Round-Up: June 29

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: ante diem tertium Kalendas Iulias.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rungs on the Scala are Scala 15 (701-750), Scala 16 (751-800), Scala 17 (801-850), and Scala 18 (851-900). Here's a fun one for summertime: Quam felix vita transit sine negotiis!, "How happily life passes without business obligations!"

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is SUB - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay - notice the rhyme: Pelle sub agnina latitat mens saepe lupina, "Under the lamb's skin often lurks the mind of a wolf."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Iupiter et Prometheus, the story of mankind's creation.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Equus Superbus et Asinus, the story of a proud horse and his reversal of fortune.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Vulpes et Catus, the story of the cat, the fox and the fox's bigbag of tricks.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Perdix et Villica, the story of a partridge who ended up in a partridge stew, and Columba et Pica, the story of a proverbially "simple" dove.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Tyrrell's Anthology of Latin Poetry and Greenough's Extracts from Eutropius .

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Castitas in deliciis, humilitas in divitiis, / Veritas in multiloquio reperiuntur raro. (from Wegeler) and Quod potes id tempta; nam litus carpere remis / Tutius est multo quam velum tendere in altum. (from Cato's distichs).

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

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is In diem vivere (English: To live for the day).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Petite et accipietis (English: Ask and you will receive).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Partem da cuique: sic non partiris inique (English: Give each his portion: in that way you will not apportion unfairly).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Quid proderit homini, si lucretur mundum totum et detrimentum faciat animae suae? (Mark 8:36). 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: Suo ipsius indicio periit sorex: The Ratte betrayed herself with her owne noyse and so was taken. It is a proverbiall speakinge of anybodye that ys betrayed by his owne wordes.

Today's image is for the story of the proud horse and the donkey, 260. Equus Superbus et Asinus. Equus phaleris sellaque ornatus cum ingenti hinnitu per viam currebat. Currenti onustus asellus forte obstabat, cui equus, fremebundus, “Quid,” inquit, “ignave, obsistis equo? Cede, inquam, aut te proculcabo pedibus!” Asellus, rudere non ausus, cedit tacitus. Equo provolanti crepat inguen. Tum, cursui inutilis, ornamentis spoliatur. Postea cum carro venientem asinus affatur, “Heus, mi amice! Quis ille ornatus est? Ubi aurea sella? Ubi splendidum frenum? Sic, amice, necesse fuit evenire superbienti.” (source - easy version):

Round-Up: June 27

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 Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem quintum Kalendas Iulias.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rungs on the Scala are Scala 11 (501-550), Scala 12 (551-600), Scala 13 (601-650), and Scala 14 (651-700). Here's a fun one: Ad discendum nulla aetas sera, "No time of life is too late for learning!"

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is SCIO - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Multi scire volunt, sed vere discere nolunt, "Many want to know, but in fact they don't want to learn."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Ceres et Proserpina, the story of the goddess Ceres and her daughter Proserpina - Persephone in Greek.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Crocodilus et Canis, the story of the dog trying to drink from the Nile.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Calvus et Crines Alieni, the story of the bald man and his wig.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Cuculus et Aquila, the story of the cuckoo who can only say "coo-coo" (hence his name!), and Alaudae et Bubo, the story of the larks who made the owl their king.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Carnes pullorum comedunt dentes dominorum: / Ossaque dant servis sine carnibus et sine nervis. (from Wegeler) and Ereptis opibus noli maerere dolendo, / Sed potius gaude, si te contingat habere. (from Cato's distichs).

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Lindsay's edition of Cornelius Nepos and Kuhner's Elementary Grammar of the Latin Language .

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

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is In dubiis constans (English: In moments of doubt, steadfast).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Mus debacchatur ubi cattus non dominatur (English: The mouse parties when the cat is not in charge).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Beatum est potius dare quam recipere (English: It is more blessed to give than to take).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Tithoni senecta (English: The old age of Tithonus; from Adagia 1.6.65 - Tithonus was the moral lover of the goddess Eos who asked that he be granted immortality, but she forgot to ask that he be granted eternal youth as well!).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ἁ δὴ χεὶρ την χεῖρα νίζει (English: One hand washes another).

