Canis ad Agnum: The Dog to The Lamb

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 506.

Text:

Inter capellas agno palanti canis
"Stulte" inquit "erras; non est hic mater tua."
Ovesque segregatas ostendit procul.
"Non illam quaero quae cum libitum est concipit,
dein portat onus ignotum certis mensibus,
novissime prolapsam effundit sarcinam;
verum illam quae me nutrit admoto ubere,
fraudatque natos lacte ne desit mihi."
"Tamen illa est potior quae te peperit." "Non ita.
Beneficium sane magnum natali dedit,
ut expectarem lanium in horas singulas!
Unde illa scivit niger an albus nascerer?
Age porro, parere si voluisset feminam,
quid profecisset cum crearer masculus?
Cuius potestas nulla in gignendo fuit,
cur hac sit potior quae iacentis miserita est,
dulcemque sponte praestat benevolentiam?
Facit parentes bonitas, non necessitas."

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

Canis inquit agno
palanti inter capellas
"Stulte, erras; tua mater non est hic."
Et ostendit segregatas oves procul.
"Non quaero illam
quae concipit cum libitum est,
dein portat ignotum onus certis mensibus,
novissime effundit prolapsam sarcinam;
verum quaero illam
quae nutrit me
admoto ubere,
et fraudat natos lacte
ne desit mihi."
"Tamen illa quae peperit te
est potior."
"Non ita.
Sane dedit magnum beneficium
natali,
ut expectarem lanium in singulas horas!
Unde illa scivit
nascerer niger an albus?
Age porro, si voluisset parere feminam,
quid profecisset cum crearer masculus?
Ei fuit nulla potestas in gignendo:
cur potior sit hac
quae miserita est iacentis
et sponte praestat dulcem benevolentiam?
Bonitas facit parentes, non necessitas."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Inter ~ capel~las ag~no pa~lanti ~ canis
"Stult(e)" in~quit "er~ras; non ~ est hic ~ mater ~ tua."
Oves~que se~grega~tas os~tendit ~ procul.
"Non il~lam quae~ro quae ~ cum lib'~t(um) est con~cipit,
dein por~tat on'~s igno~tum cer~tis men~sibus,
novis~sime ~ prolap~s(am) effun~dit sar~cinam;
ver(um) il~lam quae ~ me nu~trit ad~mot(o) u~bere,
fraudat~que na~tos lac~te ne ~ desit ~ mihi."
"Tam'n il~l(a) est pot~jor quae ~ te pep'~rit." "Non ~ ita.
Ben'fic~jum sa~ne mag~num na~tali ~ dedit,
ut ex~pecta~rem lan~j(um) in ho~ras sin~gulas!
Und(e) il~la sci~vit nig'~r an al~bus nas~cerer?
Ag' por~ro, pa~rer' si ~ volvis~set fe~minam,
quid pro~fecis~set cum ~ crea~rer mas~culus?
Cuius ~ potes~tas nul~l(a) in gig~nendo ~ fuit,
cur hac ~ sit pot~jor quae ~ iacen~tis mis'~rit(a) est,
dulcem~que spon~te prae~stat ben'~volen~tiam?
Facit ~ paren~tes bon'~tas, non ~ neces~sitas."

Translation:

A dog said to a lamb who was bleating among the goats: "You fool, you are mistaken: your mother is not here." And the dog pointed out the separate flock of sheep in the distance. The lamb said: "I am not looking for the one who conceived when she felt like it, then carried her unknown burden for a certain number of months, and in the end simply let go and plopped her bundle on the ground. The fact is that I am looking for the one who offers me her udder and feeds me, and even cheats her own children of milk so that I do not lack milk." The dog said: "But the one who gave birth to you is more important." The lamb said: "Not so. As if she did some great favor with my birth, so that I have to be watching out for the butcher at any moment! How did she even know whether I would be born black or white? So tell me: if she had wanted to give birth to a girl, what good could it have done her since I'm a boy? She had no say at all in my being born: why then should she be more important than the one who took pity on me as I was lying there and freely gives me her sweet affection?" Goodness makes parents, not duress.

[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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Vulpis et Caper: Fox and Goat

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 9.

Text:

Homo in periclum simul ac venit callidus,
reperire effugium quaerit alterius malo.
Cum decidisset vulpes in puteum inscia
et altiore clauderetur margine,
devenit hircus sitiens in eundem locum.
Simul rogavit, esset an dulcis liquor
et copiosus, illa fraudem moliens:
"Descende, amice; tanta bonitas est aquae,
voluptas ut satiari non possit mea."
Immisit se barbatus. Tum vulpecula
evasit puteo, nixa celsis cornibus,
hircumque clauso liquit haerentem vado.

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

Homo callidus simul ac venit in periclum,
quaerit reperire effugium
malo alterius.
Cum vulpes inscia decidisset in puteum
et clauderetur altiore margine,
hircus sitiens devenit in eundem locum.
Simul rogavit,
an liquor esset dulcis et copiosus,
illa dixit
moliens fraudem:
"Descende, amice;
tanta est bonitas aquae,
ut mea voluptas non possit satiari."
Barbatus se immisit.
Tum vulpecula
nixa celsis cornibus
evasit puteo
et liquit hircum haerentem clauso vado.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Hom(o) in ~ peri~clum sim'l ~ ac ve~nit cal~lidus,
rep'ri~r(e) effug~jum quae~rit al~terjus ~ malo.
Cum de~cidis~set vul~pes in ~ pute(um) in~scia
et al~tio~re clau~dere~tur mar~gine,
deve~nit hir~cus sit~jens in ~ eundem ~ locum.
Simul ~ roga~vit, es~set an ~ dulcis ~ liquor
et co~pio~sus, il~la frau~dem mo~liens:
"Descen~d(e), ami~ce; tan~ta bon'~tas est ~ aquae,
volup~tas ut ~ satja~ri non ~ possit ~ mea."
Immi~sit se ~ barba~tus. Tum ~ vulpe~cula
eva~sit pu~teo, ni~xa cel~sis cor~nibus,
hircum~que clau~so li~quit hae~rentem ~ vado.

Translation:

As soon as someone clever gets into trouble, he tries to find a way out at someone else's expense. A fox had unwittingly fallen down a well and found herself trapped inside its quite high walls. Meanwhile, a thirsty goat had made his way to that same place and asked the fox whether the water was fresh and plentiful. The fox laid her trap: "Come down, my friend. The water is so good that I cannot get enough of it myself!" The bearded billy-goat lowered himself into the well, whereupon that little vixen leaped up on his lofty horns and emerged from the hole, leaving the goat stuck inside the watery prison.

[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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Equus et Aper: The Horse and The Wild Boar

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 269.

Text:

Equus sedare solitus quo fuerat sitim,
dum sese aper volutat turbavit vadum.
Hinc orta lis est. Sonipes, iratus fero,
auxilium petiit hominis; quem dorso levans
rediit ad hostem laetus. Hunc telis eques
postquam interfecit, sic locutus traditur:
"Laetor tulisse auxilium me precibus tuis;
nam praedam cepi et didici quam sis utilis."
Atque ita coegit frenos invitum pati.
Tum maestus ille: "Parvae vindictam rei
dum quaero demens, servitutem repperi."
Haec iracundos admonebit fabula
inpune potius laedi quam dedi alteri.

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

Dum aper volutat sese
turbavit vadum
quo equus solitus fuerat sedare sitim.
Hinc lis orta est.
Sonipes, iratus fero,
petiit auxilium hominis;
levans hominem dorso
laetus rediit ad hostem.
Postquam interfecit hostem telis,
eques traditur locutus esse sic:
"Laetor me tulisse auxilium
precibus tuis;
nam cepi praedam
et didici
quam sis utilis."
Atque ita coegit invitum pati frenos.
Tum ille maestus:
"Dum demens
quaero vindictam parvae rei,
repperi servitutem."
Haec fabula admonebit iracundos
potius laedi inpune
quam dedi alteri.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Equus ~ seda~re sol'~tus quo ~ fverat ~ sitim,
dum se~s(e) aper ~ volu~tat tur~bavit ~ vadum.
Hinc or~ta lis ~ est. Son'~pes, i~ratus ~ fero,
auxil~jum pe~tjit hom'~nis; quem ~ dorso ~ levans
redjit ~ ad hos~tem lae~tus. Hunc ~ telis ~ eques
postqu(am) in~terfe~cit, sic ~ locu~tus tra~ditur:
"Laetor ~ tulis~s(e) auxil~jum me ~ prec'bus ~ tuis;
nam prae~dam ce~p(i) et did'~ci quam ~ sis u~tilis."
Atqu(e) i~ta coe~git fre~nos in~vitum ~ pati.
Tum maes~tus il~le: "Par~vae vin~dictam ~ rei
dum quae~ro de~mens, ser~vitu~tem rep~peri."
Haec i~racun~dos ad~mone~bit fa~bula
inpu~ne po~tjus lae~di quam ~ ded(i) al~teri.


