8. Sic Mihi Vita

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7     -     8     -     9

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Sic Mihi Vita
Fessa prius somno quam tradas lumina, dices:
   Fugit ut ista dies, sic mihi vita fugit.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 107. Meter: Elegiac. Note the use of the future dices as a kind of command.

Before you consign (prius quam tradas) your tired eyes (fessa lumina) to sleep (somno), you will say (dices): As the day speeds away (ut ista dies fugit), thus my life speeds away (sic mihi vita fugit).

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

dīcō dīcere dīxī dictum: say; causam dicere, plead a case; diem dicere, appoint a day
diēs diēī m./f.: day
ego meī mihi mē: I, me
fessus -a -um: weary, tired
fugiō fugere fūgī fugitum: flee, escape
iste ista istud: that, that of yours; adv. istīc or istūc: over there; istinc: from over there
lūmen luminis n.: light
prior -ius: earlier, preceding; prius or priusquam: before
quam: how?; (after comparative) than
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
somnus -ī m.: sleep, slumber; (pl.) dreams
trādō -dere -didī -ditum: hand over, yield
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
vīta -ae f.: life

(image source)

Turpia Dicta, Turpia Facta

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350     -     351     -     352

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Turpia Dicta, Turpia Facta
Turpibus assuesces factis per turpia dicta:
Turpia facta fugis; turpia dicta fuge.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 89. 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:

assuescō, assuescere: become accustomed to

dīcō dīcere dīxī dictum: say; causam dicere, plead a case; diem dicere, appoint a day
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
fugiō fugere fūgī fugitum: flee, escape
per: through (+acc.)
turpis -e: ugly, unsightly; disgraceful

(image source)

Mala, Sed Non Vera

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262     -     263     -     264

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Mala, Sed Non Vera
Si mala quis de te loquitur, ne mutua redde;
Quae loquitur, ne sint vera, videre tuum est.

Source:  Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 66. 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:

mūtuus, -a, -um: reciprocal, mutual, in kind

aliquis -quae -quod: some, any; si quis, si quid: anyone who, anything that
dē: down from, about, concerning (+ abl.)
loquor loquī locūtus sum: speak, talk
malus -a -um: bad, evil; male: (adv.) badly
nē: lest, that not
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
reddō -dere -didī -ditum: return, give back
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly
videō vidēre vīdī vīsum: see

(image source)

Lex Omnibus Una

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391     -     392     -     393

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Lex Omnibus Una
Vivis et ut vivas longum precor, attamen ibis
   Quo reliqui; lex est omnibus una: mori.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 300. 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:

You are alive (vivis) and I pray (et precor) that you live a long time (ut vivas longum), and yet you will go (attamen ibis) where the rest have gone (quo reliqui); there is one law (lex una est) for all (omnibus): to die (mori).

attamen: and yet

eo īre iī/īvī itum: go
et: and
lēx lēgis: f. law
longus -a -um: long, far; longē: far, far off
morior morī mortuus sum: die
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
precor -ārī: pray, invoke
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
reliquus -a -um: remaining, rest
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ūnus -a -um: one
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
vīvō vīvere vīxī victum: live

(image source)

Mores Quisque Sibi Format

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314     -     315     -     316

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Mores Quisque Sibi Format
Quisque suos sequitur mores, quos format agendo
   Quisque sibi: tu nunc te facis id quod eris.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 291. Meter: Elegiac.

Each person follows (quisque sequitur) their own habits (suos mores), which each person (quos quisque) shapes for themselves (format sibi) by their actions (agendo): you are now making yourself (tu nunc te facis) that which you will be (id quod eris).

