(1) The text is slightly adapted with some rare vocabulary omitted.
The potter, │ figulus
Sitting over a wheel, │ sedēns super rotā …
Maketh pots, │ fōrmat ōllās,
Pitchers (or jugs), │ urceōs,
Platters, │ patinās,
Pudding pans, │ vāsa testācea (see notes)
Lids &c │ opercula &c
Of potter’s clay. │ ex argillā.
Afterwards he baketh them │ posteā excoquit
In an oven. │ in furnō.
A broken pot affordeth │ frācta ōlla dat
Pot-sheards. │ testās.
[1]
argilla, -ae [1/f]: (potter’s) clay
figulus, -ī [2/m]: potter
frangō, -ere, frēgī, frāctus [3]: break
furnus, -ī [2/m]: oven
rōta, -ae [1/f]: wheel
[2]
testa, -ae [1/f]: [i] a piece of burned clay, brick, tile; [ii] an object made of earthenware e.g. a pot, urn; [iii] a potsherd i.e. a fragment of broken pottery
vāsa testācea: the translation is rather too specific
vāsum, -ī [2/n]: any form of dish, vessel
testāceus, -a, -um: [i] having a hard covering, shell [ii] covered with tiles / bricks
Although Comenius does not use it here, the adjective testeus, -a, -um describes earthenware
[3] Vocabulary related to tableware, vessels used in cooking etc. was discussed in detail at the following links:
07.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [3]; what’s on the table?
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/071225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and.html
10.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [5]; kitchen utensils / pots and pans
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/101225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and.html
10.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [6]; tableware
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/101225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and_17.html
13.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [7]; liquids and drinking vessels (1)
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/131225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and.html
13.12.25: Latin vocabulary: dining and cooking [8]; liquids and drinking vessels (2)
https://adckl.blogspot.com/2025/09/131225-latin-vocabulary-dining-and_17.html
(2)
The carver │ sculptor
And statuary │ & statuārius
Carve statues │ exsculpunt statuās
Of wood and stone. │ ē lignō & lapide.
The graver │ caelātor
And the cutter │ & scalptor
Grave (engrave) shapes, │ īnsculpit figūrās,
And characters │ & characterēs
With a graving chesil (chisel), │ caelō,
In wood, brass, │ lignō, ærī,
And other metals. │ aliīsque metallīs.
[1]
caelator, -ōris [3/m]: engraver; carver; artisan in bas-relief
scalptor, -ōris [3/m]: cutter; engraver in metal or stone
sculptor, -ōris [3/m]: stone-cutter; sculptor
statuārius, -ī [2/m]: a maker of statues
[2]
caelum, -ī [2/n]: chisel
character, -ēris [3/m]: mark, (imprinted / burned) sign; characteristic mark
Note the ablative uses from both texts:
Exsculpunt statuās ē lignō & lapide │ they carve statues made of / out of wood and stone.
īnsculpit figūrās, (1) caelō, ¦ (2) lignō, ærī, aliīsque metallīs │ he engraves shapes, (1) with a chisel, (2) in wood, brass, and other metals.