Translation:

While a boar was wallowing, he stirred up the stream where a horse had been accustomed to alleviate his thirst. This led to a quarrel. The horse, angry at the wild boar, asked for help from a man; bearing the man on his back, he happily returned to his enemy. After he had killed the enemy with his weapons, the knight is supposed to have spoken these words: "I am glad that I could offer help as you requested, because I have caught this boar as my prize and I have learned how useful you are." And thus he compelled the unwilling horse to suffer the reins. Then the horse sadly said: "While I foolishly sought revenge for a trifle, I have ended up a slave." This fable warns angry people that it is better to be let injuries go by unpunished rather than being given over into the power of another person."

[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. Note that this is an illustration of a version of the story where the horse is angry at a stag, not a wild boar.

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Pavo ad Iunonem: The Peacock To Juno

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 509.

Text:

Pavo ad Iunonem venit, indigne ferens
cantus luscinii quod sibi non tribuerit;
illum esse cunctis auribus mirabilem,
se derideri simul ac vocem miserit.
Tunc consolandi gratia dixit dea:
"Sed forma vincis, vincis magnitudine;
nitor smaragdi collo praefulget tuo,
pictisque plumis gemmeam caudam explicas."
"Quo mi" inquit "mutam speciem si vincor sono?"
"Fatorum arbitrio partes sunt vobis datae;
tibi forma, vires aquilae, luscinio melos,
augurium corvo, laeva cornici omina;
omnesque propriis sunt contentae dotibus.
Noli adfectare quod tibi non est datum,
delusa ne spes ad querelam reccidat."

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

Pavo venit ad Iunonem,
ferens indigne
quod non tribuerit sibi cantus luscinii;
illum esse mirabilem cunctis auribus,
se derideri
simul ac miserit vocem.
Tunc dea dixit
gratia consolandi:
"Sed vincis forma, vincis magnitudine;
nitor smaragdi praefulget tuo collo,
et explicas gemmeam caudam pictis plumis."
Pavo inquit:
"Quo mi mutam speciem, si vincor sono?"
"Partes datae sunt vobis arbitrio fatorum;
forma data est tibi,
vires aquilae, melos luscinio,
augurium corvo, laeva omina cornici;
et omnes contentae sunt propriis dotibus.
Noli adfectare quod non datum est tibi,
ne delusa spes reccidat ad querelam."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Pav(o) ad ~ Iuno~nem ve~nit, in~digne ~ ferens
cantus ~ luscin~ii ~ quod sib' ~ non trib~verit;
ill(um) es~se cunc~tis au~ribus ~ mira~bilem,
se de~ride~ri sim'~l ac vo~cem mi~serit.
Tunc con~solan~di gra~tia ~ dixit ~ dea:
"Sed for~ma vin~cis, vin~cis mag~nitu~dine;
nitor ~ smarag~di col~lo prae~fulget ~ tuo,
pictis~que plu~mis gem~meam ~ caud(am) ex~plicas."
"Quo m(i)" in~quit "mu~tam spec~jem si ~ vincor ~ sono?"
"Fato~r(um) arbitr~jo par~tes sunt ~ vobis ~ datae;
tib' for~ma, vi~res aq'~lae, lus~cinjo ~ melos,
augur~jum cor~vo, lae~va cor~nic(i) o~mina;
omnes~que pro~prijs sunt ~ conten~tae do~tibus.
Nol(i) ad~fecta~re quod ~ tibi ~ non est ~ datum,
delu~sa ne ~ spes ad ~ quere~lam rec~cidat."

Translation:

The peacock came to Juno, because he could not accept with equanimity the fact that the goddess had not given him the songs of the nightingale. The peacock complained that the nightingale was marvelous to every ear, while he, the peacock, was laughed at as soon as he made a sound. In order to console the peacock, Juno said: "You are superior in beauty and superior in size; there is an emerald splendor that shines about your neck, and you unfold a bejeweled tail with your painted feathers." The peacock said: "What good does this mute beauty do me, if I am inferior in voice?" Juno said: "The lots are given to you by the decision of the fates; beauty has been given to you, strength to the eagle, singing to the nightingale, prophecy to the raven, ominous signs to the crow and they are all contented with their gifts." Do not strive for something that was not given to you, lest your disappointed expectations lapse into discontent.

[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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Aesopus Respondet Garrulo: Aesop Answers The Chatterbox

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 510.

Text:

Aesopus domino solus cum esset familia,
parare cenam iussus est maturius.
Ignem ergo quaerens aliquot lustravit domus,
tandemque invenit ubi lacernam accenderet,
tum circumeunti fuerat quod iter longius
effecit brevius: namque recta per forum
coepit redire. Et quidam e turba garrulus:
"Aesope, medio sole quid tu lumine?"
"Hominem" inquit "quaero." Et abiit festinans domum.
Hoc si molestus ille ad animum rettulit,
sensit profecto se hominem non visum seni,
intempestive qui occupato adluserit.

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

Aesopus
cum esset solus domino familia,
iussus est parare cenam maturius.
Ergo quaerens ignem
lustravit aliquot domus,
et tandem invenit
ubi accenderet lacernam,
tum quod fuerat iter longius
circumeunti,
effecit iter brevius:
namque coepit redire recta per forum.
Et quidam garrulus e turba:
"Aesope, quid tu lumine
medio sole?"
Inquit:
"Quaero hominem."
Et festinans abiit domum.
Si ille molestus rettulit hoc ad animum,
profecto sensit
se non visum seni hominem,
qui intempestive adluserit occupato.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Aeso~pus dom'~no so~lus c(um) es~set fam~lia,
para~re ce~nam ius~sus est ~ matu~rius.
Ign(em) er~go quae~rens al'~quot lus~travit ~ domus,
tandem~qu(e) inve~nit ub' ~ lacer~n(am) accen~deret,
tum cir~c(um)eun~t' fverat ~ quod i~ter lon~gius
effe~cit brev~jus: nam~que rec~ta per ~ forum
coepit ~ redi~r(e). Et qui~d(am) e tur~ba gar~rulus:
"Aeso~pe, med~jo so~le quid ~ tu lu~mine?"
"Hom'n(em)" in~quit "quae~r(o)." Et ab~ijt fes~tinans ~ domum.
Hoc si ~ moles~tus il~l(e) ad an'~mum ret~tulit,
sensit ~ profec~to s(e h)om'~nem non ~ visum ~ seni,
intem~pesti~ve qu(i) oc~cupa~t(o) adlu~serit.

Translation:

When Aesop was on his own his master's entire household, he as ordered to get dinner ready earlier than usual. Therefore, while looking for fire he went around several houses and at last he found a place where he could light his lamp. Then, because the journey had been rather long as he had taken a round-about way, Aesop made a short-cut and thus started on his way back directly through the marketplace. And there a chatterbox amidst the crowd said: "Aesop, what are you doing with a light at high noon?" Aesop said: "I'm looking for a real man." If that public nuisance had given this any thought, he would have immediately realized that as far as old Aesop was concerned, he wasn't a man at all, since he was making inept jokes with a busy person.

[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:

Since this story is also told about the philosopher Diogenes, I thought I would include an image of Diogenes here, as painted by Waterhouse:

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Arbores Deorum: The Trees of the Gods

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 508.

Text:

Olim quas vellent esse in tutela sua
divi legerunt arbores. Quercus Iovi,
at myrtus Veneri placuit, Phoebo laurea,
pinus Cybebae, populus celsa Herculi.
Minerva admirans quare steriles sumerent
interrogavit. Causam dixit Iuppiter:
"Honorem fructu ne videamur vendere."
"At mehercules narrabit quod quis voluerit,
oliva nobis propter fructum est gratior."
Tum sic deorum genitor atque hominum sator:
"O nata, merito sapiens dicere omnibus.
Nisi utile est quod facimus, stulta est gloria."
Nihil agere quod non prosit fabella admonet.

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

Olim divi legerunt arbores
quas vellent esse in sua tutela.
Quercus placuit Iovi,
at myrtus placuit Veneri,
laurea placuit Phoebo,
pinus placuit Cybebae,
celsa populus placuit Herculi.
Minerva admirans interrogavit
quare sumerent steriles.
Iuppiter dixit causam:
"Ne videamur vendere honorem fructu."
"At mehercules narrabit quis quod voluerit,
oliva est gratior nobis propter fructum."
Tum genitor deorum atque sator hominum sic:
"O nata, merito dicere sapiens omnibus.
Nisi quod facimus est utile,
gloria est stulta."
Fabella admonet agere nihil quod non prosit.