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:

formō, formāre: shape, fashion, form

agō agere ēgī āctum: drive, do, act
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
is ea id: he, she, it
mōs mōris m.: custom, habit; (pl.) character
nunc: now
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
sequor sequī secūtus sum: follow
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)

(image source)

Sapiens Desipiens

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296     -     297     -     298

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Sapiens Desipiens
Desipit ipse loco sapiens et tempore; verum
Rarus ut ille locus, sic breve tempus erit.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 213. 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:

Even the wise man (ipse sapiens) can play the fool (desipit) in a place and time (loco et tempore); in fact (verum) the place (ille locus) will be as rare (rarus ut) as the time will be brief (sic breve tempus erit).

dēsipio, dēsipere: be foolish, play the fool

brevis -e: short, shallow, brief; adv. breviter
et: and
ille illa illud: that
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
locus -ī m.: place; loca (n. pl.) region
rarus -a -um: wide apart, loose, thin; rare, seldom
sapiens -ntis.: wise man
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tempus -oris n.: time
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly

(image source)

Deus Testis

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198     -     199     -     200

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Deus Testis
Quidquid ages dicesve, deum testem esse memento;
Quae tacitus tecum volvis, et illa legit.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 2. Meter: Elegiac. Note the use of future imperative, memento, "remember!" Note also that tacitus agrees with the subject of the verb volvis, functioning much like an English adverb: "quietly."

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:

volvō, volvere: roll, turn around, consider

agō agere ēgī āctum: drive, do, act
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
dīcō dīcere dīxī dictum: say; causam dicere, plead a case; diem dicere, appoint a day
et: and
ille illa illud: that
legō legere lēgī lēctum: gather, choose, read
meminī meminisse: remember, recollect
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
quisquis quidquid: whoever, whichever
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
taceō -ēre -uī -itum: be silent; tacitus -a -um, silent
testis -is m.: witness
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
ve (enclitic): or

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

Homo Ingeniosus Vanus

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178     -     179     -     180

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Homo Ingeniosus Vanus
Ingeniosus homo est: quid tum? Si cetera desunt,
Nil nisi vanus homo est ingeniosus homo.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 182. Meter: Elegiac. The Latin quid tum? is a lot like the English "so what?"

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:

ingeniōsus, -a, -um: clever, ingenious

cēterus -a -um: the others, the rest; adv. cēterum: for the rest, in addition, however, that may be
dēsum -esse -fuī: be lacking
homo hominis m.: human being
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
nisi/nī: if not, unless
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tum or tunc: then
vanus -a -um: empty; false, deceitful

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

Memorandum

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313     -     314     -     315

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Memorandum
Non memorare decet, si quid bene feceris ulli;
   Si male passus eris, nec meminisse decet.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 160. 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:

It is not right to mention (non memorare decet), if you do something good (si quid bene feceris) for somebody (ulli); nor it is right to remember (nec meminisse decet) if you have suffered (i  passus eris) something bad (male).

memoro, memorāre: bring to mind, mention

aliquis -quae -quod: some, any; si quis, si quid: anyone who, anything that
bene: well
decet decēre decuīt: it becomes, it behooves (+ acc. of person, or infinitive)
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
malus -a -um: bad, evil; male: (adv.) badly
meminī meminisse: remember, recollect
neque nec: and not, nor; neque . . . neque, neither . . . nor
nōn: not
patior patī passus sum: permit, endure
sī: if
ūllus -a -um: any, anyone

(image source)

Deo Dante

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123     -     124     -     125

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Deo Dante
Quidquid amas, si forte deum non diligis, erras;
Quidquid habes, illo dante beatus habes.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 23. Meter: Elegiac. Note the ablative absolute in the title, deo dante, as also in the second line, illo dante.

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

amō -āre: to love; amans -ntis m./f.: lover
beatus -a -um: happy, blessed, prosperous, fortunate
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
dīligō -ligere -lēxī -lēctum: choose, cherish, love
dō dare dedī datum: give
errō -āre: go astray, wander
fors fortis f.: chance; adv. fortē: by chance
habeō habēre habuī habitum: have, hold
ille illa illud: that
nōn: not
quisquis quidquid: whoever, whichever
sī: if

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

Omnia Disce

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74     -     75     -     76

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Omnia Disce
Omnia disce, puer; tuus hic labor unus, at inter
   Omnia, disce prius vivere, disce mori.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 191. Meter: Elegiac. Of course, we all live and die, whether we have learned to do so or not - the idea is that we need to learn to live well and how to die well.

