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Proverbia de Bovis Cornibus et Corio

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These proverbs about the Ox (Bos) constitute just one group of the large body of proverbs about oxen, bulls, bullocks and cows in Latin. These proverbs focus on the horns of the ox, along with the sacrificial ox, and the use of the ox for both leather and food.

For more information about the rams and sheep and lambs in Latin bestiaries, visit the Bos in the Zoo. If you find some of the proverbs below difficult to understand, you will find some English translations at the Zoo page, along with many other proverbs!

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Cornibus uti
videmus boves,
nepas aculeis. 		uti : infinitive in indirect statement introduced by videmus (boves and nepas are accusative subjects)
Dat Deus
immiti cornua curta bovi. 		immiti...bovi: split phrase
Cornibus tauri,
apri dentibus,
morsu leones
se tutantur. 		 
Dente lupus,
cornu taurus petit. 		 
Stimulatum effuge taurum. stimulatum...taurum: split phrase
Cornu bos capitur,
voce ligatur homo. 		 
Ut fune boves,
sic sermone homines
vinciuntur. 		 
Bos ad mactationem.  
Ex bove ipso
coria sumuntur. 		 
Preces diis,
non boves,
offer. 		 
Non omnia
per bovem
obtinebis. 		 
Locrensis bos. Note: The citizens of Locris were notorious for having substituted real sacrificial oxen with tiny wooden oxen, so this proverb refers to a cheap substitute, a poor imitation of the real thing.
Septimus bos. Note: This refers to the practice of substituting a fake sacrificial ox, made of flour, in place of a real sacrificial ox, so this proverb refers to the foolishness of people who think the gods can be appeased in this way.
Est qui
macram regis vaccam,
solvit opimam.

est: from edo, edere ("to eat")

qui: relative pronoun, agreeing with the implied subject of solvit
Melius est
demensum holerum
cum caritate
quam vitulus saginatus
cum odio. 		 
Toto devorato bove,
in cauda defecit. 		toto devorato bove: ablative absolute
E clibano
totos boves.
Note: In other words, a lavish, even outrageous, dinner.
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are copyrighted by Laura Gibbs, 2007. No copyright is claimed for any images.