# Help Identify the Original of this Translated Verse

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-the-original-of-this-translated-verse/682323>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 26, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-the-original-of-this-translated-verse/682323 "2014-02-26T15:45:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-the-original-of-this-translated-verse/682323/1 "2014-02-26T15:45:34Z")

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I ran across this in the reader for the text series Artes Latinae. The text says it’s “an old favorite turned into Latin verse.” I’ll just give the last verse in Latin, then the translation. So far, merely googling key phrases from the Latin or a straightforward English translation reveals no more information. I’d especially like to know if the original had a tune associated with it, though similar things like _The House that Jack Built_ or _For Want of a Nail_ lack actual tunes, so I’m not too hopeful on that account.

I’ll just give the last verse, and its English equivalent:

Et in ave penna est;  
Penna in ave, avis in ōvō, ōvum in nīdō,  
Nīdus in rāmō, rāmus in quercū, quercus in colle,  
Et collis nōn movētur

And on the bird is a feather  
A feather on the bird, the bird in an egg, the egg in a nest,  
The nest on a branch, the branch on an oak, the oak on a hill  
And the hill does not move

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**Author:** ![Flywheel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Flywheel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flywheel)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-the-original-of-this-translated-verse/682323/2 "2014-02-26T16:20:00Z")

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Sounds like a version of [And the Green Grass Grew All Around](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_the_Green_Grass_Grew_All_Around).

ETA: or possibly [The Rattlin’ Bog](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rattlin%27_Bog).

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**Author:** ![Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/das_glasperlenspiel/32/2944_2.png) [@Das\_Glasperlenspiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Das_Glasperlenspiel)\
**Post date:** [February 26, 2014, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-identify-the-original-of-this-translated-verse/682323/3 "2014-02-26T16:29:29Z")

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> [@Flywheel](#):
>
> Sounds like a version of [And the Green Grass Grew All Around](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And_the_Green_Grass_Grew_All_Around).
> 
> ETA: or possibly [The Rattlin’ Bog](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rattlin%27_Bog).

My first thought was “The Rattlin’ Bog” as well.

And now it’s stuck in my head :smack:.