Cur non mitto meos...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 7.3:

Cur non mitto meos tibi, Pontiliane, libellos?
Ne mihi tu mittas, Pontiliane, tuos.

You ask me why I have no verses sent?
For fear you should return the compliment.
- Hay

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:

Pontilianus - proper name
 
cūr: why?
ego me mihi mē: I, me
meus -a -um: my
mitto -ere mīsī missum: send, let go
nē: lest, that not
nōn: not
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your

(image source)

O felix mortale genus...

Here is today's Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This one comes from the Florilegium Gottingense edited by Voigt.

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


The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. All the words in this poem are on that list!

aeternus -a -um: everlasting, eternal
decus, decoris n.: beauty, grace; ornament, glory, honor
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
genus, generis n.: origin, lineage, kind
habeo -ēre -uī habitum: have, hold
mēns mentis f.: mind
mors mortis f.: death
mortālis -e: liable to death, mortal
prae: in front of, before, because of (+abl.)
-que: and
semper: always, ever
sī: if
timeo -ēre -uī: to fear, to dread

(Photo by Jim Epler)

Contra verbosos...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), 1.10, with English translations by Duff and Chase.

Contra verbosos noli contendere verbis:
Sermo datur cunctis, animi sapientia paucis.

Try not with words the talker to outdo;
On all is speech bestowed: good sense on few.
(Chase)

To fight the wordy you must words eschew:
Speech is bestowed on all, sound sense on few.
(Duff)

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

contendo -ere, contendī, contentum - stretch, contend, compete
sapientia f. - wisdom
verbōsus -a -um - wordy, verbose

animus -ī m.: spirit, mind
contrā: against, opposite (adv. and prep. +acc.)
cūnctus -a -um: entire all together
do dare dedī datum: give
nōlo nōlle, nōluī: be unwilling
paucī -ae -a: few
sermo -ōnis m.: conversation, discourse
verbum -ī n.: word

(image source)

Brevitas

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 7.31. Any distich in praise of brevity offers ipso facto proof!

Brevitas
Perspicua brevitate nihil magis afficit aures;
In verbis, ubi res postulat, esto brevis.

BREVITY
Perspicuous Brevity doth please in chief:
In words, which things concern’d contain, be brief.

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:

brevitas, brevitātis f. - shortness, brevity
perspicuus -a -um - evident, clear
pōstulo -āre: demand, require

afficiō -ficere -fēcī -fectum: affect, visit with (+ abl.)
auris -is f.: ear
brevis -e: short, shallow, brief; adv. breviter
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
magis: more
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ubi: where, when
verbum -ī n.: word

(Poster by Aaron Wood)

Tutius Ut Possit Figi

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.60, with an English rendering by George Wither. The dolphin is the friendly fish that helps men at sea; the dolphin's speed is a paradoxical complement to the anchor's steadiness, as Wither explains in the opening lines of his poem to accompany this emblem:

Ovr Elders, when their meaning was to shew
A native-speedinesse (in Emblem wise)
The picture of a Dolphin-Fish they drew;
Which, through the waters, with great swiftnesse, flies
An Anchor, they did figure, to declare
Hope, stayednesse, or a grave-deliberation:
And therefore when those two, united are,
It giveth us a two-fold Intimation.

You might notice the similarity to the famous emblem of the Aldine Press, with its motto of Festina lente.

Tutius Ut Possit Figi
Tutius ut possit figi maris anchora fundo,
Adiuvat humanam piscis amicus opem.

If Safely, thou desire to goe
Bee nor too swift, nor overslow.

Here is the vocabulary:

tutus - safe, protected
ut - so, so that, in order to
possum - can, be able
figo - fasten, fix, establish
mare - sea
anchora - anchor
fundus - bottom, lower part
adiuvo - help, aid
humanus - human (adj.)
piscis - fish
amicus - friendly, friend
ops - power, help, might

Cunctando Proficit

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 1:15. The emblem shows a mulberry true which, with the wisdom of nature, produces fruit at the right time - not too early, not too late. Camerarius singles the mulberry out for praise in this regard because it is praised by Pliny for not producing shoots until after the very last frost, unlike other plants that might produce shoots to early, only to have them destroyed by the late frost.

Festinare nocet, nocet et cunctatio saepe:
Tempore quaeque suo qui facit, ille sapit.

