1. Tempora Concessa

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Index     -     1     -     2

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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)

2. Scire Futura

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Scire Futura
Cursus fatorum nescit mens ulla virorum;
   Solius est proprium scire futura Dei.

Source: Florilegium Gottingense (ed. Voigt), 250. Meter: Elegiac. Note the rhyme: fatorum-virorum. Note also that cursus is plural: cursūs, object of nescit. The contrast in this poem is between the world of men in the first line and the power that belongs to God alone in the second line. Notice the lovely way that the noun phrase solius Dei wraps around the entire pentameter line. God is all-encompassing in the line!

No mind of man can know (nescit ulla mens virorum) the course of fate (cursus fatorum); it is properly for God alone (proprium est solius Dei) to know the future (scire futura).

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

cursus -ūs m.: course, advance
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
fātum -ī n.: fate
mēns mentis f.: mind
nesciō -scīre: not know, be ignorant
proprius -a -um: one’s own, peculiar
sciō -īre -īvī/-iī -ītum: know
sōlus -a -um: only, alone; sōlum (adv.), only, merely
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
ūllus -a -um: any, anyone
vir virī m.: man

(Waterhouse - Crystal Ball)

3. Tempus

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Tempus
Omnia fert aetas secum, aufert omnia secum;
   Omnia tempus habent, omnia tempus habet.

Age all things brings, all things bears hence with it:
All things have Time, and Time hath all things fit.

Source: John Owen (c.1564-c.1628), Epigrammata, 3.131. Meter: Elegiac. The English version is by Thomas Harvey. In the first line, the poem plays on the contrast between fert and aufert; in the second line, the contrast is between tempus as object and tempus as subject. The poem is inspired by the famous words of Vergil in Eclogue 9: Omnia fert aetas.

Age (aetas) brings all things (omnia fert) with it (secum), it takes away all things with it (aufert omnia secum); all things have their time (omnia habent tempus), time has all things (tempus habet omnia).

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
auferō auferre abstulī ablātum: take away
cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
ferō ferre tulī lātum: bear, carry
habeō habēre habuī habitum: have, hold
omnis -e: all, every, as a whole
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
tempus -oris n.: time

(image source)

4. Dies Longa

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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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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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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)

7. Hora Nulla Sine Fructu

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Hora Nulla Sine Fructu
Sic fac ut nulla sine fructu transeat hora:
   Sic erit hora brevis et labor ipse levis.

Source: Philosophia Patrum (ed. Wegeler), 1340. Meter: Elegiac. Note the rhyme: levis-brevis.

Make it so that (sic fac ut) no hour (nulla hora) passes (transeat) without fruit (sine fructu): thus (sic) the hour will be brief (hora erit brevis) and the work itself (labor ipse) light (levis).

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

brevis -e: short, shallow, brief; adv. breviter
faciō facere fēcī factum: do, make
frūctus -ūs m.: fruit, crops; enjoyment, delight
hōra -ae f.: hour
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
labor -ōris m.: toil, exertion
levis -e: light, trivial
nūllus -a -um: not any, no one
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
sine: without (+ abl.)
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
trānseō -īre -iī -itum: go across
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)

(image source)

8. Sic Mihi Vita

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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)

9. Adversa Caveto

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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)

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Rex Populi Lux Animusque

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Rex Populi Lux Animusque
Quod sol in mundo, cor quodque in corpore, rex est
   In regno, populi lux animusque sui.

Source: Adagiorum Maxime Vulgarium Thesaurus (1730). Meter: Elegiac. Note the implied referent of the relative pronoun: quod... quod... [hoc] rex est.

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

What the sun is in the world (quod sol in mundo) and what the heart is in the body (quodque cor in corpore), the king is in the kingdom (rex est in regno), the light and the soul of his people (lux animusque sui populi).

animus -ī m.: spirit, mind
cor cordis n.: heart; cordī est, it is pleasing to (+ dat.)
corpus corporis n.: body
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
lūx lūcis f.: light of day
mundus -ī m.: world, universe, heavens
populus -ī m.: people
que (enclitic) - and
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
rēgnum -ī n.: kingship, kingdom
rēx rēgis m.: king
sōl sōlis m.: sun
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own

(image source)

Quis Sit Dives

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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)

Nil Magis Nostrum Est Quam Tempus

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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)

Sui Cuique Mores Fingunt Fortunam

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

Sui Cuique Mores Fingunt Fortunam
Fortunam accusas, Fortunam cum tibi fingas
Moribus et sortis sis faber ipse tuae.

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 blame luck (Fortunam accusas), when you make (cum fingas) your own luck (tibi fortunam) by means of your habits (moribus) and when you yourself (cum sis ipse) are the maker (faber) of your own fate (sortis tuae).

accūsō, accūsāre: blame, accuse
faber (fabrī, m.): artisan, craftsman, maker

cum: with (prep. + abl.); when, since, although (conjunction + subj.)
et: and
fingō fingere finxī fictum: shape; invent
ipse ipsa ipsum: him- her- itself
mōs mōris m.: custom, habit; (pl.) character
quis- quae- quidque: each one, everyone
sors sortis f.: lot, fate, destiny; oracle
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
suus -a -um: his own, her own, its own
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
tuus -a -um: your

(four-leaf clover)

Vita Felix

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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)

Similis Similem Sibi Quaerit

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Similis Similem Sibi Quaerit
Talis semper eris, consortia qualia quaeris;
Sic fuit, est, et erit: similis similem sibi quaerit.

