I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes third conjugation verbs with fourth 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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 149
1911. I live at another's command. (You can find many variations on this saying, with the phrase alieno arbitrio, alieno arbitratu, alieno more and so on. You can also see this particular phrase in use in this Aesop's fable about the dog and the wolf.)
1912. I look back without grief. (This is a popular motto for family heraldry, bookplates, etc.)
1913. I recognize a tree by its fruit. (You will find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.9.39.)
1914. The tree does not fall at one stroke. (You can find many variations on this saying, e.g. Non uno ictu validam deicies quercum, "you will not knock down the strong oak tree with one blow," etc.)
1915. Fortune drags everything along in a blind dash. (This saying is adapted from Lucan.)
1916. The wolf seeks with his fang, the bull with his horn. (You will find this in Horace.)
1917. We recognize fools by their words; we recognize pots by their sound. (That is, the sound given by the pot gives a clue as to whether it is full inside or empty, just as we use the words of a person to tell if he is a fool or not!)
1918. He's making a shipwreck in port. (You can find this motif in Quintilian.)
1919. He's sinking his ship in port. (You can find this same motif in one of the Controversiae of Seneca.)
1920. He fools those who do not know him; to those who do know him, he is laughing-stock. (You can find this in Phaedrus's fable of the lion and the donkey.)
1921. One house does not nourish two dogs. (You will find this in Erasmus's Adagia, 2.2.24.)
1922. From the house of the cat, the mouse departs, uned. (In other words, the cat keeps the mouse from eating his fill ... I guess that mouse is lucky to get out alive! Compare the opposite English proverb: "When the cat's away, the mice play.")
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Thursday, September 20, 2007
Friday, September 14, 2007
Latin Via Proverbs 148
I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes third conjugation verbs with fourth conjugation 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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 148
1899. The thunder precedes the storm. (Metaphorically speaking, it means that threats come first, but they will be followed by blows!)
1900. The habit does not make the monk. (Compare the similar saying, Barba non facit philosophum, "The beard does not make the philosopher.")
1901. The final exit shows where the glory of the world is headed. (I like this rhyming medieval proverb very much. It is part of that large group of Latin proverbs on the theme of sic transit gloria mundi.)
1902. The success of wicked men is alluring to many. (This is the moral for the Aesop's fable about Aesop and the man bitten by the dog.) Successus improborum plures allicit.
1903. If the hand is empty, it does not catch the hawk. (This is a medieval saying from the discipline of keeping hawks for hunting. There is an English equivalent: "Empty hands no hawks allure.")
1904. Too much familiarity breeds contempt. (You can see this saying illustrated in the Aesop's fable about the lion and the fox.)
1905. Too much tension breaks the bow. (Compare the Aesop's fable about Aesop and the bow.) Arcum nimia frangit intensio.
1906. Apollo does not always keep his bow stretched. (You will find this saying in Horace.)
1907. The ox pulls the cart, not the cart the ox. (In other words, don't put your cart before the horse!)
1908. Abuse does not do away with use. (This is an item of Latin legal vocabulary, meaning that an argument against the abuse of something is not an argument against the thing used rightly.)
1909. One bite leads to another. (Lay's potato chips could adopt this as their motto: you never can eat just one!)
1910. One hand washes another. (You can find many variations on this saying, including this one that explains what this might mean metaphorically: Abluit manus manum: da aliquid et accipe, "one hand washes another: give something, and receive.")
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 148
1899. The thunder precedes the storm. (Metaphorically speaking, it means that threats come first, but they will be followed by blows!)
1900. The habit does not make the monk. (Compare the similar saying, Barba non facit philosophum, "The beard does not make the philosopher.")
1901. The final exit shows where the glory of the world is headed. (I like this rhyming medieval proverb very much. It is part of that large group of Latin proverbs on the theme of sic transit gloria mundi.)
1902. The success of wicked men is alluring to many. (This is the moral for the Aesop's fable about Aesop and the man bitten by the dog.) Successus improborum plures allicit.
