Homo Sapiens

This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Homo Sapiens
Omnis homo sapiens undas formidat et ignem;
Haec qui non metuit, insipienter agit.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are two words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

formīdō, formīdāre: fear, dread
insipienter: foolishly, unwisely

agō agere ēgī āctum: drive, do, act
et: and
hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
homo hominis m.: human being
īgnis -is m.: fire
metuō metuere metuī: to fear, to dread
nōn: not
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sapiens -ntis.: wise man
unda -ae f.: wave, flowing water, water

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Ut Flos et Ventus

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480     -     481     -     482

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This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Ut Flos et Ventus
Nocte dieque cave tempus consumere prave;
Ut flos et ventus transibit nostra iuventus.

The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are two words in this poem that are not on the DCC list:

iuventus (iuventūtis, f.): youthful age, youth
prāvus, -a, -um: vicious, perverse; prave, adv.

caveō cavēre cāvī cautum: be on guard, beware
cōnsūmō -sūmere -sūmpsī -sūmptum: to use up, consume
diēs diēī m./f.: day
et: and
flōs flōris m.: flower, bloom
noster nostra nostrum: our
nox noctis f.: night
que (enclitic) - and
tempus -oris n.: time
trānseō -īre -iī -itum: go across
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
ventus -ī m.: wind

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Quod Natura Rogat

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90     -     91     -     92

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Quod Natura Rogat
Qui non curaret plus quam natura rogaret,
Dives hic esset, quia res sibi nulla deesset.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the use of the subjunctive here to express that this is a theoretical possibility - you could be rich too, dives esses, if you would follow this poem's advice.

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

cūrō -āre: care for (+ acc.)
dēsum -esse -fuī: be lacking
dīves, dīvitis: rich (poet. dīs, dītis)
hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
nātūra -ae f.: nature
nōn: not
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
plūs plūris n.: a greater amount or number, more
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
quia: because
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
rogō -āre: ask
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(image source - full size poster; poster made with AutoMotivator)

What Nature Asks

He who does not worry himself (hic qui non curaret) beyond what nature asks (plus quam natura rogaret) would be a rich man (esset dives) because he would lack (quia sibi deesset) nothing (nulla res).

Qui non ~ cura~ret plus ~ quam na~tura ro~garet,
Dives ~ hic es~set, quia ~ res sibi ~ nulla de~esset.

Sapientia Mentis

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297     -     298     -     299

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Sapientia Mentis
Non cures, iuvenis, multum qua veste tegaris;
In vestimentis non est sapientia mentis.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the rhyme: vestimentis-mentis.

You should not worry too much (non cures multum), O youth (iuvenis), with what clothing you are covered (qua veste tegaris); the wisdom of the mind (non est sapientia mentis) is not in your clothes (in vestimentis).

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:

vestīmentum (vestīmentī, n.): clothes, robe

cūrō -āre: care for (+ acc.)
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
iuvenis -is m.: youth
mēns mentis f.: mind
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
nōn: not
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sapientia -ae f.: wisdom
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tegō tegere tēxī tēctum: cover, conceal
vestis -is f.: garment, robe, clothing

(image source)

Lucem Diei in Lecto Videns

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281     -     282     -     283

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Lucem Diei in Lecto Videns
Qui cupit in lecto lucem videre diei,
Divitiae atque honor hic raro dabuntur ei.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Elegiac. Note the rhyme: diei-ei.

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:

Rarely (raro) will riches and honor (divitiae atque honor hic) be given to him (dabuntur ei) who longs to see (qui cupit videre) the light of day (lucem  diei) in bed (in lecto).

lectus, lectī m. - bed

atque, ac: and in addition, and also, and; (after comparatives) than; simul atque, as soon as
cupiō -ere -īvī -ītum: desire
diēs diēī m./f.: day
dīvitiae -ārum f. pl.: riches, wealth
dō dare dedī datum: give
hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
honor -ōris m.: honor, glory; office, post
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
is ea id: he, she, it
lūx lūcis f.: light of day
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
rarus -a -um: wide apart, loose, thin; rare, seldom
videō vidēre vīdī vīsum: see

(image source)

Cum Contentus, Tunc Dives

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373     -     374     -     375

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Here is another Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Cum Contentus, Tunc Dives
Semper egenus eris, si semper plus tibi quaeris:
Cum contentus eris, tunc dives efficieris.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the rhymes: eris-quaeris and eris-efficieris.

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 will always be destitue (semper egenus eris), if you always (si semper) seek more for yourself (plus tibi quaeris): when you will be satisfied (cum contentus eris), then you will become rich (tunc dives efficieris).

egēnus, -a, -um: destitute, impoverished, in want

contineō -tinēre -tinuī -tentum: contain, restrain
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
dīves, dīvitis: rich (poet. dīs, dītis)
efficiō -ficere -fēcī -fectum: bring about, complete; render (+ ut + subj.)
quaerō -rere -sīvī-situm: seek, inquire
semper: always, ever
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tum or tunc: then

(image source)

Doctrina Tantum Valet

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318     -     319     -     320

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Doctrina Tantum Valet
Si puer hoc sciret, quantum doctrina valeret,
Raro dormiret, sed nocte dieque studeret.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the rhymes: sciret-dormiret ... valeret-studeret.