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Amaltheae cornu (English: The horn of Amalthea). Amalthea, sometimes shown as a goddess, sometimes as a divine she-goat, was the one who nursed Zeus when he was a baby concealed in a cave on the island of Crete.

For an image today, here is the divine goat Amalthea shown on the obverse of a coin:

Round-Up: June 25

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 Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem septimum Kalendas Iulias.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rungs on the Scala are Scala 8 (351-400) , Scala 9 (401-450) , and Scala 10 (451-500) . Here's a fun one: Qui numquam male, numquam bene, "Someone who never does wrong, never does right" (so, for example, if you are trying to speak Latin and find yourself making some mistakes, don't worry: qui numquam male (loquitur), numquam bene (loquitur)).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is DIGNUS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Dignus erit magno, qui parva capit iubilando, "He will be worthy of something great who accepts little things joyfully."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Ianus, the god of the doorway.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Haedus in Tecto et Lupus, the story of a bold little goat.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Formica Transformata, the story of the greedy farmer who became an ant.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Ciconia et Uxor Eius, the story of a bad-tempered stork, and Upupa et Luscinia, the story of the hoopoe and her foul nest.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Peck & Arrowsmith's Roman Life in Latin Prose and Verse and Bell's Latin Course II.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Est instar vini generosi docta senectus; / quo magis annosa est, acrior esse solet (from Campion) and Rerum plus mundus microcosmo continet in se. / Errorum cosmo plus microcosmus habet (from Owen).

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

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Virtute promoveo (English: Through virtue I advance).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Numinis ira inevitabilis (English: The wrath of god is inescapable)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Nemo nisi sapiens liber est. (English: No one, unless he is wise, is free). 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: Inopiae desunt multa, avaritiae omnia (English: Poverty feels the lack of many things, but greed the lack of everything).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Mus non ingrediens antrum, cucurbitam ferebat (English: The mouse couldn't get into its hole because it was carrying a pumpkin; from Adagia 3.3.79).

For an image today, here is the story of the ant: 650. Formica Transformata. Quae nunc formica est, dicitur homo fuisse agricola, assuetus furari et clam surripere vicinorum messes et sata. Unde indignati, Dii eum in hanc bestiolae naturam transformarint, quae, inveteratae consuetudinis haud oblita, formam hominis, non mores suos, exuerit. Ut antea, huc et illuc per campos excurrit, furtim grana suffuratura vicinorum. Adeo Naturam et mores suos dediscere difficile est. (source)

Round-Up: June 23

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 Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem nonum Kalendas Iulias.

SCALA SAPIENTIAE: The latest rungs on the Scala are Scala 4 (151-200), Scala 5 (201-250), Scala 6 (251-300), and Scala 7 (301-350). Here's a fun one: Omnes viae ad Romam ferunt, "All roads carry you to Rome."

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is NOX - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Diem nox premit, dies noctem, "The night presses upon the day, and the day the night."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Saturni Aetas Aurea, an account of the god Saturnus in Rome.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Graculus et Pavones, a story about a bird in borrowed feathers.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Vitis et Hircus, the story of a greedy goat and an indignant vine.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Monedula et Corvi, a story about a jackdaw who thought himself good enough to join the crows, and Aquila et Regulus, a story about the eagle and the tiny regulus bird.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Hart & Osborn's interlinear edition of Vergil and Farnell's Selections Illustrative of Greek and Roman History.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Cum cerebro inducat fumo hausta tabacca stuporem, / nonne putem stupidos quos vapor iste capit? (from Campion) and Ortu nobilior quam vir suus Eva, quod illa / Nata viro, terrae filius ille fuit. (from Owen).

