Vita Felix
Si vitam exoptas felici ducere cursu,
Magna tibi in primis cura sit ut lateas.
Source: Urbano Appendini (1777-1834), De Educatione Disticha. Meter: Elegiac.
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:
If you wish (si exoptas) to spend your life (vitam ducere) happily (felici cursu), it is essential (in primis) that you take great care (magna cura tibi sit) to escape notice (ut lateas).
exoptō, exoptāre: desire greatly, long for
cūra -ae f.: care, concern
cursus -ūs m.: course, advance
dūcō dūcere dūxī ductum: lead; uxōrem dūcere, marry
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
lateō latēre latuī: lie hidden, be hidden
māgnus -a -um great
prīmus -a -um: first; adv. prīmum: at first, firstly
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
vīta -ae f.: life
