Sunday, November 23, 2014

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: November 23

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. If you are looking for more fables to read (LOTS more fables), you can download a free PDF copy of Mille Fabulae et Una: 1001 Aesop's Fables in Latin.

HODIE (Roman Calendar): ante diem nonum Kalendas Decembres.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Diogenes and Alexander; you can also see the legends for the current week listed together here.


TODAY'S MOTTOES and PROVERBS:

3-WORD MOTTOES: Today's 3-word motto is Nemo solus sapit (English: No one is wise by himself).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Varietate homines delectantur (English: People are pleased by variety).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Plus valet in dextra munus quam plurima extra (English: One gift in the right hand is worth more than many which are not at hand).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Mandatum lucerna est, et lex lux (6:23). For a translation, check out the polyglot Bible, in English, Hebrew, Latin and Greek, at the Sacred Texts Archive online.

ELIZABETHAN PROVERBS: Here is today's proverb commentary, this time by Taverner: Sera in fundo parsimonia: It is to late sparinge at the botome. This sentence of Seneca is worthy to be written uppon the boxes of all those houses, of al countinge houses, upon al kaskettes, al vessels of wine or such like thinges. It monisheth us to spare betimes, and not to follow the common sorte of prodigal yongkers, which whan theyr landes and goods be ones fallen into theyr hands, think there is no botome of theyr fathers bagges and cofers, nor no boundes of theyr landes.

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


And here are today's proverbial LOLcats:



Faciam meo modo.
I will do it in my way.

Quam felix vita transit sine negotiis!
How happily passes a life without business!

TODAY'S FABLES:

FABULAE FACILES: The fable from the Fabulae Faciles widget is Formica Alata, the story of an ant who asked for wings, and later regretted it (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Gallus Divinus et Vulpes, the story of a sly fox and a very foolish rooster.

Gallus et Vulpes

Latin Fables Read by Justin Slocum Bailey. Here is today's audio fable: Leo Epulum Faciens, with links to the audio and to the blog post.