Wednesday, January 25, 2012

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