De corvo et vulpe: About The Crow and The Fox

Source: Osius.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 124.

Text:

Unde (latet) niveum raptarat Apollinis ales
Caseolum, rostro dulce tenebat onus.
Alta voraturum praedam mox excipit arbor,
Rem procul hanc Vulpes insidiosa notat.
Illa suam cupiens alienam reddere praedam,
Talibus alloquii fertur adorta dolis:
Quale tuae referunt decus, et quam nobile pennae,
Te tua formosam dona fatentur avem.
Nam ne, quae celebrem reddunt te, cetera dicam,
Augurii laudem nomine clarus habes.
Quod reliquis si digna tibi virtutibus esset
Vox, volucrem summi non Iovis esse negem.
Laudibus his oritur damnosa superbia Corvo,
Quae clamore sonos edat ut ille facit.
Caseus e rostro sic huius hiante cadebat,
Quo subito Vulpes laeta potita fuit.
Quae stolidum ridens errorem salsius, inquit,
Nil ego Corve, nisi cor tibi deesse putem.
Impostore capit si quem laudante voluptas,
Dignus, ut insidiis ille petatur, erit.
Laudantes temere quid agant circumspice verbis,
Fraus per blanditias credita saepe fuit.


Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Ales Apollinis raptarat unde latet
niveum caseolum,
tenebat rostro dulce onus.
Alta arbor mox excipit voraturum praedam;
procul, Vulpes insidiosa notat hanc rem.
Illa cupiens reddere alienam praedam suam,
fertur adorta talibus dolis alloquii:
"Quale decus tuae pennae referunt, et quam nobile,
tua dona fatentur te formosam avem.
Nam ne dicam cetera,
quae reddunt celebrem te:
clarus nomine, habes laudem augurii.
Quod si vox tibi esset digna reliquis virtutibus,
non negem te esse volucrem summi Iovis."
Damnosa superbia oritur Corvo his laudibus:
superbia facit ut ille edat clamore sonos.
Caseus sic cadebat e hiante rostro huius:
subito Vulpes laeta potita fuit caseo.
Vulpes ridens stolidum errorem salsius,
inquit: "Nil ego, Corve,
nisi putem cor tibi deesse."
Si voluptas capit aliquem, impostore laudante,
dignus erit, ut ille insidiis petatur.
Circumspice quid laudantes temere agant verbis;
saepe fraus per blanditias credita fuit.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Unde (la~tet) nive~um rap~tarat A~pollinis ~ ales
Caseo~lum, ros~tro = dulce te~nebat o~nus.
Alta vo~ratu~rum prae~dam mox ~ excipit ~ arbor,
Rem procul ~ hanc Vul~pes = insidi~osa no~tat.
Illa su~am cupi~ens ali~enam ~ reddere ~ praedam,
Talibus ~ alloqui~i = fertur a~dorta do~lis:
Quale tu~ae refe~runt decus, ~ et quam ~ nobile ~ pennae,
Te tua ~ formo~sam = dona fa~tentur a~vem.
Nam ne, ~ quae cele~brem red~dunt te, ~ cetera ~ dicam,
Auguri~i lau~dem = nomine ~ clarus ha~bes.
Quod reli~quis si ~ digna ti~bi vir~tutibus ~ esset
Vox, volu~crem sum~mi = non Iovis ~ esse ne~gem.
Laudibus ~ his ori~tur dam~nosa su~perbia ~ Corvo,
Quae cla~more so~nos = edat ut ~ ille fa~cit.
Caseus ~ e ros~tro sic ~ huius hi~ante ca~debat,
Quo subi~to Vul~pes = laeta po~tita fu~it.
Quae stoli~dum ri~dens er~rorem ~ salsius, ~ inquit,
Nil ego ~ Corve, ni~si = cor tibi ~ deesse pu~tem.
Impos~tore ca~pit si ~ quem lau~dante vo~luptas,
Dignus, ut ~ insidi~is = ille pe~tatur, e~rit.
Laudan~tes teme~re quid a~gant cir~cumspice ~ verbis,
Fraus per ~ blanditi~as = credita ~ saepe fu~it.

Translation:

Apollo's bird had stolen a white cheese from where it was hiding and held the sweet burden in his beak. A high tree soon took in the bird who was about to devour the booty; from a distance, the tricky Fox noticed what was happening. The Fox, wanting to render that other creature's booty as her own, is said to have piped up with this deceptive address: "What beauty is offered by your feathers, and how noble; your endowments confess you to be a beautiful bird. I'm not going to go on and on about the other things which render you famous: renowned in name, you have won praise for your augury. The fact is that if your voice were equal to your other virtues, I would not deny that you are the bird of mighty Jupiter himself." Disastrous pride rose up in the Crow with these words of praise: pride made him shout forth his squawks. The cheese thus fell from the crow's gaping beak: suddenly the Fox happily gained possession of the cheese. The Fox, laughing at the foolish mistake, gaily said: "I'd have nothing, if I didn't realize that you have no brains in your head." If someone feels pleasure when a trickster is praising him, he will deserve it if he is the target of an ambush. Inspect what bold flatterers are doing with their words; often a lie made up of sweet words is believed.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from an early printed edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Aquila et cornix: The Eagle and The Crow

Source: Osius.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 490.

Text:

Sublimem vacuas concham fert ales in auras,
Armigeram summi quam Iovis esse ferunt.
Saepe suo tundens rostro quae frangere testam
Nititur, hanc frustra rem tamen illa facit.
Quam fraudare cibo cupiens volat obvia Cornix,
Et sine consilio nil hera cedit, ait.
Res decet arte geri, non possunt omnia vires,
Praecepti quoniam te meminisse puto:
Quam vi, consilio melius quod ligna secentur,
Quam vi, quod sit equum tutius arte regi.
Quam vi, nauta ratem felicius arte gubernat,
Cum fera ventorum vis tumefecit aquas.
Arte regens celeres, qui certat in aequore, currus,
Eripit huic palmam, qui minus arte valet.
Ipsa cibo te non vi, sed ratione potiri
Posse, tenet clausum quem cava testa, putem.
In sublime tuo quare contende volatu,
Unde tibi rupem concha remissa petat.
Mox afflicta tibi scopulis ita testa fatiscet,
Quodque habet haec clausae carnis, aperta dabit.
Paret, ut usa dolo Cornicula suadet, in auras
Evolat, et concham desuper ire facit.
Hoc diffracta modo nudatam praebuit escam,
Qua fraudata tamen regia fertur avis.
Ante remetiri quia quam valet aeris auram,
Devorat his Cornix fraudibus usa cibum.
Quam vi consilio quondam maiora geruntur,
Hac quoque calliditas plus operosa valet.
Arx contra belli vim se quae clausa tuetur,
Capta dolis hosti saepe patere solet.
Sunt, animum simulent qui te fortasse iuvandi,
Sed sibi quo prosunt deinde, tibique nocent.


Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Ales,
quam ferunt esse armigeram summi Iovis,
fert concham sublimem in vacuas auras.
Ales nititur frangere testam
saepe tundens suo rostro
tamen illa facit hanc rem frustra.
Cornix cupiens fraudare illam cibo
volat obvia et ait:
"Hera nil cedit sine consilio;
res decet geri arte.
Vires non possunt omnia,
quoniam puto te meminisse praecepti:
quod ligna secentur consilio melius quam vi;
quod sit tutius equum regi arte quam vi;
nauta gubernat ratem felicius arte quam vi
cum fera vis ventorum tumefecit aquas;
qui certat in aequore
regens arte celeres currus
eripit palmam huic
qui minus arte valet.
Ipsa putem
te posse potiri cibo
quem cava testa tenet clausum
non vi, sed ratione:
quare contende tuo volatu in sublime,
unde concha remissa tibi petat rupem.
Mox testa afflicta scopulis ita fatiscet tibi,
et haec aperta dabit
quod clausae carnis habet.
Paret, usa dolo ut Cornicula suadet,
evolat in auras,
et facit concham desuper ire.
Hoc modo diffracta praebuit nudatam escam,
tamen regia avis fertur fraudata esca
quia ante quam valet remetiri auram aeris,
Cornix usa his fraudibus devorat cibum.
Quondam maiora geruntur consilio quam vi;
operosa calliditas quoque valet plus vi.
Arx quae clausa tuetur se contra vim belli,
capta dolis saepe solet patere hosti.
Sunt qui fortasse simulent animum iuvandi te
sed hoc deinde sibi prosunt et tibi nocent.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Subli~mem vacu~as con~cham fert ~ ales in ~ auras,
Armige~ram sum~mi = quam Iovis ~ esse fe~runt.
Saepe su~o tun~dens ros~tro quae ~ frangere ~ testam
Nititur, ~ hanc frus~tra = rem tamen ~ illa fa~cit.
Quam frau~dare ci~bo cupi~ens volat ~ obvia ~ Cornix,
Et sine ~ consili~o = nil hera ~ cedit, a~it.
Res decet ~ arte ge~ri, non ~ possunt ~ omnia ~ vires,
Praecep~ti quo~niam = te memi~nisse pu~to:
Quam vi, ~ consili~o meli~us quod ~ ligna se~centur,
Quam vi, ~ quod sit e~quum = tutius ~ arte re~gi.
Quam vi, ~ nauta ra~tem fe~licius ~ arte gu~bernat,
Cum fera ~ vento~rum = vis tume~fecit a~quas.
Arte re~gens cele~res, qui ~ certat in ~ aequore, ~ currus,
Eripit ~ huic pal~mam, = qui minus ~ arte va~let.
Ipsa ci~bo te ~ non vi, ~ sed rati~one po~tiri
Posse, te~net clau~sum = quem cava ~ testa, pu~tem.
In sub~lime tu~o qua~re con~tende vo~latu,
Unde ti~bi ru~pem = concha re~missa pe~tat.
Mox af~flicta ti~bi scopu~lis ita ~ testa fa~tiscet,
Quodqu(e) habet ~ haec clau~sae = carnis, a~perta da~bit.
Paret, ut ~ usa do~lo Cor~nicula ~ suadet, in ~ auras
Evolat, ~ et con~cham = desuper ~ ire fa~cit.
Hoc dif~fracta mo~do nu~datam ~ praebuit ~ escam,
Qua frau~data ta~men = regia ~ fertur a~vis.
Ante re~meti~ri quia ~ quam valet ~ aeris ~ auram,
Devorat ~ his Cor~nix = fraudibus ~ usa ci~bum.
Quam vi ~ consili~o quon~dam mai~ora ge~runtur,
Hac quoque ~ callidi~tas = plus ope~rosa va~let.
Arx con~tra bel~li vim ~ se quae ~ clausa tu~etur,
Capta do~lis hos~ti = saepe pa~tere so~let.
Sunt, ani~mum simu~lent qui ~ te for~tasse iu~vandi,
Sed sibi ~ quo pro~sunt = deinde, ti~bique no~cent.

Translation:

The bird (the one they say is the arm-bearer of great Jupiter) was carrying a shell up high into the airy atmosphere. The bird was trying to break the shell by beating it again and again with her beak, but she did this thing in vain. A crow, wanting to trick her out of the food, flew up and said: "My lady can accomplish nothing without a plan; this thing must be done with skill. Strength cannot manage everything. I think that you remember this precept: wood can be cut better by planning than by force; it is safer when a horse is conducted with skill rather than force; the sailor steers the ship more successfully by skill rather than force when the savage force of the winds roils the waters; he who races across the plain driving his swift chariot with skill snatches the palm of victory away from the one whose effort is less skillful. I myself suppose that you can obtain the food which the hollow shell holds concealed not by force but by reason: therefore, fly up and seek the heights, and from there let go of the shell so that it can encounter a cliff. Straightaway the shell, having hit the rocks, will lie open for you, and when open it will give that portion of concealed meat which it holds." The Eagle obeyed, making use of the stratagem as the Crow advocated; she flew up into the air and made the shell fall from on high. In this way the shell broke open and offered up the food unprotected, but the regal bird is said to have been tricked out of that food because before she was able to traverse again the airy wind, the crow making use of this deception gobbled up the food. Greater things are ever accomplished by planning than by force; active trickery also is stronger than force. A citadel which when closed protects itself against the onslaught of war, when captured by deception often lies open to the enemy. There are those who perhaps pretend to have a will to help you, but in this way eventually they help themselves and harm you.
[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from an early printed edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Haedus et lupus: The Kid and The Wolf

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 261.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Evasisse Lupum sectantem dicitur Haedus,
Huic Ovium apta fugae caula ferebat opem.
Cui Lupus: hic tutum fore te temerarie speras,
Ad caedem pecudes mos iubet unde rapi?
Aris unde peti solet hostia multa Deorum,
Hoc te stulte loco posse latere putas?
Nil moror, Haedus ait, dum me mors ista sequatur,
Quae mihi non celebri laude carere potest.
Namque cruore meo spargi praeclarius aras
Quam tua si faux hoc sicca rigata foret.
Mors commune malum cum sit mortalibus aegris,
Posse mori famae non sine laude decet.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Haedus dicitur evasisse Lupum sectantem;
caula ovium apta fugae ferebat opem Haedo,
cui Lupus ait:
Temerarie speras te fore tutum hic
unde mos iubet pecudes rapi ad caedem?
Stulte, putas te posse latere hoc loco
unde multa hostia solet peti aris Deorum?"
Haedus ait:
"Dum mors ista sequatur me, nil moror;
haec mors non potest carere celebri laude mihi,
namque praeclarius est
aras spargi cruore meo
quam si tua faux sicca rigata foret hoc cruore."
Cum mors sit commune malum mortalibus aegris,
decet posse mori non sine laude famae.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Eva~sisse Lu~pum sec~tantem ~ dicitur ~ Haedus,
Huic Ovi~(um) apta fu~gae = caula fe~rebat o~pem.
Cui Lupus: ~ hic tu~tum fore ~ te teme~rarie ~ speras,
Ad cae~dem pecu~des = mos iubet ~ unde ra~pi?
Aris ~ unde pe~ti solet ~ hostia ~ multa De~orum,
Hoc te ~ stulte lo~co = posse la~tere pu~tas?
Nil moror, ~ Haedus a~it, dum ~ me mors ~ ista se~quatur,
Quae mihi ~ non cele~bri = laude ca~rere po~test.
Namque cru~ore me~o spar~gi prae~clarius ~ aras
Quam tua ~ si faux ~ hoc = sicca ri~gata fo~ret.
Mors com~mune ma~lum cum ~ sit mor~talibus ~ aegris,
Posse mo~ri fa~mae = non sine ~ laude de~cet.

Translation:

A Kid is said to have fled from a pursuing Wolf; a passageway for sheep, suitable for making an escape, helped the Kid get away. The Wolf said to him: "Are you crazy enough to hope that you will be safe here, where custom commands that animals be seized for slaughter? You idiot! Do you think that you can hide in this place where many sacrificial victims are usually sought for the altars of the Gods?" The Kid said: "Since that is the death that pursues me, I make no delay: this death does not deprive me of distinguished praise, for it is much more illustrious for the altars to be sprinkled with my blood than if my blood watered your dry throat." Since death is a common misfortune for all enfeebled mortals, it is fitting to be able to die with a praiseworthy reputation.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

I have to admit that once again, the artist does not seem entirely clear about what story he is illustrating. Do you think that looks like a kid being chased by the wolf? If we look at a 1501 edition of the fables, there is a much more clear illustration.