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

cunctātio, cunctātiōnis f. - delay, lingering
festīnō, -āre - hasten, hurry, be quick
sapiō sapere sapīvī: be wise

et: and
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
ille illa illud: that
noceō nocēre nocuī: harm
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
saepe: often
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tempus -oris n.: time

A servo scis...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 1.81. Martial is here playing with the fact that in Latin, the word dominus had a wide range of meaning - it meant "master" in the context of master and slave, but it was also used as a respectful term of address outside of the slavery context, as when addressing one's own patron or father. So Sosibianus was hardly alone is using the title dominus when addressing his father, but Martial makes the practice an object of amusement at Sosibianus' expense: Sosibianus calls his father "master," which must mean that Sosibianus is a slave, which must mean he knows himself to be the son of a slave.

A servo scis te genitum blandeque fateris,
cum dicis dominum, Sosibiane, patrem.

That thou'rt son to a slave, thou dost frankly record,
When, Sosibian, thou titlest thy father "My lord."
- Elphinston

Here is the vocabulary:

a - from, by
servus - slave, servant
scio - know
tu - you
gigno - give birth, bear, beget
blandus - pleasant, flattering
que - and
fateor - confess, admit
cum - when
dico - say, tell
dominus - master
Sosibianus - Sosibianus
pater - father

(Roman Slave Mosaic)

Sic fac ut nulla...

Here is today's Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs.

Sic fac ut nulla sine fructu transeat hora:
Sic fit hora brevis et labor ipse levis.

Here is the vocabulary:

sic - thus, as, so
facio - do, make
ut - so, so that, in order to
nullus - not any, none
sine - without
fructus - fruit
transeo - walk by, pass
hora - hour, time
fio - be made, be made to happen
brevis - short, brief
et - and
labor - labor, hard work
ipse - emphatic adj/pronoun
levis - light, slight, trifling

(image source)

Successu indignos...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), 2.23, with English translations by Duff and Chase.

Successu indignos noli tu ferre moleste:
Indulget Fortuna malis, ut vincere possit.

Vex not thyself when bad men win, for so
Doth fortune go about to lay them low.
(Chase)

Chafe not against men's undeserved success:
To bring it low Luck smiles on wickedness.
(Duff)

Here is the vocabulary:

successus - advancement, success
indignus - unworthy, undeserving
nolo - do not want, will not, don't
tu - you
fero - carry, bear, endure
molestus - annoying, vexing; moleste (adv.)
indulgeo - grant, concede
Fortuna - Fortune, Lady Luck
malus - bad, evil
ut - so, so that, in order to
vinco - conquer, win
possum - be able, can

(Bernie Madoff)

Dives

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 3.31. Here Owen plays with the paradoxical sense of repentance - the miser is someone who feels pentitent about every penny he has had to pay out, but he does not feel the spiritual penitence that would get him into heaven!

Dives
In coelum dives cur raro ascendit? Avarum
Poenitet expensi, praeterea nihili.

A RICH MAN
Why are few rich men sav’d? because their bent
Repents Expences, nothing else repent.

Here is the vocabulary:

dives - wealthy, rich; rich man
in - in, into
caelum - sky, heaven
cur - why
raro - rarely
ascendo - go up, ascend
avarus - miserly, greedy
paenitet - it displeases, makes sorry
expensum - expenditure
praetera - besides, in addition
nihilum - nothing

(Albert Finney as Scrooge)

Regio Haud Religio

Here is today's emblem and distich by Bornitius, 5:15. The Latin poem plays on the similarity between the words regio and religio. The words are not related etymologically, but it is indeed true that the letters r-e-g-i-o are lurking there in the word r-e-l-i-g-i-o.

Regio Haud Religio
Non mihi religio cordi est, sed amor regionis;
Nimirum regio in religione latet.

Here is the vocabulary:

regio - area, region, country
haud - not
religio - religion
non - not, no
ego - I, me
cor - heart
sum - be, exist
sed - but
amor - love
nimirum - surely, without doubt
in - in, into
habeo - have

Pro Gallinis

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.59, with an English rendering by George Wither. You can see the roosters fighting in the foreground; meanwhile, in the background, you can see their human equivalents!


Pro Gallinis
Ut pro gallinis victoriae amore salaces,
Non praedae, galli bella cruenta movent.

To brawle for Gaine, the Cocke doth sleight
But, for his Females, he will fight.

Here is the vocabulary:

pro - for, for the sake of
gallina - hen, chicken
ut - as, so
victoria - victory
amor - love
salax - lusty, lecherous
non - not, no
praeda - spoils, loot, plunder
gallus - rooster
bellum - war
cruentus - bloody, gory
moveo - move, set in motion, agitate

Facies Veneris

---

156     -     157     -     158

---

Facies Veneris
Quid facies, facies Veneris cum veneris ante?
Ne sedeas, sed eas, ne pereas per eas.