Here is the poem with meter marks:

Olim ~ quas vel~lent es~s(e) in tu~tela ~ sua
divi ~ lege~runt ar~bores. ~ Quercus ~ Iovi,
at myr~tus Ven~ri pla~cvit, Phoe~bo lau~rea,
pinus ~ Cybe~bae, po~pulus ~ cels(a H)e~rculi.
Mine~rv(a) admi~rans quare ~ steri~les su~merent
inter~roga~vit. Cau~sam dix~it Iup~piter:
"Hono~rem fruc~tu ne ~ vid'a~mur ven~dere."
"At m(eh)er~cules ~ narra~bit quod ~ quis vol~verit,
oli~va no~bis prop~ter fruc~t(um) est gra~tior."
Tum sic ~ deo~rum gen'~tor at~qu(e h)om'num ~ sator:
"O na~ta, mer'~to sap~jens di~cer(e) om~nibus.
Nis(i) u~til(e) est ~ quod fac'~mus, stul~t(a) est glo~ria."
N(ih)il ag'~re quod ~ non pro~sit fa~bell(a) ad~monet.

Translation:

Once upon a time, the gods selected the trees which they wished to be under their protection. Jupiter chose the oak tree, while Venus chose the myrtle tree, Apollo chose the laurel, and Cybebe chose the pine, while Hercules chose the lofty poplar. Minerva was surprised and asked them why they had chosen trees without fruit. Jupiter explained the reason: "We do not want to appear to bestow honor in exchange for fruit." Minerva said, "For heaven's sake, let anybody say what he wants, but the olive tree is more pleasing to me because of its fruit." Then the father of gods and begetter of mortals said, 'O my daughter, you are rightly called wise by all: unless what we do is useful, glory is foolish." The story warns us to do nothing which is not productive.

[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 image of an olive harvest.

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Formica et Musca: Fly and Ant

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 521.

Text:

Formica et musca contendebant acriter,
quae pluris esset. Musca sic coepit prior:
"Conferre nostris tu potes te laudibus?
Moror inter aras, templa perlustro deum;
ubi immolatur, exta praegusto omnia;
in capite regis sedeo cum visum est mihi,
et matronarum casta delibo oscula;
laboro nihil atque optimis rebus fruor.
Quid horum simile tibi contingit, rustica?"
"Est gloriosus sane convictus deum,
sed illi qui invitatur, non qui invisus est.
Aras frequentas? Nempe abigeris quom venis.
Reges commemoras et matronarum oscula?
Super etiam iactas tegere quod debet pudor.
Nihil laboras? Ideo, cum opus est, nihil habes.
Ego grana in hiemem cum studiose congero,
te circa murum pasci video stercore;
mori contractam cum te cogunt frigora,
me copiosa recipit incolumem domus.
aestate me lacessis; cum bruma est siles.
Satis profecto rettudi superbiam."
Fabella talis hominum discernit notas,
eorum qui se falsis ornant laudibus,
et quorum virtus exhibet solidum decus.

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

Formica et musca contendebant acriter,
quae esset pluris.
Musca sic coepit prior:
"Tu potes conferre te nostris laudibus?
Moror inter aras, perlustro templa deum;
ubi immolatur, praegusto omnia exta;
sedeo in capite regis cum visum est mihi,
et delibo casta oscula matronarum;
laboro nihil atque fruor optimis rebus.
Quid simile horum contingit tibi, rustica?"
"Sane, convictus deum est gloriosus,
sed illi qui invitatur, non illi qui invisus est.
Frequentas aras? Nempe abigeris cum venis.
Commemoras reges et oscula matronarum?
Iactas etiam super quod pudor debet tegere.
Laboras nihil? Ideo, cum opus est, habes nihil.
Ego, cum studiose congero grana in hiemem,
video te pasci stercore circa murum;
cum frigora cogunt te contractam mori,
copiosa domus recipit me incolumem.
lacessis me aestate; siles, cum bruma est.
Profecto satis rettudi superbiam."
Fabella talis discernit notas hominum,
qui eorum ornant se falsis laudibus,
et quorum virtus exhibet solidum decus.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Formi~c(a) et mus~ca con~tende~bant ac~riter,
quae plu~ris es~set. Mus~ca sic ~ coepit ~ prior:
"Confer~re nos~tris tu ~ potes ~ te lau~dibus?
Moror ~ int'r a~ras, tem~pla per~lustro ~ deum;
ub(i) im~mola~tur, ex~ta prae~gust(o) om~nia;
in cap'~te re~gis se~d'o cum ~ vis(um) est ~ mihi,
et ma~trona~rum cas~ta de~lib(o) os~cula;
labo~ro ni(h)il ~ atqu(e) op~timis ~ rebus ~ fruor.
Quid ho~rum sim'~le tib' ~ contin~git, rus~tica?"
"Est glo~rio~sus sa~ne con~victus ~ deum,
sed il~li qu(i) in~vita~tur, non ~ qu(i) invi~sus est.
Aras ~ frequen~tas? Nem~p(e) abig'~ris quom ~ venis.
Reges ~ commem'~ras et ~ matro~nar(um) os~cula?
Sup'r et~jam iac~tas teg'~re quod ~ debet ~ pudor.
Ni(h)il la~boras? ~ Ideo, ~ c(um) opus 'st, ~ nihil ~ habes.
Eg' gran~(a) in hje~mem cum ~ studjo~se con~gero,
te cir~ca mu~rum pas~ci vi~deo ster~core;
mori ~ contrac~tam cum ~ te co~gunt fri~gora,
me co~pio~sa rec'~pit inc'~lumem ~ domus.
aesta~te me ~ laces~sis; cum ~ brum(a) est ~ siles.
Satis ~ profec~to ret~tudi ~ super~biam."
Fabel~la ta~lis hom'~num dis~cernit ~ notas,
eo~rum qui ~ se fal~sis or~nant lau~dibus,
et quo~rum vir~tus ex~hibet ~ sol'dum ~ decus.

Translation:

The ant and the fly were bitterly arguing about who was more important. The fly presented her case first. 'Do you really mean to compare yourself to my exalted status? I pass my time among the altars, I wander through the temples of the gods; whenever there is a sacrifice, I am the first to taste all the entrails; I can sit on the head of the king if I want and I enjoy the forbidden kisses of the married women; I do not work and yet I reap the very best of all the spoils. What has life given you that can compare with all that I have, you country bumpkin!' The ant replied, 'It is truly a wonderful thing to dine at the gods' table, but only for someone whom the gods have invited, not for someone whom they hate. You say that you frequent their altars? Agreed, but you are driven away as soon as you arrive. As for the kings you mention and the women's kisses, you are even boasting about something that it is shameful to mention. You work at nothing? As a result you have nothing when you are in need. But when I am busily gathering a store of grain for the winter, I see you feeding on manure piled up along the walls. When the cold winds make you shrivel up and die, my well-stocked home keeps me safe. Now that it is summer you try to provoke me, but in winter you have nothing to say. There: I have said enough to blunt your pride.' This sort of fable shows how to recognize those people who extol themselves for empty deeds and those whose noble qualities are marked by solid accomplishments.

[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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De Capris Barbatis: About Goats and Their Beards

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 516.

Text:

Barbam capellae cum impetrassent ab Iove,
hirci maerentes indignari coeperunt
quod dignitatem feminae aequassent suam.
"Sinite," inquit, "illas gloria vana frui
et usurpare vestri ornatum muneris,
pares dum non sint vestrae fortitudini."
Hoc argumentum monet ut sustineas tibi
habitu esse similes qui sunt virtute impares.

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

Cum capellae impetrassent barbam ab Iove,
hirci maerentes coeperunt indignari
quod feminae aequassent suam dignitatem.
Inquit Iuppiter:
"Sinite illas frui gloria vana
et usurpare ornatum vestri muneris,
dum non sint pares vestrae fortitudini."
Hoc argumentum monet
ut sustineas
similes esse tibi habitu
qui sunt virtute impares.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Barbam ~ capel~lae c(um) im~petras~sent ab ~ Iove,
hirci ~ maeren~tes in~digna~ri coe~perunt
quod dig~nita~tem fe~min(ae) ae~quassent ~ suam.
"Sini~t(e)," inquit, ~ "illas ~ glorja ~ vana ~ frui
et u~surpa~re ves~tr(i) orna~tum mu~neris,
pares ~ dum non ~ sint ves~trae for~titu~dini."
Hoc ar~gumen~tum mon't ~ ut sus~t'neas ~ tibi
hab't(u) es~se sim'~les qui ~ sunt vir~tut(e) im~pares.

Translation:

When the she-goats persuaded Jupiter to give them beards, the male goats were extremely upset and began to complain that the women now had the same degree of dignity that they did. Jupiter said: "Let the women enjoy this vain source of pride and stake their claim to the badges of your office so long as they cannot rival you in strength!' This example advises you to put up with people who wear the same uniform as you do, even if they are not your equals in quality.