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

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is In meliora spera (English: Hope for better things!).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Doceat qui didicit (English: Let him who has learned, teach).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Mors servat legem: tollit cum paupere regem (English: Death adheres to this law: it takes away the pauper as well as the king).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Oblivioni tradita est memoria mortuorum (Ecc. 9:5). 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: Neque mel, neque apes: I have neither honie, nor bees. As who should say: I have no hony, bycause I have no bees, nor will not take the paines, to kepe and abide the bitinge and stinginge of them.

For an image today, here is that greedy goat: 735. Vitis et Hircus. Cum vitis pampinos ederet, eos arrodebat hircus. Quod dum faceret, ita eum increpat vitis, “Cur tu mea folia carpis? Nonne satis superque herbarum?” Cum autem vitem depascere pergeret hircus, “Quantum potes,” inquit vitis, “mihi noceto; ego tamen vini tantum tulero, quantum, te mactato, ad libandum diis satis fuerit.” (source)

Round-Up: June 21 PLUS An Announcement :-)

Here is a round-up of today's blog posts - plus an announcement about this summer's project. I've now got a basic, very preliminary first draft done of the Scala Sapientiae: Latin Vocabulary Through Proverbs. Using a database program and some fancy algorithms, I've found a way to organize 5000 Latin proverbs in a kind of ladder, so that you can move through the proverbs "step by step" (hence the ladder) with no more than one new vocabulary word needed as you move through the proverbs one by one. To see how this works, take a look at Scala Proverbs 1-50, 51-100 and 101-150 which I've published today in blog format. I hope to add about one hundred proverbs each day for the rest of the summer as I make my own way through the ladder. You can find out more about the project here: Climbing the Scala Sapientiae. I'm curious what people think about this - it's a project I have gotten really fascinated with, and I hope it will end up being useful to others, too!

HODIE: ante diem undecimum Kalendas Iulias.

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Cerberus, perhaps the most difficult of Heracles' labors.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Ursus et Apes, the story of a very angry bear.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Anser et Ova Aurea, the famous story of the goose who laid the golden eggs.

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Luscinia et Cicindela, the story of a boastful glowworm, and Perdix, Gallus, et Venator, the story of a doomed rooster.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Potts & Darnell's Aditus Faciliores and Jacobs' The Self-instructing Latin Classic .

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Utilis est nulli semet qui negligit; omni / vix usquam spreta est utilitate bonus (from Campion) and Quaerit avarus opes, Linus ambitiosus honores. / Nanus avaritia est, ambitione gigas (from Owen).

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

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Futurum invisibile (English: The future is invisible).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Celeritas et veritas (English: Swiftness and truth - although I guess it might be better to say "truthfulness" to capture the sound pattern of the Latin).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Sicut canis ad Nilum, bibens et fugiens (English: Like a dog at the Nile, drinking and fleeing - he is fleeing to escape the crocodiles, as the Aesop's fable explains).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Qui ignorat ignorabitur (English: He who is ignorant will be ignorant in the future).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Attici Eleusinia inter sese (English: The Athenians keep the Eleusinian mysteries to themselves; from Adagia 2.5.66; you can read what we know today about the Eleusinian Mysteries in this Wikipedia article).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Δυεῖν ἐπιθυμήσας, οὐδετέρου ἔτυχες (English: Trying to get two, you end up with neither one).

For an image today, here's that angry bear: 133. Ursus et Apes. Ursus, ab ape ictus, tanta ira incensus est ut alvaria unguibus discerperet. Tunc autem apes universae ursum aggressae sunt aculeis et paene necaverunt. Cum vix effugisset, secum “Sane,” inquit, “melius erat unius apis tolerare aculeum quam tot in me hostes excitare iracundia mea.” (source - easy fable)

Round-Up: June 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. I'm Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem tertium decimum Kalendas Iulias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is IUVENIS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Quae peccamus iuvenes, ea luimus senes, "As old people, we pay the price for mistakes made when young."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Geryon et Boves Eius, another one of the labors of Hercules.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Ciconia a Rustico Capta, a story about the perils of associating with scoundrels even if you are not a scoundrel yourself!

