Sunday, July 22, 2012

Sui Cuique Mores Fingunt Fortunam


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This poem is from the proverbial distichs of Georgius Carolides (1569-1612), which you can read online at the University of Mannheim.

Sui Cuique Mores Fingunt Fortunam
Fortunam accusas, Fortunam cum tibi fingas
Moribus et sortis sis faber ipse tuae.


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:

You blame luck (Fortunam accusas), when you make (cum fingas) your own luck (tibi fortunam) by means of your habits (moribus) and when you yourself (cum sis ipse) are the maker (faber) of your own fate (sortis tuae).

accūsō, accūsāre: blame, accuse
faber (fabrī, m.): artisan, craftsman, maker

cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
et: and
fingō fingere finxī fictum: shape; invent
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
mōs mōris m.: custom, habit; (pl.) character
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
sors sortis f.: lot, fate, destiny; oracle
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your