Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 30

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 (Roman Calendar): pridie Kalendas Maias, the day before the Kalends of May.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Diana and Endymion; 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: Semper liber (English: Always free).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Tempus edax rerum (English: Time is the eater of things)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Dum stertit cattus, numquam sibi currit in os mus (English: When the cat is snoring, a mouse never runs into its mouth). 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: Aliena nobis, nostra plus aliis placent (English: We like other people's things more, and others like ours more).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Bos lassus fortius figit pedem (English: The ox, when tired, fixes his hoof more firmly; from Adagia 1.1.47).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Sic Vult Ire. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

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

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Mustela et Homo, a fable which derives from the fact that the ancient Romans kept weasels as mousers, much as we keep cats today.

GreekLOLz - and Latin and English, too. Below is one of my GreekLOLz; for the individual Greek, Latin and English versions of the graphic, see the blog post: Ἄρκτου παρούσης ἴχνη ζητεῖς. Ursa praesente vestigia quaeris. Here's the bear, and you're looking for tracks.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 28

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you are looking for more fables to read (LOTS more fables), you can download a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem quartum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Hera, Zeus, and Io; 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 Non nobis nascimur (English: We are not born for ourselves alone).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Necessitati parendum est (English: Necessity must be obeyed).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Te modicum iacta, quoniam probat exitus acta (English: Keep your boasting within limits, since it is the outcome which commends your deeds).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Vade retro me, Satana (Mark 8:33). 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: Omnia idem pulvis: Al is one self dust or asshes. From earth wee came, and to earth wee shall. Yea the scripture saith that asshes wee be, and to asshes we shall reverte. Nowe amongest asshes or dust I pray you, what greate difference is ther? How will ye discerne the asshes of a Kinge, or an Emperour, of a Duke, of a great Bishop, from the asshes of a cobler, yea of a begger.

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Dies Longa. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Canes et Corium, the story of some dogs who were both hungry and foolish.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Pirata et Alexander Rex, which is one of my very favorite anecdotes about Alexander the Great (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Greek Bible Art - and Latin and English, too. Below is one of my Greek Bible Art graphics; for the individual Greek, Latin and English versions of the graphic, see the blog post: οἱ δὲ υἱοὶ Ισραηλ ἔφαγον τὸ μαν ἔτη τεσσαράκοντα. Filii Israël comederunt man quadraginta annis. The children of Israel did eat manna forty years.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 26

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.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem sextum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Achilles at Skyros; 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: Medium certum (English: The middle way is certain).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Ars gratia artis (English: Art for art's sake).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Horrescit gelidas felis adustus aquas (English: The cat once burnt shudders at cold water).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Hylam vocat (English: He's calling for Hylas, alluding to Hercules who called out for his beloved Hylas in vain after the nymphs had stolen him away).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Indoctior Philonide (English: Stupider than Philonides; from Adagia 2.6.30 - Philonides was a proverbial figure for being all brawn and no brains).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ὀυδὲ Ἡρακλῆς πρὸς δύο (English: Not even Hercules against two - that is, even Hercules does not fight two opponents at once).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Tempus. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Pastor et Canis Molossus, in which a shepherd economizes foolishly.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Asinus Leonis Pelle Indutus, the famous fable of the donkey in the lion's skin (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Words from Mythology. For more about GEOLOGY and GAIA, see this blog post.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 24

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 (Roman Calendar): ante diem octavum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Achilles Receiving Weapons from Thetis; 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: Sursum (English: Upwards).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Longae regum manus (English: Long are the hands of kings)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Morborum medicus omnium mors ultimus (English: The last doctor of every disease is death). 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: Mori est felicis, antequam mortem invoces (English: You're lucky if you die before you beg for death).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Camelus desiderans cornua, etiam aures perdidit (English: Hoping for horns, the camel lost its ears, too; from Adagia 3.5.8, alluding to the Aesop's fable about the camel).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Scire Futura. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Divitiae et Simulacrum Sacrum, a paradoxical story about the favor of the gods.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Struthiocamelus Perfidus, the story of a two-timing ostrich (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Latin Sundials. Below you will find an image of a sundial, and for detailed information about the Latin motto see this blog post: QUA HORA NON PUTATIS FILIUS HOMINIS VENIET.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 22

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you are looking for more fables to read (LOTS more fables), you can download a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem decimum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Polyxena at the Well; 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 Mediam viam elige (English: Choose the middle way).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Fac, si facis (English: Do it, if you're going to do it).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: In vestimentis non est sapientia mentis (English: A man's clothing does not reveal the wisdom of his mind).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Aquae furtivae dulciores sunt, et panis absconditus suavior (Proverbs 9:17). 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: Quam quisque norit artem, in hac se exerceat: Let every man exercise him selfe, in the facultie that he knoweth. Let the cobler medle with cloutinge his neighbours shoes, and not be a Capitaine in fielde, or meddell with matters concerning a comon welth. Let them iudge of controversies in the christen religion, that be learned in the same, and not every Jacke plowman.