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Musca et Calvus , a story about a foolish and annoying fly. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book.)

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fable with image is Cygnus et Herus Eius, the story of a man who wanted his swan to sing.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Hamilton's edition of Caesar's Commentaries (interlinear) and Gildersleeve's edition of Caesar's Gallic War.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Sicut et acre piper, mordax epigramma palato / non omni gratum est: utile nemo negat. (from Campion) and Caeca dea est rerum rectrix, Fortuna vocatur. / Non minus at caeci, quos dea caeca regit. (from Owen).

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

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Serviendo guberno (English: By serving, I govern).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Humani nihil alienum (English: Nothing of mankind is alien to me)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Omne solum forti patria est ut piscibus aequor (English: Every land is a homeland for the courageous man, as water is a homeland for the fish). 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 pessimum periclum, quod opertum latet! (English: O worst possible danger, which lurks in hiding!).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Tunc canent cygni, cum tacebunt graculi (English: When the jackdaws fall silent, the swans will sing - although if the jackdaws refuse to be quiet, we will never get to hear those swans singing; from Adagia 3.3.97).

For an image today, here is a postage stamp showing Hercules and Geryon:

Round-Up: June 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. I'm Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem quintum decimum Kalendas Iulias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is QUISQUE - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Faber quisque fortunae suae, "Each person is the maker of his own fortune."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Bos Cretae, Hercules and the Cretan Bull.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Avarus et Aureorum Sacculus, a story about a miser on his deathbed talking to his sack of money!

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Simius Glorians et Vulpecula, a debate between the monkey and the oh-so-sly fox. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book.)

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Feles, Mus, et Caseus, the story of a man and his mouse problem, and Acanthis et Pica, the story of a songbird and the loud-mouthed magpie.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Bell's Latin Course and Taylor's Stories from Ovid in Hexameter Verse.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are In multis bene cum feci tibi, non bene nosti; / si malefecissem, notior, Haede, forem. (from Campion) and Ioannes quondam caruit sermone Latino, / Vestitu, victu, nunc et honore caret. (from Owen).

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

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is In tempestate floresco (English: I flourish in the storm).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Veritas vos liberabit (English: The truth will set you free).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Non lapis hirsutus fit per loca multa volutus (English: A stone does not get hairy when it is rolled through many places - which is to say "a rolling stone gathers no moss").

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Harenam maris et pluviae guttas et dies saeculi quis dinumeravit? (Sirach 1:2). 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: Canes timidi vehementius latrant: Fearefull dogges do barke the sorer. Greate braggers commonly be least fighters, and most cowardes, even as the most barking dogges, be for the most part lest biters.

For an image today, here is the seal of Presbyterian College of South Carolina, showing their motto circa 1915: Veritas vos liberabit.

Round-Up: June 15

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 Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: ante diem septimum decimum Kalendas Iulias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is IPSE - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Nemo se ipsum effugit, "No one can escape himself."

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Stabula Augeae, the famous story of how Hercules managed to clean the stablesof King Augeas of Elis.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Piscator Aquam Verberans, a fable about an environmental paradox: what is good for one person, is not necessarily good for the community.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Mercurius et Viator, the story of a perfidious traveler and the god Mercury. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book.)

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Salix et Agricola, the story of a willow who foolishly yearned for higher things, and Pisces et Quadrupedes, the story of the ill-fated alliance between the animals and the fish.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Rolfe's edition of Heauton Timorumenos and Welch & Duffield's Eutropius Adapted for the Use of Beginners.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Tu duc Stultitiam, mihi sit Sapientia coniunx. / Tu regito uxorem, me mea nupta regat (from Owen) and Verba homines facimus, fecit Deus omnia verbo. / Ipse Deus verbum est, nos quoque verba sumus (also from Owen).

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

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Tene fortiter (English: Hold on tightly).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Virtute, non vi (English: By virtue, not violence).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Currus bovem trahit (English: The cart is dragging the ox).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Multa cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra (English: Many things fall between the cup and the tip of the lip).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Πολλῶν ὁ λίμος γίνεται διδάσκαλος (English: Hunger becomes a teacher of many things).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Endymionis somnum dormis (English: You're sleeping the sleep of Endymion; from Adagia 1.9.63).

