1. Tempora Concessa

---

Index     -     1     -     2

---

Tempora Concessa

Quae vitae concessa tibi sint tempora, nescis:
   Ergo fac citius quae facienda vides.

Source: Urbano Appendini (1777-1834), De Educatione Disticha. Meter: Elegiac. Note that in the first line, quae is an interrogative (nescis quae tempora...), while in the second line it is a relative pronoun with an implied antecedent (fac [haec] quae...).

You do not know (nescis) what time of life (quae tempora vitae) has been allowed to you (tibi concessa sint); therefore (ergo), do speedily (fac citius) the things which you see (quae vides) must be done (facienda).

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

cītus -a -um: swift; citō swiftly
concēdō -cēdere -cessī -cessum: yield, withdraw
ergo: therefore
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
nesciō -scīre: not know, be ignorant
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tempus -oris n.: time
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
videō vidēre vīdī vīsum: see
vīta -ae f.: life

(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)

Vita Felix

---

382     -     383     -     384

---

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

(image source)

Scientia Quae Optima

---

309     -     310     -     311

---

Scientia Quae Optima
Magna sciunt homines, horumque scientia multa,
   Nulla sed est melior cognitione sui.

Source: Iohannes Pignevvart (1624), Cato Bernardinus. Meter: Elegiac.

The Knowledge Which is Best: People know great things (homines sciunt magna), and they have (horumque) much knowledge (scientia multa), but no other knowledge (sed nulla) is better than (melior est) self-awareness (cognitione sui).

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:

cognitio (cognitiōnis, f.): knowledge, recognition

hic haec hoc: this; hōc: on this account
homo hominis m.: human being
māgnus -a -um great
melior -ius: better
multus -a -um: much, many; multō, by far
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
optimus -a -um: best, excellent; adv. optimē
que (enclitic) - and
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
scientia -ae f.: knowledge
sciō -īre -īvī/-iī -ītum: know
sed: but
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(Cigar Box label circa 1870)

Currus Mentis

---

307     -     308     -     309

---

Currus Mentis
Ira, cupido, metus, mentis quoque gaudia currus:
   Esto auriga bonus; rex eris ista regens.

Source: Iohannes Pignevvart (1624), Cato Bernardinus. Meter:  Elegiac.

Anger, desire, fear, (Ira, cupido, metus) and joys also (quoque gaudia) are the chariot of the mind (mentis currus): be a good chariot-driver (Esto auriga bonus); you will be a king (rex eris) if you can control those things (ista regens).

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:

aurīga (aurīgae, m.): charioteer, driver

bonus -a -um: good
cupīdo -inis f.: desire, eagerness, craving
currus -ūs m.: chariot
gaudium -ī n.: delight, joy, pleasure
īra irae f.: wrath, anger
iste ista istud: that, that of yours; adv. istīc or istūc: over there; istinc: from over there
mēns mentis f.: mind
metus -ūs m.: fear, dread
quoque: also, too
regō regere rēxī rectum: guide, rule
rēx rēgis m.: king
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist

(image source)

Via Mortis

---

390     -     391     -     392

---

Via Mortis
Mors te certa manet, sed qua ventura sit hora,
   Incertum, vel qua sit tibi eunda via.

Source: Giuseppe Gatti, Sales Poetici, Proverbiales, et Iocosi (1703). 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:

Death certainly awaits you (mors certa te manet), but it is uncertain (sed incertum) at what time (qua hora) it will come (ventura sit), or what way (vel qua via) you will have to go (tibi eunda).

incertus, -a, -um: uncertain, unsure

certus -a -um: sure, fixed; certē, certainly, surely
eo īre iī/īvī itum: go
hōra -ae f.: hour
maneō manēre mānsī mānsum: remain
mors mortis f.: death
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sed: but
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vel: or else, or; even; vel . . . vel: either… or
veniō venīre vēnī ventum: come
via -ae f.: way, street

(photo by David Fulmer)

Domus Propria

---

381     -     382     -     383

---

Domus Propria
Felix qui propriis aevum transegit in arvis,
Ipsa domus puerum quem videt atque senem.

Source: Giuseppe Gatti, Sales Poetici, Proverbiales, et Iocosi (1703). Meter: Elegiac.

Happy is he (felix) who has passed his lifetime (qui aevum transegit) in his own fields (in arvis propriis), whom (quem) his own house sees (ipsa domus videt) as a boy and as an old man (puerum atque 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:

transigō, transigere, transēgī: bring to an end, conclude

aevum -i n.: eternity; lifetime, age
atque, ac: and in addition, and also, and; (after comparatives) than; simul atque, as soon as
domus -ūs f.: house, home
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
parvus -a -um: small
proprius -a -um: one’s own, peculiar
puer puerī m.: boy; slave
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
senex -is m.: old man, elder; senior, older
videō vidēre vīdī vīsum: see

(image source)

Facienda et Fugienda

---

332     -     333     -     334

---

Facienda et Fugienda
Quid prodest noctesque diesque revolvere libros,
   Si facienda fugis, si fugienda facis?

Source: Giuseppe Gatti, Sales Poetici, Proverbiales, et Iocosi (1703). Meter: Elegiac.

