εἰς τετρημένον πίθον ἀντλεῖν → run water into a punctured pitcher, to the perforated jar bale water, labour in vain, labor in vain
ninguis: is, f. kindr. with nix,
I snow (ante- and post-class.): albas descendere ningues, Lucr. 6, 736 (but id. 6, 964, the correct read. is nives, v. Lachm. ad h. l.); so according to Lucil. ap. Charis. p. 71 P.; App. ap. Prisc. p. 724 P.