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Leo, iuvenca, capra et ovis: Lion, Heifer, Goat and Sheep

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 339.

Text:

Capra, Iuvenca, Leo sociis conatibus ibant
Venatum, studio quos quoque iuvit Ovis.
Praeda frequens illo, cum parta labore fuisset,
Quatuor in partes illa dirempta fuit.
Quo facto, pars prima Leo mihi debita praedae,
Me quia praestantem nemo negarit, ait.
Sic etiam nobis tribuenda secunda videtur,
Roboris hanc merui conditione mei.
Et quia magna mihi vis est exhausta laborum,
Tertia nos etiam iure sequetur, ait.
Dixerit esse suam qui quartam, sentiet hostem
Me sibi, quod poenae triste probabit opus.
Quid miserae facerent, hae cum sine viribus essent,
Sollicito mussant damna ferenda metu.
Audeat infestum quis confutare Leonem,
Verba quis irato non placitura loqui?
Qui ferus hac omnem praedam ratione tenebat.
Haec socio quamvis parta labore foret.
Quisquis amas aliquo iungi magnatibus usu,
Facta superba pati noveris esse tuum.
Est visum quaecumque gerunt impune potentes,
Qui negat illorum facta ferenda, premunt.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Capra, Iuvenca, Leo
ibant venatum sociis conatibus;
Ovis quoque iuvit hos studio.
Cum praeda frequens
parta fuisset illo labore,
illa dirempta fuit in quatuor partes.
Hoc facto,
Leo ait: "Pars prima praedae debita mihi,
quia nemo negarit me praestantem.
Sic etiam secunda videtur tribuenda nobis:
merui hanc conditione mei roboris.
Et quia magna vis laborum exhausta est mihi,
etiam tertia sequetur nos iure.
Qui dixerit quartam esse suam,
sentiet me hostem sibi:
triste opus poenae probabit hoc.
Quid facerent hae miserae
cum sine viribus essent?
Sollicito metu mussant damna ferenda.
Quis audeat confutare infestum Leonem,
quis audeat loqui irato verba non placitura?
Hac ratione ferus tenebat omnem praedam,
quamvis haec praeda parta foret socio labore.
Quisquis amas iungi magnatibus aliquo usu,
noveris tuum esse pati facta superba.
Potentes gerunt impune quaecumque visum est;
premunt qui negat facta illorum ferenda.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Capra, Iu~venca, Le~o soci~is co~natibus ~ ibant
Vena~tum, studi~o = quos quoque ~ iuvit O~vis.
Praeda fre~quens il~lo, cum ~ parta la~bore fu~isset,
Quatuor ~ in par~tes = illa di~rempta fu~it.
Quo fac~to, pars ~ prima Le~o mihi ~ debita ~ praedae,
Me quia ~ praestan~tem = nemo ne~garit, a~it.
Sic eti~am no~bis tribu~enda se~cunda vi~detur,
Roboris ~ hanc meru~i = conditi~one me~i.
Et quia ~ magna mi~hi vis ~ est ex~hausta la~borum,
Tertia ~ nos eti~am = iure se~quetur, a~it.
Dixerit ~ esse su~am qui ~ quartam, ~ sentiet ~ hostem
Me sibi, ~ quod poe~nae = triste pro~babit o~pus.
Quid mise~rae face~rent, hae ~ cum sine ~ viribus ~ essent,
Sollicit~o mus~sant = damna fe~renda me~tu.
Audeat ~ infes~tum quis ~ confu~tare Le~onem,
Verba quis ~ ira~to = non placi~tura lo~qui?
Qui ferus ~ hac om~nem prae~dam rati~one te~nebat.
Haec soci~o quam~vis = parta la~bore fo~ret.
Quisquis a~mas ali~quo iun~gi mag~natibus ~ usu,
Facta su~perba pa~ti = noveris ~ esse tu~um.
Est vi~sum quae~cumque ge~runt im~pune po~tentes,
Qui negat ~ illo~rum = facta fe~renda, pre~munt.

Translation:

The Goat, the Heifer and the Lion went hunting together, having united their efforts; the Sheep also helped them with her zeal. When their efforts yielded abundant prey, that prey was divided into four parts. After this was done, the Lion said: "The first part of the prey is owed to me, because no one would deny that I am outstanding. So too the second part seems to be due to us: I have earned it by the condition of my power. And because the great force of my efforts have drained me, the third part will also go to us by right. Who would say that the fourth part belongs to him, he will know me as his enemy: the lamentable business of being punished by me will prove it." What could those poor creatures do, since they didn't have any physical force? With anxious fear they bore in silence the losses that they had to endure. Who would dare to rebuke the dangerous lion, who would dare to say things to an angry lion that he doesn't want to hear? For this reason, the wild beast got all the prey, even though the prey had been obtained by joint effort. Whoever you are, if you love to be joined to the high and mighty in any endeavor, be aware that it will be your fate to suffer their overbearing behavior. Powerful people do with impunity whatever seems good to them; they come down hard on anyone who refuses to put up with their actions.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Lupus et asinus: The Wolf and The Donkey

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 187.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Quem videt in pratis pascentem, saevus Asello,
Imminet instituens dilaniare Lupus.
Extrahat ante tamen sibi spinam exorat Asellus,
In pede quae fixa huic posteriore fuit.
His cum post Asinum verbis persuasus abiret,
Illo paene necem percutiente tulit.
Stratus humi, est ubi iam vertigo mota cerebro,
Ut fuga mox Asino tuta sit inde facit.
Ad sese rediens tandem Lupus, arte coquendi
Cum valeam, medicam cur profitebar, ait?
Hanc, quam quisque tenet, temere si deserit artem,
Exercens aliam damna pudenda feret.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Lupus saevus videt Asellum pascentem in pratis;
imminet Asello, instituens dilaniare.
Asellus tamen exorat
ut ante extrahat sibi spinam,
quae fixa fuit huic in pede posteriore.
Cum persuasus his verbis
abiret post Asinum,
paene tulit necem
Asino percutiente.
Stratus humi,
ubi iam vertigo mota est cerebro,
inde mox facit ut Asino fuga tuta sit.
Lupus tandem rediens ad sese
ait: "Cum valeam arte coquendi,
cur profitebar medicam artem?
Si quisque temere deserit hanc artem quam tenet,
exercens aliam artem,
feret damna pudenda.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Quem videt ~ in pra~tis pas~centem, ~ saevus A~sello,
Imminet ~ institu~ens = dilani~are Lu~pus.
Extrahat ~ ante ta~men sibi ~ spin(am) ex~orat A~sellus,
In pede ~ quae fix(a) ~ huic = posteri~ore fu~it.
His cum ~ post Asi~num ver~bis per~suasus ab~iret,
Illo ~ paene ne~cem = percuti~ente tu~lit.
Stratus hu~m(i), est ubi ~ iam ver~tigo ~ mota ce~rebro,
Ut fuga ~ mox Asi~no = tuta sit ~ inde fa~cit.
Ad se~se redi~ens tan~dem Lupus, ~ arte co~quendi
Cum vale~am, medi~cam = cur profi~tebar, a~it?
Hanc, quam ~ quisque te~net, teme~re si ~ deserit ~ artem,
Exer~cens ali~am = damna pu~denda fe~ret.

Translation:

A savage Wolf saw a Donkey grazing in the fields; he threatened the Donkey, intending to tear him to shreds. The Donkey, however, begged that the Wolf first extract for him a thorn which was stuck in the Donkey's back hoof. When the Wolf was persuaded by the Donkey's words he went around to the back of the Donkey and when the Donkey started kicking him, the Wolf almost died. Lying on the ground, since his head was now spinning with dizziness, the Wolf thus let the Donkey immediately make a safe getaway. Finally coming to his senses, the Wolf "When I am an expert cook, why was I professing to be a doctor?" If anyone rashly gives up the profession he currently holds, practicing some other profession, he will suffer shameful losses.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, change the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Formica et columba: The Ant and The Dove

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 235.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Se liquidi Formica lubens demittit in undas
Fonticuli, cupiens forte levare sitim.
Undis ablatam sed dira pericula tangunt,
Paene, pedes dum nil falciat, illa perit.
Vidit ut hoc, viridem defringit ab arbore ramum,
Deicit hunc illi, fertque Palumbus opem.
Servat adhaerescens ramo sic anxia vitam,
Fontanis alias quae periisset aquis.
Tempore post parvo, qui falleret, adfuit Auceps,
Hanc ipsam calamis insidiatus avem.
Cui metuens Formica volens avertere mortem
Clam subit arrepens aucupis inter opus.
Sic quem laesit, ut huic mox abiceretur harundo,
Hoc strepitu letum territa vitat avis.
Res pia pro meritis est grata mente probari,
Praestando studii convenientis opus.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Formica lubens demittit se in undas liquidi fonticuli,
cupiens forte levare sitim,
sed dira pericula tangunt Formicam ablatam undis:
dum nil falciat pedes, illa paene perit.
Ut vidit hoc,
Palumbus defringit viridem ramum ab arbore,
deicit hunc illi
et fert opem.
Sic anxia Formica servat vitam adhaerescens ramo,
quae alias periisset fontanis aquis.
Tempore parvo post, Auceps adfuit
qui falleret insidiatus calamis hanc ipsam avem,
Formica metuens, volens avertere mortem Palumbo,
clam subit arrepens inter opus aucupis.
Sic Aucupem laesit, ut mox huic harundo abiceretur;
avis vitat letum territa hoc strepitu.
Res pia est probari grata mente pro meritis,
praestando opus convenientis studii.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Se liqui~di For~mica lu~bens de~mittit in ~ undas
Fonticu~li, cupi~ens = forte le~vare si~tim.
Undis ~ abla~tam sed ~ dira pe~ricula ~ tangunt,
Paene, pe~des dum ~ nil = falciat, ~ illa pe~rit.
Vidit ut ~ hoc, viri~dem de~fringit ab ~ arbore ~ ramum,
Deicit ~ hunc il~li, = fertque Pa~lumbus o~pem.
Servat ad~haere~scens ra~mo sic ~ anxia ~ vitam,
Fon~ta~nis ali~as = quae peri~isset a~quis.
Tempore ~ post par~vo, qui ~ falleret, ~ adfuit ~ Auceps,
Hanc ip~sam cala~mis = insidi~atus a~vem.
Cui metu~ens For~mica vo~lens a~vertere ~ mortem
Clam subit ~ arre~pens = aucupis ~ inter o~pus.
Sic quem ~ laesit, ut ~ huic mox ~ abice~retur ha~rundo,
Hoc strepi~tu le~tum = territa ~ vitat a~vis.
Res pia ~ pro meri~tis est ~ grata ~ mente pro~bari,
Praestan~do studi~i = conveni~entis o~pus.

Translation:

An Ant gladly let herself down into the waves of a tiny spring of water, wanting perhaps to alleviate her thirst, but terrible dangers threatened the Ant when she was borne away by the waves: when she lost her footing, she almost died. When the Dove saw this, he broke off a leafy branch from a tree and threw it down to the Ant and helped her. Thus the worried Ant preserved her life by clinging to the branch; otherwise she would have died in the spring's waters. A little while later, a Bird-Catcher came who was going to trick that same bird by laying a trap for her with his reeds. The Ant was afraid and wanted to rescue the Dove from death; she secretly crept up in the midst of the Bird-Catcher's work and when the Ant bit the Bird-Catcher, he suddenly cast aside his reeds and the bird evaded death, terrified by the Bird-Catcher's shout. It is a good to be shown to have a grateful attitude towards acts of kindness, doing something in return with an equal amount of effort.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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De cane et frusto carnis: About The Dog and The Piece of Meat

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 133.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Ore ferens carnem surreptam tranat ut undas,
Elabi cupiens hac ratione Canis:
Apparens sub aquis hunc frusti fallit imago,
Spes aliam carnem fingit avara dari.
Hinc avide captans vanam male providus umbram,
Quem vehit, e rictu perdit hiante cibum.
Temperat a studio sibi dum non caecus habendi,
Quas habet, has etiam perdit avarus opes.
Sunt, qui possideant cum plurima, plura requirunt,
His explere famem copia nulla potest.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Ut Canis
ferens ore carnem surreptam,
tranat undas
cupiens hac ratione elabi,
imago frusti apparens sub aquis
fallit Canem;
avara spes fingit aliam carnem dari.
Hinc male providus
avide captans vanam umbram,
perdit cibum quem vehit
e rictu hiante.
Dum caecus avarus
non temperat sibi a studio habendi,
perdit etiam has opes quas habet.
Sunt qui requirunt plura cum possideant plurima:
nulla copia potest explere famem his.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Ore fe~rens car~nem sur~reptam ~ tranat ut ~ undas,
Ela~bi cupi~ens = hac rati~one Ca~nis:
Appa~rens sub a~quis hunc ~ frusti ~ fallit i~mago,
Spes ali~am car~nem = fingit a~vara da~ri.
Hinc avi~de cap~tans va~nam male ~ providus ~ umbram,
Quem vehit, ~ e ric~tu = perdit hi~ante ci~bum.
Temperat ~ a studi~o sibi ~ dum non ~ caecus ha~bendi,
Quas habet, ~ has eti~am = perdit a~varus o~pes.
Sunt, qui ~ posside~ant cum ~ plurima, ~ plura re~quirunt,
His ex~plere fa~mem = copia ~ nulla po~test.

Translation:

While a Dog carrying in his mouth a piece of stolen meat was swimming across a stream, hoping in this way to escape, the image of a bit of food appearing in the water deceived the Dog; greedy hope imagined that it will be given another piece of meat. Thus, based on this poor reasoning, greedily snapping at the empty reflection, the Dog lost the food which he was carrying as it fell from his gaping jaws. While the man blind with greed does not restrain his zeal for getting more wealth, he loses even the wealth which he had. There are those who try to get more when they already have a lot: no abundance can fill their hunger.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Canis et lupus: The Dog and The Wolf

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 346.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Esse Cani nitidos admirans corporis artus,
Quam, Lupus, es felix optime frater ait?
Hinc ergo venias mecum, Canis inquit, in urbem,
Hospes ut hac una sorte fruare, licet.
Huc ut eunt ambo, collo Lupus ecce canino
Protinus attritos conspicit esse pilos.
Tunc etiamne iugo rogat huic sua colla premantur,
Arguere hoc cervix calva videtur, ait.
Cui durante die tantum Canis alligor inquit,
Acris ut esse queam nocte cadente vigil.
Quae cernis, collare mihi vestigia fecit,
Esse quidem cervix quo mea cincta solet.
Tum Lupus: hac ergo cum sorte valebis amice,
Qua non ipsa frui, sed caruisse velim.
Omnibus est potior libertas aurea rebus,
Cui, nil, quod merito praeferat, orbis habet.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Lupus admirans
Cani artus corporis esse nitidos,
ait: "Optime frater, quam es felix?"
Canis inquit:
"Ergo venias mecum hinc in urbem;
licet ut hospes fruare hac una sorte."
Ut ambo eunt huc,
protinus Lupus conspicit - ecce! -
collo canino pilos esse attritos.
Tunc rogat
etiamne huic sua colla premantur iugo,
ait: "Calva cervix videtur arguere hoc."
Canis inquit Lupo:
"Alligor tantum durante die,
ut nocte cadente queam esse vigil acris.
Collare mihi fecit vestigia quae cernis.
Hoc cervix mea solet esse cincta."
Tum Lupus: "Ergo, amice, valebis cum hac sorte.
Velim non frui ipsa sorte, sed caruisse."
Libertas est potior aurea omnibus rebus;
orbis habet nil quod merito praeferat libertati.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Esse Ca~ni niti~dos ad~mirans ~ corporis ~ artus,
Quam, Lupus, ~ es fe~lix = optime ~ frater a~it?
Hinc er~go veni~as me~cum, Canis ~ inquit, in ~ urbem,
Hospes ut ~ hac u~na = sorte fru~are, li~cet.
Huc ut e~unt am~bo, col~lo Lupus ~ ecce ca~nino
Protinus ~ attri~tos = conspicit ~ esse pi~los.
Tunc eti~amne iu~go rogat ~ huic sua ~ colla pre~mantur,
Arguer(e) ~ hoc cer~vix = calva vi~detur, a~it.
Cui du~rante di~e tan~tum Canis ~ alligor ~ inquit,
Acris ut ~ esse que~am = nocte ca~dente vi~gil.
Quae cer~nis, col~lare mi~hi ve~stigia ~ fecit,
Esse qui~dem cer~vix = quo mea ~ cincta so~let.
Tum Lupus: ~ hac er~go cum ~ sorte va~lebis a~mice,
Qua non ~ ipsa fru~i, = sed caru~isse ve~lim.
Omnibus ~ est poti~or li~bertas ~ aurea ~ rebus,
Cui nil ~ quod meri~to = praeferat ~ orbis ha~bet.