Source: Philosophia Patrum (ed. Wegeler), 1013. Meter: Elegiac. This poem is full of puns! There is facies and the noun facies, and then there is the goddess Venus in the genitive and the verb veneris in the first line. In the second line, we have the verb sedeas and then sed eas, and finally the verb pereas and the prepositional phrase per eas.

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:

Venus (Veneris, f.): Venus, goddess of love, love

ante: before, in front of (adv. and prep. + acc.)
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
eo īre iī/īvī itum: go
faciēs -ēī f.: form, appearance
facio facere fēcī factum: do, make
is ea, id: he, she, it; eō, there, to that place
nē: lest, that not
per: through (+acc.)
pereo -īre -iī -itum: perish, be lost
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
sed: but
sedeo -ēre sēdī sessum: sit
venio -īre vēnī ventum: come

(image source - full size poster; poster made with AutoMotivator)

Artis Phidiacae...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 3.35. Phidias was one of the most famous artists of classical Greece. None of his original works seems to have survived, but there are Roman copies of works attributed to Phidias, along with many references to Phidias and his works in the literature of both Greece and Rome, as here in Martial's poem.

Artis Phidiacae toreuma clarum
pisces aspicis: adde aquam, natabunt.

So graved to th' life by Phidias' art, you'ld swear
The fish would swimme, were butt the water there.
- Anon. 16th cent.

Here is the vocabulary:

ars - art, skill
Phidiacus - belonging to Phidias
toreuma - carving, sculpted relief
clarus - clear, illustrious, famous
piscis - fish
aspicio - look upon, behold, consider
addo - add, give in addition
aqua - water
nato - swim

(Gerard van Opstal)

Consilium arcanum...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called),2.22, with English translations by Duff and Chase.

Consilium arcanum tacito committe sodali,
Corporis auxilium medico committe fideli.

Thy secret thoughts to trusted friend declare;
Thy body trust to wise physician's care.
(Chase)

Trust secret plans to friend who guards his speech,
And bodily treatment to a faithful leech.
(Duff)

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

arcānus -a -um - closed, hidden, secret
medicus, medicī m. - physician, doctor
sodālis, -is - companion, comrade
 
auxilium -ī n.: support, assistance; (pl.) auxiliary forces
committo -mittere -mīsī -missum: join, entrust to (+ dat.); perform, do
cōnsilium -ī n.: plan; council, group of advisors
corpus, corporis n.: body
fidēlis -e: faithful
taceo -ēre -uī -itum: be silent; tacitus -a -um, silent

(image source)

Post Tentationem, Consolatio

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.58, with an English rendering by George Wither. After a trial by fire, the rains provide a welcome relief!

Post Tentationem, Consolatio
Languescunt flores radiis solaribus usti;
Per pluvias soliti tollere sponte caput.

When wee have greatest Griefes and Feares
Then, Consolation sweet'st appeares.

Here is the vocabulary:

post - after
tentatio - trial, temptation
consolatio - consolation, comfort
languesco - wilt, become weak
flos - flower
radius - ray
solaris - sun (adj.), solar
uro - burn
per - through
pluvia - rain, shower
soleo - be accustomed to, in the habit of
tollo - lift up, raise
sponte - willingly
caput - head

Solus Iam Grandior Errat

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 4:15. I like the way the emblem shows the young tuna who feel a sense of safety in numbers, contrasted with the big fish who knows how to go his own way!

Solus Iam Grandior Errat
Turmatim iuvenes, ast gaudent aequore soli
Maiores Thunni: dic mihi utri sapiant?

Here is the vocabulary:

solus - alone, single, sole
iam - already, now
grandis - large, big
erro - wander
turmatim - in squadrons, in groups
iuvenis - young
ast - but, on the other hand
gaudeo - rejoice, be glad
aequor - smooth, smooth surface, sea
maior - greater, larger
thunnus - tuna fish
dico - say, tell
ego - I, me
uter - which (of two)
sapio - taste, be wise

Prophetae, Poetae

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 1.31. This is another one of Owen's elegant little parallel comparisons: the prophet speaks true things about the future, while the poet speaks falsely about the past!

Prophetae, Poetae
Illi de rebus praedicere vera futuris;
Hi de praeteritis dicere falsa solent.

PROPHETS, POETS
Prophets of Things to come the Truth predict:
But Poets of Things past write false and fict.