1903. If the hand is empty, it does not catch the hawk. (This is a medieval saying from the discipline of keeping hawks for hunting. There is an English equivalent: "Empty hands no hawks allure.")
1904. Too much familiarity breeds contempt. (You can see this saying illustrated in the Aesop's fable about the lion and the fox.)
1905. Too much tension breaks the bow. (Compare the Aesop's fable about Aesop and the bow.) Arcum nimia frangit intensio.
1906. Apollo does not always keep his bow stretched. (You will find this saying in Horace.)
1907. The ox pulls the cart, not the cart the ox. (In other words, don't put your cart before the horse!)
1908. Abuse does not do away with use. (This is an item of Latin legal vocabulary, meaning that an argument against the abuse of something is not an argument against the thing used rightly.)
1909. One bite leads to another. (Lay's potato chips could adopt this as their motto: you never can eat just one!)
1910. One hand washes another. (You can find many variations on this saying, including this one that explains what this might mean metaphorically: Abluit manus manum: da aliquid et accipe, "one hand washes another: give something, and receive.")
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Latin Via Proverbs 147
I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes third conjugation verbs in their present infinitive form, along with some third 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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 147
1887. It is a serious thing to betray someone's trust. (This is a phrase from the Roman law tradition, but of course it has applications to personal life as well!)
1888. It's hard to pluck the hairs of a bald man. (It's like getting blood from a stone, proverbially speaking! This saying always reminds me of the great Aesop's fable about the man and his two lovers who plucked him bald.)
1889. It is hard to put aside a long-lasting love. (You can find this saying in Catullus.)
1890. It is late for the old dogs to learn the leash. (You can also find various forms of this saying about the old dog: serum est canes vetulos adsuefacere loris, etc. Compare the English saying about teaching an old dog new tricks!)
1891. It is better to divide a few things than to loss all. (This is one of many proverbs which urge you to put aside your greed and accept a moderate amount - in this case, the moderate amount that would come from sharing something modest to begin with. Compare a similar structure in this saying: Melius est pauca caute agere, quam multis interesse periculose, "It is better to carefully conduct a few businesses than to engage in many businesses at great risk.")
1892. To flee desire is to win a kingdom. (You will find this in the sayings of Publilius Syrus.)
1893. It is easier to do many things than it is to sustain them. (You will find this observation in Quintilian.)
1894. To accept a favor is to sell your freedom. (This is one of the sayings of Publilius Syrus.)
1895. To learn virtues is to unlearn vices. (You will find this saying in Seneca.)
1896. It is a kind of death to live badly. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1897. A wise man complies with time. (This is adapted from one of Cicero's letters.)
1898. Every madman thinks that everybody else is crazy. (This proverb, which oddly enough has become a regular fixture of Internet discussion boards these days, reminds me of the English saying: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you!)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 147
1887. It is a serious thing to betray someone's trust. (This is a phrase from the Roman law tradition, but of course it has applications to personal life as well!)
1888. It's hard to pluck the hairs of a bald man. (It's like getting blood from a stone, proverbially speaking! This saying always reminds me of the great Aesop's fable about the man and his two lovers who plucked him bald.)
1889. It is hard to put aside a long-lasting love. (You can find this saying in Catullus.)
1890. It is late for the old dogs to learn the leash. (You can also find various forms of this saying about the old dog: serum est canes vetulos adsuefacere loris, etc. Compare the English saying about teaching an old dog new tricks!)
1891. It is better to divide a few things than to loss all. (This is one of many proverbs which urge you to put aside your greed and accept a moderate amount - in this case, the moderate amount that would come from sharing something modest to begin with. Compare a similar structure in this saying: Melius est pauca caute agere, quam multis interesse periculose, "It is better to carefully conduct a few businesses than to engage in many businesses at great risk.")