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:

doctrīna (doctrīnae, f.): education, learning, instruction

diēs diēī m./f.: day
dormio -īre: sleep
hic, haec, hoc: this; hōc, on this account
nox noctis f.: night
puer, puerī m.: boy; slave
quantus -a -um: how great? as great
que: and (enclitic)
rarus -a -um: wide apart, loose, thin; rare seldom
scio -īre -īvī/-iī -ītum: know
sed: but
sī: if
studeo -ēre -uī: be eager, be zealous, care for (+ dat.)
valeo valēre valuī: be strong, excel, be valid, prevail; valē, farewell!

(image source)

Si careas veste...

Here is another Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Si careas veste, nec sis vestitus honeste,
Nullius es laudis, quamvis sapis omne quod audis.

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:

vestio -īre, vestīvī, vestītum - dress, clothe, attire

audio -īre -īvī/-iī -itum: hear, listen to
careo -ēre -uī: lack (+ abl.)
honor -ōris m.: honor, glory; office, post
laus, laudis f.: praise, glory
neque, nec: and not, nor; neque . . . neque, neither . . . nor
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
quamvīs: however you like; although
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
sapio sapere sapīvī: be wise
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vestis -is f.: garment, robe, clothing

(image source)

Non orat semper...

This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Non orat semper stans intra templa frequenter,
Sed quoque lascivas interdum quaerit amicas.

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:

lascīvus -a -um - playful, frisky, lustful

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
frequens -ntis: in large numbers, often
interdum: meanwhile
intrā: within (+ acc.)
nōn: not
ōro -āre: pray
quaero -ere -sīvī -situm: seek, inquire
quoque: also, too
sed: but
semper: always, ever
sto stāre stetī statum: stand
templum -ī n.: consecrated ground; temple

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Nemo vitare mortem...

Here is another Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Nemo vitare mortem valet, aut superare:
Nam clausis portis intrat loca singula fortis.

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

aut: or
claudō claudere clausī clausum: close, shut
fortis -e: brave
intrō -āre: enter
locus -ī m.: place; loca (n. pl.) region
mors mortis f.: death
nam or namque: for, indeed, really
nēmo: no one (gen. nullius, dat. nulli, abl. nullo or nulla > nullus -a -um)
porta -ae f.: gate
singulī -ae -a: one each
superō -āre: overcome, surpass, defeat
valeō valēre valuī: be strong, excel, be valid, prevail; valē: farewell!
vītō -āre: avoid, shun

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Nemo Sibi Satis

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159     -     160     -     161

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Nemo Sibi Satis
Nemo sibi satis est; eget omnis amicus amico:
Si non vis aliis parcere, parce tibi.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Elegiac. The verb parcere here has the sense of "be sparing, show mercy, do not injure."

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:

No one is enough (nemo satis est) for himself (sibi); every friend (omnis amicus) needs a friend (eget amico): if you don't want (si non vis) to do others a favor (aliis parcere), do yourself a favor (parce tibi).

egeō, egēre: lack, be without, need

alius -a -um: other, another
amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
homo hominis m.: human being
nēmo: no one (gen. nullius, dat. nulli, abl. nullo or nulla > nullus -a -um)
nōn: not
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
parco -ere pepercī: spare, be sparing of (+ dat.)
satis/sat: enough, sufficient
sī: if
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
volo velle voluī: wish, be willing

(image source)

Antiquus gladius...

This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Antiquus gladius, vetus atque fidelis amicus,
Credita temporibus haec valuere suis.

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:

antīquus -a -um - ancient, aged, old

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
atque, ac: and in addition, and also, and; (after comparatives) than; simul atque, as soon as
crēdo -ere crēdidī crēditum: believe
fidēlis -e: faithful
gladius -ī m.: sword
hic, haec, hoc: this; hōc, on this account
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tempus -oris n.: time
valeo valēre valuī: be strong, excel, be valid, prevail; valē, farewell!
vetus veteris: old

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Hensellus quicquid...

This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Hensellus quicquid teneris non discit in annis,
Hans nunquam discet, semper ineptus erit.

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:

ineptus -a -um - silly, inept, foolish

annus -ī m.: year
disco -ere didicī: learn
in: in, on (+ abl.); into onto (+ acc)
nōn: not
numquam: never
quisquis quidquid: whoever, whichever
semper: always, ever
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
teneo -ēre -uī tentum: hold

(image source)

Tu miser es et eris...

Here is another Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Tu miser es et eris, si tangat te ars mulieris;
si tibi consultum, mulieris spernere vultum.