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:

prophēta, prophētae m. - soothsayer, prophet

dē: down from, about, concerning (+ abl.)
dīco dīcere dīxī dictum: say; causam dicere, plead a case; diem dicere, appoint a day
falsus -a -um: deceptive, false
hic, haec, hoc: this; hōc, on this account
ille, illa, illud: that
poēta -ae m.: poet
praedīco -ere -dīxī -dictum: foretell; advise, admonish
praetereo -īre -iī -itum: pass, pass over
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
soleo -ēre -uī -itum: be accustomed
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly 

(Malachi the Prophet)

Si spumet rubra...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 13.7: a poem in praise of simple fare! That is a philosophy of life that I personally find very congenial myself. :-)

Si spumet rubra conchis tibi pallida testa,
lautorum cenis saepe negare potes.

Here is the vocabulary:

si - if
spumo - froth, foam
ruber - red
conchis - bean
tu - you
pallidus - pale, yellow-green
testa - clay pot
lautus - elegant, luxurious
cena - dinner
saepe - often
nego - say no, deny
possum - can, be able

(image source)

Tunc bene prandetur...

Here is today's Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs.

Tunc bene prandetur, cum Christus adesse videtur:
Si des, ipse dabit, si non des, ipse negabit.

Here is the vocabulary:

tunc - then
bene - well, nicely
prandeo - eat a meal, dine
cum - when
Christus - Christ
adsum - be present, attend
video - see; (passive) seem
si - if
do - give
ipse - emphatic adj/pronoun
non - not, no
nego - deny, refuse, say "no"

(Coptic icon)

Quae potus peccas...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), with English translations by Duff and Chase.

Quae potus peccas, ignoscere tu tibi noli;
Nam crimen vini nullum est, sed culpa bibentis.

Condone not what thou dost, o'ercome with wine;
'T is not the liquor's fault: the blame is thine.
(Chase)

Your faults in drink should not your pardon win:
The wine is guiltless: 'tis the drinker's sin.
(Duff)

Here is the vocabulary:

qui - who, which, that
potus - drunken, intoxicated
pecco - make a mistake, err
ignosco - pardon, forgive
tu - you
nolo - do not, will not
nam - for
crimen - blame, guilt, fault
vinum - wine
nullus - not any, none
sum - be, exist
culpa - fault
bibo - drink

(Conan)

Semper Ardentius

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 3:15. The bite of the dipsas snake supposedly caused a great thirst; the name is Greek (compare the word "dipsomaniac"). Here you can see the dipsas snake attacking the eagle, queen of the birds and a symbol of the mind which likewise can be fatally inflamed by love's ardor.

Semper Ardentius
Reginam volucrum dipsas necat; ardor amoris
Sic animum accendens te dabit exitio.

Here is the vocabulary:

Sequitur Sua Poena Nocentem

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.57, with an English rendering by George Wither. The emblem shows the villainous Ixion, who is famously punished in the Greek underworld by being stretched on a wheel. What was his crime? Ixion was a guest of Zeus on Olympus, seated at the table of the Gods. Even so, Ixion lusted after Zeus' wife, Hera. Zeus was outraged and created a cloud mirage of Hera, which Ixion attempted to rape. Zeus then blasted Ixion with a thunderbolt and ordered Hermes to tie Ixion to a fiery wheel spinning for all eternity. So, whatever crime you commit, punishment is sure to come, limping but lively.

Sequitur Sua Poena Nocentem
Ultio certa manet; sequitur sua poena nocentem;
Ante expectatum, clauda ea viva venit.

By Guiltines, Death entred in
And, Mischiefe still pursueth Sinne.

Here is the vocabulary:

sequor - follow
suus - reflexive possessive
poena - punishment
noceo - do harm, injure
ultio - revenge
certus - certain
maneo - remain, await
ante - before
expecto - expect, anticipate
claudus - limping
is - he/she/it
vivus - alive, living
venio - come

Gerundia et Supina

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 8.31. This witty little poem plays with the grammatical terms gerund and supine, using them to describe the ups and downs of poor Dido's love life.

Gerundia et Supina
Di-do-dum Aeneas aberat, caruisse gerundis
Dicitur, et nullum nosse supina virum.

GERUNDS AND SUPINES
Di-do-dum while Aeneas was away
Did want her Gerunds, and Un-supine lay.

Here is the vocabulary:

gerundium - gerund
et - and
supinum - supine (gram.)
Dido - Dido
dum - while, when
Aeneas - Aeneas
absum - be absent, be away
careo - lack
dico - say
nullus - not any, none
nosco - know
supinus - lying on one's back, face up
vir - man

(Sacchi: Death of Dido)

Permutatio Glauci

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 4.30. The title of this epigram - Permutatio Glauci, the Exchange of Glaucus - makes a comparison between the exchange between Diomedes and Glaucus in Homer's Iliad and the Biblical story of Jacob and Esau.

Esuriens fratri omni suum ius vendidit Esau,
Iacobus fratri ius dedit omne suum.

