Bellum et Foedus

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Bellum et Foedus
Est bellum nomen, sed res foedissima bellum;
Est foedum nomen, sed res bellissima foedus.

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:

bellus, -a, -um: pretty, handsome
foedus (foederis, n.): treaty, alliance

bellum -ī n.: war
foedus -a -um: foul
nōmen -inis n.: name
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
sed: but

(image source)

Febris Una, Medici Multi

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Febris Una, Medici Multi
Numquam, crede mihi, a morbo curabitur aeger,
Si multis medicis creditur una febris.

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:

fēbris (fēbris, f.): fever
medicus (medici, m.): physician, doctor

ā ab abs: from, by (+abl.)
aeger aegra agrum: sick; aegrē, with difficulty
crēdō crēdere crēdidī crēditum: believe
cūrō -āre: care for (+ acc.)
ego meī mihi mē: I, me
morbus -ī m.: sickness, disease
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
numquam: never
sī: if
ūnus -a -um: one

(image source)

Homo Omnis Pomo Miser

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Homo Omnis Pomo Miser
Adam primus homo damnavit saecula pomo;
Sic solo pomo sit miser omnis homo.

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:

Adam (Hebrew name - m.): Adam
pomum (pomi, n.): fruit, apple

damnō -āre: condemn
homo hominis m.: human being
miser misera miserum: wretched, pitiable
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
prīmus -a -um: first; adv. prīmum: at first, firstly
saeculum -ī n.: generation, age, century
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
sōlus -a -um: only, alone; sōlum (adv.), only, merely
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(image source)

Deus Cuncta Scrutatur

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Deus Cuncta Scrutatur
Crede mihi, acta deum numquam mortalia fallunt;
Scrutatur renes cordaque cuncta deus.

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:

rēnes (rēnum, m. pl.): kidneys
scrūtor, scrūtārī: examine thoroughly, search

agō agere ēgī āctum: drive, do, act
cor cordis n.: heart; cordī est, it is pleasing to (+ dat.)
crēdō crēdere crēdidī crēditum: believe
cūnctus -a -um: entire all together
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
ego meī mihi mē: I, me
fallō fallere fefellī falsum: deceive
mortālis -e: liable to death, mortal
numquam: never
que (enclitic) - and

(Michelangelo: Face of God)

Ante Fores Ipsas Stat

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Ante Fores Ipsas Stat
Nescia mens hominum fati dum plurima fingit
Saecula, mors ipsas saepe stat ante fores.

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:

foris (foris, f.): door, gate, entrance
nescius, -a, -um: ignorant, unaware

ante: before, in front of (adv. and prep. + acc.)
dum: while (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
fātum -ī n.: fate
fingō fingere finxī fictum: shape; invent
homo hominis m.: human being
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
mēns mentis f.: mind
mors mortis f.: death
plurimus -a -um: the greatest number of, very many; plurimī, most people
saeculum -ī n.: generation, age, century
saepe: often
stō stāre stetī statum: stand

(image source)

Quisque Iugum Fert Suum

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Quisque Iugum Fert Suum
Nulla domus crucibus vacat; hic et ubique dolores,
Fertque suo proprium corpore quisque iugum.

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:

crux (crucis, f.): cross
ubīque: anywhere, everywhere

corpus corporis n.: body
dolor -ōris m.: pain, grief
domus -ūs f.: house, home
et: and
ferō ferre tulī lātum: bear, carry
hīc: here; hinc: from here
iugum -ī n.: yoke; ridge, chain of hills
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
proprius -a -um: one’s own, peculiar
que (enclitic) - and
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
vacō vacāre: be empty, open, unoccupied

(image source)

In Medio Securus

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

In Medio Securus
In medio securus eris; dum prendere summa
Quaeris, in adversum culmine saepe cadis.

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:

culmen (culminis, n.): peak, top, height
prendō, prendere: catch, grab, seize

adversus -a -um: facing, opposed; unfavorable; adversus (-um): (adv. and prep.) facing, opposite, against, opposed (to)
cadō cadere cecidī cāsum: fall, be killed
dum: while (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
medius -a -um: middle, central
quaerō -rere -sīvī-situm: seek, inquire
saepe: often
sēcūrus -ā -um: free from care, tranquil; careless
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
summus -a -um: highest, farthest, last

(image source)

Voluptatis Semita, et Virtutis

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Voluptatis Semita, et Virtutis
Blanda voluptatis, virtutis dura videtur
Semita, dum primo limine cernit homo.

