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.
Hic per~tine~r(e) ad dom'~ni re~spondet ~ caput,
et a~verten~dum vic~tima ~ peri~culum.
Ill(e) au~t(em) adfir~mat con~iug(em) es~s(e) adul~teram
et in~siti~vos sig~nif'ca~ri li~beros,
sed ex~pia~ri pos~se mai~or(e h)os~tia.
Quid mul~ta? Var~jis dis~sident ~ senten~tiis,
hom'nis~que cu~ram cu~ra mai~or(e) ad~gravant.
Aeso~p's ibi ~ stans, na~ris e~munctae ~ senex,
natu~ra num~quam ver~ba cui ~ potvit ~ dare,
"Si pro~cura~re vis ~ osten~tum, ru~stice,
uxo~res" in~quit "da ~ tuis ~ pasto~ribus."

Translation:

A person experienced in practice is considered by the people to be more trustworthy than a soothsayer, but the reason is not reported: now for the first time the reason is made known by my fable. There was a certain man who had some flocks and his sheep gave birth to lambs with human heads. Terrified by this omen and full of worry, he ran to consult the soothsayers. One soothsayer told him that this was a "capital" concern for the "head" of the family, and the danger had to be averted by a sacrifice. Another soothsayer, however, insisted that the man's wife had been unfaithful, and that this was a sign of illegitimate children, although it could be warded off by a greater sacrificial victim. Aesop was standing there, an old man who was nobody's fool, someone whom nature could not play tricks on, and he said: "If you want to expiate this omen, you country bumpkin, give wives to your shepherds."

[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 Aesop from an early printed edition:

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Mustela et Homo: The Weasel and The Man

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 293.

Text:

Mustela ab homine prensa, cum instantem necem
effugere vellet, "Parce, quaeso", inquit "mihi,
quae tibi molestis muribus purgo domum".
Respondit ille "Faceres si causa mea,
gratum esset et dedissem veniam supplici.
Nunc quia laboras ut fruaris reliquiis,
quas sunt rosuri, simul et ipsos devores,
noli imputare vanum beneficium mihi".
Atque ita locutus improbam leto dedit.
Hoc in se dictum debent illi agnoscere,
quorum privata servit utilitas sibi,
et meritum inane iactant imprudentibus.

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

Cum mustela, prensa ab homine,
vellet effugere instantem necem,
inquit: "Quaeso: parce mihi;
ego purgo tibi domum molestis muribus."
Ille respondit:
"Si faceres mea causa,
esset gratum
et dedissem veniam supplici.
Quia nunc laboras
ut fruaris reliquiis,
quas mures sunt rosuri,
simul devores et ipsos,
noli imputare mihi vanum beneficium."
Atque locutus ita,
dedit improbam leto.
Illi debent agnoscere
hoc dictum in se:
privata utilitas servit sibi,
et iactant inane meritum imprudentibus.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Muste~l(a) ab hom'~ne pren~sa, c(um) in~stantem ~ necem
effu~g're vel~let, "Par~ce, quae~s(o)", inquit ~ "mihi,
quae tib'~ moles~tis mur~ibus ~ purgo ~ domum".
Respon~dit il~le "Fac'~res si ~ causa ~ mea,
grat(um) es~set et ~ dedis~sem ven~jam sup~plici.
Nunc qui' ~ labo~ras ut ~ frua~ris rel'~quiis,
quas sunt ~ rosu~ri, sim'~l et ip~sos de~vores,
nol(i) im~puta~re va~num ben'~ficjum ~ mihi".
Atqu(e) it' ~ locu~tus im~probam ~ leto ~ dedit.
Hoc in ~ se dic~tum de~bent il~l(i) agno~scere,
quorum ~ priva~ta ser~vit u~til'tas ~ sibi,
et mer'~t(um) ina~ne iac~tant im~pruden~tibus.

Translation:

When the weasel, caught by a man, wanted to escape her imminent demise, she said: "I beg you: spare me; I cleanse your home of annoying mice." The man replied: "If you were doing it for my sake, it would be welcome and I would grant forgiveness as you request. But the fact is that now you make these efforts so that you can enjoy the scraps of food which the mice would eat and so that at the same time you can devour the mice themselves. Don't expect any gratitude from me for your so-called favor." So he spoke, and then consigned the wicked weasel to death. These are the people who should recognize that this story is told about them: their private business works for their benefit, and they boast to gullible people about so-called favors.

[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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Anus et Puella: Old Woman and Young Woman

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 31.

Text:

A feminis utcumque spoliari viros,
ament, amentur, nempe exemplis discimus.
Aetatis mediae quendam mulier non rudis
tenebat, annos celans elegantia,
animosque eiusdem pulchra iuvenis ceperat.
ambae, videri dum volunt illi pares,
capillos homini legere coepere invicem.
qui se putaret fingi cura mulierum,
calvus repente factus est; nam funditus
canos puella, nigros anus evellerat.

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

Nempe exemplis discimus
viros spoliari a feminis,
utcumque ament, amentur.
Mulier mediae aetatis
non rudis, celans annos elegantia,
tenebat quendam,
et pulchra iuvenis ceperat animos eiusdem.
Ambae, dum volunt videri pares illi,
invicem coepere legere capillos homini.
Homo putaret se fingi cura mulierum,
repente calvus factus est;
nam puella canos, anus evellerat nigros funditus.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

A fe~minis ~ utcum~que spol~jari ~ viros,
ament, ~ amen~tur, nem~p(e) exem~plis dis~cimus.
Aeta~tis med~jae quen~dam mul~jer non ~ rudis
tene~bat, an~nos ce~lans e~legan~tia,
an'mos~qu(e) eius~dem pul~chra iuv'~nis ce~perat.
ambae, ~ vide~ri dum ~ volunt ~ illi ~ pares,
capil~los hom'~ni leg'~re coe~per(e) in~vicem.
qui se ~ puta~ret fin~gi cu~ra mul~jerum,
calvus ~ repen~te fac~tus est; ~ nam fun~ditus
canos ~ puel~la, ni~gros an's ~ evel~lerat.

Translation:

Stories, of course, teach us that men are stripped of their possessions by women, regardless of whether they are in love with him or he with them. Once upon a time there was a woman, no spring chicken but concealing her years with elegance, who had taken a middle-aged man as her lover, and a beautiful young woman had caught the same man's fancy. Both women, because they wanted to seem equal to their man, in turn began to pluck out his hair. The man thought that he was being spruced up by the women's attentions, but he unexpectedly went bald: for the young woman had completely plucked his white hairs, and the old woman had plucked the dark ones.

[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 a cartoon image of a bald man:

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Ranae et Tauri: Frogs and Bulls

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 485.

Text:

Humiles laborant ubi potentes dissident.
Rana e palude pugnam taurorum intuens,
"Heu, quanta nobis instat pernicies" ait.
interrogata ab alia cur hoc diceret,
de principatu cum illi certarent gregis
longeque ab ipsis degerent vitam boves,
"Sit statio separata ac diversum genus;
expulsus regno nemoris qui profugerit,
paludis in secreta veniet latibula,
et proculcatas obteret duro pede.
Ita caput ad nostrum furor illorum pertinet".

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

Humiles laborant ubi potentes dissident.
Rana intuens e palude pugnam taurorum,
ait: "Heu, quanta pernicies instat nobis."
Interrogata ab alia
cur diceret hoc,
cum illi boves certarent de principatu gregis
et degerent vitam longe ab ipsis,
"Statio separata ac genus diversum sit;
qui expulsus regno nemoris profugerit,
veniet in secreta latibula paludis,
et obteret proculcatas duro pede.
Ita furor illorum pertinet ad nostrum caput."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Hum'les ~ labo~rant ub' ~ poten~tes dis~sident.
Ran(a) e ~ palu~de pug~nam tau~ror(um) in~tuens,
"Heu, quan~ta no~bis in~stat per~nicjes" ~ ait.
inter~roga~t(a) ab al~ja cur ~ hoc di~ceret,
de prin~cipa~tu c(um) il~li cer~tarent ~ gregis
longe~qu(e) ab ip~sis de~gerent ~ vitam ~ boves,
"Sit sta~tjo se~para~t(a) ac di~versum ~ genus;
expul~sus reg~no nem'~ris qui ~ profu~gerit,
palu~dis in ~ secre~ta ven~jet lat'~bula,
et pro~culca~tas ob~teret ~ duro ~ pede.
It' cap't ~ ad nos~trum f'ror ~ illo~rum per~tinet".

Translation:

The small folk suffer when the high and mighty quarrel. A frog gazing out from the swamp saw a fight among the bulls and said: "Yikes, some great disaster is headed our way!" When another frog asked her why she said this, since those oxen were fighting for leadership of their herd and lived their lives far away from the frogs, she replied: "Although their habitat is removed from us and they are not our kind, the bull who is expelled from the realm of the meadow will have to flee and come to find a secret hiding place here in the marsh, treading upon us and grinding us beneath his hard hoof. So it is that their quarrel is a matter of life and death for us."

[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 (this shows a bull and a frog, but it is not an illustration of this particular fable); click on the image for a larger view.

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Asinus et Leo: Donkey and Lion

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 151.

Text:

Virtutis expers, verbis iactans gloriam,
ignotos fallit, notis est derisui.
Venari asello comite cum vellet leo,
contexit illum frutice et admonuit simul
ut insueta voce terreret feras,
fugientes ipse exciperet. Hic auritulus
clamorem subito totis tollit viribus,
novoque turbat bestias miraculo:
quae, dum paventes exitus notos petunt,
leonis adfliguntur horrendo impetu.
Qui postquam caede fessus est, asinum evocat,
iubetque vocem premere. Tunc ille insolens
"Qualis videtur opera tibi vocis meae?"
"Insignis" inquit "sic ut, nisi nossem tuum
animum genusque, simili fugissem metu".

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

Expers virtutis,
iactans gloriam verbis,
fallit ignoto,
est derisui notis.
Cum leo vellet venari
asello comite,
contexit illum frutice
et simul admonuit
ut terreret feras insueta voce,
ipse exciperet fugientes.
Hic auritulus
subito tollit clamorem totis viribus,
et turbat bestias novo miraculo:
bestiae,
dum paventes petunt notos exitus,
adfliguntur
horrendo impetu leonis.
Postquam leo fessus est caede,
evocat asinum,
et iubet premere vocem.
Tunc ille insolens:
"Qualis opera meae vocis videtur tibi?"
Leo inquit:
"Sic insignis ut,
nisi nossem tuum animum et genus,
fugissem simili metu."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Virtu~tis ex~pers, ver~bis iac~tans glo~riam,
igno~tos fal~lit, no~tis est ~ deri~sui.
Vena~r(i) asel~lo com'~te cum ~ vellet ~ leo,
contex~it il~lum frut'~c(e) et ad~monvit ~ simul
ut in~sue~ta vo~ce ter~reret ~ feras,
fugjen~tes ip~s(e) excip'~ret. Hic ~ auri~tulus
clamo~rem sub'~to to~tis tol~lit vi~ribus,
novo~que tur~bat bes~tias ~ mira~culo:
quae, dum ~ paven~tes ex~itus ~ notos ~ petunt,
leo~nis ad~fligun~tur hor~rend(o) im~petu.
Qui post~quam cae~de fes~sus est, ~ as'n(um) e~vocat,
iubet~que vo~cem prem'~re. Tunc ~ ill(e) in~solens
"Qualis ~ vide~tur op'~ra tib ~ vocis ~ meae?"
"Insig~nis" in~quit "sic ~ ut, nis' ~ nossem ~ tuum
an'mum ~ genus~que, sim'~li fu~gissem ~ metu".

Translation:

Someone without redeeming qualities but who speaks boastfully about his talents can fool someone who doesn't know him, but he is a laughing-stock to someone who does. When the lion wanted to go hunting with the donkey as his companion, he hid the donkey in a bush and told him to frighten the wild beasts with his unfamiliar voice while he would capture them as they ran away. The long-eared creature immediately raised up a cry with all his might, and upset the beasts with this new-fangled wonder; while the fearful beasts sought their usual escape routes, they were attacked by the savage assault of the lion. After the lion was exhausted from the slaughter, he summoned the donkey and ordered him to shut up. Then the donkey said insolently: "How does the service rendered by my voice seem to you?" The lion said: "It was so outstanding that if I did not already know your character and species, I would have fled in similar fright."

[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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Arcus Aesopi: Aesop's Bow

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 505.