His Birth-right Esau unt' his brother sold:
Jacobs Pottage for it gave, not gold.

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 the two proper nouns:

Iacobus - Jacob
ēsurio -īre, ēsurītum - be hungry
Esau: proper name
iūs, iūris n. - sauce, broth, soup

do dare dedī datum: give
frāter, frātris m.: brother
iūs iūris n.: right, justice, law
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
vēndo -dere -didī -ditum: sell

(Giotto: Isaac and Esau)

Turbata Delectat

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 2:15. According to legend, the camel liked dirty water, so it intentionally stirred up the water before it would drink. Camerarius compares this to the way someone who thirst for war profits purposefully disturbs the peace.

Turbata Delectat
Turbat aquam sitiens cum vult haurire camelus
Sic pacem, ex bellis qui lucra foeda sitit.

Here is the vocabulary:

turbo - stir up, disturb
delecto - please, delight
aqua - water
sitio - thirst, feel thirsty
cum - when
volo - want, wish, will
haurio - drain, swallow, drink
sic - thus
pax - peace
ex - from, out of
bellum -war
qui - who, which, that
lucrum - gain, profit
foedus - filthy, foul, disgusting

Qui Me Alit, Me Extinguit

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.56, with an English rendering by George Wither. Here is more of Wither's poem:

The little Sparkes which rak'd in Embers lie,
Are kindly kindled by a gentle blast:
And, brands in which the fire begins to die
Revive by blowing; and, flame out at last.
The selfe same wind, becomming over strong,
Quite bloweth out againe that very flame;
Or, else, consumes away (ere it be long)
That wasting substance, which maintain'd the same.

As you can see, the idea is that the movement of air can both stir the flame into life, but a blast of air can also put the flame out. So too, love, which fosters and stirs us, can also lay us low, even though we might not see it coming.

Qui Me Alit, Me Extinguit
Qui me alit, extinguit; qui me fovet et movet, ille,
Cum minime credo, me necat, hostis amor.

From that, by which I somewhat am
The Cause of my Destruction came.

If you look closely, you can see Cupid causing trouble in the background:

Here is the vocabulary:

qui - who, which, that
ego - I, me
alo - feed, nourish, support
extinguo - extinguish, kill, destroy
foveo - keep warm, maintain, foster
et - and
moveo - move
ille - that, that one
cum - when
minime - least of all, not at all
credo - believe, trust, suppose
neco - slay, kill
hostis - enemy
amor - love

Cur tantum eunuchos...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 6.67. The male priests of Cybele for notorious for castrating themselves, as told dramatically in Catullus 63.

Cur tantum eunuchos habeat tua Caelia, quaeris,
Pannyche? Volt futui Caelia, nec parere.

Pannicus, dost wish to know
Why thy Gellia favours so
The priests of Cybele? To sport
She loves, and pay no suffering for't.
- Anon.

Here is the vocabulary:

cur - why
tantum - only
eunuchus - eunuch
habeo - have
tuus - your
Caelia - Caelia
quaero - ask, inquire
Pannychus - Pannychus
volo - want, wish, will
futuo - have sexual relations
nec - nor; and not
pario - give birth, bear children

(Wisconsin State Capitol Building)

Cum fueris Romae...

Here is today's Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. I found this poem in the collection Philosophia Patrum edited by Julius Wegeler.

Cum fueris Romae, Romano vivito more;
Cum fueris alibi, vivito sic ut ibi.


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

alibī, adverb - elsewhere, at another place
Rōma f. - Rome, loc. Rōmae
Rōmānus -a -um - Roman

cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
ibi: there
mōs mōris m.: custom, habit; (pl.) character
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut, in the same way as
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
vīvo -ere vīxī victum: live

(image source)

Nolito quaedam referenti...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), with English translations by Duff and Chase, 2.20.

Nolito quaedam referenti credere saepe:
Exigua est tribuenda fides, qui multa loquuntur.

Since those who much to thee are wont to tell
Deserve but little faith, distrust them well.
(Chase)

Trust not those who for ever news relate:
Slight faith is due to tongues that glibly prate.
(Duff)

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:

exiguus -a -um - small, paltry, meager, scanty

crēdo -ere crēdidī crēditum: believe
loquor loquī locūtus sum: speak, talk
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
nōlo nōlle, nōluī: be unwilling
quī-, quae-, quoddam: a certain one, someone
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
refero -ferre -tulī -lātum: bring back; report
saepe: often
tribuo -ere -uī tribūtum: assign, bestow, grant

(image source)

Nec Incidi, Nec Evelli

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 1:14. The olive tree is a traditional symbol of peace, even today (as in "extending the olive branch"). Peace should be cherished, not cut down with an ax and not rooted out with a hoe; instead, let the tree flourish in endless days of peace.

