Round-Up: August 30

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. There are notices also at Twitter - look for Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem tertium Kalendas Septembres.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Leonidas, the famous story of the stalwart Spartans ready to fight, no matter how badly outnumbered, at Thermopylae.

VERBUM WIDGET: I don't have a new word today (so busy with school), but I can offer two words from the daily widget: PRAEDICO - which has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Audi quod dicis, operare quod praedicas, "Listen to what you say; practice what you preach." The second word is TRANSMITTO - which also has a brief essay. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Quo nequit ire Satan, transmittit saepe ministrum, "Where Satan cannot go, he often sends his minister."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Leaena et Sus, a fable about quality, not quantity!

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Iuppiter et Olitoris Asinus, the sad story of a hard-working and unfortunate donkey.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Scarabaeus et Apes, the story of a beetle who wanted to make honey like a bee, and Scarabaeus et Formica, the story of the beetle who made fun of the hard-working ant.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Canis et Faber, a story about a dog's selective sense of attention!

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Dumesnil's Latin Synonyms and Black's Dictionary of Words Derived from the Latin.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Iuventus ventus (English: Youth is wind... although the charm of the Latin is in the sound-play).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Libertas optima rerum (English: Freedom is the best of things).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Quisquis amat ranam, ranam putat esse Dianam (English: He who loves a frog thinks that frog is the goddess Diana... and again, the charm of the Latin is in the rhyme!).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Mature fias senex, si diu velis esse senex (English: If you want to be old for a long time, get old early - which is to say, put a stop to your youthful exertions and ease into old age so that you can relax and enjoy it).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Pactoli opes (English: The wealth of the Pactolus; from Adagia 1.6.75 - this refers to the Pactolus river where King Midas supposedly washed off the golden touch, the origin of the gold later found in that river).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἐλέφας μῦν οὐ δάκνει (English: An elephant doesn't bite a mouse - in other words, don't sweat the small stuff!).

Here's the story of that poor donkey: 769. Iuppiter et Olitoris Asinus. Asinus olitoris, aegre sustinens laborem quo herus eum premebat, conqueritur de eo apud Iovem; supplicat alium sibi dari. Exaudit Iuppiter; iubet figulo veneat. Mutatur herus, sed non minuitur labor; immo augescit; semper lutum, tegulae, lateres, imbrices, dorso portandae. Iterum ad Iovem; Iuppiter, oratoris importunitate victus, dat coriarium. Statim expertus eum, omnibus quos unquam habuerat longe crudeliorem, apud se lamentans dicebat, “Heu me miserum, ut omnia mihi in deterius cedunt. Nam in eum incidi dominum, qui vivo non parcit, nec mortuo; ipse enim ubi corpus meum flagris exhauserit, in fine excoriabit.” (source - easy version)

Round-Up: August 28

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 Kalendas Septembres.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Aristippus, a wonderful story about the value of education.

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's NEW word is DIES - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Roma non fuit una die condita, "Rome was not founded in one day."

VERBUM WIDGET: The word from the daily widget is MEDITOR - which also has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Pervigili cura semper meditare futura, "With ever-watchful attention, always ponder the things that are to come" (note that the Latin rhymes! cura-futura).

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Mulier Puerpera et Lectus, a simplified version of Phaedrus's famous poem about the woman in labor who refuses to get into the bed.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Puer et Paedagogus , the hilarious story about the teacher who discovers one of his students about to drown in the river.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Apicula et Fuci Otiosi, a story about a bee who yearned for the lazy life of a drone, and Muscae et Rusticus, a story about a man being driven crazy by flies.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Lupus et Persona Tragoedi, the story of the wolf who found a mask.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Kendall's Latin Vocabulary of Cognates and Derivatives and Walker's Classical Pronunciation of Greek, Latin and Scripture Proper Names .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Fide laboro (English: In faith I labor).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Omne initium difficile (English: Every beginning is difficult)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Auream mediocritatem diligo (English: I cherish the golden mean). 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: Necessitas ab homine, quae vult, impetrat (English: What necessity wants from you, she takes).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Congregas cum leonibus vulpes (English: You're trying to herd foxes with lions - which is like our phrase "mixing apples and oranges," except with animals this time; from Adagia 1.9.19).

