De Deo

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 3.15. What a great little poem to remember the meanings of tantus and talis, as represented by the masters Euclid (for quantity) and Aristotle (for quality) - both of whom can be seen in Raphael's painting of the "School of Athens" below.

De Deo
Tantus es, Euclides quantum comprendere nescit,
Et talis, qualem nescit Aristoteles.

OF GOD
So great thy Greatness Euclide could not show:
And such as Aristotle did not know.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are only three words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

Aristoteles - Aristotle
comprehendō, -ere, comprehendī, comprehensum - catch, take hold, grasp
Euclīdes - Euclid

dē: down from, about, concerning (+ abl.)
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
et: and
nesciō -scīre: not know, be ignorant
quālis -e: of what kind? what?
quantus -a -um: (interr.) how great? (rel.) of what size, amount, etc.
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tālis tale: such
tantus -a -um: so great, so much; tantum: only

(School of Athens)

Cognosce, Elige, Matura

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 4:8. In his essay for this emblem, Camerarius explains that it is adopted from the emblems of Achilles Bocchius; you can see the Bocchius version online at the British Museum.

Cognosce, Elige, Matura
Quid virgo haec delphino equitans in fluctibus errat?
Numquid et in vasto iustitia est pelago?

Here is the vocabulary:

cognosco - know
eligo - choose
maturo - hurry, grow ripe
quid - what, for what reason
virgo - maiden, young woman
hic - this, this one
delphinus - dolphin
equito - ride (on horseback)
in - in, into
fluctus - wave
erro - wander, roam
numquid - expects negative answer
et - and, and even, also
vastus - huge, vast
iustitia - justice
sum - be, exist
pelagus - sea

Rhyming Distichs: 4

Here are today's rhyming distichs! Sources here include Wegeler, Gartner, and Voigt. Here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs.

Si secretorum seriem vis noscere rerum,
Ebrius, insipiens, pueri dicent tibi verum.

ebrius - drunken, intoxicated
insipiens - foolish, without intelligence, unwise
secretus - hidden away, private, secret
series - row, series, sequence

Qui vult laudari magnusque propheta vocari,
Discat adulari; nam tales sunt modo cari.

adulor - flatter, fawn upon
laudo - praise
modo - now, just now, only, merely
propheta - prophet

Qui capit uxorem, capit absque quiete laborem,
Longum languorem, lacrimas, cum lite dolorem.

absque - without, apart from, away from
languor - feebleness, apathy, languor
lis - lawsuit, quarrel
quies - calm, rest, quiet

Si tibi gratia, si sapientia, formaque detur,
Sola superbia destruit omnia, si comitetur.

comitor - accompany, go along with
destruo - demolish, pull down, destroy
sapientia - wisdom
superbia - pride

Sicut equos domitant et ducunt frena, capistra:
Sic docet ac ducit nos consuetudo magistra.

capistrum - halter, harness, muzzle
consuetudo - custom, tradition, experience
domito - subdue, tame, conquer
frenum - bridle, reins, harness

(image source)

Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo;
Sic addiscit homo non vi, sed saepe legendo.

addisco - learn, learn in addition to
cavo - hollow out, carve
gutta - drop, spot, speck; diminutive: guttula
lapis - stone, rock

Gutta cavat lapidem non vi, sed saepe cadendo;
Sic homo fit doctus, non vi, sed saepe studendo.

cavo - hollow out, carve
gutta - drop, spot, speck; diminutive: guttula
lapis - stone, rock
studeo - desire, be easy, strive, study

Funde vinum, funde, tanquam sint fluminis undae;
Nec quaeras unde, sed fundas semper abunde.

abundus - copious, abundant; adv. abunde
fundo-ere - pour
tamquam - like, just as, as if
vinum - wine

Quidquid Aristoteles subtili mente revolvit,
Indoctus iuvenis per verbum "Nescio" solvit.

Aristoteles - Aristotle
indoctus - untaught, ignorant, untrained
revolvo - roll back, revolve, turn
subtilis - fine-spun, slender, delicate

Si pertransire vis ante canem, canis irae
Primum blandire, quo possis tutius ire.

blandior - flatter, coax, allure
canis - dog
pertranseo - pass right on by
tutus - safe, secure, protected; adv. tuto, also tute

(image source)

Rollenhagen 31: Sapiens Dominabitur Astris

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.31, with an English rendering by George Wither. Although the phrase "Sapiens Dominabitur Astris" is well known, its origins are unclear; you can read a detailed discussion here in The Mediaeval Attitude Toward Astrology by Theodore Otto Wedel (1920).

Sapiens Dominabitur Astris
Astra regunt homines; sapiens dominabitur astris
Et poterit notis cautior esse malis.

Hee, over all the Starres doth raigne,
That unto Wisdome can attaine.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are only two words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

cautus -a -um - cautious, careful, wary
dominor, -ārī - master, control, rule over

astrum -ī n.: star; constellation
et: and
homo hominis m.: human being
malus -a -um: bad, evil; male: (adv.) badly
nōtus -a -um: well-known
possum posse potuī: be able
regō regere rēxī rectum: guide, rule
sapiens -ntis.: wise man
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

Fructus Veritus

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 7.15. Notice here that Eve is not the focus, but rather Adam - while still in a state of innocence, he pulled that dread fruit from the forbidden tree. The poem ends with a paradox: what could be worse than evil itself? Answer: the origin of evil!

Fructus Veritus
Nudus Adam vetita quod vulsit ab arbore, malum
Haud fuit, at malo peius: origo mali.

THE FORBIDDEN FRUIT
It was not sole an Apple, It was worse,
Adam bought Sins Original, the Curse.