Nec Incidi, Nec Evelli
Dure facesse ligo, validae procul este bipennes,
Frondeat aeternos pacis alumna dies.

Here is the vocabulary:

nec - neither, nor, and not
incido - cut into, cut open
evello - pull out, root out
durus - hard, rough, tough
facesso - do, perpetrate
ligo - mattock, hoe
validus - strong, mighty
procul - at a distance, far off
sum - be, exist
bipennis - two-edged axe
frondeo - be in leaf, be leafy
aeternus - eternal
pax - peace
alumnus - nourished, native; nourishing
dies - day

Consensu Populi Regnum Subsistit

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.55, with an English rendering by George Wither. You will see that Wither was simply baffled by the visual emblem this time:

A Crowned Scepter, here is fixt upright,
Betwixt foure Fowles, whose postures may declare,
They came from Coasts, or Climats opposite,
And, that, they diffring in their natures are.
In which, (as in some others, that we finde
Amongst these Emblems) little care I take
Precisely to unfold our Authors minde;
Or, on his meaning, Comments here to make.
It is the scope of my Intention, rather
From such perplext Inventions (which have nought,
Of Ancient Hieroglyphick) sense, to gather,
Whereby, some usefull Morall may be taught.

I guess maybe the idea is that the birds at least are not attacking one another, being well-behaved in the presence of the crown.

Consensu Populi Regnum Subsistit
Consensu populi regnum subsistit, et urbes
Pace vigent, cives si bene conveniant.

That Kingdome will establish'd bee
Wherein the People well agree.

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:

consensus, consensūs m. - agreement, unanimity, consensus
subsistō, -ere, substitī - take a stand, stand still, stop
vigeo, -āere - be lively, thrive, flourish

bene: well
cīvis -is m./f.: citizen
conveniō -venīre -vēnī -ventum: assemble, meet; agree
et: and
pāx pācis f.: peace
populus -ī m.: people
rēgnum -ī n.: kingship, kingdom
sī: if
urbs urbis f.: city

Owen 7.29: Sanguis

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 7.29.

Sanguis
Sum crudus, vocor inde cruor, per corpora curro,
Volvor, et in venis sanguis ut anguis eo.

THE BLOOD
I'm Crude, call'd Blood: A circled course I keep,
And Snake-like through the bodies Veins I creep.

Here is the vocabulary:

sanguis - blood
sum - be, exist
crudus - raw, bleeding, crude
voco - call, name
inde - from there, consequently
cruor - gore, bloodshed
per - through
corpus - body
curro - run, race
volvo - turn, roll
et - and
in - in, into
vena - blood vessel, vein
ut - as, like
anguis - serpent, snake
eo - go

(image source)

Rustici Sunt

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387     -     388     -     389

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

Source: Philosophia Patrum (ed. Wegeler), 1153. Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the rhyme: vere-muliere. In addition to the rhyme, this one features a nice play on the multiple meanings of the preposition de, which hear means "about a woman" and also "from a woman." For those who are interested in meter, note that while the hexameter form here is otherwise correct, the poet assumes a long e under stress in muliēre. I found this poem in the collection Philosophia Patrum edited by Julius Wegeler.

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

Someone speaking badly (dicens mala) about a woman (de muliere) is a doofus for sure (rusticus est vere) because we all know for sure (nam scimus vere) that we all come (sumus comnes) from a woman (de muliere).

rusticus, -a, -um: of the country, rural, uncouth

dē: down from, about, concerning (+ abl.)
dīco dīcere dīxī dictum: say
malus -a -um: evil
mulier -eris f.: woman
nam: for, indeed, really
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
rusticus -a -um: of the country, rural
scio -īre -īvī/-iī -ītum: know
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly

(Robert Anning Bell)

Nil in te scripsi...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 12.78. Here Martial makes a witty little threat. Bithynicus has accused Martial of writing against him; Martial denies it and Bithynicus refuses to believe him, so Martial declares that he is now willing to satisfy Bithynicus: he did not write anything negative before, but now he will!

Nil in te scripsi, Bithynice: credere non vis
Et iurare iubes? Malo satis facere.

Here is the vocabulary:

nil - nothing
in - in, into, against
tu - you
scribo - write
Bithynicus - Bithynicus
credo - believe
non - not, no
volo - want, wish, will
et - and
iuro - swear
iubeo - command, order
malo - prefer, would rather
satis - enough, sufficiently
facio - do, make
satis factio - to give satisfaction, satisfy

(image source)

Insipiens esto...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), with English translations by Duff and Chase, 2.18:

Insipiens esto, cum tempus postulat aut res:
Stultitiam simulare loco, prudentia summa est.