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

at: but, but yet
discō -ere didicī: learn
hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
inter: between, among; during (+ acc.)
labor -ōris m.: toil, exertion
morior morī mortuus sum: die
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
prior -ius: earlier, preceding; prius or priusquam: before
puer puerī m.: boy; slave
tuus -a -um: your
ūnus -a -um: one
vīvō vīvere vīxī victum: live

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

Learn All Things

Learn all things (disce omnia), my boy (puer); this shall be your one task (hic labor unus), and among those things (at inter omnia), first learn to live (prius disce vivere), learn to die (disce mori).

Omnia ~ disce, pu~er; tuus ~ hic labor ~ unus, at ~ inter
   Omnia, ~ disce pri~us | vivere, ~ disce mo~ri.

Tace Tu Primus

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80     -     81     -     82

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Tace Tu Primus
Quod tacitum vis esse, tace tu primus; amico,
   Quae tua sunt debes, non aliena, loqui.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 144. Meter: Elegiac. Note the emphatic use of the pronoun tu;  the imperative tace already has "you" as its subject, so using the pronoun tu is purely emphatic. It's up to you to keep quiet if you want to keep something a secret; you cannot tell other people a secret and then put the burden on them of keeping silent!

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

That which (quod) you want kept quiet (vis esse tacitum), you must first keep quiet yourself (tu primus tace); you should tell your friend (debes loqui amico) the things which are yours (quae tua sunt), not someone else's (non aliena).

aliēnus -a -um: foreign, strange
amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
dēbeō dēbēre dēbuī dēbitum: owe, be obliged
loquor loquī locūtus sum: speak, talk
nōn: not
prīmus -a -um: first; adv. prīmum: at first, firstly
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
taceō -ēre -uī -itum: be silent; tacitus -a -um, silent
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your
volō velle voluī: wish, be willing

(image source)

Ut Multa Discas, Multa Roga

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329     -     330     -     331

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Ut Multa Discas, Multa Roga
Illos vise frequens, qui possunt multa docere;
Multaque cum possis discere, multa roga.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 202. Meter: Elegiac.

You should visit often (vise frequens) those people who (illos qui) can teach you a lot (possunt multa docere); and since you can learn a lot (-que cum possis multa discere), ask a lot of questions (multa roga).

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:

vīso, vīsere: look at, go to see, visit

cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
discō -ere didicī: learn
doceō -ēre -uī doctum: teach
frequens -ntis: in large numbers, often
ille illa illud: that
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
possum posse potuī: be able
que (enclitic) - and
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
rogō -āre: ask

(image source)

Omnia mors...

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406     -     407     -     408

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This poem comes from the Silva distichorum moralium by François Oudin (1719).

Omnia mors finit, sed non mors omnia tollit;
Quod bene, quod contra feceris, usque manet.

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:

fīnio -īre: limit, bound

bene: well
contrā: against, opposite (adv. and prep. +acc.)
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
maneō manēre mānsī mānsum: remain
mors mortis f.: death
nōn: not
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sed: but
tollō tollere sustulī sublātum: raise up, destroy
ūsque: up to; continuously

(image source)

Tempus Tuum

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131     -     132     -     133

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Tempus Tuum
Res est una, tuam possis quam dicere: tempus.
Utere! Dum cessas, desinit esse tuum.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 286. Meter: Elegiac. The implied complement of the imperative utere is time: utere tempore.

There is one thing (res est una) which (quam) you can call yours (possis dicere tuam): time (tempus). Use it! (utere) When you cease to use it (dum cessas), it ceases (desinit) to be yours (esse tuum).