Here is the vocabulary:

fructus - fruit
vereor - fear, dread, respect
nudus - naked, nude
Adam - Adam
vetitus - forbidden, prohibited
quod - the fact that
vello - pluck, pull
ab - from
arbor - tree
malus - bad, evil
haud - not
sum - be, exist
at - but, on the other hand
peior - worse
origo - origin, beginning

(Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry)

Haud Aliter

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 1:8. You can see the well-watered palm flourishing in the emblem, a symbol of the righteous man who flourishes because he is watered by the word of God.

Haud Aliter
Palma velut riguos nunquam pallescit ad amnes,
Sic viret ad Verbi flumina sacra pius.

Here is the vocabulary:

haud - not
aliter - otherwise, diferently
palma - palm tree
velut - just as
riguus - well-watered
numquam - never
pallesco - fade, grow pale
ad - to, towards, beside
amnis - stream
sic - thus, so
vireo - be green, be lively
verbum - word
flumen - river
sacer - sacred, holy
pius - faithful, righeous, good

Rhyming Distichs: 3

Here are today's rhyming distichs! Sources here include Wegeler, Gartner, and Voigt. Here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs.

Olim despecti tenebantur multa loquentes;
Nunc sunt despecti sapientes pauca loquentes.

despicio - look down on, despise
olim - once upon a time, sometime in the future
sapiens - wise

Pacem ne vites; per pacem te quoque dites:
O quam difficiles sunt sine pace dies!

difficilis - hard, difficult, not easy
dito - make rich, enrich
vito - avoid, evade

Quis vere locuples? Cui famulantur opes.
Quis vere pauper? Cui dominantur opes.

dominor - master, control, rule over
famulor - be a servant
locuples - wealthy

Omnis homo quacumque domo, qua sede moratur,
Provideat quando taceat, vel quando loquatur.

moror - delay, stay
provideo - foresee, provide for, make provision
taceo - be silent, keep quiet, shut up

Si non primus Adam peccasset in arbore quadam, Non foret alter Adam natus de virgine quadam.

Adam - Adam
nascor - be born, come into being
pecco - err, make a mistake, sin

(image source)

Qui vult servare sanctorum singula festa,
Non poterit clare cum codice scire digesta.

codex - codex, book
digero - arrange, distribute, organize
(read about the Digesta of Roman law)
festus - festive, joyous - festum: festival, holiday

Vita brevis, velut umbra levis, sic annihilatur;
Sic vadit subitoque cadit, dum stare putatur.

annihilo - annihilate
subito - suddenly, unexpectedly
vado - go, walk, hurry

Qui stercus glomerat, stercus de stercore nendo Stercus deglomerat, de stercore stercus habendo.

deglomo - unroll
glomero - shape into a ball, roll
neo - spin, weave
stercus - dung, manure

Semper egenus eris, si semper plus tibi quaeris:
Cum contentus eris, tunc dives efficieris.

contentus - content, satisfied with
dives - rich, a rich man, wealthy
efficio - bring about, produce, cause
egenus - destitute, impoverished, wanting

Qui cupit in lecto lucem videre diei, Divitiae atque honor hic raro dabuntur ei.

divitiae - riches, wealth
lectus - bed
rarus - rare, uncommon

(image source)

Rhyming Distichs: 2

Here are today's rhyming distichs! Sources here include Wegeler, Gartner, and Voigt. Here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs.

Quanto dignior es, aut per genus aut per honores,
In te tanto res vitiosae sunt graviores.

vitiosus faulty, full of vice, defective

O felix mortale genus, si semper haberet
Aeternum prae mente decus mortemque timeret!

prae before, in front of

Mortis calcat iter terrae cognatio tota;
Ipsa tamen calcata magis, minus est via nota.

calco tread, trample, ram down
cognatio blood relation, family, affinity

Nulla videt cupidus, nisi quae cupit aspiciendo; Visa cupit cupidus, quae sola videt cupiendo.

aspicio look at, observe, consider
cupidus desirous, greedy, eager

Propter euntes et redeuntes, ostia claude;
Multa petentes, pauca ferentes sunt sine laude.

claudo close, shut
ostium front door, doorway, gateway

Quid sis, quid fueris, quid eris, semper mediteris;
Sic minus atque minus peccatis subiicieris.

meditor consider, ponder
peccatum sin, mistake, error
subicio throw under, make subject to

(Vanitas - Philippe de Champaigne)

O bona paupertas, ni te Deus ipse tulisset,
Tunc tua durities multis ingrata fuisset.

durities hardness, hardship
ingratus ungrateful, thankless, unpleasant
paupertas poverty, need

Ipse laborato! Non dicas "dat deus aurum;"
Dat deus omne bonum, sed non per cornua taurum.

cornu horn
laboro work, work hard, labor
taurus bull

Non hominis mores cito noscimus interiores;
Hinc laudis flores cito non tribuat vel honores.

citus swift, quick; cito: quickly
interior inner, interior, intimate

Vincere si quaeris Venerem, fugiens superabis;
Instans victus eris - Venerem fugiendo fugabis.

fugo chase, put to flight, rout
insto press hard, pursue, approach
supero overcome, conquer, outdo

(Aphrodite and Erotes)

De Arte Amandi

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 8.15. As usual, Owen's little poem is based on a contrast; this time the contrast is between ars and natura. Who, after all, needs an art of love, when we are all, by nature, looking for love!

De Arte Amandi
Iudice me, rudis est, artem qui tradit amandi.
Naturae scopus est, non opus artis, amor.