To fit th' occasion laughable appear;
'T is sometimes wisdom folly's mask to wear.
(Chase)

Play the fool's part, if time or need advise:
To act the fool at times is truly wise.
(Duff)

Here is the vocabulary:

insipiens - unwise, foolish
sum - be, exist
cum - when
tempus - time
postulo - demand, require
aut - or
res - thing, business
stultitia - foolishness
simulo - pretend, feign
locus - place, situation
prudentia - good sense, prudence

(Marc Chagall)

Inlustrem cum tota...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 14.41. Martial is describing a lucerna polymyxos, a many-wicked lamp.

Inlustrem cum tota meis convivia flammis
Totque geram myxas, una lucerna vocor.

Here is the vocabulary:

illustro - light, illuminate
cum - when
totus - whole, entire
meus - my, mine
convivium - banquet, feast
flamma - flame
tot - so many
que - and
gero - wear, wage, have
myxa - curved part of a lamp, wick
unus - one
lucerna - lamp, oil-lamp

(image source)

De Natura et Gratia

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 3.29. Owen addresses the poem Ad Theodorum Price Theologum, Cognatum Suum. Theodore Price (d. 1631) became prebendary of Winchester. In this poem Owen sets up an equation between two visible symbols, the moon and the sun, to express the contrast between the abstract ideas of nature and grace.

De Natura et Gratia
Natura obscuram lucem ceu luna ministrat,
Sol quasi splendidus gratia lumen habet.

OF NATURE AND GRACE
Nature like to the Moon gives pallid Light:
Grace like the Sun more splendid shines and bright.

Here is the vocabulary:

de - about, concerning
natura - nature
et - and
gratia - grace
obscurus - dark, vague, obscure
lux - light
ceu - like
luna - moon
ministro - supply, furnish, serve
sol - sun
quasi - as if, like
splendidus - glittering, splendid
lumen - light, lamp
habeo - have

(image source)

Sortes Humanae

Here is today's emblem and distich by Bornitius, 5:14. Note the contrast between God and man, not just Deus and homo, but instead Deus and the homuncio, the little manikin. I wish I knew what game was depicted in the emblem here; if anyone has any clues about that, let me know!

Sortes Humanae
Sortes homuncio iacit:
Dei sed ad nutum cadunt.

Here is the vocabulary:

sors - lot, fate, oracular response
humanus - human
homuncio - little man, manikin
iacio - toss, cast
deus - god
sed - but
ad - to, towards
nutus - nod
cado - fall

Discite Iustitiam

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.54, with an English rendering by George Wither. Here are the opening lines of Wither's poem:

A Sword unsheathed, and a strangling-Snare,
Is figur'd here; which, in dumbe-shewes, doe preach,
Of what the Malefactor should beware;
And, they doe threaten too, aswell as Teach.

The justice here is divine justice, since it is God who wields these weapons that he has entrusted in the hands of kings. The sword can be a weapon of war, of course, but the hanging rope is not a weapon of war; its use here is for capital punishment.

Discite Iustitiam
Discite iustitiam: laqueus monet illud et ensis,
Quae Deus in regum dirigit arma manu.

Marke, what Rewards, to Sinne, are due
And, learne, uprightnesse to pursue.

Here is the vocabulary:

disco - learn
iustitia - justice
laqueus - noose, snare, gallows
moneo - warn, advise
ille - that, that one
et - and
ensis - sword
qui - who, which, that
deus - god
in - in
rex - king
dirigo - direct, guide
arma - arms, weapons
manus - hand

Fortuna Pereunte

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166     -     167     -     168

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Fortuna Pereunte
Tempore felici multi numerantur amici;
Dum fortuna perit, nullus amicus erit.

Source: Philosophia Patrum (ed. Wegeler), 1353. Meter: Elegiac. Note the rhymes: felici-amici and perit-erit.

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:

numerō, numerāre: number, count

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
dum: while (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
fortūna -ae f.: fortune
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
pereo -īre -iī -itum: perish, be lost
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tempus -oris n.: time

(image source - full size poster; poster made with AutoMotivator)

Utere quaesitis modice...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), with English translations by Duff and Chase, 2.17.

Utere quaesitis modice: cum sumptus abundat,
Labitur exiguo, quod partum est tempore longo.