Translation:

The wolf was impressed that the limbs of the dog's body were shining, and said, "My good brother, are you so fortunate?" The dog said: "So come with me into the city; it's possible for you, as my guest, to enjoy this same fate." As the two of them were going there, suddenly the Wolf noticed, lo and behold, that the hairs on the dog's neck were worn away. Then he asked whether his neck was kept under a yoke: "Your bald neck seems to prove this." The dog said to the wolf: "I am tied up only while it is daytime, so that when night falls I can be a sharp watchdog. The collar leaves these traces which you see." Then the Wolf said: "So, friend, best wishes to you and your fate! I would not want to enjoy that same fate, but I prefer to avoid it." Freedom is stronger than gold in all situations; the world has nothing which it places at a higher value than liberty.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]


Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Mustela. The Weasel.

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 511.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Iam Mustela suis languens et tardior annis,
Non potis, ut Mures assequeretur, erat.
Ergo quaerendi praedas excogitat artem,
Muribus hac utens insidiata fuit.
Frumenti furtim sese implicat illa maniplo,
Hac conata cibos fraude parare latet.
Huc fruges quoniam veniunt arrodere Mures,
Incautos nullo paene labore capit.
Cum te deficiunt imbelli corpore vires,
Consilio prudens utere, cedet opus.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Mustela iam languens et tardior suis annis,
non potis erat ut Mures assequeretur.
Ergo excogitat artem quaerendi praedas,
utens hac arte Muribus insidiata fuit.
Furtim illa implicat sese maniplo frumenti,
hac fraude latet conata parare cibos.
Quoniam huc Mures veniunt arrodere fruges,
capit incautos paene nullo labore.
Cum vires deficiunt te, imbelli corpore,
prudens utere consilio; opus cedet.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Iam Mus~tela su~is lan~guens et ~ tardior ~ annis,
Non potis, ~ ut Mu~res = asseque~retur, e~rat.
Ergo ~ quaeren~di prae~das ex~cogitat ~ artem,
Muribus ~ hac u~tens = insidi~ata fu~it.
Frumen~ti fur~tim se~s(e) implicat ~ illa ma~niplo,
Hac co~nata ci~bos = fraude pa~rare la~tet.
Huc fru~ges quo~niam veni~unt ar~rodere ~ Mures,
Incau~tos nul~lo = paene la~bore ca~pit.
Cum te ~ defici~unt im~belli ~ corpore ~ vires,
Consili~o pru~dens = utere, ~ cedet o~pus.

Translation:

A weasel who was now weak and getting old in years was not able to hunt Mice, so she thought up a technique for seeking her prey; using this technique, she lay in wait for the Mice. Secretly she rolled herself in a handful of grain; by means of this trick she hid herself, trying to obtain food. Thus when the Mice came to nibble at the grain, she seized the reckless Mice with practically no trouble at all. When your strength fails you and your body is not battle-worthy, be wise and make a plan; the work will move right along.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]


Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

This is another illustration in Osius that does not match the story very well (it looks more like an illustration of the dialogue between the man and the weasel), but you can see the weasel and the mice more clearly here in this illustration from a 1501 edition of Aesop's fables; click on the image for a larger view.

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Lupus et agna: The Wolf and The Lamb

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 155.

Text:

Vidit Ovem liquidi sorbentem fluminis undae
Inferius stantem, quam stetit ipse, Lupus.
Iure volens ergo, si devoret, ille videri
Hoc fecisse, minax, fronteque torvus adest.
Cur, ait, hausturo puram mihi polluis undam,
Cur facis huc a te turbidus amnis eat?
Mene, ait Agna, tibi turbare probaveris undam,
Quam tamen huc prono flumine cursus agit?
At maledicis enim, Lupus inquit, an excidit, a me
Ut tuus occiderit dilaniante pater?
Menses ante neci septem quem misimus, illi
Hanc sua perniciem lingua proterva tulit.
Non ego respondens tum subicit anxia vixi,
Usa sed hac frustra voce tuentis Ovis.
Ille negas vero late nudaris ut agros
Vernantes viridi gramine nuper, ait?
Agna probans falsum, caream cum dentibus, inquit,
Hoc a me fieri non potuisse liquet.
Cui Lupus: ut valeas satis ipsa dicacula verbis,
Nunc cenare tamen lautius ipse velim.
Sic ait, atque metu trepidantem corripit Agnam,
Et pascens avido devorat ore gulam.
Ut, quos oderunt, violent impune, tyrannis
Causa dari facili conditione solet.
Qui quaecumque volunt patrare licentius audent,
Illorum sceleri vel pudor omnis abest.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Lupus vidit Ovem
sorbentem undae liquidi fluminis
stantem inferius quam ipse stetit.
Ergo Lupus volens,
si devoret Ovem,
videri fecisse hoc iure,
adest minax et torvus fronte.
Lupus ait: "Cur polluis puram undam mihi hausturo?
Cur facis ut amnis eat turbidus huc a te?
Agna ait: "Probaverisne me turbare tibi undam?
Tamen cursus agit undam huc prono flumine."
Lupus enim inquit: "At maledicis enim?
An excidit ut tuus pater occiderit a me dilaniante?
Misimus patrem neci ante septem menses;
sua lingua proterva tulit illi hanc perniciem."
Ovis respondens subicit anxia:
"Tum ego non vixi,"
sed frustra usa hac voce tuentis.
Ille ait: "Negas vero
ut nuper late nudaris agros
vernantes viridi gramine?"
Agna, probans falsum, inquit:
"Cum caream dentibus,
liquet hoc non potuisse fieri a me."
Lupus ei ait:
Ut ipsa satis valeas verbis, dicacula,
nunc tamen ipse velim necare lautius.
Sic ait
atque corripit Agnam trepidantem metu
et devorat avido ore, pascens gulam.
Facili conditione
causa solet dari tyrannis
ut violent impune quos oderunt.
Tyranni licentius audent patrare quaecumque volunt,
vel pudor omnis abest sceleri illorum.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Vidit O~vem liqui~di sor~bentem ~ fluminis ~ undae
Inferi~us stan~tem, = quam stetit ~ ipse, Lu~pus.
Iure vo~lens er~go, si ~ devoret, ~ ille vi~deri
Hoc fe~cisse, mi~nax, = fronteque ~ torvus a~dest.
Cur, ait, ~ haustu~ro pu~ram mihi ~ polluis ~ undam,
Cur facis ~ huc a ~ te = turbidus ~ amnis e~at?
Me~n(e), ait ~ Agna, ti~bi tur~bare pro~baveris ~ undam,
Quam tamen ~ huc pro~no = flumine ~ cursus a~git?
At male~dicis e~nim, Lupus ~ inquit, an ~ excidit, ~ a me
Ut tuus ~ occide~rit = dilani~ante pa~ter?
Menses ~ ante ne~ci sep~tem quem ~ misimus, ~ illi
Hanc sua ~ pernici~em = lingua pro~terva tu~lit.
Non ego ~ respon~dens tum ~ subicit ~ anxia ~ vixi,
Usa sed ~ hac frus~tra = voce tu~entis O~vis.
Ille ne~gas ve~ro la~te nu~daris ut ~agros
Vernan~tes viri~di = gramine ~ nuper, a~it?
Agna pro~bans fal~sum, care~am cum ~ dentibus, ~ inquit,
Hoc a ~ me fie~ri = non potu~isse li~quet.
Cui Lupus: ~ ut vale~as satis ~ ipsa di~cacula ~ verbis,
Nunc ce~nare ta~men = lautius ~ ipse ve~lim.
Sic ait, ~ atque me~tu trepi~dantem ~ corripit ~ Agnam,
Et pas~cens avi~do = devorat ~ ore gu~lam.
Ut, quos ~ ode~runt, vio~lent im~pune, ty~rannis
Causa da~ri faci~li = conditi~one so~let.
Qui quae~cumque vo~lunt pa~trare li~centius ~ audent,
Illo~rum scele~ri = vel pudor ~ omnis a~best.

Translation:

A Wolf saw a Sheep drinking from the water of the running brook, standing downstream from where the Wolf stood. Therefore the Wolf, wanting - if he were to eat the Sheep - to seem to have down this by right, approached in a threatening way with a grim look on his face. The Wolf said: "Why are you muddying the clear water when I am just about to take a drink? Why are you making the stream flow from you to me all stirred up?" The Lamb said: "Surely you are not trying to show that I am stirring up your water? After all, the course leads the water downstream from me here." The Wolf said: "Are you going to insult me? Or did it escape your notice that your father died at my hands? We sent him to his doom seven months ago: his loud mouth brought on his death." The Sheep interjected nervously in response: "I was not alive then," but she spoke these defensive words in vain. The Wolf said: "Are you denying in fact that just now you stripped my fields far and wide, fields which had been flourishing with green grass?" The Lamb, proving this was not true, said: "Since I have no teeth, it's clear that I could not have done that." The Wolf said: "You sassy creature! While you are able enough when it comes to words, I'll now do a very nice job of killing you anyway." So he spoke, and he grabbed the Lamb who was trembling with fear and greedily swallowed her, feeding his gullet. A pretext can by an easy arrangement given to tyrants so that they can attack with impunity those whom they hate. Tyrants very freely dare to do whatever they want, in fact they feel no sense of shame at all in their wrong-doing.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Vulpes et Leo: Fox and Lion

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 10.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Villosum Vulpes non viderat ante Leonem,
Cui iam facta potest obvia paene mori.
Haec adeo perculsa gravi formidine fertur,
Maxima quae viso mota Leone fuit.
At iam rursus ubi datur obvia forsan eunti,
Hanc minus attonitam, quam prius, esse ferunt.
Tertia spectandi cui postquam oblata facultas,
Sustinet aspiciens tunc animosa feram.
Accedens propius quia compellare Leonem
Audet, et huic blandis vocibus usa loqui.
Nil tam difficile est, quod non tractabile reddas,
Creber ad has operas si ferat usus opem.
Res inopina movet mentes vehementius omnis,
Sed turbare parum saepe revisa solet.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Vulpes non viderat ante villosum Leonem,
cui obvia facta
iam potest paene mori.
Viso Leone.
Vulpes fertur perculsa formidine adeo gravi,
quae maxima mota fuit.
At iam ubi rursus forsan datur obvia Leoni eunti,
ferunt Vulpem esse minus attonitam, quam prius.
Vulpi postquam tertia facultas spectandi oblata,
tunc sustinet feram, aspiciens animosa,
quia accedens propius
audet compellare Leonem
et loqui huic, usa blandis vocibus.
Nil tam difficile est, quod non reddas tractabile,
si creber usus ferat opem ad has operas.
Omnis res inopina movet mentes vehementius,
sed saepe revisa solet turbare parum.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Villo~sum Vul~pes non ~ viderat ~ ante Le~onem,
Cui iam ~ facta po~test = obvia ~ paene mo~ri.
Haec ade~o per~culsa gra~vi for~midine ~ fertur,
Maxima ~ quae vi~so = mota Le~one fu~it.
At iam ~ rursus u~bi datur ~ obvia ~ forsan e~unti,
Hanc minus ~ attoni~tam, = quam prius, ~ esse fe~runt.
Tertia ~ spectan~di cui ~ postqu(am) ob~lata fa~cultas,
Sustinet ~ aspici~ens = tunc ani~mosa fe~ram.
Acce~dens propi~us quia ~ compel~lare Le~onem
Audet, et ~ huic blan~dis = vocibus ~ usa lo~qui.
Nil tam ~ diffici~l(e) est, quod ~ non trac~tabile ~ reddas,
Creber ad ~ has ope~ras = si ferat ~ usus o~pem.
Res ino~pina mo~vet men~tes vehe~mentius ~ omnis,
Sed tur~bare pa~rum = saepe re~visa so~let.

Translation:

The Fox had not ever seen the shaggy Lion before; when she ran into him she could almost have died upon seeing the Lion. The Fox is said to be have been struck with such great fear that it was the greatest fear she had ever felt. But then when it happened by chance a second time that she ran into the Lion as he was walking by, they say the Fox was less thunderstruck than before. When later on the Fox was given a third chance to look at him, she was able to endure looking at the beast, gazing bravely at him, because she even drew closer and dared to address the Lion and speak to him, using flattering words. There is nothing so difficult that you cannot render it manageable if frequent opportunity gives you a chance to try it. Every thing that is unexpected powerfully shakes the mind, but when it is seen again and again it usually causes little disturbance.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Venter et Member: The Stomach and The Body Parts

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 130.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Posse ministerio nostro indignantia speras
Membra cibo dicunt improbe Venter ali?
Non ita fiet, amas sudantibus otia nobis,
Fas erit idcirco destituare cibis.
At dum Membra negant alimentum inprovida Ventri,
Corporis hinc virtus facta caduca fuit.
Paenitet invidiae sic Membra dolentia sero,
Est quibus hoc ausu vita coacta mori.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Membra indignantia dicunt:
"Improbe Venter, speras posse ali cibo
nostro ministerio?
Non ita fiet: amas otia, sudantibus nobis.
Idcirco fas erit destituare cibis."
At dum Membra inprovida negant alimentum Ventri,
hinc virtus corporis facta fuit caduca.
Sic sero paenitet invidiae Membra dolentia.
Hoc ausu, membris vita coacta est mori.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Posse mi~nisteri~o nos~tr(o) indig~nantia ~ speras
Membra ci~bo di~cunt = improbe ~ Venter a~li?
Non ita ~ fiet, a~mas su~dantibus ~ otia ~ nobis,
Fas erit ~ idcir~co = destitu~are ci~bis.
At dum ~ Membra ne~gant ali~ment(um) in~provida ~ Ventri,
Corporis ~ hinc vir~tus = facta ca~duca fu~it.
Paenitet ~ invidi~ae sic ~ Membra do~lentia ~ sero,
Est quibus ~ hoc au~su = vita co~acta mo~ri.