[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 image of a goat:

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Vulpis et Draco: Fox and Dragon

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 518.

Text:

Vulpes cubile fodiens dum terram eruit
agitque pluris altius cuniculos,
pervenit ad draconis speluncam ultimam,
custodiebat qui thesauros abditos.
Hunc simul aspexit: "Oro ut inprudentiae
des primum veniam; deinde si pulchre vides
quam non conveniens aurum sit vitae meae,
respondeas clementer: quem fructum capis
hoc ex labore, quodve tantum est praemium
ut careas somno et aevum in tenebris exigas?"
"Nullum" inquit ille, "verum hoc ab summo mihi
Iove adtributum est." "Ergo nec sumis tibi
nec ulli donas quidquam?" "Sic Fatis placet."
"Nolo irascaris, libere si dixero:
dis est iratis natus qui est similis tibi."

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

Vulpes
dum eruit terram, fodiens cubile,
et altius agit pluris cuniculos,
pervenit ad ultimam speluncam draconis,
qui custodiebat abditos thesauros.
Simul aspexit hunc, dixit:
"Primum, oro ut des veniam inprudentiae;
deinde, si pulchre vides quam aurum non sit conveniens vitae meae,
respondeas clementer:
quem fructum capis ex hoc labore,
quodve tantum praemium est
ut careas somno et exigas aevum in tenebris?"
"Nullum," draco inquit.
"Verum, hoc adtributum est mihi a summo Iove."
Vulpes inquit:
"Ergo non sumis quidquam tibi,
et non donas quidquam ulli?"
Draco inquit:
"Sic placet Fatis."
"Nolo irascaris, si dixero libere:
qui est similis tibi
natus est iratis dis."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Vulpes ~ cubi~le fod~jens dum ~ terr(am) e~ruit
agit~que plu~ris al~tius ~ cuni~culos,
perve~nit ad ~ draco~nis spe~lunc(am) ul~timam,
custo~die~bat qui ~ thesau~ros ab~ditos.
Hunc sim'~l aspex~it: "O~r(o) ut in~pruden~tiae
des pri~mum ven~jam; dein~de si ~ pulchre ~ vides
quam non ~ conven~jens au~rum sit ~ vitae ~ meae,
respon~deas ~ clemen~ter: quem ~ fructum ~ capis
hoc ex ~ labo~re, quod~ve tan~t(um) est prae~mium
ut ca~reas ~ somn(o) 't ~ aev(um) ~ in ten'~bris ex~igas?"
"Null(um)" in~quit il~le, "ve~r(um h)oc ab ~ summo ~ mihi
Iov(e) ad~tribu~t(um) est." "Er~go nec ~ sumis ~ tibi
nec ul~li do~nas quid~quam?" "Sic ~ Fatis ~ placet."
"Nol(o) i~rasca~ris, li~bere ~ si dix~ero:
dis est ~ ira~tis na~tus qu(i) est ~ sim'lis ~ tibi."

Translation:

While excavating her den, a fox dug a hole in the earth and as she made deeper and deeper tunnels in the ground, she reached the distant cave of a dragon who was guarding hidden treasure. When the fox saw the dragon, she said, 'First of all, I beg your pardon for this carelessness on my part; second, you no doubt realize how useless gold is to my way of life, so I hope that you will be so kind as to explain to me what profit you gain from this work, and what reward could be so great that you would forgo the pleasure of sleep and live out your life here in the dark?' 'I have no reward,' the dragon replied, 'but in fact this task was assigned to me by Jupiter on high.' 'Does that mean you take nothing for yourself and do not give anything to anyone?' 'So it pleases the Fates.' 'Please don't be angry then if I speak freely,' concluded the fox, 'but someone who lives like this must have been born under an unlucky star!'

[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 image of a dragon statue in Ljubljana; click on the image for a larger view.

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Lupus ad Canem: The Wolf to The Dog

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 346.

Text:

Quam dulcis sit libertas breviter proloquar.
Cani perpasto macie confectus lupus
forte occurrit; dein, salutati invicem
ut restiterunt," Unde sic, quaeso, nites?
Aut quo cibo fecisti tantum corporis?
Ego, qui sum longe fortior, pereo fame."
Canis simpliciter: "Eadem est condicio tibi,
praestare domino si par officium potes."
"Quod?" inquit ille. "Custos ut sis liminis,
a furibus tuearis et noctu domum.
Adfertur ultro panis; de mensa sua
dat ossa dominus; frusta iactat familia,
et quod fastidit quisque pulmentarium.
Sic sine labore venter impletur meus."
"Ego vero sum paratus: nunc patior nives
imbresque in silvis asperam vitam trahens.
Quanto est facilius mihi sub tecto vivere,
et otiosum largo satiari cibo!"
"Veni ergo mecum." Dum procedunt, aspicit
lupus a catena collum detritum cani.
"Unde hoc, amice?" "Nil est." "Dic, sodes, tamen."
"Quia videor acer, alligant me interdiu,
luce ut quiescam, et vigilem nox cum venerit:
crepusculo solutus qua visum est vagor."
"Age, abire si quo est animus, est licentia?"
"Non plane est" inquit. "Fruere quae laudas, canis;
regnare nolo, liber ut non sim mihi."

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

Breviter proloquar
quam dulcis sit libertas.
Lupus confectus macie
forte occurrit cani perpasto;
dein salutati invicem
ut restiterunt,
"Quaeso: unde sic nites?
Aut quo cibo fecisti tantum corporis?
Ego, qui sum fortior longe, pereo fame."
Canis simpliciter:
"Eadem condicio est tibi,
si potes praestare domino par officium."
Ille inquit: "Quod?"
"Ut sis custos liminis
et noctu tuearis domum a furibus.
Panis adfertur ultro;
dominus dat ossa de mensa sua;
familia iactat frusta,
et pulmentarium quod quisque fastidit.
Sic meus venter impletur sine labore."
"Ego vero paratus sum:
nunc patior nives et imbres
trahens asperam vitam in silvis.
Quanto facilius est mihi
vivere sub tecto,
et otiosum satiari largo cibo!"
"Ergo: veni mecum."
Dum procedunt,
lupus aspicit
collum cani detritum a catena.
"Unde hoc, amice?"
"Nil est."
"Tamen dic, sodes."
"Quia videor acer,
alligant me interdiu,
ut quiescam luce
et vigilem cum nox venerit:
solutus crepusculo vagor qua visum est."
"Age: si quo abire animus est, licentia est?"
Inquit: "Plane non est."
"Fruere his quae laudas, canis;
nolo regnare, ut non sim liber mihi."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Quam du~lcis sit ~ liber~tas brev'~ter pro~loquar.
Cani ~ perpas~to mac~je con~fectus ~ lupus
fort(e) oc~currit; ~ dein, ~ salu~tat(i) in~vicem
ut re~stite~runt," Un~de sic, ~ quaeso, ~ nites?
Aut quo ~ cibo ~ fecis~ti tan~tum cor~poris?
Eg', qui ~ sum lon~ge for~tior, ~ pereo ~ fame."
Canis ~ simplic'~ter: "Ea~d(em) est con~dicjo ~ tibi,
praesta~re dom'~no si ~ par of~ficjum ~ potes."
"Quod?" in~quit il~le. "Cus~tos ut ~ sis li~minis,
a fu~ribus ~ tuea~ris et ~ noctu ~ domum.
Adfer~tur ul~tro pa~nis; de ~ mensa ~ sua
dat os~sa dom'~nus; frus~ta iac~tat fam'~lia,
et quod ~ fasti~dit quis~que pul~menta~rium.
Sic sin' ~ labo~re ven~ter im~pletur ~ meus."
"Eg' ve~ro sum ~ para~tus: nunc ~ patjor ~ nives
imbres~qu(e) in sil~vis as~peram ~ vitam ~ trahens.
Quant(o) est ~ facil~jus mih' ~ sub tec~to vi~vere,
et ot~io~sum lar~go sat~jari ~ cibo!"
"Ven(i) er~go me~cum." Dum ~ proce~dunt, as~picit
lup's a ~ cate~na col~lum de~tritum ~ cani.
"Und(e h)oc, ~ ami~ce?" "Nil ~ est." "Dic, ~ sodes, ~ tamen."
"Quja vi~deor ~ ac'r, al~ligant ~ m(e) inter~diu,
luc(e) ut ~ quies~c(am), et vig'~lem nox ~ cum ve~nerit:
crepus~culo ~ solu~tus qua ~ vis(um) est ~ vagor."
"Ag(e), a~bir' si ~ qu(o) est an'~mus, est ~ licen~tia?"
"Non pla~n(e) est" in~quit. "Fru~er' quae ~ laudas, ~ canis;
regna~re no~lo, li~ber ut ~ non sim ~ mihi."