What's the point (quid prodest) of hitting the books (revolvere libros) day and night (noctesque diesque), if you avoid doing (si fugis) what must be done (facienda), and if you do (si facis) things you should avoid (fugienda).

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:

revolvo, revolvere: revolve, turn

diēs diēī m./f.: day
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
fugiō fugere fūgī fugitum: flee, escape
liber librī m.: book
nox noctis f.: night
prōsum -desse -fuī: be of use, do good, help (+ dat.)
que (enclitic) - and
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sī: if

(image source)

Suum Cuique Pulchrum

---

311     -     312     -     313

---

Suum Cuique Pulchrum
Cuique suum pulchrum est; vitiis aliena redundant:
   Plus quam iudicium, sic valet omnis amor.

Source: Georgius Carolides (1569-1612), Farrago, 3.16. Meter: Elegiac.

To Each Her Own is Beautiful
To each her own (cuique suum) is beautiful (pulchrum est); other people's things (aliena) are full of flaws (vitiis redundant): every love thus prevails (sic valet omnis amor) more than judgment (plus quam iudicium).

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:

redundō, redundāre: overflow

aliēnus -a -um: foreign, strange
amor -ōris m.: love
iūdicium -ī n.: judgement, decision, trial
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
plūs plūris n.: a greater amount or number, more
pulcher -chra -chrum: beautiful
quam: how?; (after comparative) than
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
valeō valēre valuī: be strong, excel, be valid, prevail; valē: farewell!
vitium -ī n.: flaw, fault, crime

(Public Domain Vectors)

Ne Bos in Lingua

---

366     -     367     -     368

---

This poem is from the proverbial distichs of Georgius Carolides (1569-1612), which you can read online at the University of Mannheim.

Ne Bos in Lingua
Munere corrumpi taceas ut vera caveto,
   Gestare in lingua ne videare bovem.

Source: Georgius Carolides (1569-1612), Farrago, 2.57. Meter: Elegiac. The "ox" in this poem refers to a coin stamped with an ox (as in the coin below), so to "have an ox on your tongue" was a turn of phrase indicating that someone had accepted a bribe to stay silent.

Be careful (caveto) not to be bribed by a gift (corrumpi munere) to keep silent about the truth (ut taceas vera): you don't want to seem (ne videare) to have an ox (gestare bove) on your tongue (in lingua).

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:

gestō, gestāre: carry, bear, wear

bōs bovis m.: ox; gen. pl. boum
caveō cavēre cāvī cautum: be on guard, beware
corrumpō -rumpere -rūpī -ruptum: break up, destroy, ruin
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
lingua -ae f.: tongue; language
mūnus mūneris n.: gift, offering
nē: lest, that not
taceō -ēre -uī -itum: be silent; tacitus -a -um, silent
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly
videō vidēre vīdī vīsum: see

(image source)

Adito Laborem, Vitam Age

---

283     -     284     -     285

---

Adito Laborem, Vitam Age
Tamquam perpetuo victurus, adito laborem,
Et vitam, veluti cras moriturus, age.

Source: Giuseppe Gatti, Sales Poetici, Proverbiales, et Iocosi (1703). Meter: Elegiac.

Go to your work (adito laborem) just like (tamquam) you were going to live (victurus) forever (perpetuo), and live your life (et age vitam) as if (veluti) you were going to die (moriturus) tomorrow (cras).

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:

crās: tomorrow

adeō -īre -iī -itum: go to
agō agere ēgī āctum: drive, do, act
et: and
labor -ōris m.: toil, exertion
morior morī mortuus sum: die
perpetuus -a -um: unbroken, perpetual
tamquam: so as, just as
velut: even as, just as
vīta -ae f.: life
vīvō vīvere vīxī victum: live

(Photo by Andrew Kuchling)

Lex Omnibus Una

---

391     -     392     -     393

---

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)

Ut Multa Discas, Multa Roga

---

329     -     330     -     331

---

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)

Nosce Teipsum

---

310     -     311     -     312

---

Nosce Teipsum
Qualis sit talem se nemo intelligit. Atqui
   Se meminit puerum vir, iuvenemque senex.

KNOW THY SELF
None knows himself aright: yet mind he can
Himself a Child, when old, a younger man.

Source: John Owen (c.1564-c.1628), Epigrammata, 3.154, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey. Meter: Elegiac.

Know Yourself
No man can understand (nemo intellegit) what sort of man (se talem) he is (qualis sit). But (atqui) the man can remember (vir meminit) the boy that he was (se puerum), and the old man (-que senex) the young man that he was (iuvenem).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:

atqui: but yet, nevertheless

intellegō -legere -lēxī -lēctum: understand
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
iuvenis -is m.: youth
meminī meminisse: remember, recollect
nēmo: no one (gen. nullius, dat. nulli, abl. nullo or nulla > nullus -a -um)
nōscō nōscere nōvī nōtum: learn, know
puer puerī m.: boy; slave
quālis -e: of what kind? what?
que (enclitic) - and
senex -is m.: old man, elder; senior, older
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tālis tale: such
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vir virī m.: man

(image source)

Vitae Sanctorum

---

334     -     335     -     336

---

Vitae Sanctorum
Sanctorum vitas legere et non vivere frustra est;
   Sanctorum vitas degite, non legite.