Text:

Puerorum in turba quidam ludentem Atticus
Aesopum nucibus cum vidisset, restitit,
et quasi delirum risit. Quod sensit simul
derisor potius quam deridendus senex,
arcum retensum posuit in media via:
"Heus" inquit "sapiens, expedi quid fecerim."
Concurrit populus. Ille se torquet diu,
nec quaestionis positae causam intellegit.
Novissime succumbit. Tum victor sophus:
"Cito rumpes arcum, semper si tensum habueris;
at si laxaris, cum voles erit utilis."
Sic lusus animo debent aliquando dari,
ad cogitandum melior ut redeat tibi.

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

Cum quidam Atticus vidisset
Aesopum ludentem nucibus
in turba puerorum,
restitit,
et risit eum, quasi delirum.
Simul senex sensit hoc
(potius derisor quam deridendus),
posuit retensum arcum in media via.
Inquit:
"Heus sapiens, expedi
quid fecerim."
Populus concurrit.
Ille torquet se diu,
et non intellegit causam positae quaestionis.
Novissime succumbit.
Tum sophus victor:
"Cito rumpes arcum,
si semper habueris tensum;
at si laxaris,
erit utilis
cum voles ."
Sic aliquando lusus debet dari animo,
ut animus redeat tibi
melior ad cogitandum.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Pu'ro~r(um) in tur~ba qui~dam lu~dent(em) At~ticus
Aeso~pum nuc'~bus cum ~ vidis~set, re~stitit,
et qua~si de~lirum ~ risit. ~ Quod sens't ~ simul
deri~sor po~tjus quam ~ deri~dendus ~ senex,
arcum ~ reten~sum pos~vit in ~ medja ~ via:
"Heus" in~quit "sa~pjens, ex~pedi ~ quid fe~cerim."
Concur~rit pop'~lus. Il~le se ~ torquet ~ diu,
nec quae~stio~nis pos'~tae cau~s(am) intel~legit.
Novis~sime ~ succum~bit. Tum ~ victor ~ sophus:
"Cito ~ rumpes ~ arcum, ~ semp'r si ~ tens(um h)ab~veris;
at si ~ laxa~ris, cum ~ voles ~ er't u~tilis."
Sic lu~sus an'~mo de~bent al'~quando ~ dari,
ad cog'~tandum ~ meljor ~ ut re~deat ~ tibi.

Translation:

When a certain man of Athens saw Aesop playing with nuts amidst a crowd of boys, he stood there and laughed at Aesop as if Aesop were crazy. As soon as the old man realized what was going on (Aesop was more inclined to laugh at others than to be laughed at himself), he took an unstrung bow and placed it in the middle of the road. He said: "Hey wise guy, explain the meaning of what I have done." The people came running up. The man racked his brains for a long time but he could not understand the reason behind Aesop's question. Finally he gave up. The triumphant sage then said: "You will soon break your bow if you keep it tightly strung at all times, but if you let it rest it will be ready to use whenever you want." In the same way sometimes amusement must be given to the mind so that your mind will come to you better prepared for thinking.

[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 Aesop from an early printed edition:

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Fiber: The Beaver

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 16: Procul In Praesepi, a Latin translation of the English Christmas carol, "Away in a Manger."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 118.

Text:

Canes effugere cum iam non possit fiber
(Graeci loquaces quem dixerunt castorem
et indiderunt bestiae nomen dei,
illi qui iactant se verborum copia),
abripere morsu fertur testiculos sibi,
quia propter illos sentiat sese peti.
Divina quod ratione fieri non negem;
venator namque simul invenit remedium,
omittit ipsum persequi et revocat canes.
Hoc si praestare possent homines, ut suo
vellent carere, tuti posthac viverent;
haud quisquam insidias nudo faceret corpori.

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

Cum fiber
iam non possit effugere canes
(loquaces Graeci dixerunt fibrum
"castorem"
et indiderunt bestiae nomen dei,
illi qui iactant se copia verborum),
fertur morsu abripere sibi testiculos,
quia sentiat
sese peti propter illos.
Non negem
hoc fieri divina ratione;
namque venator simul invenit remedium,
omittit persequi ipsum,
et revocat canes.
Si homines possent praestare hoc:
ut vellent carere suo,
posthac tuti viverent;
quisquam haud faceret insidias
nudo corpori.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Canes ~ effug'~re cum ~ iam non ~ possit ~ fiber
(Graeci ~ loqua~ces quem ~ dixe~runt cas~torem
et in~dide~runt bes~tiae ~ nomen ~ dei,
illi ~ qui iac~tant se ~ verbo~rum co~pia),
abrip'~re mor~su fer~tur tes~tic'los ~ sibi,
qui' prop~ter il~los sen~tiat ~ sese ~ peti.
Divi~na quod ~ ratjo~ne fje~ri non ~ negem;
vena~tor nam~que sim'~l inven't ~ reme~dium,
omit~tit ip~sum per'~s'qu(i) et re~vocat ~ canes.
Hoc si ~ praesta~re pos~sent hom'~nes, ut ~ suo
vellent ~ care~re, tu~ti post~hac vi~verent;
haud quis~qu(am) insid~jas nu~do fac'~ret cor~pori.

Translation:

When the beaver can no longer escape the dogs (those loud-mouthed Greeks call beavers "castors," giving the name of a god to an animal - those Greeks who are so proud of their abundant words), he supposedly tears off his testicles with a bite because he is aware that he is hunted for them. I do not deny that this happens by some superhuman understanding: as soon as the hunter gets the medicine, he stops chasing the beaver and calls off his dogs. If only people would take the same approach, agreeing to be deprived of their possessions, they would live safely ever after. No one would set a trap for someone stripped to the skin.

[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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Lupus et Gruis: Wolf and Crane

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 15: In Dulci Iubilo, a 14th-century Latin carol which became the basis for the English song, "Good Christian Men, Rejoice."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 156.

Text:

Qui pretium meriti ab improbis desiderat,
bis peccat: primum quoniam indignos adiuvat,
impune abire deinde quia iam non potest.
Os devoratum fauce cum haereret lupi,
magno dolore victus coepit singulos
inlicere pretio ut illud extraherent malum.
Tandem persuasa est iureiurando gruis,
gulae quae credens colli longitudinem
periculosam fecit medicinam lupo.
Pro quo cum pactum flagitaret praemium,
"Ingrata es" inquit "ore quae nostro caput
incolume abstuleris et mercedem postules".

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

Qui desiderat ab improbis pretium meriti,
peccat bis:
primum quoniam adiuvat indignos,
deinde quia iam non potest abire impune.
Cum os devoratum haereret fauce lupi,
victus magno dolore
coepit inlicere singulos pretio
ut extraherent illud malum.
Tandem gruis persuasa est iureiurando:
gruis fecit periculosam medicinam lupo
credens longitudinem colli sui gulae lupi.
Cum flagitaret pactum praemium pro hoc,
lupus inquit:
"Ingrata es:
tu abstuleris caput ore nostro incolume
et postules mercedem!"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Qui pret~jum mer'~t(i) ab im~probis ~ desi~derat,
bis pec~cat: pri~mum quo~ni(am) indig~nos ad~iuvat,
impu~n(e) abi~re dein~de qui' ~ iam non ~ potest.
Os de~vora~tum fau~ce c(um h)ae~reret ~ lupi,
magno ~ dolo~re vic~tus coe~pit sin~gulos
inlic'~re pret~j(o) ut il~lud ex~tra'rent ~ malum.
Tandem ~ persua~s(a) est iu~reiu~rando ~ gruis,
gulae ~ quae cre~dens col~li lon~gitu~dinem
peri~c'losam ~ fecit ~ medi~cinam ~ lupo.
Pro quo ~ cum pac~tum fla~gita~ret prae~mium,
"Ingra~t(a) es" in~quit "o~re quae ~ nostro ~ caput
incol'~m(e) abstul~'ris et ~ merce~dem pos~tules".

Translation:

The person who expects a reward from wicked men for services rendered is making two mistakes: first because he is helping people who don't deserve it and second because he won't even be able to get away unscathed. A wolf swallowed a bone which got stuck in his throat. He was smitten by great pain and began to entice the animals one by one with a reward if they would extract the awful thing. Finally the crane was convinced by the wolf's solemn promises. Trusting her long beak to the wolf's throat, the crane carried out the dangerous cure for the wolf. Yet when the crane demanded the promised reward for this thing, the wolf said, 'You ungrateful creature! You extracted your head unharmed from my mouth and still you would ask for a reward?'

[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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Mustela et mures: Weasel and Mice

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 14: Primum Noel Cecinit Angelus, a Latin translation of the English carol, "The First Noel."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 511.

Text:

Mustela, cum annis et senecta debilis
mures veloces non valeret adsequi,
involvit se farina et obscuro loco
abiecit neclegenter. Mus, escam putans,
adsiluit et comprensus occubuit neci;
alter similiter, deinde perit et tertius.
post aliquot venit saeculis retorridus,
qui saepe laqueos et muscipula effugerat;
proculque insidias cernens hostis callidi,
"Sic valeas," inquit, "ut farina es, quae iaces!"

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

Mustela,
cum debilis annis et senecta
non valeret adsequi veloces mures,
involvit se farina
et abiecit neclegenter obscuro loco.
Mus, putans mustelam esse escam,
adsiluit
et comprensus occubuit neci;
alter similiter,
deinde et tertius perit.
post aliquot
mus venit, retorridus saeculis,
qui saepe effugerat laqueos et muscipula;
et procul cernens insidias callidi hostis,
inquit:
"Tu quae iaces: sic valeas ut farina es!"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Muste~la, c(um) an~nis et ~ senec~ta de~bilis
mures ~ velo~ces non ~ vale~ret ad~sequi,
invol~vit se ~ fari~n(a) et ob~scuro ~ loco
abie~cit nec~legen~ter. Mus, ~ escam ~ putans,
adsil~vit et ~ compren~sus oc~cubvit ~ neci;
alter ~ simil'~ter, dein~de per'~t et ter~tius.
post al'~quot ve~nit sae~culis ~ retor~ridus,
qui sae~pe laqu'~os et ~ muscip'~l(a) effug~erat;
procul~qu(e) insid~jas cer~nens hos~tis cal~lidi,
"Sic val'~as," in~quit, "ut ~ fari~n(a) es, quae ~ iaces!"

Translation:

A weasel, enfeebled by age and senility, was no longer able to pursue the swift mice, so she decided to roll in the flour and lie down nonchalantly in a dark corner. One of the mice thought that she must be food and pounced, and he was caught and consigned to death; another mouse did the same, and then a third mouse also perished. A few mice later, another mouse arrived: his skin was wrinkled with extreme old age and he had escaped many a time from snares and traps. Already at a distance he recognized the ambush of their cunning enemy. He said: "You there, lying in the corner! I wish you well if, and only if, you really are made of flour!"

[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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Simius et vulpes: Monkey and Fox

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 13: Dum Servant Pecus Pastores, a Latin translation of the English carol, "While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 533.

Text:

Vulpem rogabat partem caudae simius,
contegere honeste posset ut nudas nates;
cui sic maligna: "Longior fiat licet,
tamen illam citius per lutum et spinas traham,
partem tibi quam quamvis parvam impartiar."

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

Simius rogabat vulpem partem caudae,
ut posset contegere honeste nudas nates;
cui sic maligna:
"Licet fiat longior,
tamen citius traham illam per lutum et spinas,
quamvis impartiar tibi quam parvam partem."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Vulpem ~ roga~bat par~tem cau~dae si~mius,
conteg'~r(e h)ones~te pos~set ut ~ nudas ~ nates;
cui sic ~ mali~gna: "Lon~gior ~ fiat ~ licet,
tam'n il~lam cit~jus per ~ lut(um) et ~ spinas ~ traham,
partem ~ tibi ~ quam quam~vis par~v(am) impar~tiar."

Translation:

A monkey asked a fox to give him a part of her tail so that he could respectably cover up his bare behind. The malicious fox said in reply, 'Even if my tail grew longer than it is now, I would sooner drag it through filth and thorns than share even the smallest part of it with 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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Cervus et Boves: The Stag and The Oxen

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 12: Christe, Redemptor Omnium, "Christ, Redeemer of All," an ancient Latin hymn dating back to the sixth century.

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 492.