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:

blandus, -a, -um: alluring, charming
sēmita (sēmitae, f.): path

cernō cernere crēvī crētum: discern, separate
dum: while (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
dūrus -a -um: hard, tough, harsh
homo hominis m.: human being
līmen līminis n.: threshold
prīmus -a -um: first; adv. prīmum: at first, firstly
videō vidēre vīdī vīsum: see
virtūs -ūtis f.: valor, manliness, virtue
voluptās -ātis f.: pleasure enjoyment

(The Choice of Heracles)

Rex Populi Lux Animusque

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Rex Populi Lux Animusque
Quod sol in mundo, cor quodque in corpore, rex est
   In regno, populi lux animusque sui.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). Meter: Elegiac. Note the implied referent of the relative pronoun: quod... quod... [hoc] rex est.

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

What the sun is in the world (quod sol in mundo) and what the heart is in the body (quodque cor in corpore), the king is in the kingdom (rex est in regno), the light and the soul of his people (lux animusque sui populi).

animus -ī m.: spirit, mind
cor cordis n.: heart; cordī est, it is pleasing to (+ dat.)
corpus corporis n.: body
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
lūx lūcis f.: light of day
mundus -ī m.: world, universe, heavens
populus -ī m.: people
que (enclitic) - and
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
rēgnum -ī n.: kingship, kingdom
rēx rēgis m.: king
sōl sōlis m.: sun
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own

(image source)

Amor Argum Fallit

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This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730. The story alludes to the myth of Argus Panoptes.

Amor Argum Fallit
Centum fronte oculos, centum post terga gerebat
Argus et hos omnes saepe fefellit amor.

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:

Argus (Argī, m.): Argus the giant

amor -ōris m.: love
centum: one hundred
et: and
fallō fallere fefellī falsum: deceive
frōns frontis f.: forehead, brow; front
gerō gerere gessī gestum: bear, manage; bellum gerere, wage war
hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
oculus -ī m.: eye
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
post: after (adv. and prep. +acc.)
saepe: often
tergum -ī n.: back, rear; a tergō: from the rear

(Argus Panoptes)

Iam Nihil Est

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This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Iam Nihil Est
Iam nihil est totum quod viximus; omnia secum
Tempus praeteriens horaque summa trahit.

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:

praetereō, praeterīre: pass, go by

cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
hōra -ae f.: hour
iam: now; already
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
que (enclitic) - and
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
summus -a -um: highest, farthest, last
tempus -oris n.: time
tōtus -a -um: whole, entire
trahō trahere trāxī trāctum: drag, draw
vīvō vīvere vīxī victum: live

(image source)

Mortis Lex

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Mortis Lex
Mors servat legem: tollit cum paupere regem;
   Saepe ferox iuvenem mors rapit ante senem.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). Meter: Elegiac. Note the rhymes legem-regem and iuvenem-senem.

Death (Mors) observes this law (servat legem): it carries off the king (tollit regem) with the poor man (cum paupere); often (saepe) death savagely seizes (mors ferox rapit) a young man (iuvenem) before it seizes an old man (ante senem).

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:

ferox (ferōcis): wild, cruel, fierce

ante: before, in front of (adv. and prep. + acc.)
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
iuvenis -is m.: youth
lēx lēgis: f. law
mors mortis f.: death
pauper -eris: poor, lowly
rapiō rapere rapuī raptum: seize, tear away
rēx rēgis m.: king
saepe: often
senex -is m.: old man, elder; senior, older
servō -āre: save, watch over
tollō tollere sustulī sublātum: raise up, destroy

(Trionfo della morte; Italian, 1400s)

Taciturnus

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This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Taciturnus
Gratus eris cunctis, multosque parabis amicos,
Ac vives tutus, si taciturnus eris.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). 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:

taciturnus, -a, -um: not talkative, silent

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
atque, ac: and in addition, and also, and; (after comparatives) than; simul atque, as soon as
cūnctus -a -um: entire all together
grātus -a -um: pleasant; grateful
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
parō -āre: prepare, acquire; parātus -a -um, ready
que (enclitic) - and
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tutus -a -um: safe, protected
vīvō vīvere vīxī victum: live

(image source)

Ratio Regina, Natura Mater

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Ratio Regina, Natura Mater
Rerum regina est ratio, naturaque mater,
Nam natura parit res, ratioque regit.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). Meter: Elegiac.