Translation:

Briefly I will tell how sweet liberty is. A wolf, worn out by hunger, happened to run into a well-fed dog; after they stopped and greeted one another, the wolf said: "Please: how did you get to be so shiny? Or tell me: with what kind of food did you make such a body? I, who am stronger than you by far, am dying of hunger." The dog simply said: "The same deal is yours, if you can offer the master an equal service." The wolf said: "What service is that?" The dog said: "That you be the guardian of the door and at night guard the house from thieves. What's more, bread is given to you, the master gives you the bones from his own table, the household servants toss you scraps and and bits of meat which anyone doesn't want. Thus my stomach is filled without any effort." The wolf said: "I am ready indeed: right now I suffer snow and rain, living a hard life in the woods. How much easier it is for me to live under a roof and to stuff myself at leisure with abundant food!" The dog said: "Okay: come with me." While they were going along, the wolf noticed that the dog's collar was worn away by a chain. He said: "Where does that come from, friend?" The dog said: "It's nothing." The wolf said: "But tell me, please." The dog said: "Because I seem high-spirited, they tie me up during the day so that I rest while it's light out and am on guard when night comes; I am untied at dusk and I can wander where it pleases me." The wolf said: "Tell me: if you want to go away somewhere, is that allowed?" The dog said: "Clearly not." The wolf said: "Enjoy these things which you praise, dog; I don't want to live like a king, with the result that I'm not free to do as I want."

[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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De Fortunis Hominum: About The Fortunes of Men

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 78.

Text:

Cum de fortunis quidam quereretur suis,
Aesopus finxit consolandi hoc gratia.
"Vexata saevis navis tempestatibus
inter vectorum lacrimas et mortis metum,
faciem ad serenam ut subito mutatur dies,
ferri secundis tuta coepit flatibus
nimiaque nautas hilaritate extollere.
Factus periclo sic gubernator sophus:
"Parce gaudere oportet et sensim queri,
totam quia uvitam miscet dolor et gaudium."

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

Cum quidam quereretur de suis fortunis,
Aesopus finxit hoc
gratia consolandi:
"Navis
vexata saevis tempestatibus
inter lacrimas vectorum et metum mortis,
ut subito dies mutatur ad serenam faciem,

coepit tuta ferri secundis flatibus
et extollere nautas nimia hilaritate.
Gubernator
sic factus sophus periclo:
"Oportet
gaudere parce et queri sensim,
quia dolor et gaudium miscet totam vitam."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Cum de ~ fortu~nis qui~dam quer'~retur ~ suis,
Aeso~pus fin~xit con~solan~d(i) hoc gra~tia.
"Vexa~ta sae~vis na~vis tem~pesta~tibus
inter ~ vecto~rum lacr'~mas et ~ mortis ~ metum,
facj(em) ad ~ sere~n(am) ut sub'~to mu~tatur ~ dies,
ferri ~ secun~dis tu~ta coe~pit fla~tibus
nimja~que nau~tas hil'~rita~t(e) extol~lere.
Factus ~ peri~clo sic ~ guber~nator ~ sophus:
"Parce ~ gaude~r(e) opor~tet et ~ sensim ~ queri,
totam ~ quia vi~tam mis~cet do~lor 't gau~dium."

Translation:

When a man was complaining about his luck, Aesop invented this story in order to console him: 'As a ship was being tossed by relentless waves, amidst the tears of the passengers and their fear of death, all of a sudden the day took on a tranquil appearance and as it did so, the ship surged ahead, safe, borne by favourable winds, lifting the spirits of the sailors excessively. Then the ship's pilot (a man made wise by the dangers he had faced) said to them, "It is better to be restrained in your rejoicing and to despair not too much, because both grief and joy color all of life."'

[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 image of the mythological first ship, the Argo; click on the image for a larger view.

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De Simonide: About Simonides

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 519.

Text:

Homo doctus in se semper divitias habet.
Simonides, qui scripsit egregium melos,
quo paupertatem sustineret facilius,
circum ire coepit urbes Asiae nobiles,
mercede accepta laudem victorum canens.
Hoc genere quaestus postquam locuples factus est,
redire in patriam voluit cursu pelagio;
erat autem, ut aiunt, natus in Cia insula.
ascendit navem; quam tempestas horrida
simul et vetustas medio dissolvit mari.
Hi zonas, illi res pretiosas colligunt,
subsidium vitae. Quidam curiosior:
"Simonide, tu ex opibus nil sumis tuis?"
"Mecum" inquit "mea sunt cuncta."Tunc pauci enatant,
quia plures onere degravati perierant.
Praedones adsunt, rapiunt quod quisque extulit,
nudos relinquunt. Forte Clazomenae prope
antiqua fuit urbs, quam petierunt naufragi.
Hic litterarum quidam studio deditus,
Simonidis qui saepe versus legerat,
eratque absentis admirator maximus,
sermone ab ipso cognitum cupidissime
ad se recepit; veste, nummis, familia
hominem exornavit. Ceteri tabulam suam
portant, rogantes victum. Quos casu obvios
Simonides ut vidit: "Dixi" inquit "mea
mecum esse cuncta; vos quod rapuistis perit."

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

Homo doctus semper habet divitias in se.
Simonides, qui egregium scripsit melos,
quo facilius sustineret paupertatem,
coepit ire circum urbes Asiae nobiles,
canens laudem victorum, mercede accepta.
Postquam factus est locuples hoc genere quaestus,
voluit redire in patriam pelagio cursu;
ut aiunt autem natus erat in Cia insula.
ascendit navem;
horrida tempestas
simul et vetustas
dissolvit navem medio mari.
Hi colligunt zonas,
illi colligunt res pretiosas,
subsidium vitae.
Quidam curiosior dixit:
"Simonide, tu sumis nil ex tuis opibus?"
Simonides inquit:
"Cuncta mea sunt mecum."
Tunc pauci enatant,
quia plures perierant, degravati onere.
Praedones adsunt, rapiunt quod quisque extulit,
relinquunt nudos.
Forte antiqua urbs Clazomenae fuit prope;
naufragi petierunt urbem.
Hic quidam deditus studio litterarum,
qui saepe legerat versus Simonidis,
et erat maximus admirator absentis,
cupidissime recepit ad se cognitum ab ipso sermone;
exornavit hominem veste, nummis, familia.
Ceteri portant tabulam suam, rogantes victum.
Simonides, ut casu vidit eos obvios, inquit:
"Dix cuncta mea esse mecum;
quod vos rapuistis, perit."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Hom' doc~tus in ~ se sem~per di~vitjas ~ habet.
Simo~nides, ~ qui scrip~sit e~gregjum ~ melos,
quo pau~perta~tem sus~tine~ret fac'~lius,
circ(um) i~re coe~pit ur~bes As~jae no~biles,
merce~d(e) accep~ta lau~dem vic~torum ~ canens.
Hoc gen'~re quaes~tus post~quam loc'~ples fac~tus est,
redi~r(e) in ~ patrjam ~ voluit ~ cursu ~ pela~gio;
erat au~t(em), ut aj~unt, na~tus in ~ Ci(a) in~sula.
ascen~dit na~vem; quam ~ tempes~tas hor~rida
sim'l et ~ vetus~tas med~jo dis~solvit ~ mari.
Hi zo~nas, il~li res ~ pretjo~sas col~ligunt,
subsid~jum vi~tae. Qui~dam cu~rio~sior:
"Simo~nide, ~ t(u) ex op'bus nil ~ sumis ~ tuis?"
"Mec(um)" in~quit "mea ~ sunt cunc~ta."Tunc ~ pauc(i) e~natant,
quja plu~res on'~re de~grava~ti per~jerant.
Praedo~nes ad~sunt, rap~junt quod ~ quisqu(e) ex~tulit,
nudos ~ relin~quunt. Fort' ~ Clazo~menae ~ prope
anti~qua fuit ~ urbs, quam ~ petje~runt nau~fragi.
Hic lit~tera~rum qui~dam stud~jo de~ditus,
Simo~nidis ~ qui sae~pe ver~sus le~gerat,
erat~qu(e) absen~tis ad~mira~tor max~imus,
sermo~n(e) ab ip~so cog~nitum ~ cup'dis~sime
ad se ~ rece~pit; ves~te, num~mis, fam'~lia
hom'n(em) ex~orna~vit. Cet'~ri ta~bulam ~ suam
portant, ~ rogan~tes vic~tum. Quos ~ cas(u) ob~vios
Simo~nides ~ ut vi~dit: "Dix~(i)" inquit ~ "mea
mec(um) es~se cunc~ta; vos ~ quod rap~vistis ~ perit."

