Divitiae Sunt Causae Periculorum

---

363     -     364     -     365

---

Divitiae Sunt Causae Periculorum
Cum sint divitiae manifesta pericula vitae,
Cur voto a cunctis sic cupiuntur opes?

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), 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:

manifestus, -a, -um: in plain view, evident

ā ab abs: from, by (+abl.)
causa -ae f.: cause, reason
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
cūnctus -a -um: entire all together
cupiō -ere -īvī -ītum: desire
cūr: why?
dīvitiae -ārum f. pl.: riches, wealth
ops opis f.: assistance, resources
perīculum -ī n.: danger
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vīta -ae f.: life
votum -ī n.: solemn promise, vow; hope

(image source)

Qui Dat Inopi Sua

---

354     -     355     -     356

---

Qui Dat Inopi Sua
Qui bene divitias inopi donabit amico,
   Hic omni felix tempore dives erit.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), 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:

inops (inopis): needy, lacking, destitute

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
bene: well
dīves, dīvitis: rich (poet. dīs, dītis)
dīvitiae -ārum f. pl.: riches, wealth
dō dare dedī datum: give
dōnō -āre: present with a gift (+ acc. of person and abl. of thing)
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tempus -oris n.: time

(image source)

Quis Sit Dives

---

351     -     352     -     353

---

Quis Sit Dives
Non est, crede mihi, multos qui possidet agros
   Dives, sed dives cui satis unus ager.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac.

He is not rich (non est dives), believe me (crede mihi), he who possesses (qui possidet) many fields (multos agros), but he is rich (sed dives) for whom (cui) one field (unus ager) is enough (satis).

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:

possideō, possidēre: seize, occupy, possess

ager agrī m.: field
crēdō crēdere crēdidī crēditum: believe
dīves, dīvitis: rich (poet. dīs, dītis)
ego meī mihi mē: I, me
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
nōn: not
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
satis/sat: enough, sufficient
sed: but
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ūnus -a -um: one

(image source)

Quod Scimus, Docere Debemus

---

326     -     327     -     328

---

Quod Scimus, Docere Debemus
Edoceas quod scis, fit enim sapientia dando
   Maior; at est, contra, facta retenta minor.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), 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:

ēdoceō, ēdocēre: teach thoroughly, instruct

at: but, but yet
contrā: against, opposite (adv. and prep. +acc.)
dēbeō dēbēre dēbuī dēbitum: owe, be obliged
dō dare dedī datum: give
doceō -ēre -uī doctum: teach
enim: for, indeed
fīō fierī factus sum: become
māior -ius: greater, older; maiōres -um: ancestors
minus -oris n.: a smaller number or amount, less; (adv.) minus: to a smaller extent, less
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
retineō -tinēre -tinuī -tentum: hold back, keep
sapientia -ae f.: wisdom
sciō -īre -īvī/-iī -ītum: know
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(image source)

Quod Non Sumus Mancipia Corporis

---

301     -     302     -     303

---

Quod Non Sumus Mancipia Corporis
Cum sit missa tibi mens alto libera caelo,
Num vis mancipium corporis esse tui?

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), 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:

When your mind (cum sit tibi mens) is free (libera), directed to the high heaven (missa alto caelo), surely you don't want (num vis) to be the slave (mancipium esse) of your body (corporis tui)?

mancipium (mancipii, n.): property, possession, slave

altus -a -um: high, lofty; deep
caelum -ī n.: sky, heavens
corpus corporis n.: body
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
līber lībera līberum: free; līberī (m. pl.): freeborn children
mēns mentis f.: mind
mittō mittere mīsī missum: send, let go
nōn: not
num: interrogative particle implying negative answer
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your
volō velle voluī: wish, be willing

(Statue of Padmasambhava)