For an image today, here is Aristippus and this wonderful anecdote about the value of education: Aristippum philosophum rogavit quidam, ut filium suum erudiret. Cum vero ille, pro mercede, petiisset quingentas drachmas, pater, deterritus pretio quod avaro et rudi homini nimium videbatur, dixit, "Tanto pretio emere possum mancipium." Tum philosophus, "Eme," inquit, "et habebis duo." (source)

Round-Up: August 26

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm using Google+ a lot these days - are there any of you I should look for there?

HODIE: ante diem septimum Kalendas Septembres.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Papirius Cursor, a funny little story about the Roman consul Papirius.

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's NEW word is PARS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Tempus est quaedam pars aeternitatis, "Time is some part of eternity."

VERBUM WIDGET: The word from the daily widget is EXPENDO - which also has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Gaudebis semper vespere, si diem expendas fructuose, "You will always rejoice in the evening if you spend the day productively."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Rana et Hydrus, a funny story about a self-righteous frog.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Avarus et Poma Marcescentia, a funny story about a miser, his son, and some rotten apples.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Dives et Vidua, a story about a rich man, a widow and her cow, and Serpens et Feles, a great little story about a snake, a cat, and some mice.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Astrologus Stellas Contemplans, the wonderful story of the absent-minded astrologer.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Moseley's Dictionary of Latin Quantities and Gates' Latin Word-Building .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Dum vivo, spero (English: So long as I live, I hope).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Aliud alios decet (English: Different things suit different people).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Quid iuvat adspectus, si non conceditur usus? (English: What is the good of looking at something, if you're not allowed to use it?).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Mitte panem tuum super transeuntes aquas et post multa tempora invenies illum (Ecc. 11:1). 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: Taurum tollet, qui vitulum sustulerit: He that hath borne a calfe, that also beare a bull, he that accustomed him selfe to litle thinges, by litle and litle shal be able to goe awaye with greater thinges. One named Milo, was wont every day to beare a certaine way on his shoulders a calf. At length the calfe grew to a great oxe, his daily exercise made him still able to beare the oxe, when the oxe was now of an exceding great quantitie, ye see what maistries use worketh..

For an image, here is that story of the astrologer, 891. Astrologus Stellas Contemplans. Astrologi cuiusdam mos erat de nocte domo exire ut caelum stellasque contemplaretur. Aliquando autem, totus caelo intentus, in fossam, quam ante pedes sitam non viderat, incidit. Tum alius, per eandem viam iter faciens, cum de gemitu illius quod acciderat cognovisset, “Optime,” inquit, “tu, qui os in caelum erigebas, terram pedibus subiectam potius intueri debueras.” (source)

Round-Up: August 24

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. There are notices also at Twitter - look for Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem nonum Kalendas Septembres.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Canis Carnem Ferens, the famous story of the greedy dog and his reflection.

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's NEW word is POSSUM - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Nullus omnia scire potest, "No one can know everything."

VERBUM WIDGET: The word from the daily widget is QUI - which also has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Cum dixeris quod vis, audies quod non vis, "When you say what you want, you will hear what you don't want."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Pulex et Abbas, a funny little story about a sneaky flea!

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Apicula et Iuppiter, a story about Jupiter and an angry little bee.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Mulier Puerpera et Lectus, the story of a pregnant woman and her sollicitous husband, and Delphinus et Leo, a story about the friendship between a dolphin and a lion.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Mures et Feles, a hilarious story about the mice and their generals in the war with the cats.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Allen's General Vocabulary of Latin and Allen's Etymological Analysis of Latin Verbs.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Errando discitur (English: We learn by making mistakes).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Nec devius unquam (English: Not ever swerving).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Quaelibet vulpes caudam suam laudat (English: Every fox praises her own tail).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Medice, cura teipsum (English: Physician, heal yourself).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Dente Theonino rodi (English: To be gnawed by Theon's tooth; from Adagia 2.2.55 - Theon was a grammarian at Rome who was notoriously mean-spirited and critical).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Μία χελιδὼν ἐὰρ οὐ ποιεῖ (English: One swallow does not make a spring).

