Saturday, March 31, 2007

Latin Via Proverbs 53

I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group features another set of proverbial sayings based on the comparative form of the adjective.

Please note: to read the proverbs in Latin, you need to acquire a copy of the book from lulu.com! What I am providing here in the blog are notes to help people who are making their way through the book either in a Latin class or on their own.

Group 53

702. What is lighter than the wind? (This comparison is included in this famous chain of comparisons: Quid pluma levius? Pulvis. Quid pulvere? Ventus. Quid vento? Mulier. Quid muliere? Nihil., "What is lighter than a feather? Dust. What is lighter than dust? The wind. What is lighter than wind? A woman. What is lighter than a woman? Nothing.")

703. What is lighter than smoke? (This comparison is included in this famous chain of comparisons: Quid levius fumo? Flamen. Quid flamine? Ventus. Quid vento? Mulier. Quid muliere? Nihil., "What is lighter than smoke? A gale. What is lighter than a gale? The wind. What is lighter than the wind? A woman. What is lighter than a woman? Nothing.")

704. What is brighter than the sun? (You will find this phrase in the Biblical Book of Ecclesiasticus, also known as The Wisdom of Ben Sira.)

705. What is brighter than the stars? (This is the Baillie family motto.)

706. What is more sluggish than a worm? (This is a sying you will find in Seneca's letters.)

707. What is lighter than a feather? ((This comparison is included in this famous chain of comparisons: Quid pluma levius? Pulvis. Quid pulvere? Ventus. Quid vento? Mulier. Quid muliere? Nihil., "What is lighter than a feather? Dust. What is lighter than dust? The wind. What is lighter than wind? A woman. What is lighter than a woman? Nothing.")

708. What is more stubborn than an ox? (This is a saying you can find in Ovid.)

709. What is stronger than a lion? (This forms part of the famous riddle of Samson in the Book of Judges.)

710. What is more fawning than a dog? (You can find this saying in Erasmus's Praise of Folly.)

711. What is more precius than freedom? (You can find this expression in one of the letters of Pliny?)

712. Who is more friendly than a brother to his brother? (You can find this expression in Sallust.)


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