4. Dies Longa

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3     -     4     -     5

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Dies Longa
Omnia fert aetas; naturam, nomina, formam
   Fortunamque solet vertere longa dies.

Source: Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), Anthologia Graeca, vol. I. The Greek poem is attributed to Plato (Αἰὼν πάντα φέρει· δολιχὸς χρόνος οἶδεν ἀμείβειν / οὔνομα καὶ μορφὴν καὶ φύσιν ἠδὲ τύχην). Meter: Elegiac. Compare also the famous words of Vergil in Eclogue 9: Omnia fert aetas.

Age carries off all things (omnis fert aetas); nature, names, beauty and fortune (naturam, nomina, formam Fortunamque) - the long day (longa dies) is wont to overturn them (solet vertere).

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

aetās -tātis f.: age, time of life
diēs diēī m./f.: day
ferō ferre tulī lātum: bear, carry
fōrma -ae f.: shape; beauty
fortūna -ae f.: fortune
longus -a -um: long, far; longē: far, far off
nātūra -ae f.: nature
nōmen -inis n.: name
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
que (enclitic) - and
soleō -ēre -uī -itum: be accustomed
vertō vertere vertī versum: turn

(image source)

5. Sic Vult Ire

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4     -     5     -     6

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Sic Vult Ire
Sicut it, ire sinas, nam sic vult, sicut it, ire;
Sicut enim nunc it, semper sic ivit et ibit.

Source: Giuseppe Gatti, Sales Poetici, Proverbiales, et Iocosi (1703). Meter: Dactylic hexameter. Note the use of the subjunctive as a command: ire sinas, you should let it go.

You should let it go (ire sinas) as it goes (sicut it), for it wants to go thus (nam sic vult ire) as it goes (sicut it); indeed (enim), as it now goes (sicut nunc it), thus it always has gone (semper sic ivit) and will go (ibit).

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

enim: for, indeed
eo īre iī/īvī itum: go
et: and
nam or namque: for, indeed, really
nunc: now
semper: always, ever
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
sīcut: just as
sinō sinere sīvī situm: allow, let go
volō velle voluī: wish, be willing

(image source)

6. Temporibus Suis

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5     -     6     -     7

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Temporibus Suis

Tempore, quae non sunt, sunt; quae sunt, tempore non sunt:
Omnia temporibus sunt pereuntque suis.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). Meter: Elegiac. I haven't printed the poem here in the larger font because the first line is unusually long and I didn't want it to run over! The Latin tempore here means something like the English expression "with time" or "in time, in the course of time." Note also the implied antecedents for the relative pronoun: [haec], quae non sunt, sunt; [haec] quae sunt...

In time (tempore), those things which are not (quae non sunt), are (sunt); those things which are (quae sunt), in time are not (tempore non sunt): all things are and are gone (sunt pereuntque) in their own time (temporibus suis).

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

nōn: not
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
pereō -īre -iī -itum: perish, be lost
que (enclitic) - and
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)

9. Adversa Caveto

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8     -     9     -     10

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Adversa Caveto
Cum fueris felix, quae sunt adversa caveto:
Non eodem cursu respondent ultima primis.

When fortune smiles, beware lest some ill strike;
End and beginning often are unlike.
(Chase)

In happy hours beware the hapless lot:
What the start promises, the end is not.
(Duff)

Source: The Distichs of Cato (4th century), 1.18. Meter: Dactylic hexameter. Note the implied referent of the relative pronoun: caveto [haec] quae sunt adversa.

When you are happy (cum fueris felix), beware (caveto) of things that have turned against you (quae sunt adversa): the final situation (ultima) does not match the start (non respondent primis) in the same way (eodem cursu).

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

adversus -a -um: facing, opposed; unfavorable; adversus (-um): (adv. and prep.) facing, opposite, against, opposed (to)
caveō cavēre cāvī cautum: be on guard, beware
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
cursus -ūs m.: course, advance
fēlīx -īcis: lucky; adv. fēlīciter
īdem eadem idem: the same
nōn: not
prīmus -a -um: first; adv. prīmum: at first, firstly
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
respondeō -spondēre -spondī -spōnsum: answer
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ūltimus -a -um: farthest, final, last, ultimate

(image source)

10. Non Omnibus Annis

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Non Omnibus Annis
Diversos diversa iuvant; non omnibus annis
   Omnia conveniunt: res, prius apta, nocet.

Source: Giuseppe Gatti, Sales Poetici, Proverbiales, et Iocosi (1703). Meter: Elegiac. Note the use of annus here to mean a season or time of life.

Different things (diversa) benefit different people (iuvant diversos); not all things are suitable (non omnia conveniunt) for all ages (omnibus annis): a thing (res), previously appropriate (prius apta), can be harmful (nocet).

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

annus -ī m.: year
aptus -a -um: fit, suitable
conveniō -venīre -vēnī -ventum: assemble, meet; agree
dīversus -a -um: different, diverse
iuvō iuvāre iūvī iūtum: help, assist; please, delight
noceō nocēre nocuī: harm
nōn: not
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
prior -ius: earlier, preceding; prius or priusquam: before
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)

(image source)

Turbato Flumine

This is one of the emblems of Joachim Camerarius, 4.45.

Turbato Flumine
Turbato anguillae capiuntur flumine; sic res
Turbare in patria seditiosus amat.

