Round-Up: February 5

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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: Nonae Februariae, the Nones of February! You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Anguis et Agricola, the story of farmer who foolishly rescued a snake.
• Accipiter et Columbae, the story of the foolish doves who made the hawk their king.
• Porcus et Equus, the story of a cynical pig and a high-minded horse.
• Rustica cum Mulctro Lactis, a story about not counting your chickens before they are hatched.
• Aesopus et Petulans, a story about Aesop the trickster!

I've picked out my favorite one, the sad story of the foolish doves, Accipiter et Columbae, to share with you here in the blog:

Columbae accipitrem rēgem accipiunt, milvī bella pulsūrum. Rēx magis hoste nocet. Dē rēge querī incipiunt, quod sānius esset milvī bella pati, quam sine Marte morī. Sī quid agās, prūdenter agās et rēspice fīnem. Minōra ferre volō, nē graviōra feram.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Iustitia omnibus (English: With justice for all).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Res forma fugax (English: Beauty is a fleeting thing - and note the intricate word order of the Latin!)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Ubi triticum non est, ibi non est farina (English: Where there is no wheat, there is no flour). 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: Heu, quam multa paenitenda incurrunt vivendo diu (English: Oh, how many things you come to regret by living a long time).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Scarabeus aquilam quaerit (English: The beetle is looking for the eagle; from Adagia 3.7.1 - alluding to the famous Aesop's fable about the beetle's vengeance).

For today's image, here's an illustration of Scarabeus aquilam quaerit, taken from Alciato's emblems (image source), as published in 1542:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 4

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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: pridie Nonas Februarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Mus et Rana, the story of the mouse and the treacherous frog.
• Canis Carnem Ferens, the story of the dog fooled by his own reflection.
• Lanius et Simius, Phaedrus's joking fable at the expense of a monkey in a butcher's shop.
• Sacerdos et Pira, a very funny little story about an arrogant priest.
• Mus et Ostrea, LaFontaine's version of the mouse fooled by an oyster.

I've picked out my favorite one, Sacerdos et Pira, to share with you here in the blog - this is one of Abstemius's longer fables, but it is worth the read - very funny!

Sacerdōs quīdam gulōsus extrā patriam ad nuptiās profisciscēns, ad quās fuerat invītātus, reperit in itinere pirōrum acervum, quōrum nē ūnum quidem attigit, quamvīs magnā affectus famē: quīn potius ea lūdībriō habēns lōtiō cōnspersit, indignābātur enim huiusmodī cibōs in itinere offerrī, quī ad lautās accēdēbat epulās. Sed cum in itinere torrentem quendam ita imbribus auctum offendisset, ut sine vītae perīculō eum trānsīre nōn posset, domum redīre cōnstituit. Revertēns autem iēiūnus, tantā est oppressus famē, ut nisi pira illa, quae ūrīnā cōnsperserat, comēsset, cum aliud nōn invenīret, extinguerētur.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Deus mihi providebit (English: God will provide for me).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Fletus aerumnas levat (English: Weeping alleviates troubles).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Det pira, det poma, qui non habet aurea dona (English: Let him give pears, let him give apples, if he does not have gifts of gold - which fits nicely with the story of the priest and the pears above: even pears are precious!).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Omnia in futuro servantur incerta (Ecc. 9:2). 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 Conybeare: Herculis cothurnos: Was used for a proverbe, wherein a thinge of litle importance was set forthe with great eloquence, or other thinge solemne, more apte for a greater matter. As one shoulde put Hercules hosen on a childes legges. This is so comon a vice nowe adayes among students of eloquence that in writing and speaking, they seme to prepare the hose before they knowe the measure of the legge, whereon they will put it.

Today's Poem: Today's poem is from Martial, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com:

Quem recitas meus est, o Fidentine, libellus:
sed male cum recitas, incipit esse tuus.

English: "O Fidentinus, the little book which you are reciting is mine, but when you recite it badly, it begins to be yours." A great example of how sharp a bite a single couplet can have!

Here is an illustration for the story of the foolish dog, Canis Carnem Ferens, by Walter Crane (image source):

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Myths and Legends: Philemon and Baucis

Philemon and Baucis. To find out more about how this couple played host to the gods, see this Wikipedia article: link; for information about the image: image source.