Text:

Cervus nemorosis excitatus latibulis,
ut venatorum effugeret instantem necem,
caeco timore proximam villam petit,
ut opportuno se bovili condidit.
hic bos latenti "Quidnam voluisti tibi,
infelix, ultro qui ad necem cucurreris?
at ille supplex "Vos modo inquit "parcite:
occasione rursus erumpam data".
spatium diei noctis excipiunt vices;
frondem bubulcus adfert, nil adeo videt:
eunt subinde et redeunt omnes rustici,
nemo animadvertit: transit etiam vilicus,
nec ille quicquam sentit. tum gaudens ferus
bubus quietis agere coepit gratias,
hospitium adverso quod praestiterint tempore.
respondit unus "Salvum te cupimus quidem,
sed, ille qui oculos centum habet si venerit,
magno in periclo vita vertetur tua".
haec inter ipse dominus a cena redit;
et, quia corruptos viderat nuper boves,
accedit ad praesaepe: "Cur frondis parum est?
stramenta desunt. tollere haec aranea
quantum est laboris?" dum scrutatur singula,
cervi quoque alta conspicatur cornua;
quem convocata iubet occidi familia,
praedamque tollit. Haec significat fabula
dominum videre plurimum in rebus suis.

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

Cervus,
excitatus nemorosis latibulis,
ut effugeret instantem necem venatorum,
caeco timore
petit proximam villam,
ut condidit se opportuno bovili.
Cervo hic latenti
bos: "Quidnam voluisti tibi,
infelix,
qui ultro cucurreris ad necem?"
At ille supplex inquit:
"Vos modo parcite:
occasione data
rursus erumpam."
Vices noctis excipiunt spatium diei:
bubulcus adfert frondem,
nil adeo videt;
omnes rustici
eunt subinde et redeunt,
nemo animadvertit:
etiam vilicus transit,
et ille non sentit quicquam.
tum ferus gaudens
coepit agere gratias
bubus quietis,
quod praestiterint hospitium
adverso tempore.
Unus respondit:
"Cupimus quidem te salvum,
sed si ille venerit
qui habet centum oculos,
tua vita vertetur
in magno periclo."
Inter haec
dominus ipse
redit a cena;
et,
quia viderat
boves corruptos nuper,
accedit ad praesaepe:
"Cur parum frondis est?
Stramenta desunt.
Quantum laboris est
tollere haec aranea?"
Dum scrutatur singula,
quoque conspicatur alta cornua cervi;
familia convocata,
iubet cervum occidi,
et tollit praedam.
Haec fabula significat
dominum videre plurimum
in rebus suis.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Cervus ~ nem'ro~sis ex~cita~tus lat'~bulis,
ut ve~nato~r(um) effug'~ret in~stantem ~ necem,
caeco ~ timo~re prox~imam ~ villam ~ petit,
ut op~portu~no se ~ bovi~li con~didit.
hic bos ~ laten~ti "Quid~nam vol~visti ~ tibi,
infe~lix, ul~tro qu(i) ad ~ necem ~ cucur~reris?
at il~le sup~plex "Vos ~ mod(o) in~quit "par~cite:
occa~sio~ne rur~sus e~rumpam ~ data".
spatjum ~ die~i noc~tis ex~cipjunt ~ vices;
frondem ~ bubul~cus ad~fert, nil ~ adeo ~ videt:
eunt ~ subin~d(e) et red~'unt om~nes rus~tici,
nem(o) an'madver~tit: trans~it et~jam vi~licus,
nec il~le quic~quam sen~tit. tum ~ gaudens ~ ferus
bubus ~ quie~tis ag'~re coe~pit gra~tias,
hospit~j(um) adver~so quod ~ praestit'~rint tem~pore.
respon~dit u~nus "Sal~vum te ~ cup'mus ~ quidem,
sed, il~le qu(i) oc'~los cen~t(um h)abet ~ si ve~nerit,
magn(o) in ~ peri~clo vi~ta ver~tetur ~ tua".
haec in~ter ip~se dom'~nus a ~ cena ~ redit;
et, quja ~ corrup~tos vi~derat ~ nuper ~ boves,
acce~dit ad ~ praesae~pe: "Cur ~ frondis ~ par(um) est?
stramen~ta de~sunt. tol~ler(e h)ae~c ara~nea
quant(um) est ~ labo~ris?" dum ~ scruta~tur sin~gula,
cervi ~ quoqu(e) al~ta con~spica~tur cor~nua;
quem con~voca~ta iu~bet occ'~di fam'~lia,
praedam~que tol~lit. Haec ~ signif'~cat fa~bula
dom'num ~ vide~re plu~rim(um) in ~ rebus ~ suis.

Translation:

A stag was chased out of his forest hiding place; in order to flee impending death from the hunters, in blind fear he sought out the nearest farmhouse to hide himself in an available ox stall. An ox said to the stag as he was hiding there: "You wretch, what on earth were you thinking? Of your own free will you have run to your own death." But the stag pleaded with the oxen: "Just you spare me; when I get the chance, I will run back out again." Night's turn followed upon the daytime; a cowherd brought leafy boughs in but still saw nothing; all the farmhands came and went from there, nobody saw anything; even the bailiff passed by and he too did not see anything. Then the wild stag rejoiced and began to thank the quiet oxen for having offered him hospitality in a difficult moment. One of the oxen replied: "We indeed want you to be safe, but if the one comes who has a hundred eyes, your life will find itself again in extreme danger." Meanwhile, the master himself returned from dinner and because he had seen that the oxen had been lookly badly of late, he went to the manger: "Why is there so little foliage? There's not enough hay. How much trouble is it to clear away these spiderwebs?" While he inspected every detail, he also noticed the stag's tall horns; after the household staff were summoned, he ordered that the stag be killed and to carry off the prize. This fable shows that the master sees best when it comes to his own business.

[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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Leo Senex: The Old Lion

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 11: Adeste Fideles, the 18th-century Latin hymn known in English as "O Come, All Ye Faithful."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 481.

Text:

Quicumque amisit dignitatem pristinam,
ignavis etiam iocus est in casu gravi.
Defectus annis et desertus viribus
leo cum iaceret spiritum extremum trahens,
aper fulmineis spumans venit dentibus,
et vindicavit ictu veterem iniuriam.
Infestis taurus mox confodit cornibus
hostile corpus. Asinus, ut vidit ferum
impune laedi, calcibus frontem extudit.
At ille exspirans "Fortis indigne tuli
mihi insultare: Te, Naturae dedecus,
quod ferre certe cogor bis videor mori".

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

Quicumque amisit pristinam dignitatem,
in gravi casu
est iocus
etiam ignavis.
Cum leo,
defectus annis et desertus viribus,
iaceret
trahens extremum spiritum,
aper venit
spumans fulmineis dentibus,
et vindicavit veterem iniuriam ictu.
Mox taurus confodit hostile corpus
infestis cornibus.
Asinus,
ut vidit ferum laedi impune,
extudit frontem calcibus.
At ille exspirans:
"Indigne tuli
fortis insultare mihi;
Naturae dedecus,
quod cogor
te ferre,
certe videor mori bis."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Quicum~qu(e) ami~sit dig~nita~tem pris~tinam,
igna~vis et~jam io~cus 'st in ~ casu gravi.
Defec~tus an~nis et ~ deser~tus vi~ribus
leo ~ cum ia~ceret ~ spir't(um) ex~tremum ~ trahens,
aper ~ fulm'ne~is spu~mans ve~nit den~tibus,
et vin~dica~vit ic~tu vet'~r(em) inju~riam.
Infes~tis tau~rus mox ~ confo~dit cor~nibus
hosti~le cor~pus. As'~nus, ut ~ vidit ~ ferum
impu~ne lae~di, cal~cibus ~ front(em) ex~tudit.
At il~l(e) exspi~rans "For~tis in~digne ~ tuli
mih(i) in~sulta~re: Te, ~ Natu~rae de~decus,
quod fer~re cer~te co~gor bis ~ videor ~ mori".

Translation:

If someone who has lost their former dignity gets into serious trouble, he is a laughing stock even to contemptible people. When a lion, enfeebled by old age and having lost his strength, was stretched out on the ground, taking his last breath, a boar approached, foaming at the mouth with his flashing tusks, and avenged an old injury by stabbing the lion. Next came a bull who gored his enemy's body with deadly horns. When the donkey saw that the wild lion could be wounded with impunity, he struck the lion's head with his hooves. Gasping his last breath, the lion said: "I undeservedly endured having the strong animals insult me - but you! you disgrace to the natural world! The fact that I have to put up with you makes me seem indeed to have died twice over."

[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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Taurus et Vitulus: Bull and Bullock

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 10: Resonet in laudibus, a popular Latin hymn which was adapted into English under the title "Christ Was Born on Christmas Day."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 531.

Text:

Angusto in aditu taurus luctans cornibus
cum vix intrare posset ad praesepia,
monstrabat vitulus quo se pacto flecteret.
"Tace" inquit; "ante hoc novi quam tu natus es."
Qui doctiorem emendat sibi dici putet.

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

Cum taurus luctans cornibus in angusto aditu
vix posset intrare ad praesepia,
vitulus monstrabat
quo pacto flecteret se.
Inquit: "Tace! Novi hoc ante quam tu natus es."
Qui emendat doctiorem putet dici sibi.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Angus~t(o) in ad'~tu tau~rus luc~tans cor~nibus
cum vix ~ intra~re pos~set ad ~ praese~pia,
monstra~bat vit'~lus quo ~ se pac~to flec~teret.
"Tac(e)" in~quit; "an~t(e h)oc no~vi quam ~ tu na~tus es."
Qui doc~tjor(em) e~mendat ~ sibi ~ dici ~ putet.

Translation:

When a bull was struggling to squeeze his horns through a narrow entryway, scarcely able to get inside his stable, a young calf showed the bull which way he should turn his head. The bull said: "Hush! I've known how to do this since before you were born!" The person who tries to correct his superior should recognize himself in this fable.

[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 (this is a picture of a bull from another fable, not this one).

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Serpens et lacerta: Snake and Lizard

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 9: Gaudium Mundo, a Latin translation of "Joy to the World."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 552.

Text:

Serpens lacertam forte aversam prenderat,
quam devorare patula cum vellet gula,
arripuit illa prope iacentem surculum,
et pertinaci morsu transversum tenens
avidum sollerti rictum frenavit mora.
praedam dimisit ore serpens inritam.

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

Serpens forte prenderat lacertam aversam:
cum vellet devorare lacertam patula gula,
illa arripuit surculum prope iacentem,
et tenens surculum transversum pertinaci morsu
frenavit avidum rictum sollerti mora.
serpens dimisit ore praedam inritam.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Serpens ~ lacer~tam for~t(e) aver~sam pren~derat,
quam de~vora~re pat'~la cum ~ vellet ~ gula,
arrip~vit il~la prop~' iacen~tem sur~culum,
et per~tina~ci mor~su trans~versum ~ tenens
av'dum ~ soller~ti ric~tum fre~navit ~ mora.
praedam ~ dimi~sit o~re ser~pens in~ritam.

Translation:

By chance a snake had caught a lizard from behind: when he wanted to gobble the lizard with his gaping jaws, the lizard grabbed a twig lying nearby, and by tightly biting onto the twig the lizard kept the snake from greedily swallowing her by means of this sly delay. The snake let the useless prey out of his mouth.

[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 toy snake with a big mouth:

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Iuppiter et Perae: Jupiter and the Sacks

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 8: Regis Olim Urbe David, a Latin translation of the English children's carol "Once Upon A Time in the City of King David."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 266.

Text:

Peras imposuit Iuppiter nobis duas:
propriis repletam vitiis post tergum dedit,
alienis ante pectus suspendit gravem.
Hac re videre nostra mala non possumus;
alii simul delinquunt, censores sumus.

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

Iuppiter imposuit nobis duas peras:
dedit peram repletam propriis vitiis post tergum,
suspendit peram gravem alienis vitiis ante pectus.
Hac re non possumus videre nostra mala;
sumus censores simul alii delinquunt.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Peras ~ impos~vit Iup~piter ~ nobis ~ duas:
proprjis ~ reple~tam vit~jis post ~ tergum ~ dedit,
alje~nis an~te pec~tus sus~pendit ~ gravem.
Hac re ~ vider' ~ nostra ~ mala ~ non pos~sumus;
alii ~ simul ~ delin~quunt, cen~sores ~ sumus.

Translation:

Jupiter has given us two sacks to carry. He put one sack, filled with our own faults, on our back, and he suspended a sack heavy with the faults of others in front of us. This is the reason why we are blind to our own bad habits but we sit in judgment as soon as others make a mistake.

[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 Zeus:

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Cicada et Noctua: The Cricket and The Owl

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 7: Angeli Canunt Praecones, a Latin translation of the English carol "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 507.

