Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Latin Via Proverbs 81

I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. TThis group again features first conjugation verbs with second declension nouns.

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 81

1063. Words fly. (A fuller form of the phrase is verba volant, scripta manent, "words fly, written words remain.")

1064. Firm things endure. (This is a Lesly family motto.)

1065. The Fates stand in the way. (You will find this phrase in Vergil's Aeneid.)

1066. The stars influence but do not demand. (You can find variations on this saying: astra inclinant sed non cogunt, astra inclinant sed non urgent.)

1067. Different people thing different things. (Notice the substantive use of the adjective: diversi is masculine plural, while diversa is neuter plural.)

1068. Even the gods love jokes. (The Latin saying is based on a passage in Plato.)

1069. They are arguing about smoke. (You can find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.3.54.)

1070. Here there are roast pigs walking around. (You can find this saying in Petronius's Satyricon.)

1071. The wolves devour the lambs. (The proverbial pursuit of the lambs by the wolves is standard fare in Latin proverbs and fables.)

1072. Both weapons and words can wound. (This proverb has been given a new lease on life by its use in a Negima episode.)

1073. Weapons do not stay within bounds. (You can find this phrase in Seneca's play, Hercules furens.)

1074. Great evils do not hide. (This is a phrase you can find in Seneca's Medea.)

1075. Difficult situations test men. (You can find this phrase in Silius Italicus.)

1076. Sure things are preferable to things that are not sure. (Compare this similar saying: Certa pro incertis dimittenda non sunt, "sure things are not to be let go in exchange for things that are not sure.")

1077. You are beating a dead man. (You can find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.4.65.)

1078. You are dancing outside the chorus. (You can find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 2.6.67.)

1079. You are plowing someone else's field. (You can find a similar saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 3.1.42: Alienum arare fundum.)

1080. You are carrying a Sisyphean rock. (Sisyphus was condemned in the afterlife to continually roll a rock up a hill, only to have it roll down again. You can find this phrase in Polydorus's Adagia.)

1081. You are giving apples to Alcinous. (The mythological Alcinous, king of the Phaeacians, was famous in antiquity for his gardens, so giving apples to Alcinous is like carrying coals to Newcastle. You can find this phrase and similar sayings in Ovid's Ex Ponto.)


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