Translation:

A learned man always has riches in himself. Simonides was an extraordinary author of lyric poems and in this way he quite easily endured poverty. He had begun to travel around the great cities of Asia, singing the praises of victorious athletes in exchange for a fee. When he had grown wealthy in this venture, he was ready to take a sea voyage and go back to his native land (he was born, so they say, on the island of Ceos). He boarded a ship, but a terrible storm (plus the sheer age of the ship) caused it to break apart in the middle of the sea. Some of the passengers grabbed their money belts, while others held onto their valuables as a means of subsistence. A passenger who was rather curious said, 'Simonides, are you taking nothing of your wealth?' He replied, 'All that is mine is right here with me.' It turned out that only a few were able to swim ashore, while the majority drowned, weighed down by what they were carrying. Then bandits arrived and took from the survivors whatever they had brought ashore, stripping them naked. As it happened, the ancient city of Clazomenae was not far off, so the shipwrecked people sought it out. In this city there lived a man inclined to literary pursuits who had often read Simonides's compositions and who was his great admirer from afar. He recognized Simonides simply from his manner of speaking and eagerly invited him to his house, regaling him with clothes and money and servants. Meanwhile, the rest of the survivors carried around placards, begging for food. When Simonides happened to run into them, he took one look and exclaimed, 'Just as I said: all that is mine is right here with me, but everything that you took with you is lost."

[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 Feles et Aper: Eagle, Cat and Boar

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 488.

Text:

Aquila in sublimi quercu nidum fecerat;
feles, cavernam nancta in media, pepererat;
sus nemoris cultrix fetum ad imam posuerat.
tum fortuitum feles contubernium
fraude et scelesta sic evertit malitia.
ad nidum scandit volucris: "Pernicies" ait
tibi paratur, forsan et miserae mihi.
nam, fodere terram quod vides cotidie
aprum insidiosum, quercum vult evertere,
ut nostram in plano facile progeniem opprimat.
terrore offuso et perturbatis sensibus
derepit ad cubile saetosae suis;
"Magno" inquit "in periclo sunt nati tui.
nam, simul exieris pastum cum tenero grege,
aquila est parata rapere porcellos tibi".
hunc quoque timore postquam complevit locum,
dolosa tuto condidit sese cavo:
inde evagata noctu suspenso pede,
ubi esca sese explevit et prolem suam,
pavorem simulans prospicit toto die.
ruinam metuens aquila ramis desidet:
aper rapinam vitans non prodit foras.
quid multa? inedia sunt consumpti cum suis,
felisque catulis largam praebuerat dapem.
Quantum homo bilinguis saepe concinnet mali,
documentum habere hinc stulta credulitas potest.

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

Aquila fecerat nidum in sublimi quercu;
feles, nancta cavernam in media, pepererat;
sus, cultrix nemoris, posuerat fetum ad imam.
tum feles sic evertit fortuitum contubernium
fraude et scelesta malitia.
scandit ad nidum volucris,
ait: "Pernicies tibi paratur,
forsan et mihi miserae.
Nam vides quod
insidiosum aprum fodere terram cotidie;
vult evertere quercum,
ut facile opprimat nostram progeniem in plano.
terrore offuso
et sensibus perturbatis
derepit ad cubile saetosae suis;
inquit: "Tui nati sunt in magno periclo.
Nam, simul exieris pastum
cum tenero grege,
aquila parata est
rapere tibi porcellos."
Postquam complevit
hunc locum quoque
timore,
dolosa condidit sese tuto cavo:
inde evagata noctu
suspenso pede,
ubi explevit esca sese et prolem suam,
simulans pavorem
prospicit toto die.
aquila
metuens ruinam
desidet ramis:
aper
vitans rapinam
non prodit foras.
quid multa?
consumpti sunt inedia
cum suis,
et felis praebuerat catulis largam dapem.
hinc stulta credulitas potest habere documentum
quantum mali homo bilinguis saepe concinnet.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Aq'l(a) in ~ subli~mi quer~cu ni~dum fe~cerat;
feles, ~ caver~nam nanc~t(a) in med~ja, pep'~rerat;
sus nem'~ris cul~trix fe~t(um) ad i~mam pos~verat.
tum for~tui~tum fe~les con~tuber~nium
fraud(e) et ~ sceles~ta sic ~ ever~tit mal'~tia.
ad ni~dum scan~dit vol'~cris: "Per~nicjes" ~ ait
tibi ~ para~tur, for~san 't mi~serae ~ mihi.
nam, fod'~re ter~ram quod ~ vides ~ coti~die
apr(um) in~sidjo~sum, quer~cum vult ~ ever~tere,
ut nos~tr(am) in pla~no fac'~le pro~genj(em) op~primat.
terro~r(e) offu~s(o) et per~turba~tis sen~sibus
dere~pit ad ~ cubi~le sae~tosae ~ suis;
"Magn(o)" in~quit "in ~ peri~clo sunt ~ nati ~ tui.
nam, sim'~l exi'~ris pas~tum cum ~ ten'ro ~ grege,
aq'l(a) est ~ para~ta rap'~re por~cellos ~ tibi".
hunc quoq~' timo~re post~quam com~plevit ~ locum,
dolo~sa tu~to con~didit ~ sese ~ cavo:
ind(e) e~vaga~ta noc~tu sus~penso ~ pede,
ub(i) es~ca se~s(e) exple~vit et ~ prolem ~ suam,
pavo~rem sim'~lans pro~spicit ~ toto ~ die.
rui~nam met~vens aq'~la ra~mis de~sidet:
aper ~ rapi~nam vi~tans non ~ prodit ~ foras.
quid mul~t(a)? ined~ja sunt ~ consump~ti cum ~ suis,
felis~que cat'~lis lar~gam prae~bverat ~ dapem.
Quant(um h)om' ~ bilin~guis sae~pe con~cinnet ~ mali,
doc'men~t(um h)abe~r(e h)inc stul~ta cred'~litas ~ potest.

Translation:

An eagle had made her nest up high in an oak tree; meanwhile, a cat, having found a hollow halfway up the tree, had given birth to kittens; finally, at the foot of the tree a forest-dwelling sow had deposited her litter of piglets. Then the cat destroyed this chance company with trickery and criminal mischief as follows: she went up to the bird's nest and said: "Destruction is being prepared for you, and perhaps for poor little old me too. For you see the fact that the treacherous boar keeps digging in the dirt day after day; she wants to knock down the oak tree so that she can easily attack our offspring down there on the ground." Having spread fear and disturbed the eagle's mind, the cat crept down to the lair of the bristly sow and said: "Your children are in great danger, for as soon as you go out to feed with the gentle flock, the eagle is ready to seize your little piglets." Having filled the boar's house too with fear, the tricky cat hid herself in the safety of her cave, creeping out from there at night on tiptoe, she filled herself and her offspring with food, while pretending fear as she peeped out all day long. The eagle, fearing destruction, sat on the branches; the boar, fearing attack, did not venture outdoors. Why say more? They both died of hunger, together with their children, and the cat offered her kittens an enormous feast. From this fable foolish gullibility can learn a lesson about how much wickedness a fork-tongued person frequently composes.

[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 of a cat from a medieval manuscript:

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Mons Parturiens: The Mountain in Labor

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 520.

Text:

Mons parturibat, gemitus immanes ciens,
eratque in terris maxima expectatio.
At ille murem peperit. Hoc scriptum est tibi,
qui, magna cum minaris, extricas nihil.

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

Mons parturibat, ciens immanes gemitus,
et in terris erat maxima expectatio.
At ille peperit murem.
Hoc scriptum est tibi,
qui extricas nihil,
cum minaris magna.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Mons par~turi~bat, gem'~tus im~manes ~ ciens,
erat~qu(e) in ter~ris max~im(a) ex~pecta~tio.
At il~le mu~rem pep'~rit. Hoc ~ script(um) est ~ tibi,
qui, mag~na cum ~ mina~ris, ex~tricas ~ nihil.

Translation:

The mountain was in labor, generating enormous groans, and throughout the land there was the greatest anticipation. But the mountain gave birth to a mouse. This is written for you who wind up doing nothing even though you make great threats.

[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: Eagle and Crow

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 490.

Text:

Contra potentes nemo est munitus satis;
si vero accessit consiliator maleficus,
vis et nequitia quicquid oppugnant, ruit.
Aquila in sublime sustulit testudinem:
quae cum abdidisset cornea corpus domo,
nec ullo pacto laedi posset condita,
venit per auras cornix, et propter volans
"Opimam sane praedam rapuisti unguibus;
sed, nisi monstraro quid sit faciendum tibi,
gravi nequiquam te lassabit pondere."
promissa parte suadet ut scopulum super
altis ab astris duram inlidat corticem,
qua comminuta facile vescatur cibo.
inducta vafris aquila monitis paruit,
simul et magistrae large divisit dapem.
sic tuta quae naturae fuerat munere,
impar duabus, occidit tristi nece.