Translation:

The Body Parts were upset and said: "O Stomach, shameless creature that you are, do you expect that you can be fed with food thanks to our serving you? It will not be thus: you love laziness, while we are working up a sweat. Therefore it is right that you will be deprived of food." But when the Body Parts, not thinking what would happen next, denied food to the Stomach, the strength of the body started to fail as a result. Thus too late the Body Members felt painful regret for having envied the Stomach. With their daring deed, the life of the Body Parts was put to death.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Mus et rana: The Mouse and The Frog

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 384.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Rana ferox agili bellum cum Mure gerebat,
Vincendi studio saevus uterque fuit.
Mus parit insidiis animosam vincere Ranam,
At quae non vinci viribus usa potest.
Saevit uterque suum sic dum securus in hostem,
Quo nihil excepto posse nocere putat:
Improvisus adest, rapideque hos Milvius aufert,
Atque cibum rostro dilaniante facit.
Non scelerata diu poenas audacia vitat,
Quas solet illa graves, auspice ferre Deo.
Lite movent stulti dum bella domestica cives,
Hinc externus opem, qua valet hostis, habet.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Rana ferox gerebat bellum cum agili Mure;
uterque fuit saevus studio vincendi.
Mus parit vincere animosam Ranam insidiis,
at Rana usa viribus non potest vinci.
Dum uterque sic saevit securus in suum hostem
(uterque putat nihil posse nocere, hoste excepto),
improvisus Milvius adest et rapide aufert hos
atque facit cibum rostro dilaniante.
Non diu scelerata audacia vitat poenas;
Deo auspice, audacia solet ferre poenas graves.
Dum stulti cives lite movent domestica bella
hinc externus hostis habet opem, qua valet.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Rana fe~rox agi~li bel~lum cum ~ Mure ge~rebat,
Vincen~di studi~o = saevus u~terque fu~it.
Mus parit ~ insidi~is ani~mosam ~ vincere ~ Ranam,
At quae ~ non vin~ci = viribus ~ usa po~test.
Saevit u~terque su~um sic ~ dum se~curus in ~ hostem,
Quo nihil ~ excep~to = posse no~cere pu~tat:
Impro~visus a~dest, rapi~dequ(e) hos ~ Milvius ~ aufert,
Atque ci~bum ros~tro = dilani~ante fa~cit.
Non scele~rata di~u poe~nas au~dacia ~ vitat,
Quas solet ~ illa gra~ves, = auspice ~ ferre De~o.
Lite mo~vent stul~ti dum ~ bella do~mestica ~ cives,
Hinc ex~ternus o~pem, = qua valet ~ hostis, ha~bet.

Translation:

The savage Frog was waging war with the nimble Mouse; both of them were fiercely zealous for victory. The Mouse planned to defeat the brave Frog with deception, but the Frog, relying on its strength, could not be conquered. While both of them thus were raging confidently against their enemy, both thinking that nothing could harm them except for their enemy, unexpectedly a Kite showed up and swiftly carried them off and rendered them into food with its tearing beak. Not for long does criminal boldness escape punishment; with God's supervision, boldness usually suffers serious punishment. While foolish citizens with their quarrelling cause civil wars, an external enemy thus has the means which gives him the advantage.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Gallus repertor unionis: The Rooster Finding A Pearl

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 503.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

More fimeta suo cristatus ut eruit ales,
Invento cupiens se satiare cibo:
Repperit everso radiantem stercore gemmam,
Nulla tamen spes hinc utilitatis erat.
Cur ait hanc rem nos erat invenisse necesse,
Nil mihi quae prodest sit pretiosa licet.
Triticeo potiens grano quin laetior essem,
Gemma potest oculos pascere, nilque gulam.
Tollere quam nolim, quia nec decus addere novi
Huic ego, quique mihi quaeritur, usus abest.
Quae petit, in neutro sic commoda percipit alter,
Nil ut ego huic prosim, me iuvat illa nihil.
Splendorem multis fortuna benignius offert,
Sed quo sustineant non didicere modo.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Ut more suo
cristatus ales eruit fimeta
cupiens satiare se invento cibo.
Everso stercore
repperit radiantem gemmam,
tamen
hinc nulla spes utilitatis erat.
Ait: Cur necesse erat nos invenisse hanc rem,
quae nil mihi prodest, licet pretiosa sit?
Quin essem laetior
potiens triticeo grano;
gemma potest pascere oculos
et nil gulam.
Nolem tollere hanc gemmam,
quia ego non novi addere huic decus
et abest usus qui mihi quaeritur.
Alter in neutro percipit commoda quae petit:
ut ego prosim nil huic,
sic illa iuvat me nihil.
Fortuna benignius offert splendorem multis,
sed non didicere modo quo sustineant.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

More fi~meta su~o cris~tatus ut ~ eruit ~ ales,
Inven~to cupi~ens = se sati~are ci~bo:
Repperit ~ ever~so radi~antem ~ stercore ~ gemmam,
Nulla ta~men spes ~ hinc = util~itatis e~rat.
Cur ait ~ hanc rem ~ nos erat ~ inven~isse ne~cesse,
Nil mihi ~ quae pro~dest = sit preti~osa li~cet.
Tritice~o poti~ens gra~no quin ~ laetior ~ essem,
Gemma po~test ocu~los = pascere, ~ nilque gu~lam.
Tollere ~ quam no~lim, quia ~ nec decus ~ addere ~ novi
Huic ego, ~ quique mi~hi = quaeritur, ~ usus ab~est.
Quae petit, ~ in neu~tro sic ~ commoda ~ percipit ~ alter,
Nil ut e~g(o h)uic pro~sim, = me iuvat ~ illa ni~hil.
Splendo~rem mul~tis for~tuna be~nignius ~ offert,
Sed quo ~ sustine~ant = non didi~cere mo~do.

Translation:

As was its custom, the rooster (bird with a cockscomb) dug through the manure heap, wanting to satisfy himself with the food he might find. Having turned over the dung, he found a shining jewel but from it there was no hope of usefulness. The rooster said: "Why was it necessary for us to find this thing, which does me no good, even though it is valuable? In fact, I would have been happier finding a grain of wheat; a jewel can feed the eyes but does nothing for the gullet. I prefer not to even pick up this jewel because I do not know how to bestow dignity upon it, and it cannot fulfill the purpose which was what I wanted. Neither of us can find in each other the profit we were seeking: just as I would not do this jewel any good, so the jewel does not help me at all." Fortune very generously bestows golden opportunity on many, but they have not learned the way to take advantage of it.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Pavo et monedula: The Peacock and The Jackdaw

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 219.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Convenere novum regem de more creandi
Aligerae numeri turba frequentis aves.
Se caput imperii faciant hae Pavo requirit,
Hoc quia se dignum munere forma probet.
Prae cunctis decorent magni se cuius honores,
De grege non avium pulchrius esse genus.
Cui reliquae volucres sua cum suffragia ferrent,
Esset ut imperii scilicet ille caput:
Si premet hoc Aquilae nos rege, Monedula dixit
Ira, feret quam tunc ales inermis opem?
Imperii princeps cum quaeritur aptus habenis,
Qui queat utiliter munus obire suum:
Non tam spectari species tunc splendida debet,
Quam virtus, animum quae generosa regat.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Aves aligerae, turba frequentis numeri,
convenere de more creandi novum regem.
Pavo requirit
hae faciant se caput imperii,
quia forma probet se dignum hoc munere.
Prae cunctis magni honores Pavonis decorent
se pulchrius non esse genus de grege avium.
Cum reliquae volucres ferrent huic sua suffragia,
scilicet ut ille esset caput imperii,
Monedula dixit: "Si ira Aquilae premet nos,
hoc Pavone rege,
tunc quam opem inermis ales feret?"
Cum princeps quaeritur aptus habenis imperii,
qui queat obire suum munus utiliter:
tunc non tam splendida species debet spectari,
quam generosa virtus, quae regat animum.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Conven~ere no~vum re~gem de ~ more cre~andi
Alige~rae nume~ri = turba fre~quentis a~ves.
Se caput ~ imperi~i faci~ant hae ~ Pavo re~quirit,
Hoc quia ~ se dig~num = munere ~ forma pro~bet.
Prae cunc~tis deco~rent mag~ni se ~ cuius ho~nores,
De grege ~ non avi~um = pulchrius ~ esse ge~nus.
Cui reli~quae volu~cres sua ~ cum suf~fragia ~ ferrent,
Esset ut ~ imperi~i = scilicet ~ ille ca~put:
Si premet ~ hoc Aqui~lae nos ~ rege, Mo~nedula ~ dixit
Ira, fe~ret quam ~ tunc = ales in~ermis o~pem?
Imperi~i prin~ceps cum ~ quaeritur ~ aptus ha~benis,
Qui queat ~ utili~ter = munus o~bire su~um:
Non tam ~ specta~ri speci~es tunc ~ splendida ~ debet,
Quam vir~tus, ani~mum = quae gene~rosa re~gat.

Translation:

The winged birds, a very numerous crowd, gathered together according to custom to determine a new King. The Peacock demanded that they make him the head of the kingdom, because his beauty showed that he was worthy of this honor. Beyond all the rest of the birds, the great reputation of the Peacock showed that there was no other species among the flock of birds more beautiful than he was. When the remaining birds were giving him their votes, so that of course he would be the head of the kingdom, the Jackdaw said: "If the rage of the Eagle oppresses us, with the Peacock as our king, then what kind of aid will this defenseless bird offer? When a leader is sought who is suitable for the reins of the kingdom, someone who would be able to profitably carry out his office, then it is not so much a beautiful appearance that should be noted, but rather noble strength of character to guide his behavior."

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Arbor. The Tree.

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: This is not a story attested in the ancient Aesopic corpus, it became popular in the early modern Aesopic literature; for a parallel English version of the fable, versions, see this fable by L'Estrange.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Ut, cui magna suos erat hortos cura colendi,
Villicus urbano gratificetur hero:
Suavia mala bonae inprimis huic arboris affert,
Haec adeo dulci grata sapore iuvant:
Arbor heri iussu sit ut haec translata sub urbem,
At non consilii profuit huius opus:
Sive vetustatem patiens exaruit arbor,
Sive alia mox est peste coacta mori.
Tunc dominum dixisse, palam esse, annosa quod aetas
Transferri stirpem non pateretur humo.
Qui nimium gaudent sapiendo, turpiter errant,
Qui quondam sapiat parcius, ille sapit.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Villicus cui erat magna cura colendi suos hortos
ut gratificetur urbano hero
affert huic inprimis suavia mala bonae arboris.
Haec adeo iuvant grata dulci sapore:
iussu heri
ut haec arbor translata sit sub urbem,
at non profuit opus huius consilii:
arbor exaruit sive patiens vetustatem,
sive mox alia peste coacta est mori.
Tunc dominum dixisse,
palam esse
quod annosa aetas non pateretur
stirpem transferri humo.
Qui nimium gaudent sapiendo, turpiter errant;
Qui quondam sapiat parcius, ille sapit.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Ut, cui ~ magna su~os erat ~ hortos ~ cura co~lendi,
Villicus ~ urba~no = gratifi~cetur he~ro:
Suavia ~ mala bo~n(ae) inpri~mis huic ~ arboris ~ affert,
Haec ade~o dul~ci = grata sa~pore iu~vant:
Arbor he~ri ius~su sit ut ~ haec trans~lata sub ~ urbem,
At non ~ consili~i = profuit ~ huius o~pus:
Sive ve~tusta~tem pati~ens ex~aruit ~ arbor,
Siv(e) ali~a mox ~ est = peste co~acta mo~ri.
Tunc domi~num dix~isse, pa~l(am) ess(e), an~nosa quod ~ aetas
Transfer~ri stir~pem = non pate~retur hu~mo.
Qui nimi~um gau~dent sapi~endo, ~ turpiter ~ errant,
Qui quon~dam sapi~at = parcius, ~ ille sa~pit.

Translation:

A farmhand, whose chief occupation was cultivating the gardens, in order to please his master in the city would bring him especially sweet apples from a good tree. These so pleased the master, welcome for their sweet taste, that at the master's order, the tree was to be transferred into the city, but the planned effort did not succeed: the tree withered, either because of its great age, or on account of some other disease, the tree was soon made to die. Then the master is supposed to have said that it was plain that the tree's great age did not allow the root to be moved to another soil. Those who rejoice in being exceedingly wise are shamefully mistaken; someone who might be wise on occasion but not to excess knows what he is doing.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Aquila et vulpes: The Eagle and The Fox

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 1.

Text:

Cum Vulpes Aquilae sociam se iungeret olim,
Usus amicitiae firmet ut huius opus:
Vicinos habeant ut nidos foedera fiunt,
Firma quod haec tali lege futura putant.
Ipsa suum celsa Iovis ales in arbore ponit,
Vicini nemoris Vulpe tenente locum.
Accidit illa domi natis ut mane relictis
Iret, et usa suum quaereret arte cibum.
Hoc cum forte die praedam non nacta fuisset,
Progenie Vulpem perfida privat avis.
Abreptamque suis hanc affert improba pullis,
Curat amicitiae nec violenta fidem.
Rem gestam rediens cognovit ut anxia Vulpes,
Hinc incredibili tacta dolore fuit.
Acriter interitu dolet indignata suorum,
Haec maerore gravi quam quoque causa movet:
Impia tam temere quod sese spreverit ales,
Nec via vindictae quod sit aperta sibi.
Norat enim celeri quam praestans illa volatu,
Et validis prae se viribus esset avis.
Quod licet, hoc sequitur, conata levare dolorem,
Arboris ad truncum stans maledicta serit.
Non iam fautricem magis, insectata sed hostem,
Ultores Dii sint flagitat ipsa sui.
At ridere minas has regia desuper ales
Sustinet, ista parum verba timenda putat.
Sed cum non longe post essent festa colonis,
Sacraque sollemni more sequenda forent.
Advolat, ut praedam flagrantibus auferat extis,
Vulpis amicitiam quae violarat avis.
Sed rapiens partem, fert cum carbone favillam,
Semina cui flaminae viva latentis erant.
Hanc ubi materiam iam pullis attulit ales,
Vis oriens venti magna repente furit.
Qui ciet, igne cremant quae mox incendia nidum,
Res Aquilae pullos illa perire facit.
Qui quia semusti nido flagrante cadebant
Desuper, his Vulpes laeta potita fuit.
In sua quos raptos dumeta fugacius aufert,
Matre vidente gulam pascat ut illa suam.
Ut sua defendant quondam vi facta tyranni,
Seque impune sequi, quae voluere, putent:
Non tamen effugiunt ultricem numinis iram,
Ut sit lenta, Deo vindice poena venit.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Cum olim Vulpes iungeret se sociam Aquilae,
ut usus firmet opus huius amicitiae,
foedera fiunt ut habeant vicinos nidos
quod tali lege putant haec futura firma.
Ipsa ales Iovis ponit suum in celsa arbore,
Vulpe tenente locum vicini nemoris.
Accidit ut illa iret mane,
domi natis relictis,
et quaereret suum cibum, usa arte.
Cum forte non nacta fuisset praedam hoc die,
perfida avis privat Vulpem progenie
et improba affert abreptam progeniem suis pullis,
et violenta non curat fidem amicitiae.
Ut Vulpes rediens anxia cognovit rem gestam,
hinc tacta fuit incredibili dolore.
Acriter indignata dolet interitu suorum;
haec causa quoque movet Vulpem maerore gravi:
quod impia ales spreverit sese tam temere,
et quod non via vindictae aperta sit sibi.
Norat enim quam illa praestans est celeri volatu,
et avis esset prae se validis viribus.
Sequitur hoc, quod licet:
conata levare dolorem,
stans ad truncum arboris
serit maledicta;
iam insectata non fautricem sed magis hostem,
ipsa flagitat Dii sint sui ultores.
At regia ales sustinet ridere minas has desuper;
putat ista verba parum timenda.
Sed non longe post
cum essent festa colonis,
et sacra sequenda forent sollemni more,
avis, quae violarat amicitiam Vulpis, advolat,
ut auferat praedam flagrantibus extis.
Sed rapiens partem, fert favillam cum carbone,
cui semina viva flaminae latentis erant.
Ubi iam ales attulit hanc materiam pullis,
magna vis venti oriens repente furit.
Ventus ciet incendia, quae mox cremant nidum igne;
res illa perire facit pullos Aquilae.
Quia pulli semusti cadebant desuper,
nido flagrante,
Vulpes, his potita, laeta fuit;
fugacius aufert pullos raptos in sua dumeta
ut illa pascat suam gulam,
matre vidente.
Ut quondam tyranni defendant sua facta vi,
et putent se impune sequi haec, quae voluere,
tamen non effugiunt ultricem iram numinis;
ut sit lenta, poena venit, Deo vindice.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Cum Vul~pes Aqui~lae soci~am se ~ iungeret ~ olim,
Usus a~miciti~ae = firmet ut ~ huius o~pus:
Vici~nos habe~ant ut ~ nidos ~ foedera ~ fiunt,
Firma quod ~ haec ta~li = lege fu~tura pu~tant.
Ipsa su~um cel~sa Iovis ~ ales in ~ arbore ~ ponit,
Vici~ni nemo~ris = Vulpe te~nente lo~cum.
Accidit ~ illa do~mi na~tis ut ~ mane re~lictis
Iret, et ~ usa su~um = quaereret ~ arte ci~bum.
Hoc cum ~ forte di~e prae~dam non ~ nacta fu~isset,
Progeni~e Vul~pem = perfida ~ privat a~vis.
Abrep~tamque su~is hanc ~ affert ~ improba ~ pullis,
Curat a~miciti~ae = nec vio~lenta fi~dem.
Rem ges~tam redi~ens cog~novit ut ~ anxia ~ Vulpes,
Hinc in~credibi~li = tacta do~lore fu~it.
Acriter ~ interi~tu dolet ~ indig~nata su~orum,
Haec mae~rore gra~vi = quam quoque ~ causa mo~vet:
Impia ~ tam teme~re quod ~ sese ~ spreverit ~ ales,
Nec via ~ vindic~tae = quod sit a~perta si~bi.
Norat e~nim cele~ri quam ~ praestans ~ illa vo~latu,
Et vali~dis prae ~ se = viribus ~ esset a~vis.
Quod licet, ~ hoc sequi~tur, co~nata le~vare do~lorem,
Arboris ~ ad trun~cum = stans male~dicta se~rit.
Non iam ~ fautri~cem magis, ~ insec~tata sed ~ hostem,
Ulto~res Dii ~ sint = flagitat ~ ipsa su~i.
At ri~dere mi~nas has ~ regia ~ desuper ~ ales
Sustinet, ~ ista pa~rum = verba ti~menda pu~tat.
Sed cum ~ non lon~ge post ~ essent ~ festa co~lonis,
Sacraque ~ sollem~ni = more se~quenda fo~rent.
Advolat, ~ ut prae~dam fla~grantibus ~ auferat ~ extis,
Vulpis a~miciti~am = quae vio~larat a~vis.
Sed rapi~ens par~tem, fert ~ cum car~bone fa~villam,
Semina ~ cui flami~nae = viva la~tentis e~rant.
Hanc ubi ~ materi~am iam ~ pullis ~ attulit ~ ales,
Vis ori~ens ven~ti = magna re~pente fu~rit.
Qui ciet, ~ igne cre~mant quae ~ mox in~cendia ~ nidum,
Res Aqui~lae pul~los = illa pe~rire fa~cit.
Qui quia ~ semus~ti ni~do fla~grante ca~debant
Desuper, ~ his Vul~pes = laeta po~tita fu~it.
In sua ~ quos rap~tos du~meta fu~gacius ~ aufert,
Matre vi~dente gu~lam = pascat ut ~ illa su~am.
Ut sua ~ defen~dant quon~dam vi ~ facta ty~ranni,
Seq(ue) im~pune se~qui, = quae volu~ere, pu~tent:
Non tamen ~ effugi~unt ul~tricem ~ numinis ~ iram,
Ut sit ~ lenta, De~o = vindice ~ poena ve~nit.

Translation:

Once upon a time, when the Fox had joined herself as an ally to the Eagle, in order that their behavior might confirm their friendship, an agreement was made to have their homes next to each other because by this rule they thought their friendship would be strong. The Eagle, Jupiter's own bird, put her home in a high tree, with the Fox taking her place in a neighboring grove. It happened that she went out one morning, leaving her children at home, in order to look for food, practicing her skill. When by chance she did not find any spoils that day, the treacherous bird deprived the Fox of her offspring and wickedly offered the stolen babies to her own chicks, violently disregarding her pledge of friendship. As the Fox came home, anxious, and learned what had happened, as a result she was stricken by incredible pain. Bitterly upset she grieved over the loss of her children, plus this reason moved the Fox with great pain: the fact that the evil bird had scorned her so heedlessly and because there was no means of revenge open to her, for she knew that the eagle was more swift in flight and that the bird had greater powers than she did. The Fox did what was possible: trying to lighten her pain, she stood at the tree trunk and poured curses on the Eagle, now following her not as a friend but more as an enemy, she begged the Gods to be her avengers. But the royal bird kept on laughing from on high at these threats; she thought that the words were not to be feared much at all. But not long afterwards, when there was a festival among the villagers and sacrificial offerings were to be made according to solemn custom, the bird who had betrayed the Fox's friendship flew there in order to take some of the spoils from the flaming entrails. But when she grabbed a portion, she also got some hot ashes together with the coals, and in the hot ashes there were the living seeds of a flame hiding inside. When the bird then brought this stuff to her chicks, a great blast of wind rose up all of a sudden and raged; the wind stirred up fires which quickly incinerated the nest with fire, causing the death of the Eagle's chicks. Because the chicks, half-burned, were falling from above as the nest burned, the Fox grabbed them and was happy; very quickly she carried off the stolen chicks into the thornbushes in order to stuff her throat, while their mother was watching. Although tyrants at one time might defend their acts of violence and think that they are able to do what they want with impunity, nevertheless they cannot escape the avenging wrath of heaven; although it may be slow, punishment does come, when God is the avenger.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]


Illustration:

Although there is an illustration in the 1575 edition of Osius's poems, the image does not fit this story at all, so I've provided here an illustration for the fable from a 1501 edition of Aesop. In this version of the story, the eagle does not bring the fire back from a sacrifice; instead, the fox herself decides to set the tree on fire!

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Milvus et columbae: The Kite and The Doves

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 486.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Accipitrem Milvi iunxere timore Columbae
Praesidii saevam spe potioris avem.
Qui simul est admissus, in has saevire videri
Iure volens, fidas esse negabat aves.
Inque columbari strages hinc edita maior,
Quam Milui poterat vi foris ulla dari.
Parce tuam, qui sunt crudeles credere vitam,
Praesidia ex illis esse cruenta solent.


Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Milvi timore
Columbae iunxere Accipitrem
saevam avem
spe praesidii potioris .
Accipiter,
simul admissus est,
volens videri iure
saevire in has,
negabat
aves esse fidas.
Et hinc
strages edita est in columbari,
maior
quam
ulla strages poterat dari foris
vi Milvi.
Parce credere vitam tuam illis
qui sunt crudeles;
praesidia ex illis
solent esse cruenta.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Accipi~trem Mil~vi iun~xere ti~more Co~lumbae
Praesidi~i sae~vam = spe poti~oris a~vem.
Qui simul ~ est ad~missus, in ~ has sae~vire vi~deri
Iure vo~lens, fi~das = esse ne~gabat a~ves.
Inque co~lumba~ri stra~ges hinc ~ edita ~ maior,
Quam Mil~vi pote~rat = vi foris ~ ulla da~ri.
Parce tu~am, qui ~ sunt cru~deles ~ credere ~ vitam,
Praesidi~(a) ex il~lis = esse cru~enta so~lent.

Translation:

Because of their fear of the Kite (bird), the Doves made the Hawk, a fierce bird, their ally, in hope of having a stronger defense. The Hawk, as soon as he was let into (the dovecote), wanted to appear to have the right to attack the Doves, so he claimed the Doves were dishonest. And thus there erupted a slaughter in the dovecote, greater than any slaughter that could have happened outdoors from an attack of the Kite. Do not trust your life to those who are cruel; defenses from those who are cruel are usually blood-stained.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, change the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Leo et rana: The Lion and The Frog

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 141.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Sustinet ingentes toto quos edere rictu
Rana, sonos pavitans hausit ut aure Leo:
Perculsum perhibent clamoribus acriter illis,
Edere quos magnam credidit ipse feram.
Mox animo redeunte tamen circumspicit audax,
Inque hostem posito se parat ille metu.
At de vicino repentem flumine Ranam
Observans, temere se stupuisse videt.
Concipit hinc iram pariter, pariterque pudorem,
Iamque domans Ranam calce premente necat.
Quolibet est strepitu res digna pudore moneri,
Explorat a parum turpe timere viro.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Rana toto rictu sustinet edere sonos ingentes
quos ut Leo aure hausit pavitans.
Perhibent Leonem acriter perculsum esse illis clamoribus
quos ipse credidit magnam feram edere.
Mox tamen, animo redeunte,
audax circumspicit
et, metu posito,
ille parat se in hostem.
At observans Ranam repentem de vicino flumine
videt se stupuisse temere.
Hinc concipit iram pariter et pariter pudorem,
et iam domans calce premente necat Ranam.
Res est digna pudore moveri quolibet strepitu;
viro turpe est timere parum explorata.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Sustinet ~ ingen~tes to~to quos ~ edere ~ rictu
Rana, so~nos pavi~tans = hausit ut ~ aure Le~o:
Percul~sum perhi~bent cla~moribus ~ acriter ~ illis,
Edere ~ quos mag~nam = credidit ~ ipse fe~ram.
Mox ani~mo rede~unte ta~men cir~cumspicit ~ audax,
Inqu(e h)os~tem posi~to = se parat ~ ille me~tu.
At de ~ vici~no re~pentem ~ flumine ~ Ranam
Obser~vans, teme~re = se stupu~isse vi~det.
Concipit ~ hinc i~ram pari~ter, pari~terque pu~dorem,
Iamque do~mans Ra~nam = calce pre~mente ne~cat.
Quolibet ~ est strepi~tu res ~ digna pu~dore mo~neri,
Explorat ~ a pa~rum = turpe ti~mere vi~ro.

Translation:

A Frog, with his mouth wide open, kept on uttering loud noises which the Lion feared as they reached his ear. They say the Lion was sharply struck by these rumbles, which he believed were being produced by a huge beast. But quickly his courage returned and he boldly looked around, putting aside his fear, and readied him to face the foe. But seeing a Frog slithering out of the nearby stream, the Lion saw that he had amazed for no good reason. Thus he felt equal parts anger and shame and now lowering his paw he subdues and kills the Frog. It is a shameful thing to be affected by any sort of noise; for a brave person it is disgraceful to be afraid of things that have not been fully explored.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view. This is another one of those cases where it looks like the artist was not 100% clear about which story he was supposed to be illustrating, as this picture is clearly an illustration of the fable of the lion's share, with no sign of a frog!

Because this fable is attested only in the Greek tradition prior to the Renaissance, I cannot supply an image from the 1501 edition of Aesop's fables as I've usually done when the Osius illustration doesn't match the fable. So, in order to give you a picture of a frog and a lion, here is a puppet theater with frog and lion puppets!

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De cornice superbiente: About The Boastful Crow

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 472.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

De grege collectas avium Cornicula pennas,
Quondam aptare suis futilis audet avis.
Ob varios est quae iam facta superba colores,
Et prae se volucrum sprevit inepta genus.
Sed quia forte suam pennam cognovit hirundo,
Advolat, et fastus alitis osa rapit.
Quo facto reliquae pariter non demere cessant
Quisque suam (faciant ira lacessit) aves.
Sic ubi furtivis nudata coloribus esset,
Turpia ridiculam damna sequuntur avem.
Commendicatam speciem cito damna sequuntur,
Non nativa brevi tempore forma perit.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Quondam Cornicula, futilis avis,
audet aptare
pennas collectas de grege avium
suis pennis.
Cornicula iam facta est
superba ob varios colores
et inepta sprevit prae se genus volucrum.
Sed quia forte Hirundo cognovit suam pennam,
osa advolat et rapit fastus alitis.
Hoc facto
reliquae aves pariter non cessant demere,
quisque suam pennam (ira lacessit ut faciant).
Sic ubi Cornicula nudata esset furtivis coloribus,
turpia damna sequuntur ridiculam avem.
Damna cito sequuntur commendicatam speciem;
non nativa forma perit brevi tempore.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

De grege ~ collec~tas avi~um Cor~nicula ~ pennas,
Quond(am) ap~tare su~is = futilis ~ audet a~vis.
Ob vari~os est ~ quae iam ~ facta su~perba co~lores,
Et prae ~ se volu~crum = sprevit in~epta ge~nus.
Sed quia ~ forte su~am pen~nam cog~novit hi~rundo,
Advolat, ~ et fas~tus = alitis osa rapit.
Quo fac~to reli~quae pari~ter non ~ demere ~ cessant
Quisque suam (faciant = ira la~cessit) a~ves.
Sic ubi ~ furti~vis nu~data co~loribus ~ esset,
Turpia ~ ridicu~lam = damna se~quuntur a~vem.
Commen~dica~tam speci~em cito ~ damna se~quuntur,
Non na~tiva bre~vi = tempore ~ forma per~it.