ON THE ART OF LOVE
I think ’twas rudeness th’ Art of Love t’ impart.
Love is the work of Nature, not of Art.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are two words which are not on the DCC list:

rudis, -e; rudis - rough, coarse, undeveloped
scopus, -ī m. - goal, target

amo -āre: to love
amor -ōris m.: love
ars artis f.: skill
dē: down from, about, concerning (+ abl.)
ego me mihi mē: I, me
iūdex iūdicis m.: judge, juror
nātūra -ae f.: nature
nōn: not
opus operis n.: work
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
trādo -ere -didī -ditum: hand over, yield

(Image: Cupid, William-Adolphe Bouguereau)

Non Uno Sternitur Ictu

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.29, with an English rendering by George Wither. The poem is an expansion on the traditional Latin proverb about felling a tree: Non annosa uno quercus deciditur ictu. Like the saying, the poem emphasizes the idea that just as the oak tree took a very long time to grow, it naturally cannot be felled in a single stroke - although, sadly, it takes very little time to fell one of those beautiful trees compared to the long time it took to grow.

Non Uno Sternitur Ictu

Nitere in adversis, non uno sternitur ictu,
Quae longo e dura tempore crevit humo.

By many Strokes, that Worke is done,
Which cannot be perform'd at One.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There is only one word in this poem that is not on the DCC list:

sterno -ere, strāvī, strātum - spread, lay out, lay low

adversus -a -um: turned towards, facing, opposed; unfavorable
crēsco -ere crēvī crētum: grow, increase
dūrus -a -um: hard, tough, harsh
ex, ē: out of, from (+ abl.)
humus -ī f.: ground; humī, on the ground
īctus -ūs m.: blow, stroke
in: in, on (+ abl.); into onto (+ acc)
longus -a -um: long, far; longē, far, far off
nītor nītī nīsus/nīxus sum: strive
nōn: not
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
tempus -oris n.: time
ūnus -a -um: one

Dum Detonet Imber

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 3:8. The emblem shows an eagle holding a snake in its mouth, sitting atop a mountain and looking all around while a storm is raging; the serpent in the mouth is not for food - instead, is a symbol of wisdom and learning. The poem urges us to refrain from speaking in tempestuous times, waiting instead for fair weather before we express ourselves in speech.

Dum Detonet Imber
Nubila si fuerint, sapienter comprime linguam;
Tunc loquere, illuxit si qua serena dies.

Here is the vocabulary:

dum - while, as long as, until
detono - thunder, roar, rage
imber - rain, shower
nubilus - cloudy;
si - if
sum - be, exist
sapiens - wise; adv. sapienter
comprimo - press, shut, hold in
lingua - tongue, language, speech
tunc - then, at that time, thereupon
loquor - speak, talk, say, announce
illuceo - illuminate, shine, shine on
aliquis - someone, something, anything
serenus - clear, bright, fair, cheerful
dies - day

Rhyming Distichs: 1

I'm starting a new feature at the Disticha Latina blog, in preparation for the big summer distich extravaganza! Here are 10 rhyming distichs, and the vocabulary that is listed here is just for words that are less common (i.e. not part of the 500 most frequently used Latin words as indexed by Diederich). Each set of 10 is also arranged in what should be, more or less, increasing order of difficulty, based both on the number of less common words as well as on how commonly used the other words in the verse are. Sources here include Wegeler, Gartner, and Voigt.

Quod tibi vis fieri, mihi fac: quod non tibi, noli;
Sic potes in terris vivere iure poli.

polus - pole, sky, heaven

Rusticus est vere, dicens mala de muliere:
Nam scimus vere, sumus omnes de muliere.

rusticus - country, rural, rustic

Sit bonus interpres, nil mala verba nocent;
Sit malus interpres, nil bona verba docent.

interpres - interpreter, explainer, translator
noceo - harm, hurt, injure

Vir, qui consilio non credit, iure vagatur,
Et qui consilio factum facit, ille probatur.

probo - approve, test, commend
vagor - wander, roam

Si videas aliquem casurum sive cadentem,
Non ride, at potius gere te sibi compatientem.

compatior - suffer together, have pity
rideo - laugh, mock

Si lacrimae vel opes animas revocare valerent,
Lucifer atque sui soli sua regna tenerent.

Lucifer - Lucifer
revoco - call back, recall, revive

(Lucifer by William Blake)

Quid prodest homini, si vivat saecula centum?
Cum moritur, vitam transisse putat quasi ventum.

centum - one hundred
prosum - be useful, benefit, profit

Si sanctos sequeris, sanctus sic efficieris,
Sed perverteris, si perversos comiteris.

comitor - accompany, go along with
efficio - bring about, produce, cause
perverto - destroy, ruin, corrupt

Quod sibi quisque serit praesentis tempore vitae,
Hoc sibi messis erit, dum dicitur: Ite, venite!

messis - harvest
praesens - present, at hand
sero - sow, plant

Sta pes, sta mi pes, sta pes, nec labere, mi pes!
Ni tu stes, mi pes, lectus erunt lapides.

labor - slip, glide, fall
lapis - stone, rock
lectus - bed

(image source)

Horologium Vitae

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 3.14. Owen dedicates the poem as follows: Ad D. Ioannem West, Amicum Suum. John West studied at Christ’s College Cambridge and became a member of the King’s Privy Chamber (more information). I really like the way the poem plays with the binary rising and setting of the sun in the first line, pairing it with the three-fold model of time: today, tomorrow and yesterday.

Horologium Vitae
Latus ad occasum, umquam rediturus ad ortum,
Vivo hodie, moriar cras, here natus eram.

From East to West without return am I,
Born yesterday, live this day, next day die.

