Prīncipiō sēdēs apibus statiōque petenda,
quō neque sit ventīs aditus (nam pābula ventī
ferre domum prohibent) neque ovēs haedīque petulcī10
flōribus īnsultent, aut errāns būcula campō
dēcutiat rōrem et surgentēs atterat herbās.
Absint et pictī squālentia terga lacertī
pinguibus ā stabulīs meropēsque aliaeque volucrēs
et manibus Procnē pectus signāta cruentīs;15
omnia nam lātē vastant ipsāsque volantēs
ōre ferunt dulcem nīdīs immītibus ēscam.
vocabulary
apis apis f.: bee
statiō statiōnis f.: military outpost; standing
aditus aditūs m.: approach, entryway
pābulum –ī n.: feeding material, food
ovis –is n.: sheep10
haedus –ī m.: young goat, kid
petulcus –a –um: butting
īnsultō īnsultāre īnsultāvī īnsultātus: leap upon (+ dat.)
būcula –ae f.: heifer, young cow
dēcutiō –ere –cussī –cussus: shake off
rōs rōris m.: dew
atterō atterere atterīvī attrītus: wear down, wear away
herba herbae f.: grass, herb
pīctus –a –um: colored, decorated
squāleō –ēre –uī: scaly
lacertus –ī m.: lizard
pinguis pingue: fat
stabulum –ī n.: hives, stable
merops –opis m.: European Bee-Eater (bird)
Procnē (Prognē) –ēs f.: Procne (name), abarn swallow15
signō signāre signāvī signātus: mark
cruentus –a –um: bloody, blood-stained
vāstō vāstāre vāstāvī vāstātus: lay waste
volō volāre volāvī volātus: fly
nīdus –ī m.: nest, brood
immītis –e: immature; fierce
ēsca –ae f.: food