Wednesday, April 11, 2012

In Theologastrum Sophistam

Here is today's distich by John Owen, with an English translation by Thomas Harvey, 10.51.

In Theologastrum Sophistam
Quid tibi neglecta virtute scientia prodest?
Desine iam verum quaerere, quaere bonum.


OF THEOLOGASTER, A SOPHISTER
What is thy knowledge without Goodness? Vain.
Cease then to know much; rather Goodness gain.

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

neglego, -ere, neglexī, neglectum - disregard, ignore, neglect
sophista, -ae m. - sophist
theologaster - a quack theologian, charlatan

bonus -a -um: good
dēsinō -sinere -sīvī -situm: leave off, cease
iam: now; already
in: in, on (+ abl.); into, onto (+ acc)
prōsum -desse -fuī: be of use, do good, help (+ dat.)
quaerō -rere -sīvī-situm: seek, inquire
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
scientia -ae f.: knowledge
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
vērus -a -um: true; vērē, truly
virtūs -ūtis f.: valor, manliness, virtue