Here is the vocabulary:

horologium - clock, sundial
vita - life
fero - carry, bear, produce, yield
ad - to, towards
occasus - fall, setting, west
umquam - ever, at any time
redeo - come back, return
ortus - rise, rising, east
vivo - live
hodie - today
morior - die
cras - tomorrow
heri - yesterday
nascor - be born, come into being

(Image: Temperance, by Ambrogio Lorenzetti)

Ad Medelam

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 2:8. It is based on the Aesop's fable about the lion's court and how the monkey was made into medicine; you can read a version of that fable in English here, meanwhile, here is a Latin version of the story. :-)

Ad Medelam
Ipse sui est morbi medicus leo: vos quoque reges
Assentatores pellite sponte malos.

Here is the vocabulary:

ad - to, towards
medela - cure, healing, health
ipse - emphatic adjective (-self)
suus - one's own (his, hers, their)
sum - be, exist
medicus - physician, doctor
leo - lion
vos - you (plural)
quoque - also, as well
rex - king
assentator - flatterer, yes-man
pello - drive out, banish, push away
spons - free will; sponte - freely
malus - bad, evil

Victrix Patientia Duri

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.28, with an English rendering by George Wither. Here are the opening lines of Wither's own poem:

Some Trees, when Men oppresse their Aged Heads,
(With waighty Stones) they fructifie the more;
And, when upon some Herbs, the Gard'ner treads,
They thrive and prosper, better then before.

Although the "oppressed" tree in Rollenhagen's emblem does not look like a palm, the poem implies the "palm of victory" - just be patient, don't worry about the oppressive obstacles, and you will be a winner.

Victrix Patientia Duri
Omne malum superat victrix patientia duri
Ut nec ab imposito pondere palma perit.

No Inward Griefe, nor outward Smart,
Can overcome a Patient-Heart.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are three words which are not on the DCC list:

palma f. - palm, palm of victory
patientia, f. - endurance, patience, suffering
victrix, victricis f. - victor, conqueress

ā, ab, abs: from, by (+abl.)
dūrus -a -um: hard, tough, harsh
impōno -ere -posuī -positum: put in, put on, impose, levy upon
malus -a -um: evil
neque, nec: and not, nor; neque . . . neque, neither . . . nor
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
pereo -īre -iī -itum: perish, be lost
pondus poderis n.: weight
supero -āre: overcome, surpass, defeat
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)

Natalis

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 8.14.

Natalis
Ad praesentia nascor, et ad ventura renascor.
Natalis prior est ille, sed hoc potior.

THE BIRTH-DAY
To present born, reborn to future things,
The present’s first, the last more comfort brings.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are two words which are not on the DCC list:

nātālis, nātāle; nātālis - birth (adj.), native; birthday
renascor, -ī, renātus - be revived, be born again, be renewed

ad: to, up to, towards (+acc.)
et: and
hic, haec, hoc: this; hōc, on this account
ille, illa, illud: that
nāscor nāscī nātus sum: be born; nātus, son
potis -e: powerful, able
praesēns -ntis: present, in person, ready
prior -ius: earlier, preceding; prius or priusquam, before
sed: but
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
venio -īre vēnī ventum: come

(image source)

Nil Mihi Vobiscum Est

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 1:7. Camerarius explains in his essay accompanying the emblem that Dioscorides and other authors claim that the cypress tree can repel moths, as can pieces of cypress wood. Camerarius then finds a symbolic moral meaning: these moths are flatters, but the beauty of the cypress has no interest in such adulation.

Nil Mihi Vobiscum Est
Ite leves procul hinc aliorum in praedia blattae;
Noster adulantes nescit amare decor.

Here is the vocabulary:

nil - nothing
ego - I, me
vos - you (pl.)
sum - be, exist
eo - go
leves - light, trifling, frivolous
procul - far, far from, far off
hinc - from here, hence
alius - other, another, different
in - in, into
praedium - farm, estate
blatta - moth, chafer
noster - our, ours,
adulor - flatter, fawn upon
nescio - not know, be unaware
amo - love, like, be fond of
decor - beauty, good looks, appearance

Ubi Helena, Ibi Troia

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.27, with an English rendering by George Wither. Here you can see the men warring in the street for the affections of the woman looking out of the window! Note the odd word order in the Latin: the est of the second line goes with the bella puella of the first line: ubi bella puella ... est, (ibi) bella movet.

Ubi Helena, Ibi Troia
Certe ubi Tyndaris est, ibi Troia; ubi bella puella
Bella movet telis aemula turba est suis.

Where Hellen is, there, will be Warre;
For, Death and Lust, Companions are.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are only two words in this poem that are not on the DCC list, plus three proper names:

aemulus -a -um - striving, emulating, jealous, envious
Helena - Helen
pretty, handsome, charming
Troia - Troy
Tyndaris - daughter of Tyndareus = Helen

bellum -ī n.: war
certus -a -um: sure, fixed; certē, certainly, surely
ibi: there
moveō -ēre mōvī mōtum: move
puella -ae f.: girl; girl-friend
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tēlum -ī n.: missile, weapon, spear
turba -ae f.: crowd, uproar
ubi: where, when

Metuenda Procella

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 4:7.

Metuenda Procella
Contrahe vela, licet ludant delphines in alto,
Nam tunc tempestas non procul esse solet.

Here is the vocabulary:

metuo - fear, be afraid
procella - gale, storm
contraho - collect, draw in, shorten
velum - sail
licet - even though
ludo - play, sport
delphinis - dolphin
in - in, into
altum - the deep sea
nam - for
tunc - then, at that time
tempestas - storm
non - not
procul - far off, far
sum - be, exist
solet - be usual, is accustomed

Durabo

---

239     -     240     -     241

---

Durabo
Durabo, et quondam res exspectabo secundas;
Quamvis nunc male sit, non male semper erit.