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Tempora Concessa. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Ovis, Cervus, et Lupus, the story of a sheep who wisely rejected a request from a stag and a wolf.

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).

And while it's not exactly Latin, I thought you all might enjoy these Shakespearean LOLCats that I created for a friend; they all contain lines from Macbeth! You can see the gallery online at Google+, and I'll be posting them daily in my Proverb Laboratory blog.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 20

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.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem duodecimum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Apollo and Marsyas; 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: Optimum pati (English: To endure is best).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Fides, spes, caritas (English: Faith, hope, charity).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Canis sine dentibus vehementius latrat (English: A dog without teeth barks the more fiercely).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Offeras primum pacem (English: First you should offer peace).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Amyris insanit (English: Amyris is raving; from Adagia 2.3.29 - Amyris is famous for pretending to be mad, in order to save his own life, much as the Roman Brutus would later do).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ὤδινεν ὄρος, εἶτα μῦν ἀπέτεκεν (English: The mountain was in labor, then it gave birth to a mouse - a fable also told by Aesop).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Fratres Concordes. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

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

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Asinus, Lupi, et Canes, the story of an ailing donkey and some dangerous visitors.

GreekLOLz - and Latin and English, too. Below is one of my GreekLOLz; for the individual Greek, Latin and English versions of the graphic, see the blog post: Ἀφροδίτηι ὗν τέθυκεν. Veneri suem mactavit. He's sacrificed a pig to Aphrodite. (Which is a foolish thing to do, of course, since there is no love lost between Aphrodite and the pigs.)

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 18

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 (Roman Calendar): ante diem quartum decimum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Judgment of Paris; 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: Paulatim (English: Little by little).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Iustitia virtutum regina (English: Justice is the queen of the virtues)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Inter pygmaeos regnat nanus (English: Among the pygmies, the dwarf is king). 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: Deliberando discitur sapientia (English: By pondering, wisdom is learned).

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Caudae pilos equinae paulatim vellere (English: To pluck the hairs of a horse's tail - one by one; from Adagia 1.8.95, and compare the simple motto Paulatim above!).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Vicini Tecta. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Ursae Catuli et Leaena, a story in which the lion rebukes the mother bear and her cubs.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Puer et Paedagogus, a story about a very unhelpful teacher (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Greek Bible Art - and Latin and English, too. Below is one of my Greek Bible Art graphics; for the individual Greek, Latin and English versions of the graphic, see the blog post: ἐκάλεσεν αὐτὸν κύριος ἐκ τοῦ βάτου. Dominus vocavit eum de medio rubi. God called unto him out of the midst of the bush.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 16

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you are looking for more fables to read (LOTS more fables), you can download a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem sextum decimum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Achilles and Penthesilea; 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 Aetate prudentiores reddimur (English: We turn out wiser with age).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Lux luceat vestra (English: Let your light shine).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Qui miseros spernit, sibi callem ad tartara sternit (English: He who scorns the wretched is paving his own road to hell).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Varius eventus est proelii (II Samuel 11:25). 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: Summum ius, summa iniuria: Extreme lawe is extreme wrong. This is to say, then most of all men swarve from right and equitie whan they most supersticiouslye sticke to the letters of lawes, not regarding th'intent of the makers. For this is called, Summum ius, that is to say, the extremitie or rigoure of the lawe, whan all the strife and contencion is upon the wordes of the law without any respecte to the meaning and purpose of the lawe makers.

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Compatiens. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Ciconia et Uxor Eius, a marvelous story of some birds with very human problems (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Cicada et Noctua, the story of the owl's revenge on a noisy neighbor.

And I have something special to add today! Thanks to Nemo Oudeis at Google+, we have a true LatinLOLCat, a rejoinder to the LOLCat above! Isn't it wonderful???!

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: April 14

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.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem duodevicesimum Kalendas Maias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Slain Patroclus; 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: Vive revicturus (English: Live to live again!).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Spes ultima dea (English: Hope is the last goddess - this is one of my personal mottoes!).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Canis vivens potior est leone mortuo (English: A living dog is better than a dead lion).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Omnis qui male agit, odit lucem (English: Everyone who does wicked deeds hates the light).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Claudiana tonitrua (English: The thunderbolts of Claudius; from Adagia 3.2.19 - This refers to Claudius Pulcher's invention of a stage device for making the sound of loud thunderclaps, and hence the phrase refers to someone who is very loud, but not really powerful at all).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Κέρδος αἰσχρὸν βαρὺ κειμήλιον (English: Wicked gain is a heavy treasure).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Ad Torquatulum. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Cornix et Urna, the story of how the wise crow quenches her thirst.

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Equus Superbus et Asinus, the story of a proud horse fallen on hard times (this fable has a vocabulary list).

Words from Mythology. For more about English chimera and the the classical chimaera, see this blog post.