Pulchra Vestis

---

266     -     267     -     268

---

Pulchra Vestis
Si modo me spernis, mutata veste redibo;
Quod mihi non dederis, vestibus ipse dabis.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), 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 now you reject me (si modo me spernis), I will return (redibo) having changed my clothes (mutata veste); that [respect] which (quod) you would not give to me ( mihi non dederis), you will give to my clothes (estibus ipse dabis).

spernō, spernere: scorn, reject, despise

dō dare dedī datum: give
ego meī mihi mē: I, me
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
modo: just, just now
mūtō -āre: change
nōn: not
pulcher -chra -chrum: beautiful
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
redeō -īre -iī -itum: go back, return
sī: if
vestis -is f.: garment, robe, clothing

(image source)

Omnes Sunt Felices, Ubi Omnes Amici

---

251     -     252     -     253

---

Omnes Sunt Felices, Ubi Omnes Amici
Quam felix et quanta foret res publica, cives,
Si cunctos unus conciliasset amor?

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note the sadly contrary-to-fact hypothetical statement: si conciliasset - "if only one love could have united everyone" (but, alas, it has not!).

How happy (quam felix) and how great would the republic be (et quanta foret res publica), O citizens (cives), if a single love (si unus amor) reconciled us all (cunctos conciliasset)?

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:

conciliō, conciliāre, conciliāvī: unite, bring together

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
amor -ōris m.: love
cīvis -is m./f.: citizen
cūnctus -a -um: entire all together
et: and
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
pūblicus -a -um: public, belonging to the state
quam: how?; (after comparative) than
quantus -a -um: (interr.) how great? (rel.) of what size, amount, etc.
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ubi: where, when
ūnus -a -um: one

(image source)

Lex et Iustitia

---

191     -     192     -     193

---

Lex et Iustitia
Vis legis prohibere malum est, permittere honestum;
Iustitia est semper ius dare cuique suum.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note that malum and honestum are being used substantively, as the objects of the infinitives malum prohibere and honestum permittere.

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:

The power of law (vis legis est) is to prohibit what is wicked (prohibere malum), and to allow what is honorable (permittere honestum); justice is (iustitia est) to always give to each (semper dare cuique) what is rightfully theirs (ius suum).

iustitia (iustitiae, f.): justice, righteousness

dō dare dedī datum: give
et: and
honestus -a -um: honorable
iūs iūris n.: right, justice, law
lēx lēgis: f. law
malus -a -um: bad, evil; male: (adv.) badly
permittō -mittere -mīsī -missum: yield, allow, permit
prohibeō -ēre -uī -itum: restrain, keep away
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
semper: always, ever
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
vīs f.: force; (acc.) vim, (abl.) vī; (pl.) vīrēs, strength

(image source)

Virtuti Mors Nocere Non Potest

---

185     -     186     -     187

---

Virtuti Mors Nocere Non Potest
Sola potest homines aeternos reddere virtus;
Huic soli e cunctis non Libitina nocet.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. The phrase huic soli (dative) in the second line refers back to virtus in the first line.

Only excellence (sola virtus) can make (potest reddere) men immortal (homines aeternos); among all things (e cunctis) Libitina does not harm (non Libitina nocet) this thing alone (huic soli).

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:

Libitīna (Libitīnae, f.): Libitina, goddess of corpses

aeternus -a -um: everlasting, eternal
cūnctus -a -um: entire all together
ex ē: out of, from (+ abl.)
hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
homo hominis m.: human being
mors mortis f.: death
noceō nocēre nocuī: harm
nōn: not
possum posse potuī: be able
reddō -dere -didī -ditum: return, give back
sōlus -a -um: only, alone; sōlum (adv.), only, merely
virtūs -ūtis f.: valor, manliness, virtue

(image source)

Verus Amicus

---

163     -     164     -     165

---

Verus Amicus
Invenies multos, si res tibi floret, amicos;
Si fueris pauper, quis tibi amicus erit?

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note the subjunctive used to express the hypothetical condition: si fueris...

