Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: November 25

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.

Comenius. Last week, I got a note from Chris Huff who is reviving the old Comenius Latin dictionary project; if you are interested, get in touch with him via his blog: Chuff Blog Comenius Project.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem septimum Kalendas Decembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Heracles and the Lion, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Cicatrix manet (English: The scar remains).

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Lex universa est, quae iubet nasci et mori (English: It is a universal law which bids us to be born and to die).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Croesi pecuniae teruncium addit (English: He's adding a penny to the wealth of Croesus... which is to say: he is not making any difference at all, given that Croesus was proverbially wealthy; from Adagia 4.10.48; more about Croesus, and here is a gold coin of Croesus, circa 550 BCE):

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Sui cuique mores fingunt fortunam: A mans owne maners doe shape him his fortune. Men commonlie when anie adversitie chaunce, accuse, or when they see other men to prospere well in theyr matters, they say it is theyr fortune. So they ley all together upon fortune, thinking there is such a thing called fortune that ruleth all. But surely they are highlie deceived. It is their owne maners, their own qualities, touches, condicions, and procedinges that shape them this fortune, that is to say, that cause them, eyther to be sette forwarde or backeward, either to prospere or not to prospere.

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

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Alit lectio ingenium.

Reading nourishes talent.

Qui dormit, non peccat.

He who sleeps does not sin.

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The English translation for today from the Mille Fabulae et Una book is Leaena et Ursa, a story about hypocrisy and eating habits.

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Lupus et grus, a story about how doing favors for scoundrels: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is de duobus canibus, another story about how no good deed goes unpunished: Latin text and English versions.