For an image today, here is a painting of Endymion asleep, with Selene (the moon) looking on - you can read more about this myth at Wikipedia.

Round-Up: June 13

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 Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: Idus Iuniae, the Ides of June (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is MOS - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more, which expresses in Latin the same saying we have in English: "When in Rome, do as the Romans do" (that vivito in the Latin phrase is a future imperative).

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Cervus Arcadiae, another of the labors of Hercules.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Luna et Mater, the story of the moon who wanted her mother to make her a dress.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Vulpes Sine Cauda, a story about fashion among foxes. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book.)

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Turbo et Puer, the story of a boy and his top, and Cicada et Vulpes, a story of a fox out-foxed.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Caldecott's edition of Eutropius and Jerram's Reddenda Minora.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Despice divitias, si vis animo esse beatus, / Quas qui suscipiunt, mendicant semper avari. (from Cato's distichs) and Etsi per multos coccyx cantaverit annos / Edere nescit adhuc aliud quam dicere "Kuckuck." (from Wegeler).

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

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Cavendo tutus (English: Safe by being cautious).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Quaevis terra patria (English: Any land at all is my country)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Libri muti magistri sunt (English: Books are mute teachers). 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: Fulmen est, ubi cum potestate habitat iracundia (English: When anger dwells with power the result is a thunderbolt).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Elephantum ex musca facis (English: You're making an elephant out of a fly; from Adagia 1.9.69).

Here's an illustration by Arthur Rackham for the story of the moon and her mother: 745. Luna et Mater. Luna matrem quondam fertur orasse suam ut sibi vestem texeret convenientem corpori suo. Cui illa responderit peti a se rem quam praestare nequeat, quod nulla vestis eius corpori convenire posse videatur, quae modo plena esset et globosa, modo velut in orbem dimidiari, modo quasi in circulum extenuari, postremo etiam excavari et evanescere soleat. (source - easy version)

Hiatus Aestivus II

I'm going to be out of town again for the next week or so - but I've queued up some blog post at a few of the Bestiaria blogs so they will be appearing even though I am offline:

• Mille Fabulae et Una: Illustrated Fables
• Latin Via Fables: Easy Fables
• Disticha Latina: Latin Distich Poetry
• Free Latin Google Books

In addition, I've put in the scripts for some daily stories and proverbs below; they won't come through in the email, but just check the blog post to see what's new for the day... it will be automatically updated while I am gone, thanks to the magic of javascript!

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Round-Up: June 3

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

HODIE: ante diem tertium Nonas Iunias (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is SIVE / SEU - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Neque Iuppiter ipse - sive pluat seu non - unicuique placet, "Not even Jupiter himself - whether he rains or doesn't - can please everybody" (a nice reminder of the fact that Jupiter stood for the "weather" in Latin, in addition to being the father of gods and men!).

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Themistocles de Viro Bono, a wonderful little witticism about wealth and character.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Minerva et Olea, a fable about which Minerva prefers the olive tree above all other trees.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Venator et Eques, a fable about a hunter who lost his prize to a bold horseman. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book.)

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Lyra et Homo, a story about a bad musician who blames his lyre for his poor playing, and Libellus et Iudex, a fable about book-burning.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Greenough's edition of Terence's Phormio and Stephenson's Selected Epigrams of Martial .

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Linque metum leti; nam stultum est tempore in omni,/ Dum mortem metuis, amittere gaudia vitae. (from Cato's distichs) and Cum moritur dives, concurrunt undique cives, / Cum moritur pauper, sequitur vix unus et alter. (from Wegeler).