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:

flōreō, flōrēre: blossom, flourish, be prosperous

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
inveniō -venīre -vēnī -ventum: find; discover
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
pauper -eris: poor, lowly
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)
sī: if
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly

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

Nil Magis Nostrum Est Quam Tempus

---

132     -     133     -     134

---

Nil Magis Nostrum Est Quam Tempus
Nil magis est nostrum volucris quam temporis usus,
Sed multis tamquam res aliena volat.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. The quam here expresses the comparison: nil magis est nostrum ... quam....

There is nothing more our own (Nil magis est nostrum) than the use of time (quam temporis usus) as it flies (volucris), but for many (sed multis) it flies (volat) as if it was a thing that belonging to someone else ( tamquam res aliena).

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:

volō, volāre: fly

aliēnus -a -um: foreign, strange
magis: more
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
noster nostra nostrum: our
quam: how?; (after comparative) than
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
sed: but
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tamquam: so as, just as
tempus -oris n.: time
ūsus -ūs m.: use, experience
volucer -cris -cre: flying; volucris -is m./f.: bird

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

Ne Simus Loquaces

Here is a distich by Michele Verinus:

Ne Simus Loquaces
Vis sapiens dici? Raro et meditata loquare;
Saepe loquax verbis proditur ipse suis.

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:

loquax (loquācis): talkative, chattering
meditātus, -a, -um: considered, pondered

dīcō dīcere dīxī dictum: say; causam dicere, plead a case; diem dicere, appoint a day
et: and
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
loquor loquī locūtus sum: speak, talk
nē: lest, that not
prodō prodere prodidī proditum: publish, hand down; give over, betray
rarus -a -um: wide apart, loose, thin; rare, seldom
saepe: often
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
verbum -ī n.: word

(image source)

De Munere

---

83     -     84     -     85

---

De Munere
Quid non argento, quid non corrumpitur auro?
   Qui maiora dabit munera, victor erit.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. This is a cynical little poem, expressing not good advice for you to follow, but instead warning you about the corruption that rules the world.

What is not corrupted (quid non corrumpitur) argento (by means of silver), what is not corrupted (quid non) by means of gold (auro)? He who (qui) will give the greater gifts (dabit maiora munera) will be the winner (erit victor).

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

argentum -ī n.: silver, money
aurum -ī n.: gold
corrumpō -rumpere -rūpī -ruptum: break up, destroy, ruin
dē: down from, about, concerning (+ abl.)
dō dare dedī datum: give
māior -ius: greater, older; maiōres -um: ancestors
mūnus mūneris n.: gift, offering
nōn: not
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
victor -ōris m.: conqueror

(image source)

Verae Divitiae

---

19     -     20     -     21

---

Verae Divitiae
Divitiae non sunt argenti pondus et auri;
   Virtutes veras accipe divitias.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note the separate accusative phrases in the second line: virtues veras accipe divitias, "accept virtue [as] the true riches."

Riches are not (divitiae non sunt) a mass of silver (pondus argenti) and of gold (et auri); accept excellent achievements (accipe virtutes) as the true riches (veras divitias).

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

accipiō -cipere -cēpī -ceptum: receive
argentum -ī n.: silver, money
aurum -ī n.: gold
dīvitiae -ārum f. pl.: riches, wealth
et: and
nōn: not
pondus ponderis n.: weight
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly
virtūs -ūtis f.: valor, manliness, virtue

(image source - full size poster;

poster made with AutoMotivator)

Amicus Falsus

---

14     -     15     -     16

---

Amicus Falsus
Quem tibi divitiae peperere, est falsus amicus:
   Argentum, non te, diligit ille tuum.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note the implied referent of the relative pronoun: [is] quem tibi divitiae peperere... The perfect peperere = pepererunt.

The friend whom (quem) wealth has produced for you (divitiae tibi peperere) is a false friend (est falsus amicus): he loves (ille diligit) your silver (argentum tuum) non te (not you).

