Round-Up: October 31

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you have not downloaded a free PDF copy of Brevissima: 1001 Tiny Latin Poems, it's ready and waiting, and you can also get a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. If you prefer the heft of a book in your hand, you can get the books in printed form from Lulu.com.

HODIE: pridie Kalendas Novembres. The day before the Kalends of November.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Odysseus and the Sirens; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Diligamus invicem (English: Let us love one another).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Post nubila Phoebus (English: After the clouds, the sun - a good saying for stormy times!).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Ducito bovem volentem (English: Lead the ox that is willing).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Ubi amici ibi opes (English: Where there are friends, there is wealth).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Ne Iupiter quidem omnibus placet (English: Not even Jupiter can please everybody; from Adagia 2.7.55).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Βοῦν ἐπὶ γλώττης φέρει (English: He's carrying an ox on his tongue - which is to say, he's been bribed; the ox here stands by metonymy for the ancient Greek coins that were stamped with the image of an ox).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Somnus: Dum nihil ipse vides, facio te multa videre; / Lumina ni claudat, me quoque nemo videt. (It's a riddle!)


And here is today's proverbial lolcat:

TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Leo et Tauri Duo, a story illustrating the principle of "divide and conquer" (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Widow and the Sheep, a fable about an unfortunate sheep.

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Struthiocamelus et Gallina, the story of a very foolish ostrich.

October 30: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more domus proverbs.

Round-Up: October 29

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem quartum Kalendas Novembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Orpheus and the Animals; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Alte volo (English: I fly high).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Culmen honoris lubricum (English: The pinnacle of honor is slippery)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Dum spiramus, speramus (English: While we breathe, we hope). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Feras difficilia, ut facilia perferas (English: You should put up with is hard in order to carry out what is easy).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Scarabeus citius faciet mel (English: Faster than a beetle can make honey - the insect equivalent of "when hell freezes over;" from Adagia 4.8.17).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Dei Donum Fides: Desine cur videat nemo sine numine numen / Mirari; solem quis sine sole videt?

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Lupus et Canis Saginatus, a fable in praise of freedom.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Ungrateful Wolf, a story about the danger of doing a favor for a wolf.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Pirata et Alexander Rex, the wonderful story of Alexander and the bold pirate (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Round-Up: October 27

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm almost making good progress on my latest project - you can see the growing collection of Latin-vocabulary-via-proverbs at the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

HODIE: ante diem sextum Kalendas Novembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Atalanta and the Boar; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is In horam vivo (English: I live for the moment).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Parietes habent aures (English: The walls have ears).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Parva iuventutis plerumque est cura salutis (English: In general, youth has little concern for safety).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Melior est sapientia quam vires (Wisdom 6:1). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Nemo mortalium omnibus horis sapit: No man in the world is wise at al houres. It is only belonging to God and properly due unto him never to commit follie. There is, I say, no man, but otherwiles doteth, but is deceived, but plaieth the foole, though he seme never so wise. Whan I say man, I except not the woman.

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Deus Omnia Videt: Quem nemo vidit, deus hic videt omnia solus; / Hunc res in mundo nulla latere potest.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Platanus et Viatores, the story of a lovely shade tree and some ungrateful wayfarers.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Two Frogs, one frog being wise, the other being reckless.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Asinus Leonis Pelle Indutus, the famous story of the donkey who pretended to be a lion (this fable has a vocabulary list).

LOLCats Victorious

I was pleased to learn this morning that the Latin LOLCats won the "Desire2Learn Widget" contest. Whoo-hoo! Now, if only I could get my school to let me actually teach a Latin course, ha ha. If you are interested in using Latin LOLCats in Desire2Learn, or anywhere that javascript widgets are allowed, you can get the javascript here.

D2L Course Home Page Widget Contest Winner

Round-Up: October 25

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you have not downloaded a free PDF copy of Brevissima: 1001 Tiny Latin Poems, it's ready and waiting, and you can also get a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. If you prefer the heft of a book in your hand, you can get the books in printed form from Lulu.com.

HODIE: ante diem octavum Kalendas Novembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Atlas; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Grata brevitas (English: Brevity is welcome).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Omni liber metu (English: Free from all fear).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Mus satur insipidam diiudicat esse farinam (English: When its stomach is full, the mouse judges the flour to be tasteless).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Ubi mel, ibi fel (English: Where there's honey, there's bile).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Ne Iupiter quidem omnibus placet (English: Not even Jupiter can please everybody; from Adagia 2.7.55).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἅμαξα τὸν βουν ἕλκει (English: The cart is pulling the horse... which is to say: things are the opposite of as they should be!).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Fatum Venturum: Multum venturi ne cures tempora fati: / Non metuit mortem, qui scit contemnere vitam.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Taurus et Culex, the story of a self-important gnat.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Thief and the Pauper, in which the pauper is able to laugh at the frustrated thief.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Struthiocamelus Perfidus, about an ostrich who pretends to be both beast and bird (this fable has a vocabulary list).

