Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: December 13

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, and you can also get a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin. If you prefer the heft of a book in your hand, you can get the books in printed form from Lulu.com.

HODIE: Idus Decembres, the Ides of December.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Diomedes and Glaucus; 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: Fluctus numeras (English: You are counting the waves - which is a fool's errand, of course!).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Secundis dubiisque rectus (English: In prosperity and uncertainty, upright).

ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Fele absente, mures choreas ducunt (English: When the cat is away, the mice dance).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Leges bonae ex malis moribus procreantur (English: Good laws are born of bad habits).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Nunc pluit, et claro nunc Iuppiter aethere fulget (English: Now Jupiter rains, and now he shines forth from the clear sky; from Adagia 1.8.65 - a saying which shows the association of the sky-god Jupiter and the weather).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Τέφραν φεύγων, εἰς ἀνθρακιὰν ἔπεσον (English: Avoiding the ashes, I fell into the hot coals).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Hora Nulla Sine Fructu . Click here for a full-sized view.

And here is today's proverbial lolcat:

TODAY'S FABLES AND SONGS:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Mus in Cista Natus, a wonderful story about life's horizons (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Monedula Liberata, a sad story of slavery and freedom.

LATIN HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Sit Prosperus Iesus Nati, a Latin version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas," along with Corde Natus Ex Parentis and also Cunis iacet, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "W żłobie leży."