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

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Cui bono? (English: For whose benefit? - the key question to ask in solving any crime... or analyzing any political decision!).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Deus pastor meus (English: God is my shepherd).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Mus rapitur subito, qui solo vivit in antro (English: A mouse is quickly caught if he lives in a single mousehole).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Plus valet bonum nomen, quam divitiae multae (English: A good name is worth more than many riches - a proverb that resonates nicely with today's anecdote about Themistocles, supra).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Multitudo imperatorum Cariam perdidit (English: An abundance of generals lost Caria; from Adagia 2.7.7 - something like "too many cooks spoil the soup," but with the great city of Caria in place of the soup).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Ὄφις εἰ μὴ φάγοι ὄφιν, δράκων οὐ γενήσεται (English: Unless the snake eats a snake, it won't become a dragon).

For an image today, here is an illustration for the story of the gods and their trees, including Minerva and her olive tree: 792. Minerva et Olea. Divi olim legebant sibi quisque arborem. Quercum sibi legit Iuppiter; myrtus Veneri placuit; laurus Phoebo; Herculi populus. Minerva, rem admirata, “Cur,” inquit, “steriles arbores in tutelam sumitis?” Causam Iuppiter dixit, “Scilicet indignum deo est tutelam suam fructu vendere.” “Mihi quidem,” respondit Minerva, “olea gratior est propter fructum.” Tum Pater deorum atque hominum “O nata,” inquit, “merito sapiens esse diceris. Stulta enim est gloria, nisi id, quo gloriamur, utile est.” (source - easy version)

Round-Up: June 1

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 Twittering again now at Aesopus and AesopusEnglish.

HODIE: Kalendae Iuniae:, the Kalends of June (and yes, you can have your own Roman Google Calendar).

VERBUM HODIERNUM: Today's word is PONO - read a brief essay about the word at the Verbosum blog. Here's one of the sayings you can find in the essay: Pone gulae metas; erit tibi longa aetas, "Put limits on your greedy eating; you will have a long life" (notice that the Latin rhymes, too!).

ANECDOTE OF THE DAY: Today's anecdote is Puer Otiosus, the story of the lazy boy who finally learned to work.

FABULAE FACILES: The new easy-to-read fable is Simia et Piscatores, the story of a monkey who decided to go fishing.

MILLE FABULAE: FABLE OF THE DAY: The fable for today is Hirundo et Corvus, a beauty contest between the two birds. (You can also a free PDF copy of the Mille Fabulae et Una book.)

MILLE FABULAE: ILLUSTRATIONS: The latest fables with images are Ensis et Vomer, a debate about the relative values of the sword and plough, and Iuncus et Canis, a funny little story about the dog and his personal hygiene.

GOOGLE BOOKS: Today's Google Books are Marchant & Spencer's Latin Course, Part III and Stephenson's Livy Book 27.

DISTICHA: Today's little poems are Si vitam inspicias hominum, si denique mores: / Cum culpant alios, nemo sine crimine vivit. (from Cato's distichs) and Conserva potius, quae sunt iam parta, labore; / Cum labor in damno est, crescit mortalis egestas. (also from Cato).

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

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Spes infracta (English: My hope is unbroken).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Sua cuique vitia (English: Each person has their own vices)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Palma non sine pulvere (English: No palm without dust). 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: Lapsus ubi semel sis, sit tua culpa, si iterum cecideris (English: After you've slipped once, it's your fault if you fall again).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Volentem bovem ducito (English: Lead the ox when it is willing; from Adagia 4.1.27).

For an image today, here is that monkey who went fishing: 123. Simia et Piscatores. Simia, procera quadam in arbore sedens, cum piscatores ad flumen quoddam retia ferentes vidisset, sedulo quae ab iis gerebantur observabat. Ipsi itaque cum retia iecissent ac paulum ut cibum sumerent recessissent, simia, confestim ex arbore descendens, eos imitari conabatur (aiunt enim hoc animal imitandi studio quam maxime teneri). Retibus vero vix tactis, comprehensa simia iamiam demergebatur. Quamobrem ad se conversa, “Digna quidem patior,” inquit, “quid enim piscandi ignara, piscari volui?” (source - easy version)