October 24: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more dives proverbs.

The advice comes from a distich poem by the Renaissance child prodigy poet Michele Verinus:
Non est, crede mihi, multos qui possidet agros
Dives, sed dives cui satis unus ager.

Round-Up: October 23

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem decimum Kalendas Novembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Arion; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Nil desperandum (English: We must never despair).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Musica donum dei (English: Music is a gift of God)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Multae manus onus levant (English: Many hands lighten the load). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Iracundiam qui vincit, hostem superat maximum (English: If you tame your anger, you defeat your greatest enemy).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Suo ipsius indicio periit sorex (English: The shrew-mouse perished by its own testimony; from Adagia 1.3.65 - you can read an Aesop's fable inspired by this proverb).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Mors et Amor: Vincere vis mortem, fallentem vincere amorem? / Mors et amanda tibi est, et metuendus amor.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Simia, Camelus, et Elephantus, a story about a royal election among the animals.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Stag and the Fawn, a story about the fearful stag.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Apicula et Iuppiter, the story of how the bee got its sting (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Round-Up: October 21

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm almost making good progress on my latest project - you can see the growing collection of Latin-vocabulary-via-proverbs at the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

HODIE: ante diem duodecimum Kalendas Novembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Return of Persephone; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Leges iuraque serva (English: Preserve the laws and the rights).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Poetis mentiri licet (English: Poets are allowed to lie).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Transit, ut unda fluens, tempus et hora ruens (English: Like a wave that flows, time passes by, and so too the rushing hour).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Aedificate alterutrum (I Thess. 5:11). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Salem et mensam ne praetereas: Passe not over salt and the table, as who should say, neglect not the companie of friendes, or breake not the law of amitie. For with these things in olde time were friendes reconciled, and kept mutuall feastes and bankettes one with another.

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Vincula Mortis: O mors, quam dura, quam fortia sunt tua iura! / Non est tam fortis, qui rumpat vincula mortis.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Peacock's Complaint, the story of a peacock and his complaints to the goddess Juno.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Avarus et Poma Marcescentia, a hilarious story about a greedy man and his apple orchard (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Talpa, Asinus, et Simia, a story of three animals comparing their fates.

October 19: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more desum proverbs.

Round-Up: October 18

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you have not downloaded a free PDF copy of Brevissima: 1001 Tiny Latin Poems, it's ready and waiting, and you can also get a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. If you prefer the heft of a book in your hand, you can get the books in printed form from Lulu.com.

HODIE: ante diem quintum decimum Kalendas Novembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Infant Heracles and the Snakes; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Aeternitatem cogita (English: Think about eternity).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Ex unitate vires (English: From unity, strength).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Non faciunt meliorem equum aurei freni (English: Golden reins do not make a better horse).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Divitiae si affluant, nolite cor apponere (English: If riches abound, do not set your heart on them).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Atlas caelum (English: Atlas holds up the sky; from Adagia 1.1.67 - a proverb for people who take on troublesome burdens and then can't get out of them).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἐχῖνος τὸν τόκον ἀναβάλλει (English: The hedgehog puts off giving birth - the idea being that the hedgehog doesn't want to put give birth to prickly babies... but the longer she waits, the more prickly the babies become).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Pereunt Omnia: Quod fuit, est, et erit, periit spatio brevis horae; / Ergo parum refert esse, fuisse, fore.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Ranae et Taurorum Proelia, a story about the battles of the high and mighty.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Oxen and the Butchers, a story about the lesser of two evils.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Iuppiter et Olitoris Asinus, a story about the donkey's sad fate (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Round-Up: October 16

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem septimum decimum Kalendas Novembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Bellerophon Fights the Chimera; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Virtute duce (English: With virtue as my guide).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Omnia sapientibus facilia (English: All things are easy for the wise)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Corruptissima respublica, plurimae leges (English: The most corrupt state, the most laws). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Deliberandum est saepe, statuendum est semel (English: Think about something often; make your decision once).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Midas auriculas asini (English: Midas has the ears of a donkey; from Adagia 1.3.67 - for the story of Midas and his proverbial donkey ears, see Wikipedia).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Vita Quasi Ventus: Quid prodest homini, si vivat saecula centum? / Cum moritur, vitam transisse putat quasi ventum.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Ciconia et Uxor Eius, an amazing little fable about domestic violence (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Oak and The Reed, a famous fable in praise of flexibility.

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Aquila et Testudo, the story of a turtle with Felix-Baumgartner-like ambitions.

October 15: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more aqua proverbs.