1892. To flee desire is to win a kingdom. (You will find this in the sayings of Publilius Syrus.)
1893. It is easier to do many things than it is to sustain them. (You will find this observation in Quintilian.)
1894. To accept a favor is to sell your freedom. (This is one of the sayings of Publilius Syrus.)
1895. To learn virtues is to unlearn vices. (You will find this saying in Seneca.)
1896. It is a kind of death to live badly. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1897. A wise man complies with time. (This is adapted from one of Cicero's letters.)
1898. Every madman thinks that everybody else is crazy. (This proverb, which oddly enough has become a regular fixture of Internet discussion boards these days, reminds me of the English saying: Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they are not out to get you!)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
Latin Via Proverbs 146
I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes the final group of third conjugation verbs with third 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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 146
1875. Golden reins do not make a better horse. (You will find this wonderful saying in Seneca.)
1876. Bad conversations corrupt good characters. (You can find this saying in many forms, and it even shows up in Pascal!)
1877. When the abbot sets up the checker board, the monks play. (In other words, when the abbot sets such an example by his own behavior, of course the monks will imitate it!)
1878. Everywhere, the richer people oppress those who are poorer. (You can find this saying in Bernard of Clairvaux.)
1879. Longer shadows are cast from the taller hills. (This saying is adapted from Vergil.)
1880. The smaller dogs find the hares; the big dogs grab them. (I think I would prefer to be a one of the big dogs!)
1881. The noisy drums cannot catch the light-footed hares. (This is a bit like the English saying about "catching more flies with honey." If you make a loud noise, you are going to scare those rabbits away.)
1882. Not far from its own trunk do the apples fall. (Compare the English saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.")
1883. From a sweet tree fall sweet fruits. (This motif of "by their fruits you shall know them" has Biblical echoes too, of course.)
1884. The light of the sun follows the shadowy storms. (You can find this saying discussed in Tosi 1706.)
1885. Men can run into each other; mountains cannot do so. (This is a saying that you can find in a variety of forms, which express the same basic idea but from various perspectives, for example, mons cum monte non miscebitur or, less cryptically, mons cum monte non miscebitur, pares cum paribus.)
1886. Against necessity not even the gods can resist. (You can find this saying in all manner of forms, for example, Necessitatem ne dii quidem superant..)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 146
1875. Golden reins do not make a better horse. (You will find this wonderful saying in Seneca.)
1876. Bad conversations corrupt good characters. (You can find this saying in many forms, and it even shows up in Pascal!)
1877. When the abbot sets up the checker board, the monks play. (In other words, when the abbot sets such an example by his own behavior, of course the monks will imitate it!)
1878. Everywhere, the richer people oppress those who are poorer. (You can find this saying in Bernard of Clairvaux.)
1879. Longer shadows are cast from the taller hills. (This saying is adapted from Vergil.)
1880. The smaller dogs find the hares; the big dogs grab them. (I think I would prefer to be a one of the big dogs!)
1881. The noisy drums cannot catch the light-footed hares. (This is a bit like the English saying about "catching more flies with honey." If you make a loud noise, you are going to scare those rabbits away.)
1882. Not far from its own trunk do the apples fall. (Compare the English saying, "The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.")
1883. From a sweet tree fall sweet fruits. (This motif of "by their fruits you shall know them" has Biblical echoes too, of course.)
1884. The light of the sun follows the shadowy storms. (You can find this saying discussed in Tosi 1706.)
1885. Men can run into each other; mountains cannot do so. (This is a saying that you can find in a variety of forms, which express the same basic idea but from various perspectives, for example, mons cum monte non miscebitur or, less cryptically, mons cum monte non miscebitur, pares cum paribus.)
1886. Against necessity not even the gods can resist. (You can find this saying in all manner of forms, for example, Necessitatem ne dii quidem superant..)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
Friday, September 07, 2007
Latin Via Proverbs 145
I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes third conjugation verbs and third 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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 145
1860. Fates rule people's lives. (You can find this saying in Juvenal.)
1861. The Trojans get wise too late. (In other words: they realize their mistake after they let the Trojan horse inside the walls. You can find this sentiment in Cicero.)