For an image today, here is that story about Jupiter and the bee: 670. Apes et Iuppiter. Quod suos labores ab hominibus compilari apicula aegre ferret, elegantissime constructos favos Iovi obtulit et ab illo petiit letiferam ut aculeo suo vim adderet. Iuppiter, immanitate bestiolae offensus, “Immo potius vitalem vim tribuam,” inquit, “ut una cum illo tibi vita relinquenda sit.”(source - easy version)

Round-Up: August 22

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If this is the first day of school for you (as it is for me), BONAM FORTUNAM!

HODIE: ante diem undecimum Kalendas Septembres.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rung on the Scala is Scala 60 (2951-3000). Here's a new item: Diversi diversa putant, "Different people think differently." Since this brought us to #3000, I've put an alphabetical list of the proverbs 1-3000 along with a vocabulary list as well.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Asinus in Leonis Pelle, the famous Aesop's fable of the donkey in the lion's skin.

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's NEW word is HABEO - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Omnia tempus habent, omnia tempus habet, "All things have their time; time has all things."

VERBUM WIDGET: The word from the daily widget is CORAM - which also has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Luceat lux vestra coram hominibus, "Let your light shine before the people."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Mus, Feles, et Gallus, a funny medieval fable about how appearances can be deceiving.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Struthiocamelus Perfidus, a funny story about the ostrich fooling both the beasts and the birds.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Ostreae et Naufragi, a good story for any one of you who think it might be nice to be able to eat all the oysters you want, and Rana et Hydrus, a story about a watersnake and a self-righteous frog.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Lupi et Pastores, a story about the fate of the sheep when the wolves and shepherds made a truce.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Ahn's Latin Vocabulary for Beginners and The Promptorium Parvulorum of Galfridus Anglicus.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Ditat virtus (English: Excellence bestows wealth).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Vestigia nulla retrorsum (English: No steps leading back out - an allusion to the famous fable of the lion in the cave)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Celerius quam asparagi coquuntur (English: More quickly than asparagus is cooked). 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: O tacitum tormentum animi conscientia! (English: O conscience, the silent torment of the soul!).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Cyprio bovi merenda (English: A meal fit for a Cyprian bull - which is not a very nice meal at all, since Cyprian bulls supposedly fed on manure; from Adagia 1.10.96).

For an image today, here is the story of the shepherds and the wolves: Lupi et Pastores. Cum Philippus rex Macedoniae cum Atheniensibus foedus initurus esset, ea conditione ut oratores suos ipsi traderent, Demosthenes populo narravit fabulam qua iis callidum regis consilium ante oculos poneret. Dixit enim lupos quondam cum pastoribus pactos esse se numquam in posterum greges esse impugnaturos, si canes ipsis dederentur; placuisse stultis pastoribus conditionem sed, cum lupi caulas excubiis nudatas vidissent, eos impetu facto omnem gregem dilaniasse. (source)

Round-Up: August 20

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm using Google+ a lot these days - are there any of you I should look for there?

HODIE: ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Septembres.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Artifex Peritus , a story about being careful what you ask for, because you just might get exactly that!

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's NEW word is CAUSA - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Helenae causa Troia arsit, "On account of Helen, Troy burned."