Round-Up: October 14

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm almost making good progress on my latest project - you can see the growing collection of Latin-vocabulary-via-proverbs at the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

HODIE: pridie Idus Octobres, the day before the Ides of October.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Charon; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Aude aliquid dignum (English: Dare something worthy).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Vive memor mortis (English: Live, keeping death in mind).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Audi, cerne, tace, si vis tu vivere pace (English: Listen, look, and be silent, if you want to live in peace).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Omnis qui facit peccatum, servus est peccati (John 8:34). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: In vino veritas: In wine is trouth. Verely large drinking and especiallie of wine taketh alwaye the cloke and dissimulation of mans minde, and what so ever lieth hidde in the brest, it bringeth to lighte. Furthermore Plinie a great learned man writeth, that wine so much bewrayeth the secretes of the mind, that there have been men, which in theyr large and mery drinkinge have uttered theyr owne bane and destruction. Our common Proverbe agreeth here unto whiche saieth, Children, drunkers, and fooles can not lye.

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Vivere Disce, et Mori: Ut tibi mors felix contingat, vivere disce; / Ut felix possis vivere, disce mori.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Lepores et Ranae, a story about the two proverbially timid species - rabbits and frogs.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Mouse that Fell into the Pot, the story of the mouse who met his doom in a soup pot.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Crocodilus et Canis, in which the dog does not fall for the crocodile's trick (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Special Edition: OU Ceremony

The mark-up style I have used below is called "ecclesiastical style," and it is the style used to help people read aloud from the Latin breviary of the Roman Catholic Church. It emphasizes word stress, but it does not mark the quantity of the vowels. Just like in English, a Latin word with more than one syllable has one syllable that gets stressed, and you will see the stressed syllable marked in each word below. I have also put in a hard return to indicate the natural pauses in meaning.

Notes: There are no silent vowels in Latin, so every vowel is pronounced. In classical style, the "v" is like our "w" (as in: west), although pronouncing it like "v" is also fine. Other notes about classical style: the "g" is always hard (as in: go) and so is "c" (as in: cat), and "qu" is just like our "qu" (as in: queen). The diphthong "au" (in the words auctoritate and gaudeamus) is pronounced like our "ow" (as in: now).

At the bottom, I've also added a second version with the English translation so that it will not seem like mumbo-jumbo! Note that the word order is different in that version because English word order is very constrained compared to Latin.

You can listen to all four parts together at Soundcloud using this link.


Part 1:


Grátias ágo tíbi,
Dean Williams!
(Decáne Williams)


Part 2:


Ómnibus,
qui
hanc ámplam dignitátem académicam
consecúti sunt,
grátulor.


Part 3:


Auctoritáte
deláta míhi,
in vos
grádus doctórum
a decáno designátos
cónfero,


Part 4:


et vos
in ómnes potestátes
officiáque eórum
admítto.
Gaudeámus ígitur!


== WORD ORDER CHANGED ==

Grátias ágo tíbi, = I thank you,

Dean Williams!
(Decáne Williams) = Dean Williams

Grátulor = I congratulate

ómnibus = all (of you)

qui = who

consecúti sunt = have obtained

hanc ámplam dignitátem académicam. = this great academic rank.

Auctoritáte = By the authority

deláta míhi = given to me,

cónfero = I confer

in vos = on you

grádus doctórum = the doctoral degrees

a decáno designátos = assigned by the dean,

et admítto vos = and I welcome you

in ómnes potestátes = to all the rights

officiáque eórum. = and responsibilities of those (degrees).

Gaudeámus ígitur! = So let us rejoice!

Round-Up: October 12

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you have not downloaded a free PDF copy of Brevissima: 1001 Tiny Latin Poems, it's ready and waiting, and you can also get a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. If you prefer the heft of a book in your hand, you can get the books in printed form from Lulu.com.

HODIE: ante diem quartum Idus Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Flight of Aeneas; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Recta pete (English: Seek what is right).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Gloria non praeda (English: Glory, not spoils).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Noli irritare leonem (English: Do not irritate the lion).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Iustitia in sese virtutes continet omnes (English: Justice contains in itself all the virtues).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is In antro Trophonii vaticinatus est (English: He's made prophecies in the cave of Trophonius; from Adagia 1.7.77 - this refers to a man who is grim and unsmiling, like someone who has gone into the cave of Trophonius, famous for its oracular cult).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἄνεμον δικτύῳ θηρᾷς (English: You're hunting the wind with a net... another one of those fool's errands).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Senex et Iuvenis: Nemo senex adeo, quin annum vivere possit, / Nemo tam iuvenis, quin ipse mori cito possit.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Monkeys, the story of the mother and how she treats her two monkey children.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Graculus et Pavones, the story of an ambitious jackdaw (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Graculus et Avarus, a story about a thieving jackdaw this time.