Translation:

Once upon a time, a Crow, a useless bird, dared to fit feathers gathered from the flock of birds to her own feathers. The Crow now became proud of her various colors and stupidly scorned the race of birds as beneath her. But because by chance the Swallow recognized her own feather, she flew up, full of hate, and snatched away that bird's source of pride. After the Swallow did this, the other birds likewise did not hesitate, each one taking their own feather (anger provoked them to do this). Thus when the Crow had been stripped of her stolen colors, shameful attacks pursued that ridiculous bird. Attacks quickly pursue an appropriated appearance; beauty that is not inborn perishes in a brief time.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, change the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

This is another case where it seems that the artist was not entirely sure about his subject; this illustration looks better suited to the story of the owl persecuted by the other birds, rather than the story of the crow in borrowed feathers. This 1501 edition of Aesop's fables has a picture that fits the fable much more closely:

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Auceps et anguis: The Birdcatcher and The Snake

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 115.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Cum visco calamisque suis quidam exiit Auceps
In nemus, incautas fallere doctus aves.
Aeria qui forte notans super arbore turdum,
Aucupii solito more parabat opus.
Sed dum construeret calamos, viscumque tenacem
Allineret propere, dumque notaret avem.
Calce premens Anguem, qui forte latebat in herbis,
Exitium diro vulnere triste tulit.
Qui moriens, alii fraudem dum molior, inquit,
Flebilis incautum causa perire facit.
Insidiis alios qui non vexare verentur,
Hi sibi plus aliis saepe nocere solent.
Esse mali quem non auctorem depudet olim
Consilii, fraus huic propria saepe nocet.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Auceps quidam exiit in nemus,
doctus fallere incautas aves
cum visco et calamis suis.
Forte notans turdum super aeria arbore,
parabat opus aucupii solito more.
Sed dum construeret calamos
et propere allineret viscum tenacem,
et dum notaret avem,
premens calce Anguem, qui forte latebat in herbis,
tulit triste exitium diro vulnere.
Auceps moriens inquit,
"Dum molior fraudem alii,
flebilis causa facit incautum perire."
Qui non verentur vexare alios insidiis
hi saepe solent nocere sibi plus aliis.
Quem non depudet olim esse auctorem mali sonsilii
huic fraus propria saepe nocet.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Cum vis~co cala~misque su~is quid(am) ~ exiit ~ Auceps
In nemus, ~ incau~tas = fallere ~ doctus a~ves.
Aeria ~ qui for~te no~tans super ~ arbore ~ turdum,
Aucupi~i soli~to = more pa~rabat o~pus.
Sed dum ~ construe~ret cala~mos, vis~cumque te~nacem
Alline~ret prope~re, = dumque no~taret a~vem.
Calce pre~mens An~guem, qui ~ forte la~tebat in ~ herbis,
Exiti~um di~ro = vulnere ~ triste tu~lit.
Qui mori~ens, ali~i frau~dem dum ~ molior, ~ inquit,
Flebilis ~ incau~tum = causa pe~rire fa~cit.
Insidi~is ali~os qui ~ non vex~are ve~rentur,
Hi sibi ~ plus ali~is = saepe no~cere so~lent.
Esse ma~li quem ~ non auc~torem ~ depudet ~ olim
Consili~i, fraus ~ huic = propria ~ saepe no~cet.

Translation:

A certain Birdcatcher went out into the woods, skilled at tricking careless birds with his bird-lime and his snares. By chance he noticed a thrush up in a lofty tree and he prepared his bird-catcher's work the usual way. But while he was arranging the snare and hurriedly smearing on the sticky bird-lime, as he watched the bird, he pressed his heel down on a Snake who by chance was hiding in the grass, and he suffered a grievous death because of a terrible wound. As he was dying, the Birdcatcher said, "While plotting a trick for someone else, a lamentable business has caused me to perish carelessly." Those who do not hesitate to torment others with ambushes are often accustomed to hurt themselves more than others. The person who is not ashamed to sometime carry out a wicked plan, that man is often harmed by his own deception.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Asinus et catulus: The Donkey and The Puppy

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 91.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Esse videbat herum Catulo delirus amicum,
Qui stolidi pecoris crimen Asellus habet;
Saepius huic recipi gremio cum cerneret illum,
Sperat idem stulte posse licere sibi.
Assultaret hero persuasit inepta cupido,
Iamque ad blanditias ingeniosus erat.
Sed movet usus herum perverso more placendi,
Corrigat ut stultum fustibus huius opus.
Quod natura negat, non affectare labores,
Non hanc ex facili dissimulare licet.
Persequere officio, non hoc qui ferre recusent,
Invitis operam parce probare tuam.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Asellus delirus,
qui habet crimen stolidi pecoris,
videbat
herum esse amicum Catulo;
cum cerneret
catulum recipi saepius huic gremio,
sperat stulte
posse licere sibi idem.
Inepta cupido persuasit
ut assultaret hero,
et iam ingeniosus erat ad blanditias.
Sed perverso more placendi herum
usus movet
ut corrigat fustibus
huius stultum opus.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Esse vi~debat he~rum Catu~lo de~lirus a~micum,
Qui stoli~di peco~ris = crimen A~sellus ha~bet;
Saepius ~ huic reci~pi gremi~o cum cer~neret ~ illum,
Sperat i~dem stul~te = posse li~cere si~bi.
Assul~taret he~ro per~suasit in~epta cu~pido,
Iamqu(e) ad ~ blanditi~as = ingeni~osus e~rat.
Sed movet ~ usus he~rum per~verso ~ more pla~cendi,
Corrigat ~ ut stul~tum = fustibus ~ huius o~pus.

Translation:

An insane donkey, who was guilty of being a dim-witted farm animal, saw that his master was friendly to a puppy-dog; when he saw that the dog was often welcomed into his master's lap, he stupidly hoped that he could be permitted the same thing. Inappropriate desire persuaded him to jump up on his master, and he was now being very creative in his affections. But with this weird way of trying to make his master happy, the donkey's behavior provoked his master to correct his foolish effort by having him beaten with clubs.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, change the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view. You will see that the book has been slightly damaged, with some spotting on the page:

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Hirundo et aviculae: The Swallow and The Little Birds.

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 39.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Est sata cum quondam lini seges, huius Hirundo
Semen ut eruerent cauta monebat aves.
Quod foret inde nocens generi ventura volucrum
Herba, nisi mox hoc erueretur humo.
Sed quia verba fidem stolidis non illa merentur,
Quae nihil inde mali posse venire putant.
Rursus ut enatam tenere iam consulit herbam
Evellant, monitu proficiente nihil,
E silvis igitur stultas exosa volucres,
Ad coetus hominum provida migrat avis.
At de maturo fierent cum retia lino,
Pennigerum mox est poena secuta genus.
Stultitiam sero cui correxere dolores,
Se quia nunc frustra desipuisse videt.
Consilio parere bono qui respuit olim,
Hoc mala neglecto tristia ferre solet.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Cum quondam seges lini sata est,
cauta Hirundo monebat aves
ut eruerent semen lini,
quod inde herba foret ventura
nocens generi volucrum,
nisi mox hoc erueretur humo.
Sed quia illa verba non merentur fidem stolidis,
quae putant
nihil mali inde posse venire,
rursus consulit
ut evellant iam tenere enatam herbam.
Monitu proficiente nihil,
provida avis
exosa stultas volucres
igitur migrat e silvis
ad coetus hominum.
At cum retia fierent de maturo lino,
mox poena secuta est pennigerum genus.
Sero eius dolores correxere stultitiam
quia nunc videt
se frustra desipuisse.
Qui olim respuit parere bono consilio,
hoc neglecto
solet ferre mala tristia.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Est sata ~ cum quon~dam li~ni seges, ~ huius Hi~rundo
Semen ut ~ erue~rent = cauta mo~nebat a~ves.
Quod foret ~ inde no~cens gene~ri ven~tura vo~lucrum
Herba, ni~si mox ~ hoc = eruer~etur hu~mo.
Sed quia ~ verba fi~dem stoli~dis non ~ illa me~rentur,
Quae nihil ~ inde ma~li = posse ve~nire pu~tant.
Rursus ut ~ ena~tam tene~re iam ~ consulit ~ herbam
Evel~lant, moni~tu = profici~ente ni~hil,
E sil~vis igi~tur stul~tas ex~osa vo~lucres,
Ad coe~tus homi~num = provida ~ migrat a~vis.
At de ~ matu~ro fie~rent cum ~ retia ~ lino,
Pennige~rum mox ~ est = poena se~cuta ge~nus.
Stultiti~am se~ro cui ~ correx~ere do~lores,
Se quia ~ nunc frus~tra = desipu~isse vi~det.
Consili~o pa~rere bo~no qui ~ respuit ~ olim,
Hoc mala ~ neglec~to = tristia ~ ferre so~let.

Translation:

When once upon a time a crop of flax had been planted, the cautious Swallow urged the birds to tear up the flax seed, because from it a plant was going to come that would be harmful to the species of birds, unless it was immediately torn up out of the ground. But because the Swallow's words did not earn the belief of the dim-witted birds, who thought that nothing bad would come of it, again the Swallow urged the birds to pluck out the now nearly-sprouted plant. Because this warning accomplished nothing, the insightful Swallow, hating the foolish birds, therefore departed from the woods to live together with human beings. And when the bird-nets were made from the grown flax, punishment immediately pursued the wing-bearing species. Too late their sufferings corrected their foolish understanding, because now they saw that they had acted foolishly to their disadvantage. Someone who on some occasion refuses to obey good advice usually suffers evil misfortune on account of having neglected that advice.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, change the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

This image makes me suspect that the illustrator did not know Latin well enough to read the stories. he has shown some dangerous predatory birds attacking some smaller birds, which is not what this fable is about. If we look at an illustrated Aesop's fables published in 1501, you can see that the art is much more primitive, but the illustration does a much better job of matching the fable, showing the seeds being planted, and one bird warning the other birds.

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Rana crepans: The Exploding Frog

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 376.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Exaequare Bovem, quem corpore vidit opimo,
Rana volens tali rem ratione gerit:
Incipit in rugas contractam tendere pellem
Illa suam, tauro par ita, dixit, ero.
Sic inflaret ubi iam sese, quaerit an aequet
Paene Bovem, soboles, fallere mater, ait.
Nondum aequata tibi Tauri quia maxima moles,
A qua te multum res sat abesse probat.
Rana tenax coepti tunc se vehementius inflat,
Iamque Bovem num sit paene secuta, rogat.
Unus ibi, quamvis mea te matercula rumpas,
Non tamen hunc aeques corpore, pullus ait.
Qui magis, ac valeant, excellere forte laborent.
Stulta sequi Ranae facta crepantis amant.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Rana vidit Bovem corpore opimo;
volens exaequare Bovem
gerit rem tali ratione:
illa incipit tendere suam pellem contractam in rugas;
dixit: "Ita ero par Tauro."
Ubi sic iam inflaret sese,
quaerit an paene aequet Bovem;
soboles ait: "Mater, fallere.
Nondum tibi maxima moles Tauri aequata est,
quia res sat probat
te multum abesse ab hac.
Rana tenax coepti
tunc inflat se vehementius,
et rogat num iam paene secuta sit Bovem.
Ibi unus pullus ait:
"Matercula mea, quamvis rumpas te,
non tamen aeques hunc Taurum corpore."
Qui laborent excellere forte magis ac valeant
amant sequi stulta facta crepantis Ranae.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Exae~quare Bo~vem, quem ~ corpore ~ vidit o~pimo,
Rana vo~lens ta~li = rem rati~one ge~rit:
Incipit ~ in ru~gas con~tractam ~ tendere ~ pellem
Illa su~am, tau~ro = par ita, ~ dixit, e~ro.
Sic in~flaret u~bi iam ~ sese, ~ quaerit an ~ aequet
Paene Bo~vem, sobo~les, = fallere ~ mater, a~it.
Nond(um) ae~quata ti~bi Tau~ri quia ~ maxima ~ moles,
A qua ~ te mul~tum = res sat ab~esse pro~bat.
Rana te~nax coep~ti tunc ~ se vehe~mentius ~ inflat,
Iamque Bo~vem num ~ sit = paene se~cuta, ro~gat.
Unus i~bi, quam~vis mea ~ te ma~tercula ~ rumpas,
Non tamen ~ hunc ae~ques = corpore, ~ pullus a~it.
Qui magis, ~ ac vale~ant, ex~cellere ~ forte la~borent.
Stulta se~qui Ra~nae = facta cre~pantis a~mant.

Translation:

A Frog saw an Ox, with his corpulent physique. Wanting to equal the Ox, she did it using this strategy: she started to exend her wrinkled-up skin. "This way," she said, "I'll be equal to the Bull." When she thus had started to puff herself up, she asked whether she was almost equal to the Ox; her child said: "Mother, you are mistaken. You haven't equalled the huge bulk of the Bull yet; the fact is that the situation shows quite clearly that you are far from it." The Frog, sticking to what she started, then puffed herself up even more, and asked if she now had almost caught up with the Ox. Then one baby said: "Mommy, even if you were to burst yourself open, you still would not equal that Bull's body." Those who would struggle to exceed by force beyond their abilities love to follow the foolish actions of the exploding Frog.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, change the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Canis in praesepi: The Dog in The Manger

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 702.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Allatrante Boves Cane, quem praesepe tenebat,
Pellere quos frendens dentibus ille parat.
Ad data cum non hos admittere pabula vellet,
Invidiae tantum cur alis, unus ait?
Cur, quibus ipse frui nequeas, licet improbe velles,
Non sinis impastos nos saturare cibis?
Est haec invidiae natura, nocere laborat,
Utilitas illi nulla sit inde licet.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Cane, quem praesepe tenebat, allatrante Boves,
quos ille parat pellere, frendens dentibus.
Cum non vellet admittere hos ad data pabula,
unus ait: "Cur alis tantum invidiae?
Cur non sinis nos impastos saturare cibis
quibus ipse nequeas frui, licet improbe velles?
Est haec natura invidiae: laborat nocere,
licet inde illi nulla utilitas sit.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Alla~trante Bo~ves Cane, ~ quem prae~sepe te~nebat,
Pellere ~ quos fren~dens = dentibus ~ ille pa~rat.
Ad data ~ cum non ~ hos ad~mittere ~ pabula ~ vellet,
Invidi~ae tan~tum = cur alis, ~ unus a~it?
Cur, quibus ~ ipse fru~i neque~as, licet ~ improbe ~ velles,
Non sinis ~ impas~tos = nos satu~rare ci~bis?
Est haec ~ invidi~ae na~tura, no~cere la~borat,
Utili~tas il~li = nulla sit ~ inde li~cet.

Translation:

There was a dog inside the manger who was barking at the Oxen and preparing to drive them out, snarling with his teeth. When he did not want to let them into the food that was given to them, one of the Oxen said: "Why do you nourish so much envy? Why do you not allow us, unfed, to feast on the food which you yourself cannot enjoy, even though you might wickedly want to?" This is the nature of envy: it endeavors to do harm, even when there is no profit for it as a result.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Agricola et filii: The Farmer and His Sons

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 42.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Languentem senio cum mors vicina maneret
Agricolam, soboles cui numerosa fuit:
Et vexare frequens hanc mutua rixa soleret,
Ipse modo tali conciliare parat:
Vimine connexas in fascem frangere virgas
Praecipit, at vis has frangere nulla potest.
Ille datam cuivis unam tum frangere virgam
Iussit, at haec nullo fracta labore fuit.
Firma docens hoc quam res sit concordia facto,
Distractosque iuvent robora parva viros.
Praebet ut humanis vires concordia rebus,
Sic horum discors robore vita caret.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Cum mors vicina maneret
Agricolam languentem senio,
cui numerosa soboles fuit,
et mutua rixa frequens
soleret vexare hanc sobolem,
ipse parat conciliare modo tali:
praecipit frangere
virgas connexas vimine in fascem
at vis nulla potest frangere has.
Ille tum iussit frangere unam virgam
datam cuivis,
at haec fracta fuit nullo labore.
Hoc facto docens quam firma res sit concordia,
et robora parva iuvent distractos viros.
Ut concordia praebet vires humanis rebus,
sic discors vita horum caret robore.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Languen~tem seni~o cum ~ mors vi~cina ma~neret
Agrico~lam, sobo~les = cui nume~rosa fu~it:
Et vex~are fre~quens hanc ~ mutua ~ rixa so~leret,
Ipse mo~do ta~li = concili~are pa~rat:
Vimine ~ connex~as in ~ fascem ~ frangere ~ virgas
Praecipit, ~ at vis ~ has = frangere ~ nulla po~test.
Ille da~tam cui~vis u~nam tum ~ frangere ~ virgam
Iussit, at ~ haec nul~lo = fracta la~bore fu~it.
Firma do~cens hoc ~ quam res ~ sit con~cordia ~ facto,
Distrac~tosque iu~vent = robora ~ parva vi~ros.
Praebet ut ~ huma~nis vi~res con~cordia ~ rebus,
Sic ho~rum dis~cors = robore ~ vita ca~ret.