VERBUM WIDGET: The word from the daily widget is LOCUS - which also has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Non fit hirsutus lapis per loca multa volutus, a rhyming Latin version of "a rolling stone gathers no moss."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Aquila et Mus , the story of a very ungrateful eagle - just the opposite of the lion in the famous story of the lion and the mouse.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Pavo et Iuno, the story of the unhappy peacock's complaint to Juno.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Ostreum et Aquae Gutta, the story of the oyster and the pearl, and Cancri et Asinus, the story of the donkey and the crabs who live in the mud.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Leo et Vulpes Territa, a story about how the fox overcome her fear of the lion.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Brederode's Repertorium Sententiarum et Regularum and Elven's Book of Family Crests .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Mea mecum porto (English: I carry what is mine with me).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Suum cuique placet (English: Each person likes what is his).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Quod puer assuescit, senior dimittere nescit (English: What a young boy gets used to, the old man isn't able to stop).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Si ambulavero in valle mortis, non timebo malum quoniam tu mecum es (Psalms 23:4). 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 Conybeare: Sera parsimonia in fundo: It is to late to spare when the barrell ys at the bottome.

In honor of the saying - Helenae causa Troia arsit, "On account of Helen, Troy burned" - I thought I would include this image of Helen by Sir Edward John Poynter; if you look, you can see Troy burning in the background, through the window:

Round-Up: August 18

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. There are notices also at Twitter -look for Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem quintum decimum Kalendas Septembres.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Latrones et Viator , a story about two thieves where you need to know that a solidus is worth more than a denarius!

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's NEW word is NIHIL - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Hoc unum scio: me nihil scire, "I know this one thing: that I know nothing."

VERBUM WIDGET: The word from the daily widget is MODUS - which also has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Nescit amor habere modum, "Love does not know how to stay within limits."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Alauda, Pulli, et Agri Dominus, a wonderful little story about a mother lark and her chicks.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Leo et Canis, a fable about freedom.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Crocodilus et Tigris, a wonderful story about a danger walk along the Ganges, and Avis Solitaria, a story about the lessons learned by a wandering bird.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Hirundo et Iuvenis, a fable about how "one swallow does not make a summer."

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Palliser's Historic Devices, Badges, and War-Cries and Bellengard's Sententiarum Volumen Absolutissimum .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: A Nannaco (English: From the time of Nannacus - which means from a very very long time ago, as you can read here).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Spe labor levis (English: With hope, hard work becomes easy).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Macilenti pediculi acrius mordent (English: The lean lice bite more sharply).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Sybaritica mensa (English: A table fit for Sybarites; from Adagia 2.2.65 - which is to say a luxurious dinner, since the Sybarities were notorious for their lavish lifestyle).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Πολλὰ μεταξὺ πέλει κύλικος καὶ χείλεος ἄκρου (English: There are many things between the cup and the tip of the lip - or, as we say in English, "there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip").

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Ille Uriae literas perfert (English: He's carrying the letter of Uriah - referring to the famous story of David and Uriah from II Samuel).

For an image today, here is David giving the letter to Uriah, as depicted in Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry, circa 1410 (image source):

Round-Up: August 16

As promised, 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 Septembres.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Canis Fidus, a famous folktale sometimes known by its Welsh title, "Beth Gellert" (see below).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's NEW word is PUER - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Puero gladium ne committas, "Don't entrust a sword to a boy."

VERBUM WIDGET: The word from the daily widget is NOMEN - which also has a brief essay at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in that essay: Mutato nomine, de te fabula narratur "With a change of name, the story is being told about you."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Graculus et Columbae, the story of a jackdaw who wanted to dine with the doves.

FABULAE FACILES WIDGET: The fable from the daily widget is Leo et Tauri Duo, a story with the theme of "divide and conquer."

MILLE FABULAE ET UNA: The latest fables with images are Anser et Gressus Eius , the story of the goose who couldn't walk straight, and Gallina Ovis Incubans et Vulpes, the story of a fox who wasn't going to wait for supper.