Spend sparingly thy gains: with wasting vain
Soon wealth is lost that took long time to gain.
(Chase)

Make temperate use of gains: when all is cost,
What took long time to get is quickly lost.
(Duff)

Here is the vocabulary:

utor - use
quaero - seek, search, obtain
modicus - moderate, temperate
cum - when
sumptus - charge, cost
abundo - abound, exceed, overflow
labor - slip, slide
exiguus - small, meager, short
qui - who, which, that
pario - give birth to, produce, acquire
tempus - time
longus - long, lengthy

(image source)

Siccus, sobrius est...

Here is today's distich by Martial, 12.30:

Siccus, sobrius est Aper; quid ad me?
Servum sic ego laudo, non amicum.

Here is the vocabulary:

siccus - dry
sobrius - sober, not drunk
sum - be, exist
Aper - Aper
quid - what
ad - to, towards
ego - I, me
servus - slave
sic - thus, in this way
laudo - praise
non - not, no
amicus - friend

(Virtual Drinking Buddy)

Optativus Modus

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 1.29. Although Latin does not use the optative mood (it has only the subjunctive), Greek does! I wasn't sure what image to use for "endless desire," but I thought maybe an "all-you-can-eat buffet" might do the trick. :-)

Optativus Modus
Infinitivo prope par modus optativus:
Optandi finem nam sibi nemo facit.

THE OPTATIVE MOOD
Th’ Infinitive is near th’ Optative Mood,
For Infinite’s the wish of Goods or Good.

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:

infīnītīvus -a -um - unlimited, infinitive
optātīvus -a -um - belonging to a wish, optative

faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
fīnis -is m.: end, boundary
modus -ī m.: measure, manner, kind
nam or namque: for, indeed, really
nēmo: no one (gen. nullius, dat. nulli, abl. nullo or nulla > nullus -a -um)
optō -āre: choose, select
pār paris: equal
prope: near, next; (comp.) propior, (superl.) proximus; (adv.) propē, nearly, almost
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself

(image source)

Armis Non Omnia Cedunt

Here is today's emblem and distich by Joachim Camerarius, 4:14. The lines of the poem are spoken by the swordfish himself. He knows that the other fish fear him, but he also knows that a tiny enemy is about to destroy him; according to the ancient sources, there was an insect that would attack the swordfish, a kind of sea-gadfly, driving the swordfish to madness, causing it either to leap up on board a ship or to fling itself onto dry land, where it would die a miserable and painful death.

Armis Non Omnia Cedunt
Piscibus ipse aliis formidabilis hostis,
Mox hostis misere me necat exiguus.

Here is the vocabulary:

Musica, Serva Dei

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.53, with an English rendering by George Wither. We are presumably looking at King David in the emblem, with the Hebrew letters of the divine, the tetragrammaton, there in the sky!

Musica, Serva Dei
Musica, serva Dei, nobis haec otia fecit:
Illa potest homines, illa movere Deum.

Though Musicke be of some abhor'd
She, is the Handmaid of the Lord.

Here is the vocabulary:

musica - music
servus - servant, slave
deus - god
nos - we, us
hic - this, this one
otium - leisure
ille - that, that one
possum - can, be able
homo - person, man
moveo - move

Ius Poli

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242     -     243     -     244

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

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Elegiac. As you can see the law of heaven, ius poli, is what we also call the Golden Rule!

What you want (quod vis) to be done to you (tibi fieri), do to me (mihi fac); don't do (noli) what you don't want done to you (quod non tibi): in this way you can (sic potes) live on earth (in terris vivere) by the law of heaven (iure poli).

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:

polus (polī, m.): pole, sky, heaven

ego me mihi mē: I, me
facio facere fēcī factum: do, make
in: in, on (+ abl.); into onto (+ acc)
iūs iūris n.: right, justice, law
nōlo nōlle, nōluī: be unwilling
nōn: not
possum posse potuī: be able
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut, in the same way as
terra -ae f.: land
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vīvo -ere vīxī victum: live
volo velle voluī: wish, be willing

(image source)

Nec te conlaudes...

Here is today's distich by Cato (so-called), with English translations by Duff and Chase, 2.16.

Nec te conlaudes, nec te culpaveris ipse;
Hoc faciunt stulti, quos gloria vexat inanis.

Nor praise nor blame thyself: Fools thus have erred,
When by vain hope of glory they were stirred.
(Chase)

Praise not yourself, nor to yourself take blame:
Fools do so, plagued by love of empty fame.
(Duff)

Here is the vocabulary:

nec - nor, and not
tu - you
conlaudo - praise, commend
culpo - blame, find fault
ipse - emphatic adj/pronoun
hic - this, this one
facio - do, make
stultus - foolish, fool
qui - who, which, that
gloria - glory
vexo - toss, trouble, annoy
inanis - empty, meaningless

(image source)