Source: Josephus Perez (1627-1694), Hortulus Carminum. Meter: Dactylic Hexameter. Note the rhyme (based on medieval pronunciation): eris-quaeris and erit-quaerit.

You will also be such (talis semper eris) as the company you seek (consortia qualia quaeris); thus it was, is, and will be (sic fuit, est, et erit): like seeks like itself (similis similem sibi quaerit).

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:

consortium (consortiī, n.): fellowship, association

et: and
quaerō -rere -sīvī-situm: seek, inquire
quālis -e: of what kind? what?
semper: always, ever
sīc: in this manner, thus; sīc . . . ut: in the same way as
similis -e: like, similar
sui, sibi, sē: him- her- itself
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tālis tale: such

(image source)

Mente Praesens

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Mente Praesens
Mente mihi es praesens, licet absis corpore, mente
Te fruor et totos te gero mente dies.

Source: Josephus Perez (1627-1694), Hortulus Carminum. Meter: Elegiac. Note the use of licet with the subjunctive: licet absis, "even though you are absent."

You are present to me (mihi es praesens) in my mind (mente), even though you are absent (licet absis corpore) in body (mente); I enjoy you (te fruor) and I bear you in my mind (et te gero mente) all my days (totos dies).

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:

licet: although, granted that

absum abesse afuī: be away, absent
corpus corporis n.: body
diēs diēī m./f.: day
ego meī mihi mē: I, me
et: and
fruor fruī frūctus sum: enjoy
gerō gerere gessī gestum: bear, manage; bellum gerere, wage war
mēns mentis f.: mind
praesēns -ntis: present, in person, ready
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tōtus -a -um: whole, entire
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)

(image source)

Vultus Tuus

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Vultus Tuus
Ante meos oculos praesto est tua semper imago
Et videor vultum mente videre tuum.

Source: Josephus Perez (1627-1694), Hortulus Carminum. Meter: Elegiac. Note the elegant word play: videor videre, "I seem to see."

Before my eyes (ante meos oculos) your image (tua imago) is always present (praesto est semper) and I seem to see in my mind (et videor mente videre) your face (vultum 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:

praestō: at hand, ready, nearby

ante: before, in front of (adv. and prep. + acc.)
et: and
imāgo -inis f.: image, form, figure
mēns mentis f.: mind
meus -a -um: my
oculus -ī m.: eye
semper: always, ever
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
tuus -a -um: your
videō vidēre vīdī vīsum: see
vultus -ūs m.: look, expression, face

(image source)

Vitam Regit Fortuna, Non Sapientia

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Vitam Regit Fortuna, Non Sapientia
Caeca dea est rerum rectrix; Fortuna vocatur:
Non minus at caeci, quos dea caeca regit.

A blind goddess rules the world, called Fortune.

But they are no less blind whom the blind goddess rules.

Source: John Owen (c.1564-c.1628), Epigrammata, 12.20. The English version is by Thomas Harvey. Meter: Elegiac. For the traditional depiction of the goddess Fortuna blindfolded, see the image below.

A blind goddess (caeca dea) is the directrix of things (est rerum rectrix); she is called Fortuna (Fortuna vocatur): but (at) those whom the blind goddess rules (quos dea caeca regit) are no less blind (non minus caeci) .

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:

rectrix (rectrīcis, f.): governess, leader, guide

at: but, but yet
caecus -a -um: blind, unseeing; dark, obscure
deus -ī m.; dea -ae f. god; goddess
fortūna -ae f.: fortune
minus -oris n.: a smaller number or amount, less; (adv.) minus: to a smaller extent, less
nōn: not
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
regō regere rēxī rectum: guide, rule
rēs reī f.: thing (rēs pūblica, commonwealth; rēs familiāris, family property, estate; rēs mīlitāris, art of war; rēs novae, revolution)
sapientia -ae f.: wisdom
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
vīta -ae f.: life
vocō -āre: call

(image source)

Virtus Immortalis

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Virtus Immortalis
Praeter virtutem nihil immortale tenemus;
Mens manet et virtus: cetera mortis erunt.

Other than virtue, we possess nothing immortal.

Mind and virtue endure, the rest will belong to death.

Source: John Owen (c.1564-c.1628), Epigrammata, 12.1. The English version is by Thomas Harvey. Meter: Elegiac. The genitive mortis has the sense of possession: cetera mortis erunt, "the rest will be death's, the rest will belong to death."

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:

immortālis, -e (immortālis): immortal, eternal

cēterus -a -um: the others, the rest; adv. cēterum: for the rest, in addition, however, that may be
et: and
maneō manēre mānsī mānsum: remain
mēns mentis f.: mind
mors mortis f.: death
nihil, nīl: nothing; not at all
praeter: by, along, past; besides, except (+ acc.)
sum, esse, fuī: be, exist
teneō -ēre -uī tentum: hold
virtūs -ūtis f.: valor, manliness, virtue

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