Text:

Humanitati qui se non accommodat
plerumque poenas oppetit superbiae.
Cicada acerbum noctuae convicium
faciebat, solitae victum in tenebris quaerere
cavoque ramo capere somnum interdiu.
Rogata est ut taceret. Multo validius
clamare occepit. Rursus admota prece
accensa magis est. Noctua, ut vidit sibi
nullum esse auxilium et verba contemni sua,
hac est adgressa garrulam fallacia:
"Dormire quia me non sinunt cantus tui,
sonare citharam quos putes Apollinis,
potare est animus nectar, quod Pallas mihi
nuper donavit; si non fastidis, veni;
una bibamus." Illa, quae arebat siti,
simul gaudebat vocem laudari suam,
cupide advolavit. Noctua, obsepto cavo,
trepidantem consectata est et leto dedit.
Sic, viva quod negarat, tribuit mortua.

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

Qui non accommodat se humanitati
plerumque oppetit poenas superbiae.
Cicada faciebat acerbum convicium
noctuae
solitae quaerere victum in tenebris
et interdiu capere somnum cavo ramo.
Cicada rogata est
ut taceret.
Occepit clamare multo validius.
Rursus admota prece
magis accensa est.
Noctua,
ut vidit
nullum esse auxilium sibi
et verba sua contemni,
adgressa est garrulam hac fallacia:
"Quia tui cantus non sinunt me dormire:
putes
Apollinis citharam sonare hos cantus,
animus est
potare nectar,
quod Pallas nuper donavit mihi;
si non fastidis, veni;
una bibamus."
Illa,
quae arebat siti,
simul gaudebat
suam vocem laudari,
cupide advolavit.
Noctua,
obsepto cavo,
consectata est cicadam trepidantem
et leto dedit.
Sic cicada,
quod viva negarat,
mortua tribuit.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Huma~nita~ti qui ~ se non ~ accom~modat
plerum~que poe~nas op~petit ~ super~biae.
Cica~d(a) acer~bum noc~tuae ~ convi~cium
facje~bat, sol'~tae vic~t(um) in t'ne~bris quae~rere
cavo~que ra~mo cap'~re som~n(um) inter~diu.
Roga~t(a) est ut ~ tace~ret. Mul~to val'~dius
clama~r(e) occe~pit. Rur~sus ad~mota ~ prece
accen~sa ma~gis est. ~ Noctv(a), ut ~ vidit ~ sibi
null(um) es~s(e) auxil~j(um) et ver~ba con~temni ~ sua,
hac est ~ adgres~sa gar~rulam ~ falla~cia:
"Dormi~re qui' ~ me non ~ sinunt ~ cantus ~ tui,
sona~re cith'~ram quos ~ putes ~ Apol~linis,
pota~r(e) est an'~mus nec~tar, quod ~ Pallas ~ mihi
nuper ~ dona~vit; si ~ non fas~tidis, ~ veni;
una ~ biba~mus." Il~la, qu(ae) a~rebat ~ siti,
simul ~ gaude~bat vo~cem lau~dari ~ suam,
cupi~d(e) advo~lavit. ~ Noct~v(a), ob~septo ~ cavo,
trep'dan~tem con~secta~t(a) est et ~ leto ~ dedit.
Sic, vi~va quod ~ nega~rat, trib~vit mor~tua.

Translation:

Someone who cannot deal with people usually pays the price for his conceited behaviour. A cricket was making an awful disturbance for the owl who was accustomed to seek her food in the dark and meanwhile to catch some shut-eye in a hollowed-out tree branch. The cricket was asked to keep quiet. She began to shout even more loudly. Again the request was made, and the cricket got even more excited. When the owl saw that this was doing her no good and that her words were being ignored, she approached the chattering cricket with this trick: "Given that your songs do not let me sleep - songs which you would think Apollo's own lyre were producing - I've got a mind to drink the nectar which Athena recently gave me as a gift. If you don't object, please come; let's have a drink together." The cricket, who was parched with thirst, was at the same time pleased to have her voice praised; she greedily flew to the owl. The owl, having blocked up the hole, seized the trembling cricket and consigned her to death. What the cricket had refused to do while living, she conceded in 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 image of an owl from a medieval manuscript; click on the image for a larger view.

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Canis Vetulus: The Old Dog

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 6: Conditor Alme Siderum, "Bountiful Creator of the Stars."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 532.

Text:

Adversus omnes fortis et velox feras
canis cum domino semper fecisset satis,
languere coepit annis ingravantibus.
Aliquando obiectus hispidi pugnae suis,
arripuit aurem; sed cariosis dentibus
praedam dimisit rictus. Venator dolens
canem obiurgabat. Cui senex contra Lacon:
"Non te destituit animus, sed vires meae.
Quod fuimus lauda, si iam damnas quod sumus."

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

Cum canis,
fortis et velox adversus omnes feras,
semper fecisset satis domino,
coepit languere,
annis ingravantibus.
Aliquando obiectus pugnae hispidi suis,
arripuit aurem;
sed cariosis dentibus
rictus dimisit praedam.
Venator dolens obiurgabat canem.
Cui senex Lacon contra:
"Non animus destituit te,
sed vires meae.
Lauda quod fuimus,
si iam damnas quod sumus."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Adver~sus om~nes for~tis et ~ velox ~ feras
canis ~ cum dom'~no sem~per fe~cisset ~ satis,
langue~re coe~pit an~nis in~gravan~tibus.
Al'quan~d(o) obiec~tus his~pidi ~ pugnae ~ suis,
arrip~vit au~rem; sed ~ carjo~sis den~tibus
praedam ~ dimi~sit ric~tus. Ve~nator ~ dolens
can(em) ob~iurga~bat. Cui ~ senex ~ contra ~ Lacon:
"Non te ~ destit~vit an'~mus, sed ~ vires ~ meae.
Quod fu'~mus lau~da, si ~ iam dam~nas quod ~ sumus."

Translation:

There was a dog who had been swift and strong when attacking all the wild beasts, and who always did what his master needed, but now he had begun to grow feeble under the burden of old age. On one occasion he was sent forward to fight with a bristling boar. The dog seized the boar by the ear, but the weak grip of his decaying teeth allowed the quarry to get away. The hunter was angry and scolded the dog. Good old Rover said in reply, 'I did not fail you in spirit, only in strength. Praise me for what I once was, even if you must condemn me for what I am now!'

[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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Graculus et Pavo: Jackdaw and Peacock

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 5: O Viri, Este Hilares, "God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 472.

Text:

Ne gloriari libeat alienis bonis,
suoque potius habitu vitam degere,
Aesopus nobis hoc exemplum prodidit.
Tumens inani graculus superbia
pinnas, pavoni quae deciderant, sustulit,
seque exornavit. Deinde, contemnens suos
immiscet se pavonum formoso gregi
illi impudenti pinnas eripiunt avi,
fugantque rostris. Male mulcatus graculus
redire maerens coepit ad proprium genus,
a quo repulsus tristem sustinuit notam.
Tum quidam ex illis quos prius despexerat
"Contentus nostris si fuisses sedibus
et quod Natura dederat voluisses pati,
nec illam expertus esses contumeliam
nec hanc repulsam tua sentiret calamitas".

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

Aesopus prodidit nobis hoc exemplum
ne libeat gloriari alienis bonis,
et potius degere vitam suo habitu.
Graculus
tumens inani superbia
sustulit pinnas
quae deciderant pavoni
et exornavit se.
Deinde, contemnens suos,
immiscet se formoso gregi pavonum;
eripiunt pinnas illi impudenti avi,
et fugant rostris.
Male mulcatus graculus
maerens
coepit redire ad proprium genus;
repulsus a hoc genere
sustinuit tristem notam.
Tum quidam ex illis
quos prius despexerat
"Si contentus fuisses nostris sedibus
et voluisses pati
quod Natura dederat,
nec expertus esses illam contumeliam
nec tua calamitas sentiret hanc repulsam."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Ne glo~rjari ~ libe~at al~jenis ~ bonis,
suo~que pot~jus hab'~tu vi~tam de~gere,
Aeso~pus no~bis hoc ~ exem~plum pro~didit.
Tumens ~ ina~ni gra~culus ~ super~ bia
pinnas, ~ pavo~ni quae ~ decid'~rant, sus~tulit,
sequ(e) ex~orna~vit. Dein~de, con~temnens ~ suos
immis~cet se ~ pavo~num for~moso ~ gregi
ill(i) im~puden~ti pin~nas e~ripjunt ~ avi,
fugant~que ros~tris. Mal' ~ mulca~tus gra~culus
redi~re mae~rens coe~pit ad ~ proprjum ~ genus,
a quo ~ repul~sus tris~tem sus~tinvit ~ notam.
Tum qui~d(am) ex il~lis quos ~ prius ~ despex~ erat
"Conten~tus nos~tris si ~ fuis~ses se~dibus
et quod ~ Natu~ra de~d'rat vol~visses ~ pati,
nec il~l(am) exper~tus es~ses con~tume~liam
nec hanc ~ repul~sam tva ~ senti~ret c'la~mitas".

Translation:

Aesop offered us this exemplary story so that people should not want to take pride in goods that are not their own but rather to live their lives in their own lifestyle. A jackdaw, puffed up with empty pride, gathered up the feathers which had fallen from a peacock and got all dressed up. Then, scorning his fellow jackdaws, he joined the beautiful flock of peacocks, but they ripped off the feathers from the impudent jackdaw and pecked at him till he ran away. The jackdaw was badly beaten up and sadly made his way back to his own crowd, but when he was driven away by them too, he endured a sad disgrace. Then one of those whom he had previously despised said: "If you had been content in our abode and had been willing to put up with what Nature had given you, you would not have suffered this abuse and your downfall would not have been met with such a cold shoulder."

[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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Cervus ad Fontem: The Stag at the Spring

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 4: A Solis Ortus Cardine, "From The Direction of the Sun Rise."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 74.

Text:

Laudatis utiliora quae contempseris,
saepe inveniri testis haec narratio est.
Ad fontem cervus, cum bibisset, restitit,
et in liquore vidit effigiem suam.
Ibi dum ramosa mirans laudat cornua
crurumque nimiam tenuitatem vituperat,
venantum subito vocibus conterritus,
per campum fugere coepit, et cursu levi
canes elusit. Silva tum excepit ferum;
in qua retentis impeditus cornibus
lacerari coepit morsibus saevis canum.
Tum moriens edidisse vocem hanc dicitur:
"O me infelicem, qui nunc demum intellego,
utilia mihi quam fuerint quae despexeram,
et, quae laudaram, quantum luctus habuerint".

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

Laudatis utiliora quae contempseris:
haec narratio est testis
saepe inveniri.
Cum cervus bibisset,
restitit ad fontem
et vidit in liquore suam effigiem.
Dum ibi mirans laudat ramosa cornua
et vituperat nimiam tenuitatem crurum,
subito conterritus vocibus venantum,
coepit fugere per campum,
et elusit canes cursu levi.
Tum silva excepit ferum;
in qua impeditus retentis cornibus
coepit lacerari morsibus saevis canum.
Tum moriens
dicitur edidisse hanc vocem:
"O me infelicem,
qui nunc demum intellego,
quam utilia mihi fuerint
quae despexeram,
et quantum luctus habuerint
quae laudaram."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Lauda~tis u~tiljo~ra quae ~ contemp~seris,
saep(e) in~veni~ri tes~tis haec ~ narra~ti(o) est.
Ad fon~tem cer~vus, cum ~ bibis~set, re~stitit,
et in ~ liquo~re vi~dit ef~figjem ~ suam.
Ib' dum ~ ramo~sa mi~rans lau~dat cor~nua
crurum~que nim~jam ten~vita~tem vit'~perat,
venan~tum sub'~to vo~cibus ~ conter~ritus,
per cam~pum fug~'re coe~pit, et ~ cursu ~ levi
canes ~ elu~sit. Sil~va tum ~ excep't ~ ferum;
in qua ~ reten~tis im~pedi~tus cor~nibus
lac'ra~ri coe~pit mor~sibus ~ saevis ~ canum.
Tum mor~jens e~didis~se vo~c(em h)anc di~citur:
"O m(e) in~feli~cem, qui ~ nunc de~m(um) intel~lego,
util~ja mi(h)i ~ quam fve~rint quae ~ despex~eram,
et, quae ~ lauda~ram, quan~tum luc~tus hab~verint".