In the famous story told by Ovid, Philemon and his wife Baucis are a perfect expression of hospitality. As the story begins, Zeus and Hermes, disguised as mortals, are looking for shelter. All the other folk in the town refuse them. Only Philemon and Baucis are willing to take them in, sharing with them everything in their meager pantry, even being ready to kill their goose. The goose, however, runs away and leaps into Zeus' lap as a refuge. Zeus then explains that he is going to destroy the town and commands Philemon and Baucis to flee to the mountains for safety. They do as Zeus commands them; meanwhile, a flood then destroys the town, but the cottage of Philemon and Baucis survives and is transformed by the gods into a beautiful temple. As their reward, Philemon and Baucis are made the custodians of this temple and they are then honored by the gods in their death, being transformed into a pair of entwined trees.

You can find the story in Ovid's Metamorphoses, Book 8 - Latin and English. Meanwhile, in the painting, you can see the goose quickly making its way to the safety of Zeus' lap!

You can also find more myths and legends for the week of Jan. 29 - Feb. 4 here. For more information and links to the actual javascript code, see the Myths & Legends Widget Reference Page.

Round-Up: February 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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem tertium Nonas Februarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Phaethon, Alciato's moral emblem about Phaethon and Apollo's chariot.
• Agricola Militiam et Mercaturam Affectans, a version of the fable of the ambitious farmer, this time in verse.
• Upupa Honorata, the story of the stinky hoopoe - who is notoriously called "stinkvogel" in German.
• Anus ad Amphoram, Phaedrus's fable of the old woman and the wine jar.
• Feles Senior et Mus Parvulus, the story of an mouse begging for his life in the clutches of an old cat.

I've picked out my favorite one, the story of the stinky hoopoe, Upupa Honorata, to share with you here in the blog:

Invitātae ferē omnēs avēs ad Aquilae nuptiās indignē ferēbant upupam cēterīs praeferrī, quia corōnā īnsignis esset et versicolōribus pennīs ornāta, cum semper inter stercora et sordēs solita esse volūtārī. Haec fābula stultitiam eōrum arguit, quī in hominibus honōrandīs, potius vestium nitōrem praestantiamque formae quam virtūtēs mōrēsque soleant attendere.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Proverbs: Today's tiny proverb is: Minori parce (English: Be tolerant to your subordinate... a lesson lost on the cat in the fable above!).

3-Word Mottoes Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Corde et manu (English: With heart and hand).

Latin Animal Proverb: Today's animal proverb is Ad praesens ova cras pullis sunt meliora (English: Eggs today are better than chicks tomorrow... a thought-provoking variation on not counting your chickens: this one tells us to appreciate our eggs!).

Proverbs of Polydorus: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Cui multum datum est, multum quaeretur ab eo (English: Much is expected from him to whom much is given).

Proper Name Proverb from Erasmus: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Sui cuique mores fingunt Fortunam (English: Each man's habits make his own Fortune; from Adagia 2.4.30).

Greek Proverb of the Day: Today's proverb is Σίδηρον πλεῖν διδάσκεις (English: You're trying to teach iron to swim... which is one of those notorious fool's errands).

Today's image is a photo showing a stinky hoopoe with its truly beautiful crest (image source):

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 2

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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: ante diem quartum Nonas Februarias. You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Carduelis et Puer, the story of a bird in a cage.
• Vir et Feminae Eius, the story of the man who had two lady lovers, one young and one old.
• Corvus et Scorpion, the story of a crow and his unfortunate catch.
• Sutor et Argentarius, a long but really funny story about a rich man and a poor man and the lessons they learned from each other.
• Haedus et Lupus, the story of a goat kid left home alone, with a wolf at the door!

I've picked out my favorite one, Carduelis et Puer, to share with you here in the blog - very short, but the message is a profound one indeed:

Carduēlis avis interrogāta ā puerō, ā quō in dēliciīs habita, et suāvibus et largīs cibīs nūtrīta fuerat, cūr caveā ēgressa ingredī nollet: "Ut meō (inquit) mē arbītrātū, nōn tuō, pascere possim." Haec fābula indicat vītae lībertātem cunctīs dēliciīs antepōnendam.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

Tiny Mottoes: Today's tiny motto is: Ut prosim (English: That I may be of use - a very nice subjunctive motto!).