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

Nemo munitus est satis
contra potentes;
si vero consiliator maleficus accessit,
ruit quicquid
vis et nequitia oppugnant.
Aquila sustulit testudinem in sublime.
Cum testudo abdidisset corpus cornea domo,
et condita
non posset laedi
ullo pacto,
cornix venit per auras
et volans propter:
"Sane rapuisti unguibus
opimam praedam;
sed, nisi monstraro
quid tibi faciendum sit,
nequiquam lassabit te gravi pondere."
Promissa parte
suadet
ut aquila inlidat duram corticem
ab altis astris
super scopulum;
cortice comminuta
facile vescatur cibo.
Aquila paruit,
inducta vafris monitis,
simul et large divisit dapem
magistrae.
Sic testudo,
quae fuerat tuta
munere naturae,
impar duabus,
occidit tristi nece.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Contra ~ poten~tes ne~m(o) est mu~nitus ~ satis;
si ve~r(o) acces~sit con~sijia~tor mal'~ficus,
vis et ~ nequi~tja quic~quid op~pugnant, ~ ruit.
Aq'l(a) in ~ subli~me sus~tulit ~ testu~dinem:
quae c(um) ab~didis~set cor~nea ~ corpus ~ domo,
nec ul~lo pac~to lae~di pos~set con~dita,
venit ~ per au~ras cor~nix, et ~ propter ~ volans
"Opi~mam sa~ne prae~dam rap~vist(i) un~guibus;
sed, nis' ~ monstra~ro quid ~ sit fac~jendum ~ tibi,
gravi ~ nequi~quam te ~ lassa~bit pon~dere."
promis~sa par~te sua~det ut ~ scop'lum ~ super
altis ~ ab as~tris du~r(am) inli~dat cor~ticem,
qua com~minu~ta fac'~le ves~catur ~ cibo.
induc~ta va~fris aq'~la mon~'tis par~uit,
sim'l et ~ magis~trae lar~ge di~visit ~ dapem.
sic tu~ta quae ~ natu~rae fve~rat mu~nere,
impar ~ dua~bus, oc~cidit ~ tristi ~ nece.

Translation:

No one is sufficiently well armed against powerful people; if in fact a malicious adviser is involved, anything rushes to ruin that their power and wickedness besieges. An eagle carried a tortoise into the air. When the tortoise hid its body in its home of horn and was thus hidden and could not be harmed in any strategy, a crow came through the air and flew near the eagle: "You have nicely grabbed with your talons this excellent prize, but unless I show you what you have to do, it will wear you out in vain with its heavy weight." Having been promised a share, the crow urges the eagle to strike the hard shell from the high stars upon a rocky crag; with the shell smashed, the eagle would easily be able to feed on the flesh. The eagle obeyed, persuaded by this crafty advice, and at the same time she also freely shared the feast with her instructor. Thus the tortoise, who had been protected by a gift of nature, was unequal to the two of them, and died a piteous 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 an early printed edition; click on the image for a larger view.

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Serpens ad Limam: The Snake to The File

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 93.

Text:

Mordaciorem qui improbo dente adpetit,
hoc argumento se describi sentiat.
In officinam fabri venit vipera.
Haec, cum temptaret si qua res esset cibi,
limam momordit. Illa contra contumax,
"Quid me," inquit, "stulta, dente captas laedere,
omne adsuevi ferrum quae conrodere?"

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

Qui adpetit mordaciorem improbo dente,
sentiat se describi hoc argumento.
Vipera venit in officinam fabri.
Haec, cum temptaret si qua res cibi esset,
momordit limam.
Illa contumax inquit contra:
"Quid me, stulta, captas laedere dente:
ego adsuevi conrodere omne ferrum?"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Morda~cio~rem qu(i) im~probo ~ dent(e) ad~petit,
hoc ar~gumen~to se ~ descr~ibi sen~tiat.
In of~fici~nam fa~bri ve~nit vi~pera.
Haec, cum ~ tempta~ret si ~ qua res ~ esset ~ cibi,
limam ~ momor~dit. Il~la con~tra con~tumax,
"Quid m(e)," in~quit, "stul~ta, den~te cap~tas lae~dere,
omn(e) ad~sue~vi fer~rum quae ~ conro~dere?"

Translation:

Anyone who tries to cruelly take a bite out of someone with even sharper fangs may realize that he is being described in this example. A viper entered a blacksmith's workshop. When she wanted to see if it was something to eat, she bit the file. The file angrily responded: 'You fool! Why are you trying to wound me with your teeth, when I've spent my life gnawing every sort of iron?'

[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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Vulpis et Corvus: Fox and Crow

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 124.

Text:

Quae se laudari gaudent verbis subdolis,
serae dant poenas turpi paenitentia.
Cum de fenestra corvus raptum caseum
comesse vellet, celsa residens arbore,
vulpes invidit, deinde sic coepit loqui:
"O qui tuarum, corve, pinnarum est nitor!
Quantum decoris corpore et vultu geris!
Si vocem haberes, nulla prior ales foret".
At ille, dum etiam vocem vult ostendere,
lato ore emisit caseum; quem celeriter
dolosa vulpes avidis rapuit dentibus.
Tum demum ingemuit corvi deceptus stupor.

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

Quae gaudent
se laudari verbis subdolis,
serae dant poenas turpi paenitentia.
Cum corvus vellet comesse
caseum raptum de fenestra,
residens celsa arbore,
vulpes invidit,
deinde sic coepit loqui:
"O corve qui nitor est tuarum pinnarum!
Quantum decoris geris corpore et vultu!
Si haberes vocem, nulla ales foret prior."
At ille,
dum vult ostendere vocem etiam,
emisit caseum lato ore;
dolosa vulpes rapuit caseum celeriter avidis dentibus.
Tum demum deceptus stupor corvi ingemuit.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Quae se ~ lauda~ri gau~dent ver~bis sub~dolis,
serae ~ dant poe~nas tur~pi pae~niten~tia.
Cum de ~ fene~stra cor~vus rap~tum ca~seum
comes~se vel~let, cel~sa res'~dens ar~bore,
vulpes ~ invi~dit, dein~de sic ~ coepit ~ loqui:
"O qui ~ tua~rum, cor~ve, pin~nar(um) est ~ nitor!
Quantum ~ deco~ris cor~por(e) et ~ vultu ~ geris!
Si vo~c(em h)abe~res, nul~la pr'or ~ ales ~ foret".
At il~le, d(um) et~jam vo~cem vult ~ osten~dere,
lat(o) o~r(e) emi~sit cas~eum; ~ quem cel'~riter
dolo~sa vul~pes av'~dis rap~vit den~tibus.
Tum de~m(um) ingem~vit cor~vi de~ceptus ~ stupor.

Translation:

Those who rejoice when they are praised with deceitful words sooner or later pay the penalty with shameful regret. When a crow wanted to eat a cheese he had stolen from the window, he sat up in a high tree; the fox was jealous and then began to speak as follows: "Oh crow, what a shine your feathers have! What loveliness you show in your face and figure! If you had a voice, no bird would be superior to you." And the crow, when he wanted to show that he had a voice besides, dropped the cheese from his big mouth; the sneaky fox quickly grabbed the cheese with her greedy teeth. Then at last the stunned stupor of the crow began to lament.

[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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Vulpis et Aquila: Fox and Eagle

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 1.

Text:

Quamvis sublimes debent humiles metuere,
vindicta docili quia patet sollertiae.
Vulpinos catulos aquila quondam sustulit,
nidoque posuit pullis escam ut carperent.
Hanc persecuta mater orare incipit,
ne tantum miserae luctum importaret sibi.
Contempsit illa, tuta quippe ipso loco.
Vulpes ab ara rapuit ardentem facem,
totamque flammis arborem circumdedit,
hosti dolorem damno miscens sanguinis.
Aquila, ut periclo mortis eriperet suos,
incolumes natos supplex vulpi reddidit.