With Patience, I the Storme sustaine;
For, Sun-shine still doth follow Raine.

Source: Gabriel Rollenhagen (1583-1619), Nucleus, 26. The English rendering is by George Wither. Meter: Elegiac. Here is more of Wither's poem, inspired by Rollenhagen's emblem:

The little Squirrell, hath no other Food
Then that which Natures thrifty hand provides;
And, in purveying up and downe the Wood,
She many cold wet Stormes, for that, abides.
She lyes not heartlesse in her Mossie Dray,
Nor feareth to adventure through the Raine;
But skippeth out, and beares it as she may,
Vntill the Season waxeth calme againe.

I really like this image of the little squirrel in the rain as a sign of endurance, just waiting for the rain to stop so that the sun can come shining through.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There is only one word in this poem that is not on the DCC list:

I will endure (durabo), and I will await favorable affairs (et res exspectabo secundas) at some point (quondam); although things might be bad now (quamvis nunc male sit), they will not always be bad (non male semper erit).

dūrō, dūrāre: be hard, last, endure

et: and
exspectō -āre: watch, wait, expect
malus -a -um: bad, evil; male: (adv.) badly
nōn: not
nunc: now
quamvīs: however you like; although
quondam: formerly, once; at some time
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
secundus -a -um: following; favorable
semper: always, ever
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(image source)

Novus Homo

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 7.13. This epigram by Owen depends on an elegant play on words in the Latin: depelle de pelle and decute de cute.

Novus Homo
Quod superest, de pelle tua depelle vetustum,
De cute peccati decute triste iugum.

A NEW MAN
Depel, Dispel that old-grown Man of Sin,
And, with the new Man, a new life begin.

Here is the vocabulary:

novus - new
homo - man, person
qui - who, which, that
supersum - remain, be left over
de - from
pellis - skin, hide
tuus - your, yours
depello - push away, remove
vetustus - old, aged, former
cutis - skin
peccatum - sin
decutio - shake off, dislodge
tristis - sad
iugum - yoke

(image source)

In Tempore Munit

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 3:7. Today's emblem is about the aetites, the 'eagle stone,' a legendary stone that could supposedly be found in the nests of eagles and which possesed magical and medicinal powers. In his essay accompanying the emblem, Camerarius invokes the account of Horapollo, who says that a hieroglyph of "an eagle conveying a stone" is a symbol of a man who dwells safely in a city. The eagle supposedly gathered up the stone and deposited it in his nest in order to keep the nest steady. Camerarius urges us to do the same thing with the nest of our minds, keeping it steady with "weighty" (serious) learning as a kind of rock to steady ourselves.

In Tempore Munit
Non bene firmum animum abripient vanissima rerum;
Quare hunc doctrina constabilito gravi.

Here is the vocabulary:

in - in, into
tempus - time
munio - strengthen, protect
non - not, no
bene - well
firmus - steady, staunch, true
animus - mind, soul
abripio - snatch away, grab
vanus - empty, pointless
res - thing
quare - therefore, for which reason
hic - this, this one
doctrina - teaching, instruction
constabilo - establish, confirm
gravis - heavy, serious, important

Non Quam Crebro Sed Quam Bene

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.25, with an English rendering by George Wither. As you can see, the man is taking very careful aim, admired by the spectators in the foreground.

Non Quam Crebro Sed Quam Bene
Non tu quam crebro iaculeris, quam bene refert;
Contingat metam missa sagitta suam.

Oft Shooting, doth not Archers make;
But, hitting right the Marke they take.

Here is the vocabulary:

non - not, no
quam - how
creber - thick, frequent, repeated
sed - but
bene - well, good
tu - you
iaculor - throw a javelin, shoot
refert - it matters
contingo - touch, reach, attain
meta - goal, target
mitto - send
sagitta - arrow
suus - reflexive possessive

Contemptus Mundi

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 10.13. This is one of the Owen's paradoxical epigrams: to have a happy life, you must learn to let go - because those who cling to life live unhappily. You can read more about contemptus mundi at Wikipedia.

Contemptus Mundi
Felicem vitam vis vivere? Spernito vitam.
Vivit enim misere, cui sua vita placet.

CONTEMPT OF THE WORLDWilt live an happy life? Thy Life contemn:He wretched lives, whose life un’t him’s a Jem.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are only two words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

contempus, contemptūs m. - contempt, scorn
sperno -ere, sprēvī, sprētum - scorn, reject, despise

enim: for, indeed
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
miser misera miserum: wretched, pitiable
mundus -ī m.: world, universe, heavens
placeo -ēre placuī placitum: please
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
vīta -ae f.: life
vīvo -ere vīxī victum: live
volo velle voluī: wish, be willing

(Hans Glaser)

Consequitur Quodcumque Petit

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.24, with an English rendering by George Wither. Here are the opening lines of Wither's poem:

In vaine faire Cynthia never taketh paines,
Nor faints in foll'wing her desired Game;
And, when at any Marke her Bowe she straines,
The winged Arrow surely hits the same.
Her Picture, therefore, in this place doth shew
The Nature of their Mindes who Cynthia like,
With Constancie their Purposes pursue,
And faint not till they compasse what they seeke.

You can learn more about the epithet Dictynna in this Wikipedia article; Wither uses a different epithet of the goddess: Cynthia. In the Latin, note the nifty tmesis: quodcumque is cut into two pieces by pia.

