die ad Rhodanum peruenerit (of course, nowadays you can manage to get from Rome to the Rhone in something like eight hours on a fast train - not eight days!).

Proverbiis Pipilo: You can see my Proverbia feed of Latin proverbs which I "tweet" while I am online each day (in English, too). Here's one from today: Pax melior est quam iustissimum bellum (English: Peace is better than the most just war… not quite the message conveyed by President Obama in his Nobel speech).

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS

You can get access to all the proverb of the day scripts (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

2-Word Mottoes: Today's 2-word motto is: Non dormio (English: I do not sleep - which is another way of expressing the idea "ever-vigilant").

3-Word Mottoes: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Deo, patriae, amicis (English: For God, country, and friends).

3-Word Mottoes: Verbs: Today's 3-word motto with verb is Sola virtus nobilitat (English: Excellence alone ennobles - which is to say that noble titles or a famous family name are not the source of true nobility).

2-Word Proverbs: Today's 2-word proverb is: Lapides verberas (English: You're beating stones - which is decidedly less gruesome than the English parallel, "beating a dead horse").

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Periculum in mora (English: There is danger in delay…. so: don't delay!).

3-Word Proverbs: Nouns: Today's 3-word proverb with verb is Quod periit, periit (English: What has perished has perished - a saying you can find all the way back in Plautus's Cistellaria).

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is In terra caecorum monoculus rex (English: In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Inter simios oportet esse simium (English: Among monkeys, you need to be a monkey - kind of like the saying, "When in Rome…" - but with monkeys instead!).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Frangitur ira gravis, cum fit responsio suavis (English: Great anger is shattered when the reply is sweet).

Maxims of Publilius Syrus: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Stultum facit fortuna, quem vult perdere (English: Whom Fortune wants to ruin, she makes a fool… they should probably put this on the billboards on the highways that lead to Las Vegas).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Teneto te intra pelliculam (English: Contain yourself within your own skin - I really like the sound play of the future imperative here).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Qui ambulat in tenebris, nescit quo vadat (John 12:35). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Boves messis tempus exspectantes (English: The oxen, waiting for the harvest time; from Adagia 3.2.51 - which, by metaphorical extension, refers to all of us hard-working folk who await the fruits of our labor).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Admirabiles in nectendis machinis Aegyptii (English: The Egyptians are wonderful at weaving schemes; from Adagia 2.6.57 - The Egyptians were renowned throughout the ancient world for their ingenuity, in both feats of engineering as well as supernatural magic).

Elizabethan Proverb Commentary: Here is today's proverb commentary, again from Conybeare: Inter sacrum et saxum stare: Proverbially to be yn daunger.

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἀπὸ μείζονος ἀνδρὸς ἄλευ (English: Avoid the man who is bigger than you).

TODAY'S FABLES:

Ictibus Felicibus: Today's fable with macrons and accent marks is Rana et Bos, the story of the frog who wanted to be as big as an ox, adapted from LaFontaine.

Gaudium Mundo: Today's Latin holiday songs from the Gaudium Mundo blog are: Sit Prosperus Iesus Nati, a Latin version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," along with Corde Natus Ex Parentis and also Cunis iacet, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "W żłobie leży."




For those of you viewing this at the blog, here's a YouTube performance of Corde Natus Ex Parentis.



Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.