Translation:

You praise as very useful things which you despised: this story is proof that it often turns out that way. When a stag was drinking he paused at the spring and saw his reflection in the water. While he stood there admiring and praising his branching horns and condemning the excessive slenderness of his legs, all of a sudden he was terrified by the sounds of hunters and began to flee across the field; he escaped the dogs thanks to his swift pace. Then the woods took the wild creature in, but he was caught up in those woods when his horns got stuck and he began to be mauled by the savage biting of the dogs. Then as he was dying, the stag is said to have made this speech: "O woe is me: now I understand at last how useful to me were the things I had despised - as for the things I praised, how much grief they held for me!"

[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 Nociva: The Harmful Serpent

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 3: Aquifolia Ornate, "Deck The Halls."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 176.

Text:

Qui fert malis auxilium, post tempus dolet.
Gelu rigentem quidam colubram sustulit
sinuque fovit, contra se ipse misericors;
namque, ut refecta est, necuit hominem protinus.
Hanc alia cum rogaret causam facinoris,
respondit: "Ne quis discat prodesse improbis."

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

Qui fert auxilium malis, post tempus dolet.
Quidam sustulit colubram rigentem gelu
et fovit sinu, ipse misericors contra se;
namque protinus, ut refecta est, necuit hominem.
Cum alia rogaret hanc causam facinoris,
respondit: "Ne quis discat prodesse improbis."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Qui fert ~ malis ~ auxil~jum, post ~ tempus ~ dolet.
Gelu ~ rigen~tem qui~dam c'lu~bram sus~tulit
sinu~que fo~vit, con~tra s(e) ip~se mis'~ricors;
namqu(e), ut ~ refec~t(a) est, nec~vit hom'~nem pro~tinus.
Hanc al~ja cum ~ rogar~et cau~sam fac'~noris,
respon~dit: "Ne ~ quis dis~cat pro~dess(e) im~probis."

Translation:

The person who helps wicked people suffers afterwards. A man had picked up a serpent that was stiff with cold and warmed her in his bosom, showing mercy on the snake to his own cost; for as soon as she was warmed up, she killed the man. When another asked the reason for this crime, she answered: "So that no one might learn to do good to criminals."

[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 in this illustration, it looks like the man has a fighting chance against that snake!).

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Gallus et feles: The Rooster and The Cats

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 2: Angelus ad Virginem, "The Angel to the Virgin."

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 546.

Text:

Feles habebat gallus lecticarios.
Hunc gloriose vulpes ut vidit vehi,
sic est locuta: "Moneo praecaveas dolum;
istorum vultus namque si consideres,
praedam portare iudices, non sarcinam."
Postquam esurire coepit felum societas,
discerpsit dominum et fecit partes funeris.

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

Gallus habebat feles lecticarios.
Ut vulpes vidit
hunc gallum gloriose vehi,
sic locuta est:
"Moneo praecaveas dolum;
namque si consideres vultus istorum,
iudices
portare praedam, non sarcinam."
Postquam societas felum coepit esurire,
discerpsit dominum
et fecit partes funeris.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Feles ~ habe~bat gal~lus lec~tica~rios.
Hunc glo~rio~se vul~pes ut ~ vidit ~ vehi,
sic est ~ locu~ta: "Mon'~o prae~cav'as ~ dolum;
isto~rum vul~tus nam~que si ~ consi~deres,
praedam ~ porta~re iu~dices, ~ non sar~cinam."
Postqu(am) e~suri~re coe~pit fe~lum soc~jetas,
discerp~sit dom'~n(um) et fe~cit par~tes fu~neris.

Translation:

A rooster had cats as his litter bearers. When the fox saw the rooster being proudly carried about, she said to him: "I advise you to beware of treachery: for if you look into the faces of those cats, you will realize that they are not bearing a burden -- they are carting off loot!" Later, the pack of cats began to grow hungry, tore their master to pieces and divided his remains amongst themselves.

[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 different "cat and rooster" fable from an early printed edition; click on the image for a larger view (if you are curious about the fable that goes with this story, visit aesopica.net).

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Vulpis et Ciconia: Fox and Stork

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Note for the month of December: You can find Latin Christmas Carols, with a new one for each day, at my Latin Carols Blog. December 1: Rudolphus Rubrinasus, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.

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Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 426.

Text:

Nulli nocendum, si quis vero laeserit,
multandum simili iure fabella admonet.
Ad cenam vulpes dicitur ciconiam
prior invitasse, et liquidam in patulo marmore
posuisse sorbitionem, quam nullo modo
gustare esuriens potuerit ciconia.
Quae, vulpem cum revocasset, intrito cibo
plenam lagonam posuit; huic rostrum inserens
satiatur ipsa et torquet convivam fame.
Quae cum lagonae collum frustra lamberet,
peregrinam sic locutam volucrem accepimus:
"Sua quisque exempla debet aequo animo pati".

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

Nulli nocendum;
si quis vero laeserit,
ei multandum simili iure -
fabella admonet!
Vulpes dicitur
prior invitasse ciconiam ad cenam,
et posuisse liquidam sorbitionem in patulo marmore;
ciconia esuriens
nullo modo potuerit gustare sorbitionem.
Ciconia,
cum revocasset vulpem,
posuit lagonam plenam intrito cibo;
huic inserens rostrum
ciconia satiatur et torquet convivam fame.
Cum vulpes frustra lamberet collum lagonae,
accepimus
peregrinam volucrem locutam esse:
sic:
"Quisque debet pati aequo animo sua exempla."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Nulli ~ nocen~dum, si ~ quis ve~ro lae~serit,
multan~dum sim~'li iu~re fa~bell(a) ad~monet.
Ad ce~nam vul~pes di~citur ~ cico~niam
pr'or in~vitas~s(e), et liq'~d(am) in pat'~lo mar~more
posvis~se sor~bitjo~nem, quam ~ nullo ~ modo
gusta~r(e) esur~jens pot~verit ~ cico~nia.
Quae, vul~pem cum ~ revo~cass't, in~trito ~ cibo
plenam ~ lago~nam pos~vit; huic ~ rostr(um) in~serens
satja~tur ip~s(a) et tor~quet con~vivam ~ fame.
Quae cum ~ lago~nae col~lum frus~tra lam~beret,
per'gri~nam sic ~ locu~tam vol'~cr(em) acce~pimus:
"Su' quis~qu(e) exem~pla de~bet ae~qu(o) an'mo ~ pati".

Translation:

Do no harm - if anyone injures another person, then he must pay a penalty in turn, as this fable cautions. The fox is said to have earlier invited the stock to dinner and to have placed a liquid broth on a marble slab. The hungry stork could not taste the broth in any way. The stork, when she invited the fox in turn, put out a narrow-mouted jug filled with crumbled food; by inserting her beak inside it, she ate her fill while torturing her dinner companion with hunger. When the fox licked the neck of the jug in vain, we have heard that the migratory stork said to the fox: "Everyone must endure calmly the example they have set for others."

[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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Canis et Thesaurus: The Dog and The Treasure

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 483.

Text:

Haec res avaris esse conveniens potest,
et qui, humiles nati, dici locupletes student.
Humana effodiens ossa thesaurum canis
invenit, et, violarat quia Manes deos,
iniecta est illi divitiarum cupiditas,
poenas ut sanctae religioni penderet.
Itaque, aurum dum custodit oblitus cibi,
fame est consumptus. Quem stans vulturius super
fertur locutus "O canis, merito iaces,
qui concupisti subito regales opes,
trivio conceptus, educatus stercore".

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

Haec res potest esse conveniens avaris
et eis,
qui humiles nati
student dici locupletes.
Canis effodiens humana ossa
invenit thesaurum
et, quia violarat deos Manes,
cupiditas divitiarum iniecta est illi,
ut penderet poenas sanctae religioni.
Itaque, dum custodit aurum,
oblitus cibi,
consumptus est fame.
Vulturius stans super canem
fertur locutus:
"O canis, iaces merito,
qui concupisti subito regales opes,
conceptus trivio,
educatus stercore".

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Haec res ~ ava~ris es~se con~venjens ~ potest,
et qu(i h)um~'les na~ti, di~ci loc'~pletes ~ student.
Huma~n(a) effod~jens os~sa the~saurum ~ canis
inve~nit, et, ~ vjola~rat qui' ~ Manes ~ deos,
iniec~t(a) est il~li di~vijia~rum cup'~ditas,
poenas ~ ut sanc~tae re~ligjo~ni pen~deret.
It'qu(e) au~rum dum ~ custo~dit ob~litus ~ cibi,
fam(e) est ~ consump~tus. Quem ~ stans vul~turjus ~ super
fertur ~ locu~tus "O ~ canis, ~ mer'to ~ iaces,
qui con~cupis~ti sub'~to re~gales ~ opes,
trivjo ~ concep~tus, e~duca~tus ster~core".

Translation:

This account can be applied to greedy people and to people who, born poor, strive to be called rich. A dog, while digging up dead people's bones, uncovered a treasure, and because he outraged the spirits of the dead, the dog was stricken by a greed for wealth, in order to appease sacred taboo. Thus, while the dog guarded the treasure, he took no thought for food and wasted away from starvation. A vulture perched above him is rumored to have said, 'O you dog, you deserve to lie there dead, since you wanted to gain the wealth of a king all at once, even though you were conceived in the gutter and were raised on a dung heap!'

[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 dog digging (let's just hope he's not digging in a graveyard!):

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Asinus ad lyram: The Donkey to The Lyre

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 542.

Text:

Asinus iacentem vidit in prato lyram;
accessit et temptavit chordas ungula.
Sonuere tactae. "Bella res mehercules
male cessit" inquit "artis quia sum nescius.
Si reperisset aliquis hanc prudentior,
divinis aures oblectasset cantibus."
Sic saepe ingenia calamitate intercidunt.

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

Asinus vidit lyram iacentem in prato;
accessit et temptavit chordas ungula.
Tactae chordae sonuere.
Inquit: "Mehercules!
Bella res cessit male
quia sum nescius artis.
Si aliquis prudentior reperisset hanc,
oblectasset aures divinis cantibus."
Sic saepe ingenia intercidunt calamitate.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

As'nus ~ iacen~tem vi~dit in ~ prato ~ lyram;
acces~sit et ~ tempta~vit chor~das un~gula.
Sonve~re tac~tae. "Bel~la res ~ meher~cules
mal' ces~sit" in~quit "ar~tis qui' sum ne~scius.
Si re~peris~set al'~quis hanc ~ pruden~tior,
divi~nis au~res ob~lectas~set can~tibus."
Sic sae~p(e) ingen~ja c'la~mita~t(e) inter~cidunt.

Translation:

A donkey saw a lyre lying in a field. He approached the instrument and tried to strum it with his hoof. The strings resounded at his touch. The donkey said: "By god, this beautiful business has come to no good end since I don't know anything about music. If only someone better equipped than myself had found it, he would have delighted my ears with heavenly melodies!" So it is that talents often fall short because of some misfortune.

[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 lyre:

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Panthera et Pastores: The Panther and The Shepherds

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 494.

Text:

Solet a despectis par referri gratia.
Panthera inprudens olim in foveam decidit.
Videre agrestes; alii fustes congerunt,
alii onerant saxis; quidam contra miseriti
periturae quippe, quamvis nemo laederet,
misere panem ut sustineret spiritum.
Nox insecuta est; abeunt securi domum,
quasi inventuri mortuam postridie.
At illa, vires ut refecit languidas,
veloci saltu fovea sese liberat
et in cubile concito properat gradu.
Paucis diebus interpositis provolat,
pecus trucidat, ipsos pastores necat,
et cuncta vastans saevit irato impetu.
Tum sibi timentes qui ferae pepercerant
damnum haud recusant, tantum pro vita rogant.
At illa: "Memini quis me saxo petierit,
quis panem dederit; vos timere absistite;
illis revertor hostis qui me laeserunt."