Consequitur Quodcumque Petit
Consequitur quodcumque petit Dictynna sagittis,
Et mens consequitur quod pia cumque petit.

Who by good Meanes, good things would gaine,
Shall never seeke, nor aske in vaine.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are only two words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

Dictynna - Dictynna (Diana, Artemis)
sagitta, f. - arrow

cōnsequor -sequī -secūtus sum: follow up, overtake, attain
et: and
mēns mentis f.: mind
petō petere petīvī petītum: seek, aim at
pius -a -um: dutiful, devoted, just, pious
quī- quae- quodcumque: who-, whatever 

Herculis Bivium

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 3.12. Owen dedicated this poem Ad nobilem Optimae Spei Adulescentem D. Thomam Puckering. Sir Thomas Puckering (1592-1636) was the son of Sir John Puckering; Owen addressed several poems to him. The epigram is about the famous "Choice of Heracles," where Heracles had to choose between Pleasure and Virtue. In Owen's poem, there is a playful contrast between the bivium, which Heracles had to choose between, and the famous trivium (grammar, logic, and rhetoric) and quadrivium (arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy) of the schooling tradition.

Herculis Bivium
Sunt qui in quadriviis triviisque insigniter errent:
Herculis in bivio maximus error inest.

HERCULES BY-WAY.
Some in Quadruples, some in Triples erre:
Th’ Herculean Duple is most sinister.

Here is the vocabulary:

Hercules - Heracles, Hercules
bivium - crossroad, fork in road
sum - be, exist
qui - who, which, that
in - in
quadrivium - meeting of four roads
trivium - meeting of three roads
que - and
insigniter - conspicuously, notably
erro - be mistaken, err
maximus - greatest, biggest
error - mistake
insum - be in, be involved in

(Image: painting by Annibale Carracci)

Nec Caesus Cedam

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 2:7. Today's emblem is about the famous "Indian dog" which Alexander supposedly saw while he was in that country: when one of these Indian dogs attacked a lion, it would not let go, even when its leg was hacked off. You can read more about the legendary Indian dogs here.

Nec Caesus Cedam
Nunquam, caesa licet, linquit canis Inda leonem
Nec, licet accisus, facta decora bonus.

Here is the vocabulary:

nec - and not, nor
caedo - chop, cut down, smite
cedo - concede, yield
nunquam - neer
licet - although
linquo - leave, abandon, let go
canis - dog
Indus - Indian, of India
leo - lion
accido - cut into, hew, destroy
factum - deed
decorus - honorable, glorious, noble
bonus - good

Tanto Uberius

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 1:6. You can see how this plant has been carefully pruned! The metaphor at work here is that you too are a plant, and if something in your life is shriveling up because of your bad habits, just prune it back, and you will flourish with new shoots of your excellent qualities!

Tanto Uberius
Tu quoque sic reseces vitiis marcentia multis,
Virtutum ut soboles pullulet uberior.

Here is the vocabulary:

tantus - so much, such
uber - rich, fertile
tu - you
quoque - also
sic - thus, in this way
reseco - cut back, trim
vitium - fault, vice
marco - wither, shrivel
multus - much, many
virtus - virtue, excellent
soboles - sprout, shoot, progeny
pullulo - spring forth, sprout

Patior Ut Potiar

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.23, with an English rendering by George Wither. You can see that the message of endurance is expressed by the image of a bear who must endure the stings of the bee in order to acquire the honey.

Patior Ut Potiar
Ut potiar, patior stimulos pro melle; dolores
Mille, ut mille feram pectore delicias.

By Paine, on Pleasures we doe seize;
And, we by Suff'rance, purchase Ease.

Here is the vocabulary:

patior - suffer, endure, undergo
ut - so, so that, in order to
potior - acquire, become master of
stimulus - prick, sting, spur
pro - for, in exchange for
mel - honey
dolor - pain, grief, sorrow
mille - thousand
fero - carry, bear
pectus - breast, heart, mind
deliciae - pleasures, delights

Sermo et Scriptura

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 7.12. This is one of Owen's complex parallels, where in the first line the silent hand can be the interpreter of the speaking tongue while, in turn, the tongue is the messenger that speaks on behalf of the silent heart.

Sermo et Scriptura
Interpres linguae manus est, at muta, loquentis,
Pectoris ut muti nuntia lingua loquens.

SPEECH AND WRITING
Mute Hand’s the speaking Tongues Interpreter,
As speaking Tongue’s the mute Hearts messenger.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are only three words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

interpres, interpretis - interpreter, translator, expounder
mūtus -a -um - silent, mute
scriptūra f. - writing, composition, scripture
 
at: but, but yet
et: and
lingua -ae f.: tongue; language
loquor loquī locūtus sum: speak, talk
manus -ūs m.: hand; band of men
nūntius -iī m.: messenger; news
pectus -oris n.: chest, breast
sermo -ōnis m.: conversation, discourse
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)

(Image: Abecedario demonstrativo, 1620)

Nec Aura, Nec Unda

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 4:6. The emblem shows the fish called hirundo, a flying fish, which, as you can see, faces dangers both in the air and in the water.

Nec Aura, Nec Unda
In nos nempe omnis caeli pelagique rapina est:
Et fatale rapit, quem manet, exitium.