1862. Cares lessen with time. (You can find this saying in Ovid.)
1863. Illnesses eat away at the soul. (This phrase is adapted from Cicero.)
1864. Truth and virtue triumph. (I really like the alliteration of this Latin family motto!)
1865. Thieves fear shouting. (You can also find this in the form Fures clamorem timent.)
1866. Future generations pay for their ancestors' crime. (Compare the Biblical passage at Lamentations 5:7.)
1867. Empty pots make a lot of noise. (When they are full, of course, they do not rattle so loudly! Interpretation: empty-headed people talk too much...)
1868. They are always on holiday. (You can find this saying in Petronius.)
1869. Spare time engenders all the vices. (You can also fin this in the form otia dant vitia.)
1870. All things rush headlong into something worse. (Compare the English, "going from bad to worse.")
1871. Trivial matters capture light-weight minds. (You can find this saying in Ovid.)
1872. The years increase, strength decreases. (The Latin has the same play on words as increase-decrease with crescunt...descrescunt.)
1873. Between the mouth and the morsel many things can fall. (Compare the English saying, "there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.")
1874. The big fish eat the little ones. (You can find this also in the form Pisces magni parvulos comedunt.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 145
1860. Fates rule people's lives. (You can find this saying in Juvenal.)
1861. The Trojans get wise too late. (In other words: they realize their mistake after they let the Trojan horse inside the walls. You can find this sentiment in Cicero.)
1862. Cares lessen with time. (You can find this saying in Ovid.)
1863. Illnesses eat away at the soul. (This phrase is adapted from Cicero.)
1864. Truth and virtue triumph. (I really like the alliteration of this Latin family motto!)
1865. Thieves fear shouting. (You can also find this in the form Fures clamorem timent.)
1866. Future generations pay for their ancestors' crime. (Compare the Biblical passage at Lamentations 5:7.)
1867. Empty pots make a lot of noise. (When they are full, of course, they do not rattle so loudly! Interpretation: empty-headed people talk too much...)
1868. They are always on holiday. (You can find this saying in Petronius.)
1869. Spare time engenders all the vices. (You can also fin this in the form otia dant vitia.)
1870. All things rush headlong into something worse. (Compare the English, "going from bad to worse.")
1871. Trivial matters capture light-weight minds. (You can find this saying in Ovid.)
1872. The years increase, strength decreases. (The Latin has the same play on words as increase-decrease with crescunt...descrescunt.)
1873. Between the mouth and the morsel many things can fall. (Compare the English saying, "there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.")
1874. The big fish eat the little ones. (You can find this also in the form Pisces magni parvulos comedunt.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Latin Via Proverbs 144
I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes third declension nouns and third conjugation verbs.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 144
1850. I am seeking a man. (In other words, I am seeking a real man, an honest man. This is an allusion to the famous story of Diogenes and his lamp, which is also told as a story about Aesop in Phaedrus.)
1851. I trust to virtue, not arms. (This is a popular family motto. Note the dative with fidere.)
1852. I make of necessity a virtue. (You can also find this in the imperative: fac de necessitate virtutem.)
1853. I flourish in the storm. (This is a commonly found family motto.)
1854. I always fall on my feet. (Compare English, 'to always land on your feet.' Note that you can also fall at someone's feet, in pedes alicius cadere. Erasmus has the saying, Animus in pedes decidit, "His spirit sank to his feet," meaning something quite negative, when your spirits fall.)
1855. I cherish the golden mean. (Unfortunately, "mediocrity" has come to have all the wrong connotations in English for its positive use in ancient Latin, meaning moderation, neither too much nor too little.)
1856. I neither seek nor spern honor. (You can also find this motto using infinitive forms of the verbs: honorem nec quaerere nec spernere.)
1857. We seek lofty things. (You will find this as a family motto.)
1858. We always seek higher things. (You can also find this phrase in this form without a verb: ad altiora semper, "to higher things always.")