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

Quamvis sublimes debent metuere humiles,
quia vindicta patet docili sollertiae.
Quondam aquila sustulit vulpinos catulos,
et posuit pullis nido
ut carperent escam.
Persecuta mater incipit orare hanc,
ne importaret miserae sibi tantum luctum.
Illa contempsit, quippe tuta ipso loco.
Vulpes rapuit ab ara ardentem facem,
et circumdedit totam arborem flammis,
miscens hosti dolorem damno sanguinis.
Aquila, ut eriperet suos periclo mortis,
supplex reddidit incolumes natos vulpi.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Quamvis ~ subl~imes de~bent hum'~les met~vere,
vindic~ta doc'~li qui' ~ patet ~ soller~tiae.
Vulpi~nos cat'~los aq'~la quon~dam sus~tulit,
nido~que pos~vit pul~lis e~sc(am) ut car~perent.
Hanc per~secu~ta ma~ter o~rar(e) in~cipit,
ne tan~tum mis'~rae luc~t(um) impor~taret ~ sibi.
Contemp~sit il~la, tu~ta quip~p(e) ipso ~ loco.
Vulpes ~ ab a~ra rap~vit ar~dentem ~ facem,
totam~que flam~mis ar~borem ~ circum~dedit,
hosti ~ dolo~rem dam~no mis~cens san~guinis.
Aq'l(a), ut ~ peric~lo mor~tis e~rip'ret ~ suos,
inc'lu~mes na~tos sup~plex vul~pi red~didit.

Translation:

No matter how lofty they are, people should fear the humble folk because revenge is available to their quick ingenuity. There was once an eagle who stole the cubs of a fox and carried them off to the chicks in her nest so they could seize the pups as food. The mother fox set off in pursuit, begging the eagle not to impose this unbearable loss on such a miserable creature as herself. The eagle scoffed at her request, feeling quite safe in her position. The fox then snatched a burning faggot from the altar and completely surrounded the tree with flames, adding pain to her enemy at the cost of her own flesh and blood. The eagle, in order to snatch her chicks from the threat of death, conceded, returning the cubs to the fox, unharmed.

[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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Aesopus et Petulans: Aesop and The Hooligan

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 497.

Text:

Successus ad perniciem multos devocat.
Aesopo quidam petulans lapidem impegerat.
"Tanto" inquit "melior!" Assem deinde illi dedit
sic prosecutus: "Plus non habeo mehercule,
sed unde accipere possis monstrabo tibi.
Venit ecce dives et potens; huic similiter
impinge lapidem, et dignum accipies praemium."
Persuasus ille fecit quod monitus fuit,
sed spes fefellit impudentem audaciam;
comprensus namque poenas persolvit cruce.

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

Successus devocat multos ad perniciem.
Quidam petulans impegerat lapidem Aesopo.
Aesopus inquit: "Tanto melior!"
Deinde dedit assem illi,
sic prosecutus:
"Mehercule, non habeo plus,
sed monstrabo tibi unde possis accipere.
Ecce: venit dives et potens;
similiter impinge lapidem huic,
et accipies dignum praemium."
Ille persuasus fecit quod monitus fuit,
sed spes fefellit impudentem audaciam;
nam comprensus est et persolvit poenas cruce.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Succes~sus ad ~ pernic~jem mul~tos de~vocat.
Aeso~po qui~dam pet'~lans lap'd(em) impe~gerat.
"Tant(o)" in~quit "mel~jor!" As~sem dein~d(e) illi ~ dedit
sic pro~secu~tus: "Plus ~ non ha~b'o me(he)r~cule,
sed un~d(e) accip'~re pos~sis mon~strabo ~ tibi.
Ven't ec~ce di~ves et ~ potens; ~ huic sim'~liter
impin~ge lap'~d(em), et dig~n(um) accip~jes prae~mium."
Persua~sus il~le fe~cit quod ~ mon'tus ~ fuit,
sed spes ~ fefel~lit im~puden~t(em) auda~ciam;
compren~sus nam~que poe~nas per~solvit ~ cruce.

Translation:

Success calls many men to their ruin. There was a certain hooligan who struck Aesop with a stone. Aesop said: "So much the better!" Then he gave the boy a coin and added: "By god, I don't have any more on me but I will show you where you can get some. Look: here comes a rich, powerful man; hit him with a stone, just as you did me, and you will get the reward you deserve." The boy was persuaded to do what Aesop advised him, but his hope brought his reckless daring to ruin: he was arrested and paid the price for his crime on the cross.

[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 image of a Roman coin worth one as:

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Milvus et Columbae: The Kite and The Doves

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 486.

Text:

Qui se committit homini tutandum improbo,
auxilia dum requirit, exitium invenit.
Columbae saepe cum fugissent milvum,
et celeritate pinnae vitassent necem,
consilium raptor vertit ad fallaciam,
et genus inerme tali decepit dolo:
"Quare sollicitum potius aevum ducitis
quam regem me creatis icto foedere,
qui vos ab omni tutas praestem iniuria?"
Illae credentes tradunt sese milvo.
Qui regnum adeptus coepit vesci singulas,
et exercere imperium saevis unguibus.
Tunc de reliquis una "Merito plectimur,
huic spiritum praedoni quae commisimus".

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

Qui committit se tutandum homini improbo,
invenit exitium
dum requirit auxilia.
Cum columbae saepe fugissent milvum,
et vitassent necem celeritate pinnae,
raptor vertit consilium ad fallaciam,
et decepit inerme genus
tali dolo:
"Quare potius ducitis sollicitum aevum
quam, icto foedere, creatis regem me,
qui praestem vos tutas ab omni iniuria?"
Illae credentes
tradunt sese milvo.
Milvus
adeptus regnum
coepit vesci singulas
et exercere imperium saevis unguibus.
Tunc una de reliquis:
"Merito plectimur:
nos commisimus spiritum
huic praedoni."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Qui se ~ commit~tit hom'~ni tu~tand(um) im~probo,
auxil~ja dum ~ requi~rit, ex~itj(um) in~venit.
Colum~bae sae~pe cum ~ fugis~sent mil~uum,
et cel'~rita~te pin~nae vi~tassent ~ necem,
consil~jum rap~tor ver~tit ad ~ falla~ciam,
et gen'~s iner~me ta~li de~cepit ~ dolo:
"Quare ~ sollic'~tum pot~jus ae~vum du~citis
quam re~gem me ~ crea~tis ic~to foe~dere,
qui vos ~ ab om~ni tu~tas prae~st(em) inju~ria?"
Illae ~ creden~tes tra~dunt se~se mil~uo.
Qui reg~n(um) adep~tus coe~pit ves~ci sin~gulas,
et ex~erce~r(e) imper~jum sae~vis un~guibus.
Tunc de ~ reli~quis u~na "Mer'~to plec~timur,
huic spi~ritum ~ praedo~ni quae ~ commi~simus".

Translation:

The person who entrusts his safe-keeping to a dishonest man, finds destruction when he seeks that man's help. When the doves often had to flee from the kite, avoiding death by the swiftness of their wings, the rapacious kite turned his advice into deceit and fooled the defenseless flock with the following trick: “Why do you lead this anxious way of life rather than striking an agreement and making me your king, since I can keep you safe from all injury?" They believed the kite and entrusted themselves to him. The kite, having gained the kingdom, began to devour the doves one by one and to wield his authority with fierce talons. Then one of the remaining doves said: "We suffer this deservedly, since we entrusted our lives to this thieving scoundrel."

[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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Aesopus et Rusticus: Aesop and The Farmer

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 495.

Text:

Usu peritus hariolo veracior
vulgo perhibetur; causa sed non dicitur,
notescet quae nunc primum fabella mea.
Habenti cuidam pecora perpererunt oves
agnos humano capite. Monstro territus
ad consulendos currit maerens hariolos.
Hic pertinere ad domini respondet caput,
et avertendum victima periculum.
Ille autem adfirmat coniugem esse adulteram
et insitivos significari liberos,
sed expiari posse maiore hostia.
Quid multa? Variis dissident sententiis,
hominisque curam cura maiore adgravant.
Aesopus ibi stans, naris emunctae senex,
natura numquam verba cui potuit dare,
"Si procurare vis ostentum, rustice,
uxores" inquit "da tuis pastoribus."

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

Peritus usu
perhibetur vulgo veracior hariolo;
sed causa non dicitur:
nunc primum causa notescet fabella mea.

Cuidam habenti pecora
oves perpererunt agnos humano capite.
Territus monstro
maerens
currit ad consulendos hariolos.
Hic respondet
pertinere ad caput domini,
et periculum avertendum esse victima.
Ille autem adfirmat
coniugem esse adulteram
et significari insitivos liberos,
sed posse expiari maiore hostia.
Quid multa?
Dissident variis sententiis,
et adgravant curam hominis
maiore cura.
Aesopus ibi stans,
senex emunctae naris,
cui natura numquam potuit dare verba,
inquit:
"Si vis procurare ostentum, rustice,
da uxores tuis pastoribus."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Usu ~ peri~tus har~jolo ~ vera~cior
vulgo ~ perh'be~tur; cau~sa sed ~ non di~citur,
notes~cet quae ~ nunc pri~mum fa~bella ~ mea.
Haben~ti cui~dam pec'~ra perp'~rerunt ~ oves
agnos ~ huma~no cap'~te. Mon~stro ter~ritus
ad con~sulen~dos cur~rit mae~rens har~jolos.<