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Latin Via Proverbs: Home - Previous - Next

 

Group 85: Latin

 

1113. Allatrat victorem invidia.

1114. Catulus leonem allatrat.

1115. Cornix aquilam provocat.

1116. Iam testudo volat.

1117. Scorpio scorpionem curat.

1118. Obcaecat mentem passio.

1119. Venus otia amat.

1120. Revocat aurora laborem.

1121. Furem praeda vocat.

1122. Pecunia impetrat omnia.

1123. Paupertas excitat artes.

 

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Study Guide

 

1113. Envy barks at the victor. (This phrase is adapted from Silius Italicus.)

 

1114. A cub is barking at a lion. (You can find this saying cited in Erasmus's Adagia 1.8.71 under the heading vespa cicadae obstrepent, "a wasp is trying to buzz louder than a cricket." As Erasmus explains, this is a saying for "someone with very little talent who is competing with someone far superior.")

 

1115. The crow is challenging the eagle. (This saying shows up in Erasmus's Adagia, 3.3.18.)

 

1116. Now the turtle is flying! (This is included by Claudianus in a list of "adunata," impossibilities, such as the vulture having horns, rivers flowing backwards, etc.)

 

1117. Scorpion cures scorpion. (The idea is that "like cures like." The scorpion was a talismanic emblem in medieval medicine, as recomended by Paracelsus.)

 

1118. Passion blinds the mind. (In other words, passion keeps you from thinking straight.)

 

1119. Love loves leisure. (The saying is found in Ovid's Remedia Amoris.)

 

1120. Dawn revives work. (Notice the nice sound-play in the Latin, aurora - laborem.)

 

1121. Booty calls the thief. (Compare a similar saying in Seneca: furem signata sollicitant, "sealed things instigate the thief.")

 

1122. Money accomplishes all things. (Compare the English saying, "gold opens all locks.")

 

1123. Poverty brings forth skills. (Compare a similar saying, Paupertas artes omnes perdocet, "poverty teaches all skills.")