Legenda: Proverbia de Bovis Labore

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Proverbia de Bovis Labore

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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 use of the ox for plowing and hauling.

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!

Use this Study Guide to organize your learning activities.

Equus in quadrigis, in aratro bos.
Optat ephippia bos piger, optat arare caballus.	arare: complementary infinitive with optat
Multi qui boves stimulent, pauci aratores.	quorum: relative pronoun, agreeing with implied subject of main clause: multi sunt (hi)
Bos ultro ad aratrum venit.
Sic vos non vobis fertis aratra, boves.
Ductus ab armento taurus detrectat aratrum.
Miles depositis annosus secubat armis, grandaevique negant ducere aratra boves.	miles...annosus: split phrase depositis...armis: split phrase - ablative absolute grandaevi...boves: split phrase ducere: complementary infinitive with negant
Bos iugo ducendo natus.
Bos sub iugum.
Bos semper sub iugo.
Nec iuga taurus amat; quae tamen odit, habet.	quae: relative pronoun, agreeing with iuga in gender and number
Volentem bovem ducito.
Invitos boves plaustro inducere.
Ne contra bovem opta.
Bos currum trahit, non bovem currus.
Plaustrum bovem trahit.
Natura plus trahit quam septem boves.
Admove manum rotae, et stimula boves.	Note: This is a rebuke spoken to someone whose wagon is in the ditch and who needs to make some effort to get it out.
Non nostrum onus, bos clitellas?	Note: This is a rebuke spoken to his master, when the man attempted to load him with pack-saddles as if the ox were a donkey.
Bovi clitellas impones.