Friday, December 21, 2012

Latin Proverbs and Fables Round-Up: December 21

Here is a round-up of today's proverbs and fables - and for previous posts, check out the Bestiaria Latina Blog archives. I'm almost making good progress on my latest project - you can see the growing collection of Latin-vocabulary-via-proverbs at the Latin Via Proverbs blog.

HODIE: ante diem duodecimum Kalendas Ianuarias.

MYTHS and LEGENDS: The art image for today's legend shows Zeus and Semele; 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 Quod potes, tenta (English: Attempt what you are able to do).

3-WORD PROVERBS: Today's 3-word proverb is Medice, cura teipsum (English: Physician, heal yourself).

RHYMING PROVERBS: Today's proverb with rhyme is: Quisquis amat ranam, ranam putat esse Dianam (English: He who loves a frog thinks that frog is the goddess Diana).

VULGATE VERSES: Today's verse is Comede in laetitia panem tuum et bibe cum gaudio vinum tuum (Ecc. 9:7). 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: Nec omnia, nec passim, nec ab omnibus: Neither all thinges, nor in al places, nor of all men. This Proverbe teacheth us, that in takinge of rewardes, wee shewe oure selves not only shamefast, but also ware and circumspecte. For there be some thinges, whiche is not seminge for a man to take. There is also a place and time, that it where much better for one to refuse the gifte that is offered than to take it. And againe there be some, of whom it is no honestie, to receive anie gifte..

BREVISSIMA: The distich poster for today is Nil Amicitia Gratius. 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 Membra et Venter, the famous fable of the body's revolt against the belly (this fable has a vocabulary list).

MILLE FABULAE: The fable from the Mille Fabulae et Una widget is Cocleae et Puer, the story of the snails cooking in the fire.

LATIN HOLIDAY SONGS: The Latin holiday songs for today are: Silens Nox, a Latin version of "Silent Night," along with Hodie Christus natus est and also Usque Bethlehem, a Latin version of the Polish carol, "Do Betlejem pełni radości."