Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: October 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): ante diem tertium Kalendas Novembres.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Post nubila Phoebus (English: After the clouds, the sun).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Simia est simia, etiamsi purpura vestiatur (English: A monkey is a monkey, even if it's dressed in purple).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Nihil invita Minerva facies (English: You will not accomplish anything if Minerva is unwilling).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἀυτοῦ Ῥόδος, αὐτοῦ καὶ τὸ πήδημα (English: This here can be Rhodes, and your leap too, alluding to the Aesop's fable about the boastful traveler).

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

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Amor mundum fecit.

Love made the world.

Fruere die praesenti.

Enjoy the present day.

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The English translation for today from the Mille Fabulae et Una book is Leo Iratus et Puteus, a story about an angry lion who is his own worst enemy.

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Ranae regem petierunt, a story about foolish frogs: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De Lupo et Agno, a story about a bully who won't take "no" for an answer: Latin text and English versions.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: October 28

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives.

I just got back from an amazing visit to Father Greg Carlson's Aesop Collection at Creighton University this week, and I am inspired to get back to work on Aesop. So, at the bottom of the post you'll see three different fable items, and I hope to be posting more often here at the Bestiaria again. Euge!

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem quintum Kalendas Novembres.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Vincit labor (English: Hard work wins).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Patria cuique cara (English: Each person's homeland is beloved)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Ora et labora, deus adest sine mora (English: Work and pray; God will aid you without delay). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Asinus ad lyram (English: Like a donkey to the lyre; from Adagia 1.4.35).

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

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Respice post te.

Look behind you.

Bene vixit qui bene latuit.

He has lived well who has kept well hidden.

TODAY'S FABLES:

MILLE FABULAE: The English translation for today from the Mille Fabulae et Una book is Leo et Canis, a variation on the more famous fable of the wolf and the dog.

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Lupus et Agnus, a story about speaking truth to power... with things not looking too good for the truth: Latin text and English versions.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is Gallus et Margarita, a story about value: Latin text and English versions.

Latin Proverbs and Fables 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 (Roman Calendar): ante diem decimum Kalendas Novembres.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

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

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Sero in periclis est consilium quaerere (English: It is too late to seek advice in the midst of dangers).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Atlas caelum (English: Atlas holds up the sky; from Adagia 1.1.67). Here is a Greek-Latin gif:

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 poster for today is Ad Torquatulum. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats... and for another "Fiat Lux," see the LOLBaby below:

Fiat lux!

Let there be light!

Altius tendo.

I strive to go higher.

Latin LOLBaby: Enzo is really looking grown up! Learn more at the blog.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: October 17

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 sextum decimum Kalendas NovembresXX.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Memento semper finis (English: Always keep the goal in mind).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Scarabeus aquilam quaerit (English: The beetle is looking for the eagle, alluding to the famous Aesop's fable).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Os qui non claudit, quod non vult, saepius audit (English: He who doesn't close his mouth, often hears what he does want to).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Sicut fecisti, fiet tibi (Ob. 1:15). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

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

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Carcer numquam pulcher.

Prison is never pretty.

Mens alitur discendo et cogitando.

The mind is nourished by learning and thinking.

TODAY'S FABLE:

MILLE FABULAE: The English translation for today from the Mille Fabulae et Una book is Leo et Acies Eius, a story about a leader who embraces diversity!

Latin Proverbs and Fables 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. I missed this weekend's post, but here's why: preparing some materials for a talk at Creighton later this month. The materials are all in English, but they are Aesop-related, so perhaps of interest. Father Greg Carlson is teaching a class this semester based on his amazing Aesop collection, and I'm helping out: Fables and Frames.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem sextum Idus Octobres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Abduction of Persephone, and there are more images here.

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Recte faciendo securus (English: By acting rightly, no worries).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Equi donati dentes non inspiciuntur (English: You shouldn't look at the teeth of the horse that's a gift).

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

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Ἀπὸ μηχανῆς θεὸς (we use the Latin version in English: Deus ex machina).

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

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Nullum magnum ingenium sine mixtura dementiae.

There is no great genius without some madness mixed in.

Litteras disce.

Learn your letters.

TODAY'S FABLE:

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una book is Testudo et Lepus, the famous story of the tortoise and the hare, with English versions here; you will also find the illustrations there which display in this animated gif:

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: October 1

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): Kalendae Octobres, the Kalends of October.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Heracles and Cacus, and there are more images 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 Sapiens qui prospicit (English: Wise is the one who looks ahead)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Multae regum aures atque oculi (English: Many are the ears of kings, and their eyes). To read a brief essay about this proverb and to listen to the audio, visit the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

ERASMUS' ANIMALS: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Echinus partum differt (English: The hedgehog delays giving birth... which is bad news: the baby hedgehogs just get more and more prickly with each passing day; from Adagia 2.4.82).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Quod Tibi, Hoc Aliis. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Quod scripsi, scripsi.

What I have written, I have written.

Alta pete.

Seek lofty things.

TODAY'S FABLE:

I just recently found out that my Oxford Aesop's fables book is going to be translated into Chinese (!), so that has inspired me to translate the Mille Fabulae book into English. Fable by fable it will take a while... but paulatim sed firmiter, "slowly but surely."

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una book is Venditor et Creditor Eius, a story about marketing hype in the ancient world.