- ambulat ~ ambulant: they walk.
- caret ~ carent: they lack.
And here are today's proverbs:
1. Audacem iuvant fata.
(The) fates help (the) bold.
au-DA-cem iuvant fata.
The verb iuvant is the 3rd-person plural form of iuvat, "helps." You haven't seen this verb before, but you have seen its compounded form: adiuvat.
The word fata is the plural of fatum, and it's the subject of the verb.
The word audacem is the accusative of audax, "bold," being used substantively here, "bold (person)," and it is the object of the verb. You haven't seen this adjective before, but you have seen the related adverb: audacter.
There's a similar saying about luck: Audentes Fortuna iuvat, "Fortune helps (people who are) daring."
Compare the English saying: "to make your own luck."
2. Hic cocti porci ambulant.
Here walk roast pigs.
hic cocti porci AM-bulant.
The verb ambulant is the 3rd-person plural form of ambulat, "walks."
There's a similar saying about luck: Audentes Fortuna iuvat, "Fortune helps (people who are) daring."
Compare the English saying: "to make your own luck."
2. Hic cocti porci ambulant.
Here walk roast pigs.
hic cocti porci AM-bulant.
The verb ambulant is the 3rd-person plural form of ambulat, "walks."
The word porci is the plural of porcus, "pig," and it's the subject of the verb. You haven't seen this noun before, but you have seen the word for she-pig, porca.
The adjective cocti is the plural form of coctus, agreeing with "pig."
These words come from Petronius's Satyricon, evoking the folkloric tradition, found in cultures all over the world, about a place where food abounds, so that cooked animals are walking around, houses are edible, etc.
3. Arma non servant modum.
Weapons don't observe moderation.
arma non servant modum.
The verb servant is the 3rd-person plural form of servat, "keep, preserve, observe."
These words come from Petronius's Satyricon, evoking the folkloric tradition, found in cultures all over the world, about a place where food abounds, so that cooked animals are walking around, houses are edible, etc.
3. Arma non servant modum.
Weapons don't observe moderation.
arma non servant modum.
The verb servant is the 3rd-person plural form of servat, "keep, preserve, observe."
The word arma, "arms," is only used in the plural (like English "arms" in the sense of "weapons"), and it is the subject of the verb.
These words are found in Seneca's Hercules Furens. Compare the English maxim, "War knows no law."
4. Carmina morte carent.
Poems lack death.
CAR-mina morte carent.
The verb carent is the 3rd-person plural form of caret, "lacks."
These words are found in Seneca's Hercules Furens. Compare the English maxim, "War knows no law."
4. Carmina morte carent.
Poems lack death.
CAR-mina morte carent.
The verb carent is the 3rd-person plural form of caret, "lacks."
The word carmina is the plural of carmen, "poem, poetry, song," and it's the subject of the verb.
The word morte is the ablative form of mors; the verb caret takes an ablative complement.
This bold claim about poetry comes from Ovid's Amores, and we can certainly say that while Ovid died long ago, much of his poetry (if not all of it) does live on!
5. Nec semper lilia florent.
Lilies don't flourish forever.
nec semper LI-lia florent.
The verb florent is the 3rd-person plural form of floret, "blooms, flowers, flourishes." You haven't seen this verb before, but you have seen the related noun: flos.
This bold claim about poetry comes from Ovid's Amores, and we can certainly say that while Ovid died long ago, much of his poetry (if not all of it) does live on!
5. Nec semper lilia florent.
Lilies don't flourish forever.
nec semper LI-lia florent.
The verb florent is the 3rd-person plural form of floret, "blooms, flowers, flourishes." You haven't seen this verb before, but you have seen the related noun: flos.
The word lilia is the plural of lilium, as in English "lily," and it's the subject of the verb.
This is also adapted from Ovid; this time from the Ars Amatoria. Here is the full line of verse: Nec violae semper nec hiantia lilia florent, "Violets don't flourish forever, nor the open lilies."
This is also adapted from Ovid; this time from the Ars Amatoria. Here is the full line of verse: Nec violae semper nec hiantia lilia florent, "Violets don't flourish forever, nor the open lilies."
Compare the words of the English poet Robert Herrick, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."
Here's a recap:
- Audacem iuvant fata.
- Hic cocti porci ambulant.
- Arma non servant modum.
- Carmina morte carent.
- Nec semper lilia florent.
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