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

Par gratia solet referri a despectis.
Olim panthera inprudens decidit in foveam.
Agrestes videre;
alii congerunt fustes,
alii onerant saxis;
quidam contra
miseriti pantherae -
periturae quippe,
quamvis nemo laederet -
misere panem
ut sustineret spiritum.
Nox insecuta est;
securi abeunt domum,
quasi inventuri mortuam postridie.
At illa,
ut refecit languidas vires,
liberat sese fovea
veloci saltu
et properat in cubile
concito gradu.
Paucis diebus interpositis
panthera provolat,
trucidat pecus,
necat ipsos pastores,
et vastans cuncta
saevit irato impetu.
Tum qui pepercerant ferae
timentes sibi
haud recusant damnum,
tantum rogant pro vita.
At illa:
"Memini
quis petierit me saxo,
quis dederit panem;
vos absistite timere;
revertor hostis illis
qui laeserunt me."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Solet ~ a de~spectis ~ par re~ferr' gra~tia.
Panthe~r(a) inpru~dens o~l(im) in fo~v'am de~cidit.
Vide~r(e) agres~tes; al~ji fus~tes con~gerunt,
alj(i) on'~rant sa~xis; qui~dam con~tra mis'~riti
per'tu~rae quip~pe, quam~vis ne~mo lae~deret,
mise~re pa~n(em) ut sus~tine~ret spi~ritum.
Nox in~secu~t(a) est; ab'~unt se~curi ~ domum,
quas(i) in~ventu~ri mor~tuam ~ postri~die.
At il~la, vi~res ut ~ refe~cit lan~guidas,
velo~ci sal~tu fo~v'a se~se li~berat
et in ~ cubi~le con~cito ~ prop'rat ~ gradu.
Paucis ~ die~bus in~terpos'~tis pro~volat,
pecus ~ truci~dat, ip~sos pas~tores ~ necat,
et cunc~ta vas~tans sae~vit i~rat(o) im~petu.
Tum sib' ~ timen~tes qui ~ ferae ~ peper~cerant
damn(um h)aud ~ recu~sant, tan~tum pro ~ vita ~ rogant.
At il~la: "Mem'~ni quis ~ me sax~o pet~jerit,
quis pa~nem ded'~rit; vos ~ time~r(e) absis~tite;
illis ~ rever~tor hos~tis qui ~ me lae~serunt."

Translation:

Equal thanks are usually returned by people who have been scorned. Once upon a time a panther recklessly fell into a pit. The farm folk saw her; some attacked her with sticks, others loaded her with stones; but certain people on the other hand felt sorry for the panther, since she was going to die although no one had been hurt, and they dropped her some bread in order to keep her alive. Night came on; the villagers confidently went home, as if they would find the panther dead the next day. But the panther, when she renewed her failed strength, freed herself from the pit with a quick leap and hurried into her lair at a quick pace. After a few days had passed, the panther rushed up, slaughtered the sheep and killed the shepherds themselves, and destroyed everything as she raged with a manic attack. Then those who had shown mercy to the wild beast, fearing for themselves, did not protest the damage, but only asked for their lives. The panther said: "I remember who attacked me with stones and who gave me bread; you can stop being afraid; I've returned as an enemy to those who harmed me."

[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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Duo Calvi: Two Bald Men

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 528.

Text:

Invenit calvus forte in trivio pectinem.
Accessit alter aeque defectus pilis.
"Heia" inquit "in commune quodcumque est lucri! "
Ostendit ille praedam et adiecit simul:
"Superum voluntas favit; sed fato invido
carbonem, ut aiunt, pro thesauro invenimus."
Quem spes delusit, huic querela convenit.

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

Forte calvus invenit pectinem in trivio.
Alter, aeque defectus pilis, accessit.
Inquit: "Heia! quodcumque lucri est in commune!"
Ille ostendit praedam et adiecit simul:
"Voluntas superum favit,
sed fato invido,
invenimus carbonem pro thesauro,
ut aiunt."
Querela convenit huic
quem spes delusit.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Inve~nit cal~vus for~t(e) in tri~vjo pec~tinem.
Acces~sit al~ter ae~que de~fectus ~ pilis.
"Hei(a)" in~quit "in ~commu~ne quod~cumqu(e) est ~ lucri! "
Osten~dit il~le prae~d(am) et ad~iecit ~ simul:
"Sup'rum ~ volun~tas fa~vit; sed ~ fat(o) in~vido
carbo~n(em), ut ai~unt, pro ~ thesau~r(o) inve~nimus."
Quem spes ~ delu~sit, huic ~ quere~la con~venit.

Translation:

By chance a bald man found a comb lying in the street. Another man, equally lacking hair, approached and said: "Hey! Whatever of value you've found is for us both!" The first one showed the prize and quickly added: "The will of the gods has favored us, but fate must have a grudge against us: we have found coal rather than gold, as the saying goes." This complaint suits a man whose high hopes have played him false.

[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 bald man:

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Mulier Parturiens: Woman in Labor.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 479.

Text:

Nemo libenter recolit qui laesit locum.
Instante partu mulier actis mensibus
humi iacebat, flebilis gemitus ciens.
Vir est hortatus, corpus lecto reciperet,
onus naturae melius quo deponeret.
"Minime" inquit "illo posse confido loco
malum finiri quo conceptum est initio".

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

Nemo libenter recolit locum qui laesit.
Mensibus actis, partu instante
mulier iacebat humi,
ciens flebilis gemitus.
Vir hortatus est, reciperet corpus lecto,
quo melius deponeret onus naturae.
Mulier inquit:
"Minime confido
malum posse finiri
illo loco
quo conceptum est initio."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Nemo ~ liben~ter rec'~lit qui ~ laesit ~ locum.
Instan~te par~tu mul~jer ac~tis men~sibus
humi ~ iace~bat, fle~bilis ~ gem'tus ~ ciens.
Vir est ~ horta~tus, cor~pus lec~to rec'~peret,
onus ~ natu~rae mel~jus quo ~ depo~neret.
"Min'm(e)" in~quit "il~lo pos~se con~fido ~ loco
malum ~ fini~ri quo ~ concep~t(um) est in'~tio".

Translation:

No one gladly revisits a place which did him harm. The months had passed and birth was imminent; the woman was lying on the ground, uttering pathetic moans. Her husband urged her to take herself to bed where she would be better able to deliver nature's burden. The woman said: "I have no faith at all that a bad business can be brought to a conclusion in the place where it was originally conceived."

[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 pregnant woman on the floor:

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Vulpis et Uva: The Fox and The Grape.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 15.

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

Text:

Fame coacta vulpes alta in vinea
uvam adpetebat, summis saliens viribus.
Quam tangere ut non potuit, discedens ait:
"Nondum matura es; nolo acerbam sumere."
Qui, facere quae non possunt, verbis elevant,
adscribere hoc debebunt exemplum sibi.

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

Vulpes coacta fame
adpetebat uvam in alta vinea,
saliens summis viribus.
Ut non potuit tangere uvam,
discedens ait:
"Nondum matura es; nolo sumere acerbam."
Debebunt adscribere hoc exemplum sibi
qui verbis elevant haec,
quae non possunt facere.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Fame ~ coac~ta vul~pes al~t(a) in vi~nea
uv(am) ad~pete~bat, sum~mis sal~jens vi~ribus.
Quam tan~ger(e) ut ~ non pot~vit, dis~cedens ~ ait:
"Nondum ~ matu~r(a) es; no~l(o) acer~bam su~mere."
Qui, fac'~re quae ~ non pos~sunt, ver~bis e~levant,
adscri~ber(e h)oc ~ debe~bunt ex~emplum ~ sibi.

Translation:

Driven by hunger, a fox tried to reach some grapes hanging high on the vine, leaping with all her strength. As she couldn't manage to reach the grapes, she went away and said: "You aren't even ripe yet! I don't eat sour grapes."
People who speak disparagingly of things that they cannot attain should apply this instructive little story to their own lives.

[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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Canis Carnem Ferens: The Dog Carrying Meat.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 133.

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

Text:

Amittit merito proprium qui alienum adpetit.
Canis, per fluvium carnem cum ferret, natans
lympharum in speculo vidit simulacrum suum,
aliamque praedam ab altero ferri putans
eripere voluit; verum decepta aviditas
et quem tenebat ore dimisit cibum,
nec quem petebat adeo potuit tangere.

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

Qui adpetit alienum merito amittit proprium.
Canis, cum natans ferret carnem per fluvium,
vidit simulacrum suum in speculo lympharum,
et putans aliam praedam ferri ab altero cane,
voluit eripere;
verum aviditas decepta est
et dimisit cibum quem tenebat ore,
et adeo non potuit tangere quem petebat.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Amit~tit mer'~to pro~prjum qu(i) al~jen(um) ad~petit.
Canis, ~ per flu~vjum car~nem cum ~ ferret, ~ natans
lympha~r(um) in spe~c'lo vi~dit sim'~lacrum ~ suum,
aljam~que prae~d(am) ab al~tero ~ ferri ~ putans
erip'~re vol~vit; ve~rum de~cept(a) av'~ditas
et quem ~ tene~bat o~re di~misit ~ cibum,
nec quem ~ pete~bat ad~eo pot~vit tan~gere.

Translation:

Someone who tries to get someone else's stuff justifiably loses his own stuff. A dog, when he was swimming across a river carrying a piece of meat, saw his reflection in the mirror of the waters and, thinking that there was another meat to grab being carried by another dog, he wanted to snatch it; in fact, the dog's greed was undone and he lost the food which he had been carrying in its mouth, and meanwhile he was not able to attain what he had been trying to get.

[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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Rana Rupta: The Frog Who Exploded.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 376.

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

Text:

Inops, potentem dum vult imitari, perit.
In prato quondam rana conspexit bovem,
et tacta invidia tantae magnitudinis
rugosam inflavit pellem. Tum natos suos
interrogavit an bove esset latior.
Illi negarunt. Rursus intendit cutem
maiore nisu, et simili quaesivit modo,
quis maior esset. Illi dixerunt "bovem".
Novissime indignata, dum vult validius
inflare sese, rupto iacuit corpore.

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

Inops perit, dum vult imitari potentem.
Quondam rana conspexit bovem in prato,
et tacta invidia tantae magnitudinis
inflavit rugosam pellem.
Tum interrogavit natos suos
an esset latior bove.
Illi negarunt.
Rursus intendit cutem maiore nisu,
et quaesivit simili modo,
quis maior esset.
Illi dixerunt "bovem".
Novissime indignata,
dum vult inflare sese validius,
iacuit rupto corpore.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Inops, ~ poten~tem dum ~ vult im'~tari, ~ perit.
In pra~to quon~dam ra~na con~spexit ~ bovem,
et tac~t(a) invid~ja tan~tae mag~nitu~dinis
rugo~s(am) infla~vit pel~lem. Tum ~ natos ~ suos
inter~roga~vit an ~ bov(e) es~set la~tior.
Illi ~ nega~runt. Rur~sus in~tendit ~ cutem
maio~re ni~s(u), et sim'~li quae~sivit ~ modo,
quis mai~or es~set. Il~li dix~erunt ~ "bovem".
Novis~sim(e) in~digna~ta, dum ~ vult val'~dius
infla~re se~se, rup~to iac~vit cor~pore.

Translation:

Someone without resources is destroyed when he tries to imitate a powerful person. Once upon a time a frog caught sight of an ox in the meadow, and stricken by envy of the ox's great size, the frog puffed up her wrinkled skin. Then she asked her children whether she was bigger than the ox. They said she wasn't. Again she stretched her skin with a greater effort and she asked once again who was bigger. They told her "the ox." Finally frustrated, when she wanted to puff herself even more, she exploded and fell down dead.

[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 ad Personam: The Fox to The Mask.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 27.

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

Text:

Personam tragicam forte vulpes viderat;
quam postquam huc illuc semel atque iterum verterat,
'O quanta species' inquit 'cerebrum non habet!'
Hoc illis dictum est quibus honorem et gloriam
Fortuna tribuit, sensum communem abstulit.

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

Forte vulpes viderat personam tragicam.
Postquam verterat personam huc illuc semel atque iterum
inquit: "O quanta species! Non habet cerebrum!"
Hoc dictum est illis,
quibus Fortuna tribuit honorem et gloriam,
abstulit sensum communem.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Perso~nam tragj~cam for~te vul~pes vi~derat;
quam post~qu(am h)uc il~luc sem~'l atqu(e) it'~rum ver~terat,
'O quan~ta spec~jes' in~quit 'c're~brum non ~ habet!'
Hoc il~lis dic~t(um) est qui~b's hono~r(em) et glo~riam
Fortu~na trib~vit, sen~sum com~mun(em) ab~stulit.

Translation:

By chance a fox saw a tragic actor's mask. After he had turned the mask this way and that over and over again, the fox said: "O such beauty: but it has no brains!" This is said for those to whom Fortune has given glory and honor, while depriving them of common sense.

[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 Successu Improborum: On Rewards for the Wicked.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 64.

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

Text:

Laceratus quidam morsu vehementis canis,
tinctum cruore panem misit malefico,
audierat esse quod remedium vulneris.
Tunc sic Aesopus: "Noli coram pluribus
hoc facere canibus, ne nos vivos devorent,
cum scierint esse tale culpae praemium".
Successus improborum plures allicit.