Translation:

When approaching death awaited a Farmer who was weak with old age and who had numerous offspring, and since repeated mutual quarrels regularly afflicted these children, the Farmer prepared to reconcile them in this way. He ordered them to break some sticks that had been bound together in a bundle with a willow twig, and no power was able to break the sticks. Then he ordered them to break a single stick given to any of them, and this stick could be broken with no effort at all, showing by means of this deed how strong a thing concord is, and how when men are at odds with each other, a tiny bit of strength is all it takes. Just as concord supplies potency in human affairs, so a quarrelsome life deprives people of their strength.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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De ranis et Iove: The Frogs and Juppiter

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 44.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

A Iove cum peterent communi nomine Ranae,
Ut rex flumineis praeficeretur aquis.
Ille trabem medias vastam deiecit in undas,
Quo sonitu Ranas obstupuisse ferunt.
Quid tamen acciderit speculando scire laborant,
Nilque nisi lignum futile nare vident.
In quod subsiliunt tandem, regemque salutant,
Nec sine contemptu tale sequuntur opus.
Tunc immisit aquis gaudentem Iuppiter anguem,
Hydron ab hac causa lingua Pelasga vocat.
Coepit is assidue captas quia mandere Ranas,
Stultitiae sero paenituisse potest.
Libertatis iners dulcem qui respuit usum,
Servo more pati res erit aequa iugum.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Cum Ranae communi nomine peterent a Iove,
ut rex praeficeretur flumineis aquis,
ille deiecit trabem vastam in medias undas.
Ferunt Ranas obstupuisse hoc sonitu,
speculando tamen laborant scire
quid acciderit,
et vident
nil nisi lignum futile nare.
Tandem in lignum subsiliunt
et salutant regem,
et sequuntur tale opus
non sine contemptu.
Tunc Iuppiter immisit anguem gaudentem aquis
(ab hac causa lingua Pelasga vocat Hydron).
Quia is anguis coepit
assidue mandere captas Ranas,
potest sero paenituisse stultitiae.
Res erit aequa
eum pati iugum servo more
qui iners respuit dulcem usum libertatis.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

A Iove ~ cum pete~rent com~muni ~ nomine ~ Ranae,
Ut rex ~ flumine~is = praefice~retur a~quis.
Ille tra~bem medi~as vas~tam de~iecit in ~ undas,
Quo soni~tu Ra~nas = obstupu~isse fe~runt.
Quid tamen ~ accider~it specu~lando ~ scire la~borant,
Nilque ni~si lig~num = futile ~ nare vi~dent.
In quod ~ subsili~unt tan~dem, re~gemque sa~lutant,
Nec sine ~ contemp~tu = tale se~quuntur o~pus.
Tunc im~misit a~quis gau~dentem ~ Iuppiter ~ anguem,
Hydron ab ~ hac cau~sa = lingua Pe~lasga vo~cat.
Coepit is ~ assidu~e cap~tas quia ~ mandere ~ Ranas,
Stultiti~ae se~ro = paenitu~isse po~test.
Liber~tatis in~ers dul~cem qui ~ respuit ~ usum,
Servo ~ more pa~ti = res erit ~ aequa iu~gum.

Translation:

When the Frogs collectively asked Juppiter that a king be established over the river waters, Juppiter threw down a huge log in the midst of the waves. They say the Frogs were struck dumb by the sound, but by making an inspection they tried to find out what had happened and they saw that there was nothing but a useless piece of wood swimming there. Finally they jumped up on the wood and they saluted their king, and they carried this business out not without contempt. Then Juppiter sent a snake that rejoices in water (for this reason the Greek word for this snake is "hydra"). That snake began eagerly to consume the frogs as it captured them; so it is possible to regret something foolish too late. It is fair for someone to suffer the yoke like a slave if he stupidly rejected the sweet experience of liberty.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, change the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view. We see some evidence here again that the artist was not reading the Latin text, since he has given us a bird eating the frogs, instead of the snake specified in the text of the poem. If you look at Caxton's English translation, for example, you will see that this story does involve a heron as the destroyer of the frogs.

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Securis et lignator: The Axe and The Woodsman

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 302.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Silva novae capulum dabat exorante securi
Lignatore sui causa dolenda mali.
Nam simul huic datus est oleastri stipes ad usum,
Hoc instructa suum est orsa securis opus.
Qua silvam populans caedendo strennuus instat,
Arboreum truncans gnaviter omne nemus.
Fraxinus a quercu tum sic vicina monetur,
Fortibus haec animis damna ferenda soror:
Cogimur auctores quoniam nos esse fateri,
Nolle sit haec ergo non tolerare pudor.
In sese quicumque suos armaverit hostes,
Exitii causam moverit ipse sui.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Lignatore exorante capulum novae securi,
silva dabat, causa dolenda mali sui.
Nam simul stipes oleastri datus est huic ad usum,
securis instructa orsa est hoc opus suum.
Strenuus instat
populans silvam caedendo secure,
gnaviter truncans omne nemus arboreum.
Fraxinus vicina tum sic monetur a quercu,
"Soror, haec damna ferenda fortibus animis:
quoniam cogimur fateri
nos esse auctores;
ergo non sit pudor
nolle tolerare haec."
Quicumque armaverit suos hostes in sese,
ipse moverit causam exitii sui.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Silva no~vae capu~lum dabat ~ exo~rante securi
Ligna~tore su~i = causa do~lenda ma~li.
Nam simul ~ huic datus ~ est ole~astri ~ stipes ad usum,
Hoc in~structa su~(um) est = orsa se~curis o~pus.
Qua sil~vam popu~lans cae~dendo ~ strennuus ~ instat,
Arbore~um trun~cans = gnaviter ~ omne ne~mus.
Fraxinus ~ a quer~cu tum ~ sic vi~cina mo~netur,
Fortibus ~ haec ani~mis = damna fe~renda so~ror:
Cogimur ~ aucto~res quon~iam nos ~ esse fa~teri,
Nolle sit ~ haec er~go = non tole~rare pu~dor.
In se~se qui~cumque su~os ar~maverit ~ hostes,
Exiti~i cau~sam = moverit ~ ipse su~i.

Translation:

When the woodsman begged for a handle for his new axe, the woods gave it to him, the lamentable cause of their own undoing. For as soon as the branch of the wild olive tree was given to him to use, the axe was fitted out with the handle and began to do its work. The woodsman vigorously took his stand, devastating the woods by chopping with the axe, diligently felling the entire grove of trees. The near-by ash tree was then warned by the oak as follows: "Sister, these losses must be endured bravely, because we are compelled to admit that we are the cause of it; therefore, it would not be good manners to refuse to put up with this." Whoever arms his own enemies against himself sets in motion the cause of his destruction.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]


Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Herus et canes: The Master and The Dogs

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 52.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Tempestate domi quidam cogente latebat
Rusticus, haec ergo longa quod esset hiems:
Et mactavit Oves, et quorum servit aratro
Robur, ut inde cibos comparet ille, Boves.
Illa Canes fieri cauti cum forte viderent,
Moliri celerem constituere fugam.
Posse viderentur quod non sperare salutem
Hic, ubi non essent corpora tuta Boum.
Quorum conveniens tamen usibus esset arandi,
Quo sint assidue rura colenda, labor.
Saevitiam quorum vitare domestica nescit
Turba, tuum inprimis esse cavere putes.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Tempestate cogente,
quidam Rusticus latebat domi
ergo quod haec hiems esset longa
et mactavit Oves
et mactavit Boves, quorum robur servit aratro,
ut inde ille comparet cibos.
Cum Canes cauti forte viderent illa fieri,
constituere moliri celerem fugam,
quod viderentur non posse sperare salutem hic,
ubi corpora Boum non essent tuta,
tamen Boum labor conveniens esset usibus arandi,
quo rura colenda sint assidue.
Putes esse inprimis tuum cavere
quorum saevitiam
domestica turba nescit vitare.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Tempes~tate do~mi qui~dam co~gente la~tebat
Rusticus, ~ haec er~go = longa quod ~ esset hi~ems:
Et mac~tavit O~ves, et ~ quorum ~ servit a~ratro
Robur, ut ~ inde ci~bos = comparet ~ ille, Bo~ves.
Illa Ca~nes fie~ri cau~ti cum ~ forte vi~derent,
Moli~ri cele~rem = constitu~ere fu~gam.
Posse vi~deren~tur quod ~ non spe~rare sa~lutem
Hic, ubi ~ non es~sent = corpora ~ tuta Bo~um.
Quorum ~ conveni~ens tamen ~ usibus ~ esset a~randi,
Quo sint ~ assidu~e = rura co~lenda, la~bor.
Saeviti~am quo~rum vi~tare do~mestica ~ nescit
Turba, tu~(um) inpri~mis = esse ca~vere pu~tes.

Translation:

Compelled by stormy weather, a certain Farmer stayed at home, thus because the winter was so long, he slaughtered both his Sheep and also his Oxen, whose strength served the plough, in order that he could get food from them. When the cautious Dogs happened to see that this had been done, they decided to prepare a swift escape, because they seemed unable to hope for safety in this place where the bodies of the Oxen were not safe, even though the work of the Oxen was required for the act of ploughing, which was constantly needed for cultivating the fields. You need to know that it is up to you in particular to avoid those people whose violence even their own family members cannot escape.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]


Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Asinus et equus: The Donkey and The Horse

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 357.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Corporis eximii felix est visus Asello,
Quod parce domino non aleretur Equus.
Cum viles paleas sibi vix alimenta ministret,
Qui tamen assiduo more fatiget, herus,
At cum bella novis exorta tumultibus essent,
Ad fera ab armato est proelia ductus Equus.
Post varios pugnae qui laesus ab hoste labores,
Exitio tandem flebiliore perit.
Ista videns Asinus, quam duxerat ante beatum,
Tam miserum re nunc indice sentit Equum.
Splendida saepe gravi discrimine vita laborat,
Optima sors igitur, quae mediocris, erit.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Equus corporis eximii
visus est felix Asello
quod Equus non parce domino aleretur.
Cum herus ministret Asello viles paleas,
vix alimenta,
tamen fatiget assiduo more.
At cum bella exorta essent novis tumultibus,
Equus ductus est ab armato ad fera proelia.
Post varios labores pugnae
Equus laesus ab hoste
tandem perit exitio flebiliore.
Asinus videns ista,
re indice
nunc sentit
Equum esse tam miserum
quam ante duxerat esse beatum.
Saepe splendida vita laborat gravi discrimine;
optima sors igitur erit quae mediocris.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Corporis ~ eximi~i fe~lix est ~ visus A~sello,
Quod par~ce domi~no = non ale~retur E~quus.
Cum vi~les pale~as sibi ~ vix ali~menta mi~nistret,
Qui tamen ~ assidu~o = more fa~tiget, he~rus,
At cum ~ bella no~vis ex~orta tu~multibus ~ essent,
Ad fer(a) ab ~ arma~t(o) est = proelia ~ ductus E~quus.
Post vari~os pug~nae qui ~ laesus ab ~ hoste la~bores,
Exiti~o tan~dem = flebili~ore per~it.
Ista vi~dens Asi~nus, quam ~ duxerat ~ ante be~atum,
Tam mise~rum re ~ nunc = indice ~ sentit E~quum.
Splendida ~ saepe gra~vi dis~crimine ~ vita la~borat,
Optima ~ sors igi~tur, = quae medi~ocris, e~rit.

Translation:

A horse with an exceptional physique seemed very lucky to the Donkey, because the Horse was fed abundantly by his owner, while the master gave the Donkey nasty chaff which was scarcely edible, yet he nevertheless wore the Donkey out with constant use. But when wars sprang up with new disorders, the Horse was led off by a soldier in arms to the fierce battles. After a series of exertions in the fighting, the Horse was wounded by the enemy and finally died a most lamentable death. The Donkey, seeing these things, now thought, based on the evidence, that the Horse was just as wretched as the Donkey had previously considered him lucky. Often a glamorous life suffers a serious reversal of fortune; the best lot therefore could be being average.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Simius et vulpes: The Monkey and The Fox

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 533.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

O mea da nobis Vulpecula, Simius inquit,
Particulam caudae, cui grave pendet onus.
Fac vestire sinas tali velamine nates,
Hoc, ait, accepto munere gratus ero.
Illa refert: tantam si caudam nacta fuissem,
Esset ut hanc plaustro pone necesse vehi:
Non uno tamen inde pilo vestitior ires,
Natibus incedas nudus ut usque tuis.
Grandis opum quamvis non copia desit avaris,
Inde tamen miseris ferre gravantur opem.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Simius inquit:
"O mea Vulpecula,
da nobis particulam caudae,
cui grave onus pendet.
Fac sinas vestire nates tali velamine.
Hoc munere accepto, gratus ero," ait.
Illa refert:
"Si nacta fuissem tantam caudam,
ut necesse esset hanc pone vehi plaustro,
inde tamen non uno pilo ires vestitior;
incedas nudus natibus tuis ut usque."
Quamvis grandis copia opum non desit avaris,
inde tamen gravantur ferre miseris opem.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

O mea ~ da no~bis Vul~pecula, ~ Simius ~ inquit,
Particu~lam cau~dae, = cui grave ~ pendet o~nus.
Fac ves~tire si~nas ta~li vel~amine ~ nates,
Hoc, ait, ~ accep~to = munere ~ gratus e~ro.
Illa re~fert: tan~tam si ~ caudam ~ nacta fu~issem,
Esset ut ~ hanc plaus~tro = pone ne~cesse ve~hi:
Non u~no tamen ~ inde pi~lo ves~titior ~ ires,
Natibus ~ ince~das = nudus ut ~ usque tu~is.
Grandis o~pum quam~vis non ~ copia ~ desit a~varis,
Inde ta~men mise~ris = ferre gra~vantur o~pem.

Translation:

The Monkey said: "O my dear Fox, give us a little bit of your tail, since it weighs so much. Please let me cover up my butt with such a covering. Having received this gift, I will be grateful," he said. The Fox replied: "If I were to acquire so much tail that I would have to carry it behind me with a wagon, nevertheless you wouldn't go about with so much as a single hair's more clothing: you've got to go around with a naked butt just like always." Even though greedy people have no lack of a great abundance of things, nevertheless they are hampered from giving help to the needy.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]


Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view. Once again it looks like the artist got his fables mixed up. The illustration here is actually about the story of how the fox and the wolf went to the monkey for judgment; it's not really an appropriate illustration for this fable at all.