’Tis vain Saints Lives to read, and not to lead;
Do both; the lives of Saints, read, lead: lead, read.

Source: John Owen (c.1564-c.1628), Epigrammata, 3.80, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey. Meter: Elegiac.

To read (legere) the lives of the saints (sanctorum vitas) and not to live them (et non vivere) is pointless (frustra est); lead the lives of the saints (degite vitas sanctorum), don't just read them (non legite).

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:

dēgo, dēgere: spend, pass, live

et: and
frūstrā: in vain
legō legere lēgī lēctum: gather, choose, read
nōn: not
sānctus -a -um: sacred, inviolable
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vīta -ae f.: life
vīvō vīvere vīxī victum: live

(image source)

Amat Victoria Curam

---

36     -     37     -     38

---

Amat Victoria Curam
Vincere vis? Labor adsit; amat victoria curam:
   Vinces, si vincet non tua terga labor.

Source: Georgius Carolides (1569-1612), Farrago, 4.62. Meter: Elegiac. This distich is inspired by the famous Latin saying, amat victoria curam. Here cura does not have the sense of care or anxiety, but rather carefulness, careful preparation.

Do you want to be victorious? (vis vincere?) Let there be hard work (labor adsit); victory loves painstaking effort (amat victoria curam): you will be victorious (vinces) if the hard work (si labor) does not break your back (non vincet tua terga).

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
amō -āre: to love; amans -ntis m./f.: lover
cūra -ae f.: care, concern
labor -ōris m.: toil, exertion
nōn: not
sī: if
tergum -ī n.: back, rear; a tergō: from the rear
tuus -a -um: your
victōria -ae f.: victory
vincō vincere vīcī victum: conquer
volō velle voluī: wish, be willing

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

Qualis Pater, Talis Filius

---

385     -     386     -     387

---

Qualis Pater, Talis Filius
Est herus ut servus; sequitur quoque filia matrem;
   Ut pater est, talis filius esse solet.

Source:  Anton Moker (1540-1605), Decalogus Metricus. 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:

The master is (est herus) as his servant (ut servus); the daugher also (filia quoque) follows her mother (sequitur matrem); as the father is (ut pater est), such usually (talis solet) is the son (esse filius).

herus (herī m, m.): master, owner

filia -ae f.; filius -ī m.: daughter; son
filia -ae f.; filius -ī m.: daughter; son
māter mātris f.: mother
pater patris m.: father, ancestor
quoque: also, too
sequor sequī secūtus sum: follow
servus -ī m.: slave
soleō -ēre -uī -itum: be accustomed
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tālis tale: such
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)

(image source)

Cum Contentus, Tunc Dives

---

373     -     374     -     375

---

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)

Paries Aures Fert

---

347     -     348     -     349

---

Paries Aures Fert
Aures fert paries, oculos nemus: ergo cavere
Debet, qui loquitur, ne possint verba nocere.

Source: Philosophia Patrum (ed. Wegeler), 81. Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the rhyme: cavere-nocere.

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 wall (paries) has ears (aures fert); the woods (nemus) have eyes (oculos): therefore (ergo) the person who speaks (qui loquitur) must be careful (cavere debet) so that his words (verba) cannot do harm (ne possint nocere).

pariēs (parietis, m.): wall

auris -is f.: ear
caveo -ēre cāvī cautum: be on guard, beware
dēbeo -ēre dēbuī dēbitum: owe, be obliged
ergo: therefore
fero ferre tulī lātum: bear, carry
loquor loquī locūtus sum: speak, talk
nē: lest, that not
nemus nemoris n.: grove, forest
noceo nocēre nocuī: harm
oculus -ī m.: eye
possum posse potuī: be able
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
verbum -ī n.: word

(painting by Rémy Cogghe)

Dives et Pauper

---

359     -     360     -     361

---

Dives et Pauper
Tempus adhuc veniet, quo dives, qui modo gaudet,
Assidue flebit, dum pauper grata videbit.

Source: Philosophia Patrum (ed. Wegeler), 1358. Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the rhyme flebit-videbit.

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 time will yet come (tempus adhuc veniet) when the rich man (quo dives) who now rejoices (qui modo gaudet) will weep bitterly (assidue flebit), while the poor man (dum pauper) will see delightful things (grata videbit).

assiduus, -a, -um: constant, incessant; assidue, adv.

adhūc: thus far, to this point
dīves, dīvitis: rich (poet. dīs, dītis)
dum: while (+ indic.); until (+ subj.); provided that (+ subj.)
fleo flēre flēvī flētum: weep
gaudeo -ēre gāvīsus sum: rejoice
grātus -a -um: pleasant; grateful
modo: just, just now
pauper -eris: poor, lowly
qui, quae, quod: who, which, what; quis quid: who? what? which?
tempus -oris n.: time
venio -īre vēnī ventum: come
video -ēre vīdī vīsum: see

(Lazarus and the Rich Man)