MILLE FABULAE ET UNA WIDGET: The fable from the widget is Pastor, Vestis Eius, et Oves, the story of the sheep who ate their shepherd's clothes.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are both quite amazing monumental productions: Sutor's Der hundert-Augige blinde Argos and Robertson's Dictionary of Latin Phrases.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Caelestia sequor (English: I follow celestial things).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Amicus alter ipse (English: A friend is another self)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Amici nec multi nec nulli (English: Friends: not many, not none). 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: Homo vitae commodatus, non donatus est (English: You are on loan to life, not donated).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Annosa vulpes haud capitur laqueo (English: The old fox is not caught in the snare; from Adagia 1.10.17).

For an image today, here is the story of Beth Gellert, which happens to be one of my favorite folktales of all time: Canis Fidus. Rex olim in montibus venabatur. Dum autem abest, canem praesidio infanti filio relinquit. Mox domum redit. Infantem autem reperire non potest. Tum guttas sanguinis humi videt. Statim canem culpat. "Perfide custos," inquit, "voravisti filium meum." Sine mora canem gladio transfigit. Nec multo post infantis vocem audit. Filium suum, vivum et integrum, reperit. Haud procul lupi corpus videt, quem canis occiderat. Itaque canem magna cum cura sepelit. In sepulcro magnum lapidem ponit. Dominus postea per totam vitam fidum canem lugebat. (source)

August 15: A New Semester

As promised, I am back in action with some new widgets for the new semester! (Today is the first day of classes for me at the University of Oklahoma - regular classes start on August 22, but I always begin my online courses a week early to try to grab the students' attention before their classroom adventures begin.) I'll have a regular edition of the Bestiaria on Tuesday; for today, I wanted to announce the new widgets (below) and to explain just what blogs I'll be working on during the Fall semester (since I don't actually teach Latin - vae mihi! - it's hard to find a lot of time for Latin during the school year).

• Bestiaria Latina blog. This is the blog that provides a kind of overview of what's going on with my Latin projects. I'll publish the regular edition of the Bestiaria Round-Up here on Tuesday, and I'll be publishing the Round-Up every other day.
• Mille Fabulae at Una. Every day I keep adding a new fable with some kind of image or illustration to this blog. I am getting prettty close to having all 1001 fables in the blog! I'm pretty excited about that - there are just about 100 fables left to illustrate. So, if all goes well, I will have all 1001 fables illustrated by the end of this calendar year. Whoo-hoo!
• I Love Google Books. This is also a blog where I publish something every day... and since I keep finding lots of new books at Google Books every day, I will probably never catch up on sharing all the great Latin books that I keep finding, all for free.
• Fabulae Faciles blog. I'll be adding a new "easy fable" every other day, starting on Wednesday - plus I've got a new widget (see below) that will also keep me busy updating some of the appx. 200 easy fables from last year, adding vocabulary lists to them.
• Verbosum blog. I'll be adding a new word every other day, starting on Wednesday - plus I've got a new widget (see below) that will also keep me busy updating some of the appx. 200 words from last year, choosing proverbs that are easy to read (I hope!), and linking up the proverbs in this blog with the proverbs at the Scala Sapientiae (see below).
• Scala Sapientiae. This is the blog that takes me the longest to update, so I will be posting here irregularly during the school year, but whenever I get a chance (like on the weekends), I will keep adding new "rungs" to the big Latin Scala.

Meanwhile, here are the new widgets! You can read all the details about the new Fabulae Faciles widget here at Google+ ... and all the details about the new Verbum Hodiernum widget too. Meanwhile, here are the links you might want to check out for both of the new widgets:

• Easy Fable of the Day ... Random Easy Fable ... get the script for your own use ... or see the daily schedule
  
• Verbum Hodiernum ... Random Verbum ... get the script for your own use ... or see the daily schedule

And now, for your viewing pleasure, here is the Easy Fable of the Day for today (if you are reading this via the email, visit the blog post to see the widget in action):

Back to School Weekend Hiatus

All the blogs are on hiatus while I focus on getting ready for classes to start on Monday, but I promise to be back in action on Monday... with some new widgets for the new school year, too! :-)

Round-Up: August 11

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. There are notices also at Twitter -look for Aesopus and AesopusEnglish. I'm using Google+ a lot these days - are there any of you I should look for there?