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

Quidam laceratus morsu vehementis canis,
misit malefico panem tinctum cruore,
quod audierat esse remedium vulneris.
Tunc sic Aesopus:
"Noli facere hoc coram pluribus canibus,
ne devorent nos vivos,
cum scierint esse tale praemium culpae."
Successus improborum allicit plures.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Lac'ra~tus qui~dam mor~su ve'e~mentis ~ canis,
tinctum ~ cruo~re pa~nem mi~sit mal'~fico,
audje~rat es~se quod ~ remed~jum vul~neris.
Tunc sic ~ Aeso~pus: "No~li co~ram plu~ribus
hoc fac'~re ca~n'bus, ne ~ nos vi~vos de~vorent,
cum scje~rint es~se ta~le cul~pae prae~mium".
Succes~sus im~probo~rum plu~res al~licit.

Translation:

A certain man had been mangled by the bite of a violent dog, and he offered the evil-doer a piece of bread infused with his own blood because he had heard this was a way to heal the wound. Then Aesop said these words: "Don't do this thing in front of more dogs, or else they might devour us alive when they find out that this is the reward for their crime." The success of wicked men lures more to do the same.

[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 a picture of Aesop from an early printed edition:

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Pullus ad Margaritam: The Rooster to the Pearl.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 503.

Text:

In sterculino pullus gallinacius
dum quaerit escam margaritam repperit.
"Iaces indigno quanta res" inquit "loco!
Hoc si quis pretii cupidus vidisset tui,
olim redisses ad splendorem pristinum.
Ego quod te inveni, potior cui multo est cibus,
nec tibi prodesse nec mihi quicquam potest."
Hoc illis narro qui me non intellegunt.

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

Dum pullus gallinacius quaerit escam in sterculino
repperit margaritam.
Inquit: "Quanta res iaces indigno loco!
Si quis cupidus tui pretii vidisset hoc,
olim redisses ad splendorem pristinum.
Quod ego inveni te - et mihi cibus est multo potior -
non tibi nec mihi potest prodesse quicquam."
Narro hoc illis qui non intellegunt me.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

In ster~culi~no pul~lus gal~lina~cius
dum quae~rit es~cam mar~gari~tam rep~perit.
"Iaces ~ indig~no quan~ta res" ~ inquit ~ "loco!
Hoc si ~ quis pre~tji cup'~dus vi~disset ~ tui,
olim ~ redis~ses ad ~ splendo~rem pris~tinum.
Eg' quod ~ t(e) inve~ni, pot~jor cui ~ mult(o) est ~ cibus,
nec tib' ~ prodes~se nec ~ mihi ~ quicquam ~ potest."
Hoc il~lis nar~ro qui ~ me non ~ intel~legunt.

Translation:

A young rooster was looking for food in the manure when he found a pearl. 'What a fine thing you are,' he exclaimed, 'and in what an unfortunate situation! If a person longing to possess something of such value had found you, you would have been restored to your original splendor. Yet it is I who have found you, when I would have much preferred to find some food instead. So this isn't going to do you any good, and it doesn't do me any good either!' This is a story I tell for people who do not know how to appreciate me.

[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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Ovis Canis et Lupus: Sheep, Dog and Wolf.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 478.

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

Text:

Solent mendaces luere poenas malefici.
Calumniator ab ove cum peteret canis,
quem commendasse panem se contenderet,
lupus, citatus testis, non unum modo
deberi dixit, verum adfirmavit decem.
Ovis, damnata falso testimonio,
quod non debebat, solvit. Post paucos dies
bidens iacentem in fovea prospexit lupum.
'Haec' inquit 'merces fraudis a superis datur'.

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

Malefici mendaces solent luere poenas.
Cum calumniator canis
peteret ab ove panem
quem contenderet se commendasse,
lupus, citatus testis, dixit
non unum modo deberi;
verum adfirmavit decem.
Ovis, damnata falso testimonio,
solvit quod non debebat.
Post paucos dies
bidens prospexit lupum iacentem in fovea.
Inquit: "Haec merces fraudis datur a superis."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Solent ~ menda~ces lu'~re poe~nas mal'~fici.
Calum~njator ~ ab o~ve cum ~ pet'ret ~ canis,
quem com~mendas~se pa~nem se ~ conten~deret,
lupus, ~ cita~tus tes~tis, non ~ unum ~ modo
debe~ri dix~it, ve~r(um) adfir~mavit ~ decem.
Ovis, ~ damna~ta fal~so tes~timo~nio,
quod non ~ debe~bat, sol~vit. Post ~ paucos ~ dies
bidens ~ iacen~t(em) in foev~a pro~spexit ~ lupum.
'Haec' in~quit 'me~rces frau~dis a ~ sup'ris ~ datur'.

Translation:

Evil con men generally pay the price. When a lying dog demanded from the sheep a loaf of bread which the dog contended he had loaned to the sheep, the wolf, summoned as a witness, said that not just one loaf was owed; in fact, he said the sheep owed ten loaves. The sheep, convicted by false evidence, had to pay back what she did not owe. After a few days, the sheep saw the wolf lying in a ditch. She said: "These are the wages of deceit granted by the gods."

[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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Scrofa et lupus: Sow and Wolf.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 547.

Text:

Premente partu scrofa cum gemeret iacens.
Accurrit lupus et obstetricis partibus
se posse fungi dixit, promittens opem.
Quae vero nosset pectoris fraudem improbi,
suspectum officium repudiavit malefici
et "Satis est" inquit "si recedis longius."
Quodsi perfidiae se commisisset lupi,
pari dolore fata deflesset sua.

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

Cum scrofa iacens gemeret,
premente partu,
lupus accurrit, promittens opem,
et dixit se posse fungi obstetricis partibus.
Scrofa vero nosset fraudem improbi pectoris,
repudiavit suspectum officium malefici
et inquit: "Satis est si recedis longius."
Quodsi commisisset se perfidiae lupi,
deflesset sua fata pari dolore.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Premen~te par~tu scro~fa cum ~ gem'ret ~ iacens.
Accur~rit lup's ~ et ob~stetri~cis par~tibus
se pos~se fun~gi dix~it, pro~mittens ~ opem.
Quae ve~ro nos~set pec~toris ~ fraud(em) im~probi,
suspec~t(um) offic~jum re~pudja~vit mal'fici
et "Sat's ~ est" in~quit "si ~ rece~dis lon~gius."
Quodsi ~ perfid~jae se ~ commi~sisset ~ lupi,
pari ~ dolo~re fa~ta de~flesset ~ sua.

Translation:

When a breeding sow was lying on the ground, groaning as her delivery drew near, the wolf came up, offering help, and said that he could play the role of the midwife. The sow actually recognized the trick in the wolf's wicked mind; she rejected the evildoer's suspicious favor and said: "It is enough for me if you will move farther away." But if the sow had put her trust in the wolf's treachery, she would have lamented her fate with a commensurate pain.

[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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Socrates ad Amicos: Socrates to His Friends.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 500.

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

Text:

Vulgare amici nomen sed rara est fides.
Cum parvas aedes sibi fundasset Socrates
(cuius non fugio mortem si famam adsequar,
et cedo invidiae dummodo absolvar cinis),
ex populo sic nescioquis, ut fieri solet:
"Quaeso, tam angustam talis vir ponis domum?"
"Utinam" inquit "veris hanc amicis impleam!"

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

Nomen amici est vulgare sed fides est rara.
Cum Socrates fundasset sibi parvas aedes
(cuius non fugio mortem si adsequar famam,
et cedo invidiae dummodo cinis absolvar),
nescioquis ex populo sic, ut fieri solet:
"Quaeso, talis vir ponis domum tam angustam?"
Socrates inquit:
"Utinam impleam hanc veris amicis!"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Vulgar(e) ~ ami~ci no~men sed ~ rar(a) est ~ fides.
Cum par~vas ae~des sib'~ fundas~set So~crates
(cuius ~ non fug~jo mor~tem si ~ fam(am) ad~sequar,
et ce~d(o) invid~jae dum~mod(o) ab~solvar ~ cinis),
ex pop'~lo sic ~ nescjo~quis, ut ~ fjeri ~ solet:
"Quaeso, ~ t(am) angus~tam ta~lis vir ~ ponis ~ domum?"
"Ut'n(am)" in~quit "ve~ris hanc ~ ami~cis im~pleam!"

Translation:

The word 'friend' is in common use but faithful friendship is rare. Socrates had erected for himself a very modest house - and I myself would even be willing to die as Socrates died if I could achieve an equal fame, yes, I would be willing to suffer the same public disapproval if I too could be vindicated after death! Anyway, just as you would expect on such an occasion, one of his neighbours had to ask, 'Why is it, Socrates, that a man such as you builds such a tiny little house?' 'Ah,' said Socrates, 'if only I could fill it with true friends!'

[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 Socrates:

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Ovis Cervus et Lupus: Sheep, Stag and Wolf.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 477.

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

Text:

Fraudator homines cum advocat sponsum improbos,
non rem expedire, sed malum ordiri expetit.
Ovem rogabat cervus modium tritici,
lupo sponsore. At illa, praemetuens dolum,
'Rapere atque abire semper adsuevit lupus;
tu de conspectu fugere veloci impetu.
Ubi vos requiram, cum dies advenerit?'

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

Cum fraudator advocat sponsum homines improbos,
non expetit expedire rem, sed ordiri malum.
Cervus rogabat ovem modium tritici,
lupo sponsore.
At illa, praemetuens dolum:
"Lupus semper adsuevit rapere atque abire;
tu fugere de conspectu veloci impetu.
Ubi requiram vos, cum dies advenerit?"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Frauda~tor hom'~nes c(um) ad~vocat ~ spons(um) im~probos,
non r(em) ex~pedi~re, sed ~ mal(um) or~dir(i) ex~petit.
Ovem ~ roga~bat cer~vus mod~jum tri~tici,
lupo ~ sponso~r(e). At il~la, prae~metvens ~ dolum,
'Rap'r(e) at~qu(e) abi~re sem~per ad~suevit ~ lupus;
tu de ~ conspec~tu fug'~re ve~loc(i) im~petu.
Ubi ~ vos re~quiram, ~ cum djes ~ adven~erit?'

Translation:

When a liar names dishonest men as his guarantee, he is not seeking to do business but to plot evil. The stag asked the sheep for a measure of wheat, with the wolf as his co-signer. But the sheep, foreseeing a trick, said: "The wolf has always been in the habit of grabbing things and running away, and you have always been in the habit of escaping out of sight with a burst of speed. Where will I find you both when the day of reckoning arrives?"

[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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Lupus et Agnus: The Wolf and The Lamb.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 155.

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

Text:

Ad rivum eundem lupus et agnus venerant,
siti compulsi. Superior stabat lupus,
longeque inferior agnus. Tunc fauce improba
latro incitatus iurgii causam intulit;
'Cur' inquit 'turbulentam fecisti mihi
aquam bibenti?' Laniger contra timens
'Qui possum, quaeso, facere quod quereris, lupe?
A te decurrit ad meos haustus liquor'.
Repulsus ille veritatis viribus
'Ante hos sex menses male' ait 'dixisti mihi'.
Respondit agnus 'Equidem natus non eram'.
'Pater hercle tuus' ille inquit 'male dixit mihi';
atque ita correptum lacerat iniusta nece.
Haec propter illos scripta est homines fabula
qui fictis causis innocentes opprimunt.

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

Lupus et agnus venerant ad rivum eundem,
siti compulsi.
Lupus stabat superior,
et agnus longe inferior.
Tunc latro incitatus fauce improba
intulit causam iurgii.
Inquit: "Cur fecisti aquam turbulentam
mihi bibenti?"
Laniger timens contra:
"Quaeso, qui possum facere quod quereris, lupe?
Liquor decurrit a te ad meos haustus."
Ille, repulsus viribus veritatis, ait:
"Male dixisti mihi ante hos sex menses."
Agnus respondit:
"Equidem natus non eram."
Ille inquit:
"Hercle, pater tuus male dixit mihi."
Atque ita lacerat agnum correptum iniusta nece.
Haec fabula scripta est propter illos homines
qui opprimunt innocentes fictis causis.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Ad riv(um) ~ eun~dem lu~pus 't ag~nus ve~nerant,
siti ~ compul~si. Su~perjor ~ stabat ~ lupus,
longe~qu(e) infer~jor ag~nus. Tunc ~ fauc(e) im~proba
latr(o) in~cita~tus iur~gii ~ caus(am) in~tulit;
'Cur' in~quit 'tur~bulen~tam fe~cisti ~ mihi
aquam ~ biben~ti?' La~niger ~ contra ~ timens
'Qui pos~sum, quae~so, fac~'re quod ~ quer'ris, ~ lupe?
A te ~ decur~rit ad ~ meos ~ haustus ~ liquor'.
Repul~sus il~le ve~rita~tis vi~ribus
'Ant(e h)os ~ sex men~ses mal(e)' ~ ajt 'dix~isti ~ mihi'.
Respon~dit ag~nus 'Equi~dem na~tus non ~ eram'.
'Pat(er h)er~cle t(u)us' ~ ill(e) in~quit 'mal' ~ dixit ~ mihi';
atqu(e) it' ~ correp~tum lac~'rat in~iusta ~ nece.
Haec prop~ter il~los scrip~t(a) est hom'~nes fa~bula
qui fic~tis cau~sis in~nocen~tes op~primunt.