1859. We learn the potter's art from the large jar. (You will find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.6.15.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 144
1850. I am seeking a man. (In other words, I am seeking a real man, an honest man. This is an allusion to the famous story of Diogenes and his lamp, which is also told as a story about Aesop in Phaedrus.)
1851. I trust to virtue, not arms. (This is a popular family motto. Note the dative with fidere.)
1852. I make of necessity a virtue. (You can also find this in the imperative: fac de necessitate virtutem.)
1853. I flourish in the storm. (This is a commonly found family motto.)
1854. I always fall on my feet. (Compare English, 'to always land on your feet.' Note that you can also fall at someone's feet, in pedes alicius cadere. Erasmus has the saying, Animus in pedes decidit, "His spirit sank to his feet," meaning something quite negative, when your spirits fall.)
1855. I cherish the golden mean. (Unfortunately, "mediocrity" has come to have all the wrong connotations in English for its positive use in ancient Latin, meaning moderation, neither too much nor too little.)
1856. I neither seek nor spern honor. (You can also find this motto using infinitive forms of the verbs: honorem nec quaerere nec spernere.)
1857. We seek lofty things. (You will find this as a family motto.)
1858. We always seek higher things. (You can also find this phrase in this form without a verb: ad altiora semper, "to higher things always.")
1859. We learn the potter's art from the large jar. (You will find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.6.15.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Latin Via Proverbs 143
I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes more third conjugation verbs with third 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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 143
1839. You're harvesting someone else's harvest. (You will find this in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.4.41.)
1840. You're fixing an egg back together with glue. (This always makes me think of Humpty-Dumpty!)
1841. You're making a rope out of sand. (This is another of those many "fool's errands" in the Latin proverbs; see the proverb about plowing in the dust below.)
1842. You're seeking help from the powerless. (There's a nice sound play in the Latin opem...impotente which I didn't manage to capture in the English!)
1843. You are making furrows in the dust. (You will find this saying in Juvenal.)
1844. You're taking up your shield too late, after having already been wounded. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1845. You're putting your loaves into a cold oven. (You will find this in Erasmus's Adagia, 4.7.1.)
1846. You are leaving your chicks in the care of the fox. (Compare similar sayings and stories about leaving the sheep in the care of the wolf, e.g., Lupi apud oves custodes.)
1847. You are stretching out your nets in vain to catch the aged crow. (Compare the English saying, "An old bird is not caught with chaff.")
1848. You are singing a song into the ears of a donkey. (There are many proverbs about the poor donkey's inability to appreciate music, and also an Aesop's fable on the same subject.)
1849. You are plucking the lion's beard when he is dead. (åYou will find this saying in Polydorus.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 143
1839. You're harvesting someone else's harvest. (You will find this in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.4.41.)
1840. You're fixing an egg back together with glue. (This always makes me think of Humpty-Dumpty!)
1841. You're making a rope out of sand. (This is another of those many "fool's errands" in the Latin proverbs; see the proverb about plowing in the dust below.)
1842. You're seeking help from the powerless. (There's a nice sound play in the Latin opem...impotente which I didn't manage to capture in the English!)
1843. You are making furrows in the dust. (You will find this saying in Juvenal.)
1844. You're taking up your shield too late, after having already been wounded. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1845. You're putting your loaves into a cold oven. (You will find this in Erasmus's Adagia, 4.7.1.)
1846. You are leaving your chicks in the care of the fox. (Compare similar sayings and stories about leaving the sheep in the care of the wolf, e.g., Lupi apud oves custodes.)
1847. You are stretching out your nets in vain to catch the aged crow. (Compare the English saying, "An old bird is not caught with chaff.")
1848. You are singing a song into the ears of a donkey. (There are many proverbs about the poor donkey's inability to appreciate music, and also an Aesop's fable on the same subject.)