HODIE: ante diem tertium Idus Augustas.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rung on the Scala is Scala 59 (2901-2950). Here's a new item: Avidissimus quisque est egestosissimus, "Whoever is greediest is neediest."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is QUIDEM - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Ne Iuppiter quidem omnibus placet, "Not even Jupiter can please everybody."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Polyphemus, the story of that notorious Cyclops.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Canis Villaticus, a story of a dog who realized that it is sometimes better to stand and fight than to run away.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Coclea et Iuppiter, a story about the snail and its shell.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Columba et Mustela, the story of the different mothering styles of the dove and the weasel, and Cuculus et Cantus Eius, a hilarious little story about the vain cuckoo bird and why he always sings "cuc-koo."

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Palingenius' Zodiacus Vitae and Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Impelle obstantia (English: Push obstacles aside - a good motto for the beginning of the school year!).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Labor ipse voluptas (English: Labor itself is a pleasure).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is portet vulpinari cum vulpibus (English: You've got to play the fox with the foxes).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Qui seminat ventum, turbinem metet (English: He who sows the wind will reap the whirlwind).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Bocchyris iudicium (English: The judgment of Bocchyris; from Adagia 2.7.65 - The story goes that a man had a sexual dream about a prostitute, and the prostitute demanded he pay her for dream services; King Bocchyris of Egypt ruled that the money be put into a basin and shaken around so that the prostitute could enjoy the look of the coin and thus be satisfied appropriately).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Δρυὸς πεσούσης, πᾶς ἀνὴρ ξυλεύεται (English: When the oak tree has fallen, every man can cut wood).

For an image today, here is the snail coming to see Jupiter; look closely to see the snail: 641. Coclea et Iuppiter. Cum Iuppiter ab exordio mundi singulis animalibus munera quae petiissent elargiretur, coclea ab eo petiit ut domum suam posset circumferre. Interrogata a Iove quare tale ab eo munus exposceret, quod illi grave et molestum futurum erat, “Malo,” inquit, “tam grave onus perpetuo ferre quam, cum mihi libuerit, malum vicinum non posse vitare.” (source)

Round-Up: August 9

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. I'm using Google+ a lot these days - any of you readers I should look for there? Let me know!

HODIE: ante diem quintum Idus Augustas.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rung on the Scala is Scala 58 (2851-2900) . Here's a new item: Ira parit litem, lis proelia, proelia mortem, "Anger gives rise to a quarrel, a quarrel to battles and battles to death."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is OMNIS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Omnia tempus habent, omnia tempus habet, "All things have their time; time has all things."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Fortuna, an account of the goddess Luck - and a bit about Nemesis, too.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Mus in Olla, the fate of the mouse who fell into the soup.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Mors et Senex, the story of an old man who ignored the warning signs of death.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Galerita et Pater Eius, the story of a very pious lark, and Sol et Stellae, a little story about the hierarchy of the heavens.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Lang's Anthologia Sententiarum and Ancient and Modern Familiar Quotations .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Spe expecto (English: In hope I wait).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Dux vivendi natura (English: Nature is the guide of how to live)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Sub pallio sordido sapientia (English: Beneath a filthy cloak, wisdom). 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: Quamvis acerbus, qui monet, nulli nocet (English: Although he might be harsh, the man who offers a warning harms no one).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Cygnea cantio (English: The swan's song; from Adagia 1.2.55 - and you can also read more about the tradition of the swan song at Wikipedia).

In honor of the swan song, here is a 17th-century illustration of the musical swan (source):

Round-Up: August 7

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. Over the next two weeks, I'm going to be really busy with the start of the semester, so I may not be posting here on the regular schedule - although last week went way more smoothly than expected, so maybe I will continue to have good luck for the next two weeks as well!

