προσέχω ~ προσέξω ~ προσέσχον (verb): offer, take heed
ποία ~ ποίας (adj. fem.): of what kind?
δέω ~ δεήσω ~ ἐδέησα (verb): need, lack
ἐλπίζω ~ ἐλπιέω ~ ἤλπισα (verb): hope for, expect
ὄνειρος ~ ὀνείρου (noun m.): dream
Καὶ καλὸν ποιῶν πρόσεχε.
Λύκου καὶ προβάτου ποία συνοδία;
Τὸν κλέπτην δεῖ καὶ μνήμονα εἶναι.
Πόδας ἔχων σὺ καὶ ποδάγρας ἔλπιζε.
῾Η ὗς εἰς τοὺς ὀνείρους κριθὰς βλέπει.
And now, some commentary:
Καὶ καλὸν ποιῶν πρόσεχε.
Even doing good, take care.
This saying reminds us that the outcomes of all actions are unforeseen: good deeds should lead to good outcomes, but be careful — you cannot take good outcomes for granted.
Λύκου καὶ προβάτου ποία συνοδία;
What kind of companionship can a wolf and sheep have?
This is yet another saying based on the proverbial enmity of the wolf and the sheep, almost always to the sheep's disadvantage. Note the etymology of συνοδία: this is the companionship of fellow travelers on the road, συν-ὁδία.
Τὸν κλέπτην δεῖ καὶ μνήμονα εἶναι.
The thief must also have a good memory.
Compare the English saying about liars: "A liar needs a good memory."
Πόδας ἔχων σὺ καὶ ποδάγρας ἔλπιζε.
Having feet, you should also expect gout.
The word ἔλπιζε can mean "hope for" but it can also mean "expect" — and with gout, nobody is hoping for gout, which can affect various joints, but especially the big toe of a foot.
῾Η ὗς εἰς τοὺς ὀνείρους κριθὰς βλέπει.
The sow sees barley in her dreams.
And pigs do dream! All mammals, with very few exceptions, are dreamers, like us.
And here's a random proverb and a random LOLCat too:
No comments:
Post a Comment