Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: May 28

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables, and thanks also for the encouraging emails about reviving the Bestiaria. 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 Kalendas Iunias

ANIMAL PROVERBS:

Asinus asino, sus sui pulcher, et suum cuique pulchrum.
One donkey is beautiful to another, pig to pig, and to each their own is beautiful.

Aquila non capit muscas.
An eagle doesn't catch flies.

LATIN LOLCATS:

Auri caecus amor ducit in omne nefas.
The blind love of gold leads to every crime.

Discat, qui nescit, nam sic sapientia crescit.
Let him learn who does not know, for thus does knowledge grow.

AESOP'S FABLES:

Satyrus et Viator
Latin version and English version(s)

Avara et Gallina
Latin version and English version(s)

BOOKS ONLINE:

Stories of Old Greece by Emma M. Firth

Aesop's Fables Told to the Children by Lena Dalkeith

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: May 25

I'm back again! The past few months, and the past couple years, have been pretty topsy-turvy with family stuff, but I'm going to try a new approach with the Bestiaria this summer so that it lines up with some other projects I am working on this summer. Let's see if I can manage to bring this back to life for the summer at least!

As always, you can keep up with the latest posts by using the RSS feed, or you might prefer to subscribe by email.


HODIE: ante diem octavum Kalendas Iunias.


ANIMAL PROVERBS: This is a new project I've just started to go along with some animal story work I am doing this summer. :-)

A bove maiori discit arare minor.

The younger ox learns to plow from the elder.

Cochlea consiliis, in factis esto volucris

Be a snail in your planning, have wings in your deeds.

LATIN LOLCATS:

Cave canem!

Beware of dog!

Fortis cadere, cedere non potest.

The brave man can fall but not fail.

AESOP'S FABLES: I'll be pairing up fables from my old Mille Fabulae et Una book with a website where I've collected fable illustrations and English versions of the stories.

Vulpes et Pardus

Latin version and English version(s)

Astrologus Stellas Contemplans

Latin version and English version(s)

FREE BOOKS: These are books from my Freebookapalooza online book collection, which now contains over 1300 items:

Trips to the Moon by Lucian

Stories of the Ancient Greeks by Charles D. Shaw

... plus a special treat from the Latin LOLBaby blog:

Nullum magnum ingenium

sine mixtura dementiae fuit.

There was never any great genius

without some madness mixed in.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: March 15

Life keeps getting in the way; apologies for the hiatus! But 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 septimum decimum Kalendas Apriles.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY MOTTOES: Today's tiny motto is: Ventis secundis (English: With favorable winds).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word verb-less proverb is Tranquillo quilibet gubernator (English: When it's calm, everyone is a helmsman)

AUDIO PROVERBS: Today's audio Latin proverb is Scientia potentia (English: Knowledge is power). 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 Camelus vel scabiosa complurium asinorum gestat onera (English: Even a mangy camel can bear the loads of many donkeys; from Adagia 1.9.58).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Mores Quisque Sibi Format. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Post nubila Phoebus.

After clouds, the sun (comes out).

Stare diu nescit qui non aliquando quiescit.

He who does not sometime take a rest

knows not how to stand a long time.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Equus et aper, a story about risking your freedom for a short-term reward: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De luscinia et accipitre, a story about brute force: Latin text and English versions.

And here's a Mardi Gras item from Latin LOLBaby Enzo: Ede, bibe, lude!

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: February 22

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 Martias.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

TINY PROVERBS: Today's tiny proverb is: Nil time (English: Fear nothing).

PUBLILIUS SYRUS: Today's proverb from Publilius Syrus is: Bonum quod est, supprimitur, numquam exstinguitur (English: Something that is good can be beaten down, but never destroyed).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Alia Lacon, alia asinus illius portat (English: Lacon is carrying one thing, but his donkey is carrying something else; from Adagia 2.2.86 ... Trying to avoid taxes, Lacon hid his honey underneath some barley, but the donkey slipped and fell, revealing the hidden honey).

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Obsequium amicos, veritas odium parit: Flatterie and folowinge of mens mindes getteth friendes, where speaking of trouth gendreth hatred. Such is now and ever had been the fascion of the worlde, that who telleth the trouth is for most part hated, and he that can flatter and say as I say, shal be mine owne whit sonne. Our Englishe Proverbe agreeth with the same, He that will in Court dwell, must needes currie fabel. And ye shall understand that fabel is an olde Englishe worde, and signified as much as favour doth now a dayes.

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

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Alia dantur, alia negantur.

Some things are given; some denied.

Irritare canem noli dormire volentem.

Do not disturb a dog who wants to sleep.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is De vulpe et uva, a story about the supposedly sour grapes: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De quadrupedibus et avibus, a story about the battle between the beasts and the birds: Latin text and English versions.

And here is another Latin LOLBaby: Ecce, ambulat supra aquas.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: February 11

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 Idus Februarias.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Honestum praeferre utili (English: To prefer what is honorable to what is useful).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Doce ut discas (English: Teach so that you can learn).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Mane sub aurora res vertitur ad meliora (English: In the morning at dawn, things take a turn for the better).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is In qua mensura mensi fueritis, metietur vobis (Matt. 7:2). 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 Castigare Paratus. Click here for a full-sized view.

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Parentes cole, atque eorum voluntati pare.

Cherish your parents, and be obedient to their will.

Nolite fieri servi hominum.

Become not slaves of men.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Asinus et Galli, a story about the slave's life: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De equo et asino, a lesson about the Fortune's Wheel: Latin text and English versions.

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: February 2

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 Nonas Februarias.

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

TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Vigilans et audax (English: Watchful and bold).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Fugiens ursum, incidi in leonem (English: Fleeing the bear, I ran into the lion... like "out of the frying pan, into the fire," but with animals).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Expectavimus pacem, et ecce turbatio (English: We expected peace, and behold, the whirlwind).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Σίδηρον πλεῖν διδάσκεις (English: You're teaching iron to swim, which is a proverbial fool's errand).

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

And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:

Tu dormis et tempus ambulat.

You are sleeping and time walks on.

Claude os, aperi oculos.

Close your mouth; open your eyes.

TODAY'S FABLES:

PHAEDRI FABULAE: The illustrated fable from Phaedrus for today is Aesopus et Garrulus, a story about looking for a real man, as often told about Diogenes also: Latin text and Smart's translation.

STEINHOWEL: The illustrated fable from Steinhowel for today is De equo et leone , a story about the trickster tricked: Latin text and English versions.