Reason is (est ratio) the queen of things (rerum regina), and nature their mother  (naturaque mater), for nature gives birth to things (nam natura parit res), and reason rules them  (ratioque regit).

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:

rēgīna (rēgīnae, f.): queen

māter mātris f.: mother
nam or namque: for, indeed, really
nātūra -ae f.: nature
pariō parere peperī partum: bring forth, give birth to; accomplish
que (enclitic) - and
ratio -ōnis f.: method, plan, reason
regō regere rēxī rectum: guide, rule
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

(image source)

Quid Saxo Magis Durum?

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Quid Saxo Magis Durum?
Quid magis est durum saxo, quid mollius unda?
Dura tamen molli saxa cavantur aqua.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). Meter: Elegiac.
[from Ovid's Ars Amatoria I:475–76.]

 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:

What is (quid est) harder (magis durum) than stone (saxo)? What is softer than water (quid mollius unda)? But hard stones (dura tamen saxa) are worn away (cavantur) by soft water (molli aqua).

cavō, cavāre: hollow out, carve

aqua -ae f. water
dūrus -a -um: hard, tough, harsh
magis: more
mollis -e: soft, yielding, gentle
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
saxum -ī n.: rock, cliff, crag
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tamen: nevertheless, still
unda -ae f.: wave, flowing water, water

(image by Martina Rathgen)

Novitas

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Novitas
Quae nova sunt, non semper erunt nova; nulla placebunt
Ergo diu, sola quae novitate placent.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). 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:

Those things which are new (quae nova sunt) will not always be new (non semper erunt nova); therefore (ergo), things will not be pleasing (nulla placebunt) for long (diu) which are pleasing (quae placent) only because of their novelty (sola novitate).

novitas (novitātis, f.): newness, novelty

diū: for a long time
ergo: therefore
nōn: not
novus -a -um: new
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
placeō placēre placuī placitum: please
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
semper: always, ever
sōlus -a -um: only, alone; sōlum (adv.), only, merely
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(image source)

Tempus Volubile

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Tempus Volubile
Cuncta trahit secum vertitque volubile tempus,
Nec patitur certa currere quemque via.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730).  Meter: Elegiac. Note that the phrase certa via is in the ablative, certā viā, "on a sure way, along a definite path."

Time as it rolls (tempus) drags everything with it (cuncta trahit secum) and turns as it rolls (vertitque volubile), and it allows no one (nec patitur quemque) to run along a fixed path (certa currere via).

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:

volūbilis, -e (volūbilis): winding, twisting, rolling

certus -a -um: sure, fixed; certē, certainly, surely
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
cūnctus -a -um: entire all together
currō currere cucurrī cursum: run
neque nec: and not, nor; neque . . . neque, neither . . . nor
patior patī passus sum: permit, endure
que (enclitic) - and
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
tempus -oris n.: time
trahō trahere trāxī trāctum: drag, draw
vertō vertere vertī versum: turn
via -ae f.: way, street

(image source)

Deum Dilige et Vicinum

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Deum Dilige et Vicinum
Dilige corde deum toto super omnia; post quem,
Dilige vicinum, sicut te diligis ipsum.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. You can read more about the Golden Rule in this Wikipedia article.

Love god [dilige deum] with your whole heart [corde toto] above all things [super omnia]; after God [post quem], love your neighbor [dilige vicinum], sicut [just as] you love yourself [diligis te ipsum].

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

cor cordis n.: heart; cordī est, it is pleasing to (+ dat.)
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
dīligō -ligere -lēxī -lēctum: choose, cherish, love
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
post: after (adv. and prep. +acc.)
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sīcut: just as
super: over (adv. and prep. +acc.)
tōtus -a -um: whole, entire
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vīcīnus -a -um: neighboring, near

(Good Samaritan)

Rex Populi Lux Animusque

This poem is from a book entitled Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus, first published in 1730.

Rex Populi Lux Animusque
Quod sol in mundo, cor quodque in corpore, rex est
In regno populi lux animusque sui.

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

animus -ī m.: spirit, mind
cor cordis n.: heart; cordī est, it is pleasing to (+ dat.)
corpus corporis n.: body
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
lūx lūcis f.: light of day
mundus -ī m.: world, universe, heavens
populus -ī m.: people
que (enclitic) - and
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
rēgnum -ī n.: kingship, kingdom
rēx rēgis m.: king
sōl sōlis m.: sun
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own

(image source)