Sunday, February 19, 2012

De Parvis Grandis Acervus Erit

Here is today's emblem and distich by Gabriel Rollenhagen, Book 1.50, with an English rendering by George Wither. Today's emblem is based on one of my very favorite Latin sayings. I consider it to be the motto of blogging: blog bit by bit, post by post... and eventually you end up with a book! I certainly hope to have a nice book of distichs by summer.

De Parvis Grandis Acervus Erit
Adde parum parvo, parvo superadde pusillum,
Tandem de parvis grandis acervus erit.

Of Little-Gaines, let Care be had;
For, of small Eares, great Mowes are made.



Here is the vocabulary:

de - from
parvus - small, tiny
grandis - great, large
acervus - heap, pile
sum - be, exist
addo - add
parum - a little, very little
superaddo - add on top
pusillus - tiny
tandem - finally, at last