1849. You are plucking the lion's beard when he is dead. (åYou will find this saying in Polydorus.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
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Tuesday, September 04, 2007
Latin Via Proverbs 142
I hope these notes will help you tackle this group of proverbs in Latin Via Proverbs. This group includes more third declension nouns with third conjugation verbs - I had forgotten how many proverbs there are with this common combination!
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 142
1829. You are making me wear a lion's skin. (Hercules, of course, was most famous for dressing in a lion skin, so this can refer to someone being asked to take on a task that is too great for him, something Herculean. The proverb can also be taken as an allusion to the famous Aesop's fable about the donkey in the lion's skin. In both cases, the idea is the same: you should not pretend to be a lion, or a Hercules, if you are not one. You can find the saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.3.66.)
1830. You are looking for water all over the sea. (In other words: you are a foolish person! It's right there! Compare Propertius: insanus medio flumine quaeris aquam, "a crazy man, you are seeking water in the midst of the stream.")
1831. You are trying to get water from stone. (Compare the English saying about trying to get "blood from a stone." You can also find this in the negative form: Aquam a pumice ne expostules, "Don't ask for water from a stone.")
1832. You are pouring water into the sea. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1833. You are adding water to sea. (Compare the similarly foolish notion: In mari aquam quaeris, "you are looking for water in the sea." Of course the sea is full of water: you should be able to find it without any trouble, and the sea has plenty of water without you adding any more.)
1834. You are adding fire to fire. (Sometimes you will find this in the negative form: ignem igni ne addas, "don't add fire to the fire." You can find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.2.8.)
1835. You are adding flame to flame, and water to the sea. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1836. You are leading the little stream to a great flood. (In other words, you are adding in some trivial detail to a serious matter of some sort. You will find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 3.1.44.)
1837. You are casting your seeds into the ocean. (Compare the similar saying: In aqua sementem facis, "you are sowing in water.")
1838. You are letting the wild boars into the springs. (Needless to say, the boars are going to muddy the clear waters of the springs! The saying is derived from Vergil.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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. You can find more help at the LatinViaProverbs.com wiki website.
Group 142
1829. You are making me wear a lion's skin. (Hercules, of course, was most famous for dressing in a lion skin, so this can refer to someone being asked to take on a task that is too great for him, something Herculean. The proverb can also be taken as an allusion to the famous Aesop's fable about the donkey in the lion's skin. In both cases, the idea is the same: you should not pretend to be a lion, or a Hercules, if you are not one. You can find the saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.3.66.)
1830. You are looking for water all over the sea. (In other words: you are a foolish person! It's right there! Compare Propertius: insanus medio flumine quaeris aquam, "a crazy man, you are seeking water in the midst of the stream.")
1831. You are trying to get water from stone. (Compare the English saying about trying to get "blood from a stone." You can also find this in the negative form: Aquam a pumice ne expostules, "Don't ask for water from a stone.")
1832. You are pouring water into the sea. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1833. You are adding water to sea. (Compare the similarly foolish notion: In mari aquam quaeris, "you are looking for water in the sea." Of course the sea is full of water: you should be able to find it without any trouble, and the sea has plenty of water without you adding any more.)
1834. You are adding fire to fire. (Sometimes you will find this in the negative form: ignem igni ne addas, "don't add fire to the fire." You can find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 1.2.8.)
1835. You are adding flame to flame, and water to the sea. (You will find this saying in Ovid.)
1836. You are leading the little stream to a great flood. (In other words, you are adding in some trivial detail to a serious matter of some sort. You will find this saying in Erasmus's Adagia, 3.1.44.)
1837. You are casting your seeds into the ocean. (Compare the similar saying: In aqua sementem facis, "you are sowing in water.")
1838. You are letting the wild boars into the springs. (Needless to say, the boars are going to muddy the clear waters of the springs! The saying is derived from Vergil.)
This blog post is part of an evolving online guide for users of the book Latin Via Proverbs.
Keep up with the latest posts... Subscribe by Email. I also post a daily round-up of all the Bestiaria Latina blogs: fables, proverbs, crosswords, and audio.
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