Here's an illustration from a 1501 edition of Aesop's fables which shows the story more accurately:

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Homo et felis: The Man and The Cat

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 50.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Felis erat cuidam iuveni sua magna voluptas,
Cuius iners stulto captus amore fuit.
Hanc facit insignem Venus exorata puellam,
Ergo mox illis est celebratus hymen.
Hic mutarit an illa suo cum corpore mentem
Scire volens hac tunc utitur arte Venus:
Protinus emisso rem discere Mure laborat,
Quo commota quidem sponsa vagante fuit:
Virgineo sed forte choro quia iuncta sedebat,
Hac vice sese illam continuisse ferunt.
Tunc alium Cytheraea facit procurrere Murem,
Non memor hoc viso iam manet illa sui.
Verum oblita, recens fuerat quam nacta, figurae,
Ipsa suo Murem more secuta fuit.
Hinc animadversum naturae ponere mores
Difficile, hoc nulla scilicet arte licet.
Non licet innatas cui quam dediscere dotes,
Ingenii sequitur semina quisque sui.
Pellere naturam cupiens licet omnia tentes,
Illa diu quamvis dissimulata redit.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Felis erat cuidam iuveni
sua magna voluptas,
iners captus fuit
stulto amore Felis.
Venus exorata
facit hanc insignem puellam,
ergo mox hymen illis celebratus est.
Hic Venus volens scire
an illa mutarit mentem cum suo corpore,
tunc utitur hac arte.
Protinus laborat discere rem
emisso Mure,
quo vagante
sponsa quidem commota fuit:
sed quia forte sedebat iuncta choro virgineo
hac vice ferunt illam continuisse sese.
Tunc Cytheraea facit alium Murem procurrere,
hoc iam viso
illa non manet memor sui.
Verum oblita figurae,
quam recens nacta fuerat,
ipsa secuta fuit Murem
suo more.
Hinc animadversum est
difficile ponere mores naturae;
scilicet hoc nulla arte licet.
Non licet cuiquam dediscere innatas dotes;
quisque sequitur semina ingenii sui.
Cupiens pellere naturam, licet tentes omnia,
illa redit, quamvis diu dissimulata.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Felis e~rat cui~dam iuve~ni sua ~ magna vo~luptas,
Cuius in~ers stul~to = captus a~more fu~it.
Hanc facit ~ insig~nem Venus ~ exo~rata pu~ellam,
Ergo ~ mox il~lis = est cele~bratus hy~men.
Hic mu~tarit an ~ illa su~o cum ~ corpore ~ mentem
Scire vo~lens hac ~ tunc = utitur ~ arte Ve~nus:
Protinus ~ emis~so rem ~ discere ~ Mure la~borat,
Quo com~mota qui~dem = sponsa va~gante fu~it:
Virgine~o sed ~ forte cho~ro quia ~ iuncta se~debat,
Hac vice ~ ses(e) il~lam = continu~isse fe~runt.
Tunc ali~um Cythe~raea fa~cit pro~currere ~ Murem,
Non memor ~ hoc vi~so = iam manet ~ illa su~i.
Ver(um) ob~lita, re~cens fue~rat quam ~ nacta, fi~gurae,
Ipsa su~o Mu~rem = more se~cuta fu~it.
Hinc ani~madver~sum na~turae ~ ponere ~ mores
Diffici~l(e), hoc nul~la = scilicet ~ arte li~cet.
Non licet ~ inna~tas cui ~ quam de~discere ~ dotes,
Ingeni~i sequi~tur = semina ~ quisque su~i.
Pellere ~ natu~ram cupi~ens licet ~ omnia ~ tentes,
Illa di~u quam~vis = dissimu~lata re~dit.

Translation:

There was a certain young man who had a cat that was his great delight; that useless man was seized by a foolish love for the cat. He prayed to Venus and she made the cat into a lovely girl, and thus straightaway their wedding was celebrated. At this point Venus, wanting to know if she had changed the mind together with the body, then used a trick. She immediately endeavored to assess the situation by letting loose a Mouse, and as the mouse scurried by, the bride was indeed excited, but because by chance she was sitting next to a group of girls, this time they say she was able to contain herself. Then Venus made another Mouse run by, and when she saw this, the bride no longer remember who she was. Indeed, she forgot the human form which she had recently acquired, and chased the Mouse, as was her habit. Thus it can be noticed that it is difficult to set aside one's natural character; in fact, it's not possible to do so by any strategy. No one is able to unlearn their inborn gifts; each one follows the seeds of his own temperament. If you want to drive out nature, even though you might try everything, nature comes back, although it might have been long disguised.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]


Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Leo et vulpes: The Lion and The Fox

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 142.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading for this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Prae senio vires iam defecere Leonem,
Non poterat solito more parare cibum.
Sustentare tamen qua se queat, invenit artem,
Viribus exhaustis calliditate valet.
Ille gravem simulans morbum decumbit in antro,
Triste malum gestu signa ferentis erant.
His adducta dolis animalia cetera visunt,
Sed quae crudeli more prehensa necat.
Est absumpta fero sic bestia multa Leoni,
Robore quem fraus hoc destituente iuvat.
Tandem immane sagax Vulpecula venit ad antrum,
Protinus haec dubitans substitit ante specum.
Qua cessante Leo sit quaenam causa morandi
Quaerit, et ad sese blandus adire monet.
At Vulpes, suspecta moram vestigia causant,
Introrsum spectant illa frequenter, ait.
Qui sapit ille sibi cavet ante pericula, nec non
Signa mali fuerint obvia siqua notat.
Declinare graves sollers prudentia casus
Novit, et in magnis cautior esse malis.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Vires iam defecere Leonem,
prae senio;
non poterat parare cibum
solito more.
Invenit tamen artem
qua queat sustentare se.
Viribus exhaustis,
calliditate valet.
Ille simulans gravem morbum
decumbit in antro;
gestu signa erant
ferentis triste malum.
Cetera animalia
adducta his dolis visunt,
sed necat animalia
quae crudeli more prehensa sunt.
Sic bestia multa
absumpta est
fero Leoni;
hoc robore destituente,
fraus iuvat Leonem.
Tandem Vulpecula, immane sagax,
venit ad antrum,
protinus dubitans haec,
substitit ante specum.
Vulpecula cessante,
Leo quaerit
quae nam sit causa morandi
et blandus monet Vulpem adire ad sese.
At suspecta Vulpes ait:
"Vestigia causant moram:
illa spectant introrsum frequenter."
Ille qui sapit
sibi cavet ante pericula,
nec non notat signa mali siqua fuerint obvia.
Sollers prudentia novit declinare graves casus
et esse cautior in magnis malis.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Prae seni~o vi~res iam ~ defe~cere Le~onem,
Non pote~rat soli~to = more pa~rare ci~bum.
Susten~tare ta~men qua ~ se queat, ~ invenit ~ artem,
Viribus ~ exhaus~tis = callidi~tate va~let.
Ille gra~vem simu~lans mor~bum de~cumbit in ~ antro,
Triste ma~lum ges~tu = signa fe~rentis e~rant.
His ad~ducta do~lis ani~malia ~ cetera ~ visunt,
Sed quae ~ crude~li = more pre~hensa ne~cat.
Est ab~sumpta fe~ro sic ~ bestia ~ multa Le~oni,
Robore ~ quem fraus ~ hoc = destitu~ente iu~vat.
Tand(em) im~mane sa~gax Vul~pecula ~ venit ad ~ antrum,
Protinus ~ haec dubi~tans = substitit ~ ante spe~cum.
Qua ces~sante Le~o sit quae~nam cau~sa mo~randi
Quaerit, et ~ ad se~se = blandus a~dire mo~net.
At Vul~pes, sus~pecta mo~ram ves~tigia ~ causant,
Intror~sum spec~tant = illa fre~quenter, a~it.
Qui sapit ~ ille si~bi cavet ~ ante pe~ricula, ~ nec non
Signa ma~li fue~rint = obvia ~ siqua no~tat.
Decli~nare gra~ves sol~lers pru~dentia ~ casus
Novit, et ~ in mag~nis = cautior ~ esse ma~lis.

Translation:

Stength had now deserted the Lion, on account of his old age; he was not able to obtain food for himself the usual way - but he found a way that he could use to take care of himself. His strength was worn out, but he prevailed by craftiness. Pretending to be seriously ill, he lay down in a cave; with a gesture, he gave signs of someone suffering a grievous malady. The other animals, lured by these tricks, came to visit him, but he killed the animals which he caught in his cruel way. Thus many animals were eaten by the wild Lion; his strength had left him, but trickery help the Lion. At last the Fox, who was enormously intelligent, came to the cave, and immediately mistrustful of the situation, she stood in front of the cavern. As the Fox hesitated, the Lion asked what was the cause of her delay and sweetly he urged the Fox to approach him. But the suspicious Fox said: "The footprints are making me delay: there are more footsteps facing inwards." The person who is wise warns himself of dangers beforehand, and does not fail to see the signs of evil if they are obvious in any way. Expert foreknowledge manages to avoid serious troubles and to be especially careful great dangers.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Tubicen: The Trumpet-Player

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 370.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading of this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Saeva suo Tubicen irritans proelia cantu
Captus ab hoste, mihi parce misertus, ait.
Me quoniam cecidit nemo caedente tuorum,
Cui non arma, nisi dixeris esse tubam.
At magis hoc est te perimendi iusta cupido,
Esse rudem belli quod liquet, hostis ait.
Et tamen ad pugnas aliorum pectora cantu
Exstimulas, dignum res ea morte probat.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Tubicen, irritans saeva proelia suo cantu,
captus ab hoste, ait:
"Misertus, parce mihi,
quoniam nemo tuorum cecidit me caedente;
mihi non arma, nisi dixeris esse tubam."
At hostis ait:
"Cupido perimendi te magis est iusta
hoc quod liquet esse rudem belli
et tamen exstimulas cantu pectora aliorum ad pugnas;
res ea probat dignum morte."

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Saeva su~o Tubi~cen ir~ritans ~ proelia ~ cantu
Captus ab ~ hoste, mi~hi = parce mi~sertus, a~it.
Me quoni~am ceci~dit ne~mo cae~dente tu~orum,
Cui non ~ arma, ni~si = dixeris ~ esse tu~bam.
At magis ~ hoc est ~ te peri~mendi ~ iusta cu~pido,
Esse ru~dem bel~li = quod liquet, ~ hostis a~it.
Et tamen ~ ad pug~nas ali~orum ~ pectora ~ cantu
Exstimu~las, dig~num = res ea ~ morte pro~bat.

Translation:

The trumpet-player, who stirred up fierce battles with his music, was captured by the enemy and said: "Have mercy and spare me, because none of your soldiers fell, cut down by me; I have no weapons, unless you call the trumpet a weapon." But the enemy said: "The desire to kill you is all the more just on account of the fact that it is clear you are unexperienced in war yet nevertheless with your music you rouse the hearts of other men to battle; this thing shows you deserve to die."

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Vespertilio transfuga: The Turn-Coat Bat

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 566.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading of this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Cum grege pennigero bellum crudele gerebant,
Ut premerent hostes cetera bruta suos.
Gens avium fore visa suis erat hostibus impar,
Hinc Vespertilio transfuga facta fuit.
Eventum exspectans ea neutram callida partem
Iuverat, at iungi nunc fuit ausa feris.
Sed quia iam volucres Aquilae virtute triumphant,
Coepit ad illarum mox revolare gregem.
Quae nudata suis ideo ceu transfuga pennis,
A convictu avium iure repulsa fuit.
Estque ad nocturnos merito damnata volatus,
Perfidiae poenas has dare fertur avis.

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Cetera bruta gerebant bellum crudele
cum grege pennigero,
ut premerent hostes suos.
Gens avium visa erat fore
impar suis hostibus,
hinc Vespertilio facta fuit transfuga.
Ea callida
exspectans eventum
iuverat neutram partem,
at nunc ausa fuit iungi feris.
Sed quia iam volucres triumphant virtute Aquilae,
mox coepit revolare ad gregem illarum.
Ideo Vespertilio ceu transfuga
nudata suis pennis,
iure repulsa fuit a convictu avium.
Et merito damnata est ad nocturnos volatus,
fertur dare has poenas perfidiae avis.

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Cum grege ~ pennige~ro bel~lum cru~dele ge~rebant,
Ut preme~rent hos~tes = cetera ~ bruta su~os.
Gens avi~um fore ~ visa su~is erat ~ hostibus ~ impar,
Hinc Ve~spertili~o = transfuga ~ facta fu~it.
Even~t(um) exspec~tans ea ~ neutram ~ callida ~ partem
Iuverat, ~ at iun~gi = nunc fuit ~ ausa fe~ris.
Sed quia ~ iam volu~cres Aqui~lae vir~tute tri~umphant,
Coepit ad ~ illa~rum = mox revo~lare gre~gem.
Quae nu~data su~is ide~o ceu ~ transfuga ~ pennis,
A con~vict(u) avi~um = iure re~pulsa fu~it.
Estqu(e) ad ~ noctur~nos meri~to dam~nata vo~latus,
Perfidi~ae poe~nas = has dare ~ fertur a~vis.

Translation:

The rest of the animals were waging a fierce war with the winged flock in order to defeat their enemies. It seemed that the tribe of birds would not be equal to their enemies, so the Bat became a deserter. Craftily waiting on the final outcome, she had been favoring a neutral position, but now she dared to join herself to the animals. But because the birds eventually won, thanks to the Eagle's strength, the Bat immediately started to fly back to the flock of birds. Therefore the Bat was stripped of her feathers as a turncoat, and rightly she was driven away from the society of birds. And appropriately the Bat was condemned to nocturnal flight; the Bat reportedly paid the penalty of a traitorous bird.

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Fur et canis: The Thief and The Dog

Source: Hieronymus Osius (1575).

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 403.

Audio: You can listen to an audio reading of this poem at AudioLatin.com.

Text:

Fur placare Canem latrantem nocte laborat,
Quem putat oblato velle silere cibo.
Cui Canis ut nunc sim pastu satiatus herili,
Non parce soleo munere cuius ali:
Insidiose domum si te spoliante tacerem,
Unde cibum vacuo postmodo ventre petam?

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

Nocte Fur laborat placare Canem latrantem.
Putat canem velle silere oblato cibo.
Canis ei dixit:
Ut nunc sim satiatus pastu herili,
cuius munere soleo ali non parce:
Si tacerem
te spoliante domum insidiose,
unde postmodo petam cibum
vacuo ventre?

Here is the poem with meter marks (elegiac couplets):

Fur pla~care Ca~nem la~trantem ~nocte la~borat,
Quem putat ~ obla~to = velle si~lere ci~bo.
Cui Canis ~ ut nunc ~ sim pas~tu sati~atus he~rili,
Non par~ce sole~o = munere ~ cuius a~li:
Insidi~ose do~mum si ~ te spoli~ante ta~cerem,
Unde ci~bum vacu~o = postmodo ~ ventre pe~tam?

Translation:

At night, a thief was trying to placate a barking dog. He thought the dog would be willing to be silent if food was offered. The dog said to him: "The fact is that now I am satisfied by my master's feedling, by whose gift I am accustomed to be nourished to no small degree. If I were to be silent while you are robbing the house sneakily, where would I later get food when my stomach is empty?"

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration:

Here is an illustration from the 1575 edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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