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:

cessō, cessāre: delay, stop, cease

dēsinō -sinere -sīvī -situm: leave off, cease
dīcō dīcere dīxī dictum: say; causam dicere, plead a case; diem dicere, appoint a day
dum: while (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
possum posse potuī: be able
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
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
tempus -oris n.: time
tuus -a -um: your
ūnus -a -um: one
ūtor ūtī ūsus sum: use

(image source)

Ludus et Labor

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280     -     281     -     282

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Ludus et Labor
Ille iuvet ludus, qui proximus ipse labori est;
Qui labor est ludo proximus, ille iuvat.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 215. 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:

lūdus (lūdī, m.): game, play, pastime

ille illa illud: that
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
iuvō iuvāre iūvī iūtum: help, assist; please, delight
labor -ōris m.: toil, exertion
prope: near, next; (comp.) propior, (superl.) proximus; (adv.) propē, nearly, almost
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(image source)

Sponte Fac

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257     -     258     -     259

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Sponte Fac
Sponte, tuo gratum si quid fore credis amico,
   Effice; si poscit, gratia multa perit.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 143. 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:

sponte: freely, voluntarily

aliquis -quae -quod: some, any; si quis, si quid: anyone who, anything that
amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
crēdo -ere crēdidī crēditum: believe
efficio -ficere -fēcī -fectum: bring about, complete; render (+ ut + subj.)
grātia -ae f.: favor, influence, gratitude
grātus -a -um: pleasant; grateful
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
pereo -īre -iī -itum: perish, be lost
pōsco -ere popōscī: demand, claim; inquire into
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tuus -a -um: your

(image source)

Visne Bonus Dici?

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57     -     58     -     59

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Visne Bonus Dici?
Ficta parum constant: quod haberi poscis, id esto!
   Visne bonus dici? Cura sit esse bonum.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 133. Meter: Elegiac. Note the future imperative esto, "be!"

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

Fictions last only a little while (ficta parum constant): be that esto id which you desire (quod poscis) to be considered as (haberi)! Do you want (visne) to be called good? (bonus dici) Let it be your concern (cura sit) that you be good (esse bonum).

bonus -a -um: good
cōnsto -stāre -stitī: agree; constat, it is established that (+ infin.)
cūra -ae f.: care, concern
dīco dīcere dīxī dictum: say; causam dicere, plead a case; diem dicere, appoint a day
fingo -ere finxī fictum: shape; invent
habeo -ēre -uī habitum: have, hold
is ea, id: he, she, it; eō, there, to that place
nē: lest, that not
parum: too little
pōsco -ere popōscī: demand, claim; inquire into
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
volo velle voluī: wish, be willing

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

Amicus Unus Aptus

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15     -     16     -     17

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Amicus Unus Aptus
Aptus amicus adest unus tibi; parce secundum
   Quaerere; vix aeque tertius aptus erit.

Source: François Oudin (1673-1752), Silva Distichorum, 138. Meter: Elegiac. Note the idiomatic use of parce with an infinitive: parce quaerere, "spare to look," i.e. "don't go looking, "refrain from looking."

One friend nearby you (amicus unus adest) is appropriate (aptus); refrain from seeking a second (parce quaerere secundum); a third friend (tertius) will scarcely be (vix erit) appropriate in the same degree (aeque aptus).

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

adsum adesse affuī: be present
aequus -a -um: equal; aequē, equally
amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
aptus -a -um: fit, suitable
parcō parcere pepercī: spare, be sparing of (+ dat.)
quaerō -rere -sīvī-situm: seek, inquire
secundus -a -um: following; favorable
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tertius -a -um: third
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
ūnus -a -um: one
vix: scarcely

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

Nocte Tibi Quiescendum

This poem comes from the Silva distichorum moralium by François Oudin (1719).

Nocte Tibi Quiescendum
Nocte feras prudens docuit natura vagari:
Nocte mali currunt; nocte quiesce, puer.

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

prūdens (prūdentis): wise, having foresight
vagor, vagārī: wander, roam

currō currere cucurrī cursum: run
doceō -ēre -uī doctum: teach
ferus -a -um: wild, fierce; fera -ae f.: wild animal
malus -a -um: bad, evil; male: (adv.) badly
nātūra -ae f.: nature
nox noctis f.: night
puer puerī m.: boy; slave
quiēscō quiēscere quiēvī quiētum: keep quiet; sleep

(image source)