Here is the vocabulary:

nec - and not
nec...nec... - neither... nor...
aura - breeze, air
unda - wave, water
in - in, into, against
nos - we, us
nempe - of course, certainly
omnis - all, whole, every
caelum - sky
pelagus - sea
que - and
rapina - plunder, robbery, rape
sum - be, exist
et - and
fatalis - fatal, deadly
rapio - snatch, grap, seize
qui - who, which, that
maneo - await, remain
exitium - ruin, death, destruction

Quid Si Sic

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.22, with an English rendering by George Wither. Here is more of Wither's poem:

What though an Apish-Pigmie, in attire,
His Dwarfish Body Gyant-like, array?
Turne Brave, and get him Stilts to seem the higher?
What would so doing, handsome him I pray?
now, surely, such a Mimicke fight as that,
Would with excessive Laughter move your Spleene,
Till you had made the little Dandiprat,
To lye within some Auger-hold, unseene.

Of course, you can see the stilts in the emblem, and you can also see the reflection in the mirror of the shield, too!

Quid Si Sic
Quid si sic? forsan cubito sim longior, heuheu.
Non ars Naturae corrigit ingenium.

Though he endeavour all he can,
An Ape, will never be a Man.

Here is the vocabulary:

quid - what
si - if
sic - thus, so, in this way
forsan - perhaps
cubitus - forearm, cubit (17 inches)
sum - be, exist
longus - long, tall
heuheu - oh, alas
non - not, no
ars - technique, skill, device
Natura - nature
corrigo - correct, improve, reform
ingenium - innate quality, character

Troynovant

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 2.12. The title of the poem, Troynovant, refers to the legend of London as the "New Troy," or "Troia Newydd." You can read more about this legend at Wikipedia, and also about the legend of the phoenix being born again from its own ashes.

Ex cinere ut Phoenix Phoenicis nascitur alter,
Londinium Troiae prodiit e cinere.

As Phoenix Ashes do the Phoenix breed,
So from old Troy new London did proceed.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are three words which are not on the DCC list, plus the name of London itself:

Londinum - London
phoenix, phoenīcis m. - phoenix
prōdeo, prōdīre, prōdiī, prōditum - go forth, come out, spring up
Troia - Troy


alter altera alterum: other of two
cinis cineris m./f.: ashes, embers
ex, ē: out of, from (+ abl.)
nāscor nāscī nātus sum: be born; nātus, son
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)

(image source)

Non Usitata Vehor

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 3:6. The eagle is a symbol of the learned man whose talent allows the rest of us, little "regulus" birds that we are, to ascend to the heights! You might also enjoy this Aesop's fable about how the regulus uses this relationship to actually beat the eagle in a race: the regulus bird rides the eagle right up to the finish line and then darts ahead, crossing the finish line first.

Regulus in aquilae auxilio defertur in auras:
Sic quisquis docti nititur ingenio.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are three words which are not on the DCC list:

aquila, f. - eagle
rēgulus, rēgulī m. - little king; tiny bird
nītor nītī nīsus/nīxus sum: strive

aura -ae f.: breeze
auxilium -ī n.: support, assistance; (pl.) auxiliary forces
dēferō -ferre -tulī -lātum: carry away, report
doceō -ēre -uī doctum: teach
ingenium -ī n.: disposition, ability, talent
quisquis quidquid: whoever, whichever
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as

Mors Vitae Initium

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.21, with an English rendering by George Wither. You can see the ears of grain growing out of the skull, along with an hourglass, too, a symbolic element not mentioned in the poem. Meanwhile, you can see two contrasting human scenes in the background: on the left, a coffin is being carried in a funeral procession, while on the right, crops are being harvested from the field. (Luckily, no allusions to Soylent Green are implied or intended!)

Mors Vitae Initium
Grana velut putrefacta novas meditantur aristas;
Sic vitae mors est haec quoque principium.

Death is no Losse, but rather, Gaine;
For wee by Dying, Life attaine.

Here is the vocabulary:

mors - death
vita - life
initium - start
granum - grain, kernel
velut - just as
putrefactus - rotten, decayed
novus - new
meditor - ponder, plan, devise
arista - beard of grain, crop
sic - thus
sum - be, exist
hic - this, this one
quoque - also, likewise
principium - beginning

Non Occides, Non Furaberis

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 5.11. This epigram starts with two of the ten commandments and sets up a contrast between them: the lawyer needs to pay attention to the law that says "thou shalt not steal," while the doctor needs to listen to the law that says "thou shalt not kill."

Non Occides, Non Furaberis
Furtum non facies iuristae scribitur haec lex.
Haec non occides pertinet ad medicum.

THOU SHALT NOT KILL, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL
Thou shalt not steal, this Law’s for Lawyers writ:
Thou shalt not kill, this for Physicians fit.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are three words which are not on the DCC list:

furtum, n. - theft. robbery
iūrista, iūristae m. - jurist
medicus, medicī m. - physician, doctor

ad: to, up to, towards (+acc.)
facio facere fēcī factum: do, make
hic, haec, hoc: this; hōc, on this account
lēx lēgis: f. law
nōn: not
occīdo -cīdere -cīdī -cīsum: kill, cut down
pertineo -ēre -tinuī: tend to, refer to, pertain to, be the business of
scrībo -ere scrīpsī scrīptum: write

(image source)

Nihil Decentius

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 2:6. The trait of a noble right-hand is expressed by the lion, while prudence is expressed by the snake. Combined, they make a formidable creature!

Nihil Decentius
Provida magnanimae si adsit prudentia dextrae,
Dic mihi quae rerum pulchrior esse queat?

Here is the vocabulary:

Transeat

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.20, with an English rendering by George Wither. What a great emblem for a rainy day! Note also the allusion to Catullus's famous poem, VIII: obstinata mente perfer, obdura.

Transeat
Perfer et obdura: tempestas transeat olim,
Fulgebit puro laetior axe dies.

A Sive, of shelter maketh show;
But ev'ry Storme will through it goe.