HODIE: ante diem septimum Idus Augustas.

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is MODUS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Nascimur uno modo, multis morimur, "We are born in one way; we die in many."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is about the Lares, the Roman household gods, also known as the Penates.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Cervus et Hinnulus Eius, in which the stag explains why he runs away when he hears the dogs barking.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Pater, Filii, et Agrorum Cultura, the story of how a father tricked his sons into working the land.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Pauperis Asinus et Dolium, a story about a man who owned nothing but a donkey and a jar of wine, and Corvus et Viatores, the story of a one-eyed crow.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Mawr's Proverbs in Ten Languages and Rotmar's Adagiorum Versuum Vergilii Centuriae .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Fortunae cetera mando (English: I leave the rest to luck).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Deliberando discitur sapientia (English: By pondering, wisdom is learned).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Si cantes asino, crepitus tibi reddet ab ano (English: If you sing to a donkey, he'll return you a fart from his butt).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Usque ad mortem certa pro iustitia (Sirach 4:28). 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: Satius est recurrere, quam currere male: Better it is to runne backe againe, than to runne forth amisse. Many be eyther so shamefast, or els so stricte in theyr own opinion, that they had lever runne forth still in errour and out of the way, than to apply them selves to better and more holsome counsailes.

Today's image is an illustration for the story of the father and his sons: 931. Pater, Filii, et Agrorum Cultura. Rusticus, mortem suam exspectans, cum relinquere filiis suis divitias non posset, animos eorum ad studium diligentis agrorum culturae et ad laboris assiduitatem excitare voluit. Arcessit igitur eos ad se atque ita alloquitur, “Mei filii, quomodo res meae se habeant, videtis. Quidquid autem per omnem vitam reservavi; hoc in vinea nostra quaerere poteritis.” Haec cum dixisset, paulo post moritur senex. Filii, patrem in vinea alicubi thesaurum abscondisse arbitrantes, arreptis ligonibus universum vineae solum effodiunt. Thesaurum quidem nullum inveniunt; terram vero fodiendo adeo fertilem reddiderunt, ut vites uberrimum fructum ferrent. (fable source - image source)

Round-Up: August 5

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. There are notices also at Twitter -look for Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: Nonae Augustae, the Nones of August.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rung on the Scala is Scala 57 (2801-2850). Here's a fun one: Curis iactatur, si quis Veneri sociatur, "If someone consorts with Venus, he is agitated by worries" (the Latin is nicer: it rhymes!).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is OCULUS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Procul ab oculis, procul a corde - which is very much like the English saying, "Out of sight, out of mind."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Terror Panicus, or, what we call in English, "panic."

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Leo et Tauri Duo, a fable about a lion who knows how to "divide and conquer."

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Serpens et Filius Rustici, a story about how hard it is to forgive and forget.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Accipitres et Columbae, a story about what happened when the doves played peacemaker, and Aquila, Sol et Bubo, a story about the eagle's plan to marry its daughter to the sun.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Delrio's Adagialia Sacra and Schottus's Adagialia Sacra Novi Testamenti .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Scientia nobilitat (English: Knowledge ennobles).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Sine fraude fides (English: Faith without falsehood).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Irritare canem noli dormire volentem (English: Do not irritate a dog who wants to sleep).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Dominus dedit, Dominus abstulit (English: The Lord has given; the Lord has taken away).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Fato Metelli Romae fiunt consules (English: By sheer luck the Metelli have become Roman consuls; from Adagia 4.10.62 - These words, attributed to the poet Naevius, did not please the Metelli whatsoever; the proverb refers to those who attain their high social status through dumb luck, rather than talent - the Metelli supposedly responded: Malum dabunt Metelli Naevio poetae).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἀνάγκῃ οὐδὲ θεοὶ μάχονται (English: Not even the gods fight against necessity).