3-Word Proverbs Verb-less: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Cupiditati nihil satis (English: Nothing is enough to satisfy desire)

Audio Latin Proverb: Today's audio Latin proverb is Hectora quis nosset, si felix Troia fuisset? (English: Who would know Hector, if Troy had been happy?). 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: Ex vitio alterius sapiens emendat suum (English: A wise man corrects his own vices by observing the vices of others).

Animal Proverb from Erasmus: Today's animal proverb from Erasmus is Gallus in suo sterquilinio plurimum potest (English: The rooster can do much as he pleases on his own dungheap - something like "a man's home is his castle"... but decidedly more mocking; from Adagia 4.4.25).

For an image today, here is an illustration for the story of the man plucked bald by his two mistresses, Vir et Feminae Eius:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.

Round-Up: February 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. Plus, you can find some Latin "pipilationes" at my Proverbia Latina feed.

HODIE: Kalendae Februariae, the Kalends of February! You can add a Roman calendar as a widget in your blog or webpage, or display it as a Google Calendar: here's how.

TODAY'S FABLES: Here are today's fables from the Ictibus Felicibus project. These fables ALL have long marks, plus stress marks for easy reading, and the poems have meter marks, too, along with an easy-to-read prose presentation of the story:

• Asinus in Pelle Leonis, a version of the famous story of the donkey in the lion's skin, told in elegiac couplets.
• Scarabaeus et Aquila, the story of how the tiny beetle managed to defeat the mighty eagle.
• Ranae Metuentes Proelia Taurorum, the story of the frogs observing a battle among the bulls.
• Trabs et Boves, the dispute between the log and the oxen who were dragging it.
• Senex et Filii eius, the story of the old man trying to teach his sons the value of unity.

I've picked out my favorite one, Ranae Metuentes Proelia Taurorum, to share with you here in the blog - providing, as it does, a warning for the dangers that await us all when the powers of the world are at war:

Humilēs labōrant, ubi potentēs dissident. Rāna, taurōrum pūgnam ē palūde intuēns, ait: Heu, quanta perniciēs nōbīs īnstat. Interrogāta ab aliā cūr hōc dīceret, cum illī dē gregis prīncipātū certārent et bovēs longē ab ipsīs vītam dēgerent. Statiō sēparāta sit, ac dīversum genus; quī profūgerit, nemoris rēgnō expulsus, in palūdis latibula sēcrēta veniet, et pede dūrō prōculcātās obteret. Ita furor illōrum ad caput nostrum pertinet.

TODAY'S MOTTOES & PROVERBS: You can get access to ALL the "proverb of the day scripts" (also available as random proverb scripts) at the SchoolhouseWidgets.com website.

3-Word Mottoes: Today's 3-word motto is Persevera Deoque confide (English: Persevere and trust in God - which is a nice way to remember the use of the dative with confide).

3-Word Proverbs: Today's 3-word proverb is Volentem bovem ducito (English: Lead the ox when it is willing - and notice that nice so-called future imperative).

Rhyming Proverbs: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Pax, pax! clamatur; sed pax per bella paratur (English: Peace! Peace! people shout, but peace is obtained through wars... a saying as sadly true as it was a thousand years ago).

Vulgate Verse: Today's verse is Multi sunt vocati; pauci vero electi (Matt. 22:14). 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: Festina lente: Make slowe haste: Soft fier maketh sweete malte. It is good to be mery and wise. This is spoken when a man will signifie a thing to be doen, neither to hastily, nor to slowlye, but in a convenient temperaunce.

Today's Poem: Today's poem is from the rhyming verses collected by Wegeler, with a word list at NoDictionaries.com:

Disce, puer, tenero dum flos tibi floret in aevo;
Transit fine brevi puerilis flosculus aevi.

English: "Learn, my boy, while your flower yet flourishes in the youthful age; the boyish blossom of life passes away in a brief span of time." (Notice how you need to use the medieval pronunciation of aevi to rhyme with brevi.)

Here is an illustration for the story of the ambitious donkey, Asinus in Pelle Leonis, by the 17th-century illustrator Francis Barlow:

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Aesop's Fables in Latin now available at Amazon.com.