Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: December 19

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: ante diem quartum decimum Kalendas Ianuarias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows The Seven Against Thebes; 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: Pulsanti aperietur (English: It will be opened to the one who knocks).

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word verb-less motto is Citius, altius, fortius (English: Faster, higher, and stronger - the motto of the Olympics).



ANIMAL PROVERBS: Today's animal proverb is Praebet candoris lac nigri vacca coloris (English: The cow who is black proffers milk that is white).

POLYDORUS: Today's proverb from Polydorus is: Nolite iudicare secundum faciem (English: Don't judge based on appearances).

PROPER NAME PROVERBS: Today's proper name proverb from Erasmus is Sero sapiunt Phryges (English: The Phrygians get wise too late - the Phyrgians here are the Trojans who learned too late that they never should have let that wooden horse inside their walls; from Adagia 1.1.28).

GREEK PROVERBS: Today's proverb is Λύκος ποιμήν (English: The wolf as shepherd - something like putting the fox in charge of the hen house!).

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Non Omnibus Annis. 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 Equus Circensis Molae Iugatus, the sad story of the aged racehorse (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Mulus et Equus, the story of a mule who learns that glory is not all it's cracked u to be.

LATIN HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Tres Naves, a Latin version of "I Saw Three Ships," along with Quem Pastores Laudavere and also Fratres, en spectate, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Bracia, patrzcie jeno!"