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:

anguilla (anguillae, f.): eel
sēditiōsus, -a, -um: turbulent, rebellious

amō -āre: to love; amans -ntis m./f.: lover
capiō capere cēpī captum: seize
flūmen -inis n.: stream, river
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
patria -ae f.: fatherland, country
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
turbō -āre: disturb, confuse

Prodest Amor et Obest

This is one of the emblems of Joachim Camerarius, 3.76. The emblem shows the starling (Latin sturnus) eating the cicuta plant, hemlock, which is poisonous to humans, but which is food for the starling.

Prodest Amor et Obest
Est uni iucundus amor, nocet alteri amasse;
Quodque uni prodest, alteri obesse potest.


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:

iūcundus, -a, -um: pleasant agreeable
obsum, obesse: be an obstacle, hinder, hurt

alter altera alterum: other of two
amō -āre: to love; amans -ntis m./f.: lover
amor -ōris m.: love
noceō nocēre nocuī: harm
possum posse potuī: be able
prōsum -desse -fuī: be of use, do good, help (+ dat.)
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ūnus -a -um: one

Mergitur, Non Obruitur

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498     -     499     -     500

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This is one of the emblems of Joachim Camerarius, 3.56. The emblematic image shows a bird, the so-called mergus in Latin, a "diver" bird, whose resilience we can all emulate.

Mergitur, Non Obruitur
Non raro mediis vir fortis mergitur undis
Adversae sortis, nec tamen obruitur.


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:

mergo, mergere: sink, plunge, immerse
obruo, obruere: overwhelm, crush, ruin

adversus -a -um: facing, opposed; unfavorable; adversus (-um): (adv. and prep.) facing, opposite, against, opposed (to)
fortis -e: brave
medius -a -um: middle, central
neque nec: and not, nor; neque . . . neque, neither . . . nor
nōn: not
rarus -a -um: wide apart, loose, thin; rare, seldom
sors sortis f.: lot, fate, destiny; oracle
tamen: nevertheless, still
unda -ae f.: wave, flowing water, water
vir virī m.: man

Similis Sui

This is one of the emblems of Joachim Camerarius, 2.90. The poem urges us not to be like the ever-changing chameleon that we see in the emblematic image!

Similis Sui
Turpis adulator formas se vertit in omnes,
At verax similis mens manet usque sui.


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:

adūlātor (adūlātōris, m.): flatterer
vērax (vērācis): true, truthful

at: but, but yet
fōrma -ae f.: shape; beauty
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
maneō manēre mānsī mānsum: remain
mēns mentis f.: mind
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
similis -e: like, similar
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
turpis -e: ugly, unsightly; disgraceful
ūsque: up to; continuously
vertō vertere vertī versum: turn

Scientia Sine Prudentia Nihil

Here is an emblem and distich by Bornitius, 69. I'm not quite sure what to make of the chickens: chickens are not especially wise - but I'm not quite sure how they represent a lack of forethought. Any suggestions?

Scientia Sine Prudentia Nihil
Quid rem scire iuvat, nisi scis quo tempore agenda
Prudenter, quo sit res quoque tuta loco?


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:

prūdenter: wisely, cautiously, carefully
prūdentia (prūdentiae, f.): foresight, wisdom

agō agere ēgī āctum: drive, do, act
iuvō iuvāre iūvī iūtum: help, assist; please, delight
locus -ī m.: place; loca (n. pl.) region
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
nisi/nī: if not, unless
que (enclitic) - and
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)
scientia -ae f.: knowledge
sciō -īre -īvī/-iī -ītum: know
sine: without (+ abl.)
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tempus -oris n.: time
tutus -a -um: safe, protected

Non Casu Casus

Here is an emblem and distich by Bornitius, 55.

Non Casu Casus
Fortuitum in mundo nihil est; deus omne gubernat,
Et quod fortuita vi cecidisse putas.


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:

fortuitus, -a, -um: accidental, chance
gubernō, gubernāre: pilot, guide

cadō cadere cecidī cāsum: fall, be killed
cāsus -ūs m.: a fall; chance, accident;
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
et: and
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
mundus -ī m.: world, universe, heavens
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
nōn: not
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
putō -āre: think, suppose
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vīs f.: force; (acc.) vim, (abl.) vī; (pl.) vīrēs, strength

Vanae Sine Viribus Irae

Here is an emblem and distich by Bornitius, 1.41. As you can see in the emblem, the squawking of the birds does them no good against the teeth and claws of the foxes!

Vanae Sine Viribus Irae
Quid iuvet iratos, et quid iuvet esse minaces?
Contra hostis vim nil ira minaeque valent.


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:

minae (minarum, f. pl.): threats
minax (minācis): threatening, menacing

contrā: against, opposite (adv. and prep. +acc.)
et: and
hostis -is m./f.: stranger, enemy
īra irae f.: wrath, anger
īrāscor īrāscī irātus sum: grow angry; īrātus -a -um: angry
iuvō iuvāre iūvī iūtum: help, assist; please, delight
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
sine: without (+ abl.)
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
valeō valēre valuī: be strong, excel, be valid, prevail; valē: farewell!
vanus -a -um: empty; false, deceitful
vīs f.: force; (acc.) vim, (abl.) vī; (pl.) vīrēs, strength

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)