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:

sperno -ere, sprēvī, sprētum - scorn, reject, despise

ars artis f.: skill
cōnsulo -sulere -suluī -sultum: consult, plan
et: and
miser misera miserum: wretched, pitiable
mulier -eris f.: woman
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tango -ere tetigī tāctum: touch
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vultus -ūs m.: look, expression, face

(Mantegna: Samson and Delilah)

Uxor, equus, vestis...

Here is another Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Uxor, equus, vestis, et calciamenta inhonestis
Dum conceduntur, cum damno restituuntur.

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:

calciamentum, n. - shoe

concēdo -cēdere -cessī -cessum: yield, withdraw
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
damnum -ī n.: damage, injury
dum: while (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
equus -ī m.: horse
et: and
restituo -stituere -stituī -stitūtum: restore
uxor uxōris f.: wife
vestis -is f.: garment, robe, clothing

(image source)

Disce Pati

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274     -     275     -     276

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Disce Pati
Nobile vincendi genus est patientia; vincit
Qui patitur; si vis vincere, disce pati.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). 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:

patientia (patientiae, f.): endurance, patience

disco -ere didicī: learn
genus, generis n.: origin, lineage, kind
nōbilis -e: distinguished, noble; (as subst.) a nobleman or woman
patior patī passus sum: permit, endure
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vinco vincere vīcī victum: conquer
volo velle voluī: wish, be willing

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Praemia Servorum

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27     -     28     -     29

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Praemia Servorum
Si tibi servierit aliquis, sua praemia tecum
Ne retinere diu cures, si diligis aequum.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the end-line rhyme, with "qu" pronounced as "c" and "ae" as "e," giving the rhyme tecum-aequum.

If someone is your servant (si aliquis tibi servierit), make sure (cures) that you do not long keep for yourself (ne retinere diu tecum) the servant's reward (sua praemia), if you love what is right (si diligis aequum).

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

aequus -a -um: equal; aequē, equally
aliquis -quae -quod: some, any; si quis, si quid: anyone who, anything that
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
cūrō -āre: care for (+ acc.)
dīligō -ligere -lēxī -lēctum: choose, cherish, love
diū: for a long time
nē: lest, that not
praemium -iī n.: bounty, reward
retineō -tinēre -tinuī -tentum: hold back, keep
serviō -īre: be a slave, serve (+ dat.)
servus -ī m.: slave
sī: if
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)

(image source - full size poster; poster made with AutoMotivator)

Quisque suo Marte...

Here is today's Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Quisque suo Marte, sic quilibet utitur arte,
Quam sibi sors dedit, hac utitur omnis homo.


The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are two words which are not on the DCC list:

Mars, Martis m. - Mars, god of war
quīlibet, quaelibet, quodlibet - whoever, anybody, everybody

ars artis f.: skill
do dare dedī datum: give
hic, haec, hoc: this; hōc, on this account
homo hominis m.: human being
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
quis-, quae-, quidque: each one, everyone
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut, in the same way as
sors, sortis f.: lot, fate, destiny; oracle
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
ūtor ūtī ūsus sum: use

(image source)

Senex et Iuvenis

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102     -     103     -     104

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Senex et Iuvenis
Nemo senex adeo, quin annum vivere possit,
Nemo tam iuvenis, quin ipse mori cito possit.

Source: Andreas Gartner, Proverbialia Dicteria (1578). Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. The word quin is a contraction of qui and ne, which fits this poem very nicely; you can read more about the many different uses of quin in the Lewis & Short Dictionary entry.

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

There is no man so old (nemo adeo senex) that he could not (quin possit) live another year (vivere annum); there is no man so young (nemo tam iuvenis) that he could not (quin ipse possit) suddenly die (cito mori).

adeō: (adv.) to such a degree, so
annus -ī m.: year
cītus -a -um: swift; citō swiftly
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
iuvenis -is m.: youth
morior morī mortuus sum: die
nēmo: no one (gen. nullius, dat. nulli, abl. nullo or nulla > nullus -a -um)
possum posse potuī: be able
quīn: (adv.) indeed, in fact; (conjunction) so that . . . not (+ subj.)
senex -is m.: old man, elder; senior, older
tam: so
vīvō vīvere vīxī victum: live

(image source)

Si vis laudari...

Here is today's Rhyming Distich, and here are some more posts with Rhyming Distichs. This little poem is from Gartner's Dicteria Proverbialia (1598).

Si vis laudari, si vis carusque vocari,
Discas adulari: nam tales sunt modo cari.


The vocabulary is keyed to the DCC Latin Vocabulary list. There are two words which are not on the DCC list:

adūlor, -ārī - flatter, fawn upon
cārus -a -um - dear, beloved, precious, costly

disco -ere didicī: learn
laudo -āre: praise
modo: just, just now
nam: for, indeed, really
que: and (enclitic)
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tālis tale: such
voco -āre: call
volo velle voluī: wish, be willing

(image source)