Cycni

Here is today's distich by Martial, 13.77. For more about the legendary swan song, see this page at the Medieval Bestiary website.

Cycni
Dulcia defecta modulatur carmina lingua
cantator cycnus funeris ipse sui.

As how to swans, their truth's reward, belong
A joyful death, and sweet expiring song.
- Geo. Lamb

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:

cantātor, cantātōris m. - singer, musician
cȳcnus, cȳcnī m. - swan
modulor, -ārī, modulātus - dance, sing, play

carmen -inis n.: song
deficiō -ficere -fēcī -fectum: fail, give out; revolt from
dulcis -e: sweet
fūnus funeris n.: funeral; death; dead body
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
lingua -ae f.: tongue; language
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own

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