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

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
argentum -ī n.: silver, money
dīligō -ligere -lēxī -lēctum: choose, cherish, love
dīves, dīvitis: rich (poet. dīs, dītis)
dīvitiae -ārum f. pl.: riches, wealth
falsus -a -um: deceptive, false
ille illa illud: that
nōn: not
pariō parere peperī partum: bring forth, give birth to; accomplish
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your

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

Amor Est Causa Timoris

Here is a distich by Michele Verinus:

Amor Est Causa Timoris
Quae tu contemnes, numquam amisisse dolebit,
Nam magni est nimius causa timoris amor.

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

āmittō -mittere -mīsī -missum: let go, send away
amor -ōris m.: love
causa -ae f.: cause, reason
contemnō -temnere -tempsī -temptum: despise, scorn, disdain
doleō -ēre doluī: feel pain or grief, grieve
māgnus -a -um great
nam or namque: for, indeed, really
nimius -a -um: too much, excessive; nimis or nimium: excessively
numquam: never
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
timor -ōris m.: fear
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)

(image source)

Magnus Timet

---

94     -     95     -     96

---

Magnus Timet
Quanto maior eris, maiora pericla cavenda;
   Crede mihi: nullo tempore tutus eris.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note the implied correlative in the first line: quanto maior eris, [tanto] maiora pericula...

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

The greater you will be (quanto maior eris) the greater the dangers (maiora pericla) that you must watch out for (cavenda); believe me (crede mihi): at no time (nullo tempore) will you be safe (eris tutus).

caveō cavēre cāvī cautum: be on guard, beware
crēdō crēdere crēdidī crēditum: believe
ego meī mihi mē: I, me
māgnus -a -um great
māior -ius: greater, older; maiōres -um: ancestors
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
perīculum -ī n.: danger
quantus -a -um: (interr.) how great? (rel.) of what size, amount, etc.
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tempus -oris n.: time
timeō -ēre -uī: to fear, to dread
tutus -a -um: safe, protected

(image source)

Veri Amoris Nullus est Finis

---

252     -     253     -     254

---

Veri Amoris Nullus est Finis
Numquam vera fuit caritas, quae desinit esse,
Nam nullus veri finis amoris erit.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note the lovely interweaving of the nominative and genitive noun phrases: nullus veri finis amoris.

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:

That love (caritas) was never true (numquam vera fuit) which can cease to be (quae desinit esse), for there will be no end (nam nullus finis erit) of true love (veri amoris).

cāritas (cāritātis, f.): love, charity

amor -ōris m.: love
dēsinō -sinere -sīvī -situm: leave off, cease
fīnis -is m.: end, boundary
nam or namque: for, indeed, really
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
numquam: never
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly

(image source)

Nostra et Aliena

Here is a distich by Michele Verinus:

Nostra et Aliena
Ne tua contemnas, aliena negotia curans;
An tibi te quisquam iunctior esse potest?

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

aliēnus -a -um: foreign, strange
an: or
contemnō -temnere -tempsī -temptum: despise, scorn, disdain
cūrō -āre: care for (+ acc.)
et: and
iungō iungere iūnxī iūnctum: join
nē: lest, that not
negōtium -ī n.: business
noster nostra nostrum: our
quis- quicquam/quidquam: any (single) person, anyone at all
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your

(image source)

Temporibus Duris

---

167     -     168     -     169

---

Temporibus Duris
Temporibus duris veri noscuntur amici; 
Ah, fidos paucos experiere tibi.

Source: Michaelis Verinus (c.1469-c.1487), Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note that experiere = experieris, second-person singular future.

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:

fīdus, -a, -um: faithful, loyal

amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
dūrus -a -um: hard, tough, harsh
experior -perīriī -pertus sum: try thoroughly, test, experience
nōscō nōscere nōvī nōtum: learn, know
paucī -ae -a: few
tempus -oris n.: time
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly

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