Amicus ut Non Alius, Inimicus ut Non Idem
Aeternum tibi credideris, quem nactus, amicum;
Hostem ita, qui fieri possit amicus, habe.
Source: Georgius Carolides (1569-1612), Farrago, 2.35. Meter: Elegiac. Note the use of a subjunctive, credideris, to express the idea of a command, parallel to the imperative in the second line.
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:
nanciscor, nanaciscī, nactus: obtain, find
aeternus -a -um: everlasting, eternal
alius -a -um: other, another; alias: at another time
amīcus -a -um: friendly; (as subst.) friend
crēdō crēdere crēdidī crēditum: believe
fīō fierī factus sum: become
habeō habēre habuī habitum: have, hold
hostis -is m./f.: stranger, enemy
īdem eadem idem: the same
inimīcus -a -um: unfriendly
ita: thus, so
nōn: not
possum posse potuī: be able
qui quae quod: who, which, what / quis quid: who? what? which?
tū tuī tibi tē: you (sing.)
ut, uti: as (+ indic.); so that, with the result that (+ subj.)
(image source - full size poster; poster made with AutoMotivator)
You should believe (credideris) that the friend whom you have found (amicum quem nactus) will be your friend forever (tibi aeternum); consider your enemy (hostem habe) as one (ita) who could become (qui fieri possit) your friend (amicus).