Here is the vocabulary:

transeo - pass by
perfero - bear, bear up, endure
et - and
obduro - persist, endure, be hard
tempestas - storm, trouble
olim - once, in the future
fulgeo - shine, glow, be bright
purus - clear
laetus - happy
axis - axis, sky, clime
dies - day

Fides

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 10.11. As often, this epigram sets up an extended parallel between the two lines: the eye can see the stars that are close, but the pole is an ideal, so too you can see the sky with your own, but it takes faith to see God.

Fides
Astra oculus vicina, polum sed opinio cernit.
Sic oculo caelum cerno, fideque Deum.

FAITH
I see the Stars, the Pole’s imaginary;
Eyes view the Skies, but Faith to God doth carry.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are two words which are not on the DCC list:


opīnio, opīniōnis f. - opinion, belief, reputation
polus, m. - pole, sky, heaven

astrum -ī n.: star; constellation
caelum -ī n.: sky, heavens
cerno cernere crēvī crētum: discern, separate
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
fidēs -eī f.: trust, faith
oculus -ī m.: eye
que: and (enclitic)
sed: but
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut, in the same way as
vīcīnus -a -um: neighboring, near

(South Polar Star Trails)

Ardua Virtutem

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 1:5. You can see both the palm of victory and the laurel up on top of the high mountain, symbols of excellence - you just have to ascend the mountain to get them: ardua (est via ad) virtutem.

Ardua Virtutem
Qui laurum et palmam victricem carpere gaudes,
Montis, si nescis, ardua scande prius.

Here is the vocabulary:

arduus - steep, lofty
virtus - virtue, excellence
qui - who, which, that
laurus - bay tree, laurel, crown
et - and
palma - palm, first place
victrix - victorious, victor (fem.)
carpo - pluck, gather
gaudeo - rejoice, be glad
mons - mountain
si - if
nescio - not know, not know how to
scando - ascend, climb
prius - first, beforehand

Ad Scopum Licet Aegre et Frustra

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.19, with an English rendering by George Wither. You can see poor Sisyphus rolling his rock up the hill and then watching it roll back down again. Meanwhile, I am quite curious about those rabbits there in their rabbit hole at the bottom of the hill; I wonder how they fit into the symbolic picture!

Ad Scopum Licet Aegre et Frustra
Volve, scopum donec, licet aegre, attingere possis;
Et frustra, molem volve, revolve tamen.

A Foole, in Folly taketh Paine,
Although he labour still in vaine.

Here is the vocabulary:

ad - to, towards
scopus - goal, target
licet - however, although
aegre - painfully, with difficulty
et - and
frustra - in vain, for nothing
volvo - roll
donec - until
attingo - touch, reach
possum - can, be able
moles - mass, bulk
revolvo - roll back
tamen - yet, still

Troianus

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 2.10. This epigram alludes to a famous Latin proverb: Sero sapiunt Phryges, "The Phrygians (Trojans) wise up too late." As Owen points out, we are all metaphorically Trojans. So, watch out for that wooden horse, real or metaphorical!

Troianus
Troiani eversa sapuerunt denique Troia.
Quis non Troianum se fateatur in hoc?

A TROJAN
Troy lost, at last the Trojans wiser grew:
What man is not in this a Trojan true?

Here is the vocabulary:

Troianus - Trojan
everto - overturn, overthrow
sapio - taste, sense, understand
denique - finally, at last
quis - who
non - not, no
se - reflexive pronoun
fateor - confess, admit
in - in
hic - this, this one

(image source)

Mole Ruit Sua

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 4:5. In his commentary, Camerarius links the reckless behavior of beached whale with ancient mythological exempla of reckless strong men such as Milo of Croton who own strength leads to their destruction.

Mole Ruit Sua
Me mea ad interitum moles pertraxit acerbum;
Sic pereat, quisquis robore fidit atrox.

Here is the vocabulary:

moles - mass, bulk
ruo - rush on, ruin, destroy
suus - reflexive possessive adjective
ego - I, me
meus - my, mine
ad - to, towars
interitus - death, destruction
pertraho - drag through, drag to
acerbus - bitter, harsh
sic - in this way
pereo - perish, die
quisquis - whoever, anyone
robur - oak, strength, force
fido - trust, trust in
atrox - savage, fierce, cruel

Matura

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.18, with an English rendering by George Wither. As you can see, the spider is lying in wait for the butterfly; unless it makes haste, the spider will catch that butterfly - it needs to use its wings swiftly to fly away!

Matura
Matura: mora longa nocet; spes omnis in alis;
Instat qui te vult prendere, papilio.

From thence, where Nets and Snares are layd,
Make-hast; lest els you be betray'd.

Here is the vocabulary:

maturo - ripen, hurry, hasten
mora - delay
longus - long, lengthy
noceo - harm, injure
spes - hope
omnis - all, every
in - in, into
ala - wing
insto - approach, threaten, be close
qui - who, which, that
tu - you
volo - want, wish, will
prendo - catch, capture
papilio - butterfly

Tres Haustus

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 6.10. This is a nice play on the idea of why you might take three drinks - taking care of that past thirst first and then your present thirst, while hoping that the third drink will take care of any future thirst yet to come!

Tres Haustus
Prateritam primus, praesentem proximus haustus,
Venturam extinguat tertius iste sitim.

THREE DRAUGHTS
First draught thirst past, present the next abates.
For the third future thirst anticipates.

Here is the vocabulary:

tres - three
haustus - draft, drink
praeteritus - past
primus - first
praesens - present
proximus - next
venturus - to come, future
extinguo - quench
tertius - third
iste - that, that one
sitis - thirst

(image source)