October 11: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more cunctus proverbs.

Round-Up: October 10

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem sextum Idus Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Heracles and the Cattle of Geryon; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Superba frango (English: I shatter proud things).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Dubium sapientiae initium (English: Doubt is the beginning of wisdom)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Post nubila Phoebus (English: After clouds, the sun). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Virtuti melius quam fortunae creditur (English: It's better to trust in your character than in your luck).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Mustelae crocoton (English: Like a wedding dress for a weasel; from Adagia 1.2.72 - as the weasel was a proverbial spinster, a wedding dress was something a weasel never needed, so this proverb refers to something inappropriate or unsuitable).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Tibi Facient Rursum: Quae facies matri, faciet tua filia rursum, / Filius et faciet, quod facis omne patri.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Canis et Umbra, the famous story of the dog fooled by his own reflection.

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Miser and His Gold, a story about a miser who's been robbed.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Ursus et Apes, the story of a bear with a very bad temper (this fable has a vocabulary list).

October 9: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more cresco proverbs.

Round-Up: October 8

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm almost making good progress on my latest project - you can see the growing collection of Latin-vocabulary-via-proverbs at the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

HODIE: ante diem octavum Idus Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Aeneas Meets Dido; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Nulli inimicus ero (English: I will be an enemy to no one).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Naturae convenienter vive (English: Live in accordance with nature).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Cum contentus eris, dives tunc efficieris (English: When you will be content, then you will be rich).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Spem sicut anchoram habemus animae, tutam ac firmam (Heb. 6:19). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Faecem bibat, qui vinum bibit: He that hath dronke the wine, let him drinke the dregges. He that hath had the use and fruicion of the swete, let him contente to take some part of the sowre.

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is In Domo Parva: Quo quisque est maior, maiora pericula vitae / Sustinet; in parva est vita beata domo.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Avarus et Aureorum Sacculus, a salutary tale about a miser on his deathbed (this fable has a vocabulary list).

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Horse and the Ass, the story of the donkey who, briefly, envied the life of the noble war-horse.

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Mors et Matrona, the story of a woman who is surprised when Death hears her prayer.

October 7: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more corpus proverbs.

Round-Up: October 6

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you have not downloaded a free PDF copy of Brevissima: 1001 Tiny Latin Poems, it's ready and waiting, and you can also get a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. If you prefer the heft of a book in your hand, you can get the books in printed form from Lulu.com.

HODIE: pridie Nonas Octobres, the day before the Nones.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Alcestis; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Occasionem cognosce (English: Know the right moment).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Auctor ego audendi (English: I am the author of my own daring).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is A bove maiori discit arare minor (English: The younger ox learns to plow from the older ox).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Oportet mendacem esse memorem (English: A liar must have a good memory).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Hylam inclamas (English: You're shouting for Hylas - which is to say, you are shouting for something you can never get back, just as Heracles shouted out to his beloved Hylas who had been taken by the nymphs; from Adagia 1.4.72).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ὀυκ ἀεὶ ποταμὸς ἀξίνας φέρει (English: The river does not always bring forth axes - an allusion to the famous Aesop's fable about Mercury and the man who lost his ax).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Magnus Timet: Quanto maior eris, maiora pericla cavenda; / Crede mihi: nullo tempore tutus eris.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Hen and The Fox, a story about a hen who is wisely cautious in dealing with the wily fox.

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Gallus et Ancillae, one of those fables about unintended consequences.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Luna et Mater, the wonderful story about what happened when the moon's mother wanted to make her a dress (this fable has a vocabulary list).

October 4: Proverbial Lolcat

Here is today's Proverbial Lolcat - click here for more communis proverbs.

Round-Up: October 3

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. You can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.

HODIE: ante diem quintum Nonas Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Hercules and Antaeus; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Amo pacem (English: I love peace).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Tempus optimus iudex (English: Time is the best judge)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Asinus asinum fricat (English: One donkey scratches another). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: In nullum avarus bonus est, in se pessimus (English: A miser treats no man well, and himself worst of all).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Parturiunt montes, nascetur ridiculus mus (English: The mountains give birth; a ridiculous mouse will be born; from Adagia 1.9.14 - a story famously found in Aesop).

BREVISSIMA: The distich for today is Quod Natura Rogat: Qui non curaret plus quam natura rogaret, / Dives hic esset, quia res sibi nulla deesset.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:



TODAY'S FABLES:

AESOP IN ENGLISH VERSE: Today's fable from the English verse widget is The Gnat and the Ox, in which a self-important gnat is rebuked.

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Pavo et Grus, a story in which the crane gets the better of a boastful peacock.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Minerva et Olea, the story of the gods choosing their favorite trees (this fable has a vocabulary list).