In honor of the saying - Curis iactatur, si quis Veneri sociatur - I thought I would include this lovely 4th-century mosaic of Venus:

Round-Up: August 3

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives for August. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email. There are notices also at Twitter - look for Aesopus and AesopusEnglish. Are you at Google+ perhaps? You can find me there.

HODIE: ante diem tertium Nonas Augustas.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rung on the Scala is Scala 56 (2751-2800). Here's a fun one: Ridendo dicere verum quid vetat? "What forbids us from speaking the truth with laughter?" (indeed, I think it is often much better that way!).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is NOMEN - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Saepe sub nomine pacis bellum latet, "War is often lurking under the name of 'peace.'"

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is about Pan, the wild god.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Leo et Canis, a great story about personal freedom.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Saga Damnata, the story of a fortune-teller who did not do a good job of telling her own fortune.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Aquila et Mus, the story of a kind mouse and a very ungrateful eagle, and Cuculus, Luscinia, et Asinus, the story of what happens when you let a donkey be the judge at a talent contest.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Adagia Quaedam ac Carmina and Burke's Peerage.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS:

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Pernicibus alis (English: On swift wings).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Amici fures temporis (English: Friends are thieves of time … ha ha, I have got to stop spending so much time at Google+ I guess!)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Manus digiti coaequales non sunt, omnes tamen usui (English: The fingers of the hand are not equal, but all are useful). 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: Crudelis lacrimis pascitur, non frangitur (English: The cruel man feeds on tears; he is not swayed by them).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Plaustrum bovem trahit (English: The cart is pulling the ox - which is preposterous, of course! Adagia 1.7.28).

For an image today, here is the story of that unfortunate fortune-teller: 889. Saga Damnata. Quaedam mulier, non modicum ex suis divinationibus et mendaciis quaestum captans apud imperitam plebem, promittebat deorum iras in se infensorum suis artibus placaturam. Contigit ut ipsa impietatis apud iudices postularetur eorumque iudicio damnata, ad patibulum duceretur. Cui plebs, “O insanam mendacemque creaturam! Tu, quae nuper caelestium iram a plebe avertere profitebaris, humanam in te mutare nec lenire potuisti?” (source: This artist imagines she is a real witch; you can see her making a pact with the devil off to the left.)

Round-Up: August 1

Sorry for the hiatus, everybody - I had to start back at my "real job" today, and took some time this weekend both to enjoy my new French friend Carolus Lebeau and also to get things squared away and ready for the craziness of fall semester to begin!

HODIE: Kalendae Augustae, the Kalends of August!

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The Scala has been on hiatus, but I will be getting back to that now. Meanwhile, I think I've figured out a good way to integrate the Verbosum blog and the Scala - the word of the day is locus and I've created a special locus entry at the Scala blog, too. Let me know what you think!

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is LOCUS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Non fit hirsutus lapis per loca multa volutus, which is a rhyming Latin proverb similar to the English saying, "A rolling stone gathers no moss."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Pluto, the king of the world of the dead.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Equus, Asinus, et Hordeum, the story of a boastful, but stingy, horse and a hungry donkey.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Puer et Paedagogus, the hilarious story of a teacher who knows how to chastise but not how to help.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Crocodilus et Homicida, a story about an avenging crocodile, and Milvus et Falco, a story about why the kite is not as bold as the falcon.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Kennedy's Latin Vocabulary and Jenks' Manual of Latin Word Formation .

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: Widgets available at Schoolhouse Widgets.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Meliora spero sequorque (English: I hope for and pursue better things).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Ne vile velis (English: Don't want what is worthless).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Cui mens est stulta, pro paucis vult dare multa (English: Someone who has the mind of a fool is willing to give much in exchange for little).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Mane semina sementem tuam et vespere ne cesset manus tua (Ecc. 11:6). 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 Conybeare: Nil recrastines: Delay not thie matters, but spede the while the time serveth, when the sunne shineth make haye.

For an image today, here is that terrible teacher, scolding his student until he drowns! 962. Puer et Paedagogus. 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. (source - easy version)