Translation:

A wolf and a lamb had come to the same river, driven by thirst. The wolf was standing upstream and the lamb far down below. Then the thieving wolf, roused by his shameless gullet, picked a fight. He said: "Why are you making the water muddy for me while I am drinking?" The fearful lamb protested: "Please, how can I do what you are complaining about, wolf? The water runs from you down to where I am drinking." The wolf, rebuked by the force of truth, said: "You insulted me six months ago." The lamb replied: "But I was not even born yet." The wolf said: "By god, it was your father who insulted me!" And so he grabbed the lamb and torn him to shreds in an unjust slaughter. This fable is written against those people who oppress the innocent with false claims.

[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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Vacca et Capella, Ovis et Leo: Heifer, Goat, Sheep and Lion.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 339.

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

Text:

Numquam est fidelis cum potente societas.
Testatur haec fabella propositum meum.
Vacca et capella et patiens ovis iniuriae
socii fuere cum leone in saltibus.
Hi cum cepissent cervum vasti corporis,
sic est locutus partibus factis leo:
"Ego primam tollo nomine hoc quia rex cluo;
secundam, quia sum consors, tribuetis mihi;
tum, quia plus valeo, me sequetur tertia;
malo adficietur si quis quartam tetigerit".
Sic totam praedam sola improbitas abstulit.

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

Numquam societas cum potente est fidelis.
Haec fabella testatur propositum meum.
Vacca et capella et ovis patiens iniuriae
fuere socii cum leone in saltibus.
Cum hi cepissent cervum vasti corporis,
partibus factis, sic leo locutus est:
"Ego tollo primam quia hoc nomine cluo rex;
secundam tribuetis mihi, quia sum consors;
tum, tertia sequetur me quia plus valeo;
si quis tetigerit quartam, adficietur malo."
Sic improbitas sola abstulit totam praedam.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Numqu(am) est ~ fide~lis cum ~ poten~ te soc~jetas.
Testa~tur haec ~ fabel~la pro~pos'tum ~ meum.
Vacc(a) et ~ capel~l(a) et pat~jens ov's ~ iniur~iae
socji ~ fuer~e cum ~ leo~n(e) in sal~tibus.
Hi cum ~ cepis~sent cer~vum vas~ti cor~poris,
sic est ~ locu~tus par~tibus ~ factis ~ leo:
"Eg' pri~mam tol~lo nom~in(e h)oc ~ qui' rex ~ cluo;
secun~dam, qui' ~ sum con~sors, tri~bvetis ~ mihi;
tum, qui' ~ plus va~leo, me ~ seque~tur ter~tia;
mal(o) ad~ficje~tur si ~ quis quar~tam tet'~gerit".
Sic to~tam prae~dam sol(a) ~ improb'~tas abs~tulit.

Translation:

An alliance with a powerful person is never reliable. This little story proves my contention. A heifer and a she-goat and a long-suffering sheep were allies with a lion in the woods. When they had seized a gigantic stag, and it had been divided into parts, the lion spoke these words: "I take the first part because by name I am called king; you will give the second part to me because I am one of the team; then, the third part will go to me because I am stronger; if anyone should touch the fourth part, he will find himself in trouble." So it is that wickedness all by itself carried off the whole prize.

[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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Pastor et capella: Shepherd and Goat.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 280.

Text:

Pastor capellae cornu baculo fregerat:
rogare coepit ne se domino proderet.
"Quamvis indigne laesa reticebo tamen;
sed res clamabit ipsa quid deliqueris."

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

Pastor fregerat cornu capellae baculo:
coepit rogare ne proderet se domino.
"Quamvis indigne laesa,
reticebo tamen;
sed res ipsa clamabit
quid deliqueris."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Pastor ~ capel~lae cor~nu bac'~lo fre~gerat:
roga~re coe~pit ne ~ se dom'~no pro~deret.
"Quamvis ~ indig~ne lae~sa ret'~cebo ~ tamen;
sed res ~ clama~bit ip~sa quid ~ deli~queris."

Translation:

A shepherd had broken the horn of a goat with his staff: he began to ask the goat not to report him to the master. "Although I've been unjustly injured, nevertheless I will stay quiet - but the thing itself will proclaim what crime you have committed."

[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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Canes Famelici: The Hungry Dogs.

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 135.

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

Text:

Stultum consilium non modo effectu caret,
sed ad perniciem quoque mortalis devocat.
Corium depressum in fluvio viderunt canes.
Id ut comesse extractum possent facilius,
aquam coepere ebibere: sed rupti prius
periere quam quod petierant contingerent.

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

Stultum consilium non modo caret effectu,
sed quoque devocat mortalis ad perniciem.
Canes viderunt corium depressum in fluvio.
Ut possent facilius comesse corium extractum,
coepere ebibere aquam:
sed rupti periere
prius quam contingerent quod petierant.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Stultum ~ consil~jum non ~ mod(o) ef~fectu ~ caret,
sed ad ~ pernic~jem quoqu' ~ morta~lis de~vocat.
Corjum ~ depress~(um) in fluv~jo vi~derunt ~ canes.
Id ut ~ comess~(e) extrac~tum pos~sent fac'~lius,
aquam ~ coeper~(e) ebi~b're: sed ~ rupti ~ prius
perje~re quam ~ quod pet~jerant ~ contin~gerent.

Translation:

A stupid plan not only lacks success, but it also summons mortals to their doom. Some dogs saw a leather hide sunk in a stream. In order to more easily get the hide and eat it, they began to drink up the water, but they exploded and died before they could obtain what they were seeking.

[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 a version of the story for children:

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Equus circensis: The Race Horse

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 549.

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

Text:

Equum e quadriga multis palmis nobilem
abegit quidam et in pistrinum vendidit.
Productus ad bibendum cum foret a molis,
in circum aequales ire conspexit suos,
ut grata ludis redderent certamina.
Lacrimis obortis "Ite felices," ait,
"celebrate sine me cursu sollemnem diem;
ego, quo scelesta furis attraxit manus,
ibi sorte tristi fata deflebo mea."

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

Quidam abegit equum e quadriga
nobilem multis palmis
et vendidit in pistrinum.
Cum productus foret a molis ad bibendum,
conspexit aequales suos ire in circum,
ut redderent certamina grata ludis.
Lacrimis obortis ait:
"Ite felices;
celebrate sollemnem diem cursu sine me;
ego deflebo mea fata sorte tristi ibi
quo scelesta manus furis attraxit."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Equ(um) e ~ quadri~ga mul~tis pal~mis no~bilem
abe~git qui~d(am) et in ~ pistr~inum ven~didit.
Produc~tus ad ~ biben~dum cum ~ for't a ~ molis,
incir~c(um) aequa~les i~re con~spexit ~ suos,
ut gra~ta lu~dis red~derent ~ certa~mina.
Lacr'mis ~ obor~tis "I~te fe~lices," ~ ait,
"cel'bra~te sin' ~ me cur~su sol~lemnem ~ diem;
eg', quo ~ sceles~ta fu~ris at~traxit ~ manus,
ib' sor~te tris~ti fa~ta de~flebo ~ mea."

Translation:

Someone led a horse, famous for his many wins, away his racing team and sold him to a bakery. When the horse was brought out from the flour mill to drink, he saw his fellows going to the race course to engage in contests popular with the people. The horse started to cry and said: "Go happily; celebrate the solemn day with your racing, in my absence; I will bewail my fate with its sad lot there in the place where the criminal hand of the thief has dragged me."

[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 (this is an image of a horse, but not for this particular story); click on the image for a larger view.

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Papilio et vespa: Butterfly and Wasp

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 556. This fable derives from the ancient belief that wasps would spring from the carcass of a dead mule or horse, while a spirit or 'psyche' would take shape in the form of a butterfly.

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

Text:

Papilio vespam prope volantem viderat:
"O sortem iniquam! Dum vivebant corpora,
quorum ex reliquiis animam nos accepimus,
ego eloquens in pace, fortis proeliis,
arte omni princeps inter aequalis fui;
en cuncta levitas putris et volito cinis.
Tu, qui fuisti mulus clitellarius,
quemcumque visum est laedis infixo aculeo."
At vespa dignam memoria vocem edidit:
"Non qui fuerimus, sed qui nunc simus, vide."

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

Papilio viderat vespam volantem prope:
"O sortem iniquam! Dum vivebant corpora,
quorum ex reliquiis nos accepimus animam,
ego fui eloquens in pace, fortis proeliis,
princeps inter aequalis arte omni;
en cuncta levitas putris et volito cinis.
Tu, qui fuisti mulus clitellarius,
laedis infixo aculeo quemcumque visum est."
At vespa edidit vocem dignam memoria:
"Vide non qui fuerimus, sed qui nunc simus."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Papil~jo ves~pam prop' ~ volan~tem vi~derat:
"O sor~t(em) ini~quam! Dum ~ vive~bant cor~pora,
quor(um) ex ~ rel'qui~is an'~mam nos ~ acce~pimus,
eg(o) e~loquens ~ in pa~ce, for~tis proe~liis,
art(e) om~ni prin~ceps in~ter ae~qualis ~ fui;
en cunc~ta lev'~tas pu~tris et ~ vol'to ~ cinis.
Tu, qui ~ fuis~ti mu~lus cli~tella~rius,
quemcum~que vi~s(um) est lae~dis in~fix(o) a~c'leo."
At ves~pa dig~nam me~morja ~ voc(em) e~didit:
"Non qui ~ fuer'~mus, sed ~ qui nunc ~ simus, ~ vide."

Translation:

A butterfly had noticed a wasp flying near by. "What an unfair turn of events! When we lived as the bodies from whose mortal remains we received our souls, I was the one who was eloquent in peace and brave in battles,, first among my fellow men in every art. Yet look at me now, an utter frivolity, crumbling into ashes as I flutter about. You, who were formerly a mule, a beast of burden, now you stab and wound with your stinger whomever you want." But the wasp uttered words worth remembering: "Look not to what we were but what we are now."

[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 butterfly:

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Canis Fidelis: The Faithful Dog

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 403.

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

Text:

Repente liberalis stultis gratus est,
verum peritis inritos tendit dolos.
Nocturnus cum fur panem misisset cani,
obiecto temptans an cibo posset capi,
"Heus", inquit "linguam vis meam praecludere,
ne latrem pro re domini? Multum falleris.
Namque ista subita me iubet benignitas
vigilare, facias ne mea culpa lucrum".

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

Repente liberalis gratus est stultis;
verum tendit peritis dolos inritos.
Cum nocturnus fur misisset panem cani,
temptans an posset capi cibo obiecto,
inquit: "Heus! Vis praecludere meam linguam
ne latrem pro re domini?
Multum falleris.
Namque ista subita benignitas iubet me vigilare,
ne facias lucrum mea culpa."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Repen~te li~bera~lis stul~tis gra~tus est,
verum ~ peri~tis in~ritos ~ tendit ~ dolos.
Noctur~nus cum ~ fur pa~nem mi~sisset ~ cani,
obiec~to temp~tans an ~ cibo ~ posset ~ capi,
"Heus", in~quit "lin~guam vis ~ meam ~ praeclu~dere,
ne la~trem pro ~ re dom'~ni? Mul~tum fal~leris.
Namqu(e) is~ta sub'~ta me ~ iubet ~ benig~nitas
vig'la~re, fac~jas ne ~ mea ~ culpa ~ lucrum".

Translation:

When someone is suddenly generous, fools are happy, but the fact is that this generous person lays his traps in vain for those with experience. When a thief in the night tossed bread to a dog, seeing if the dog could be captured by the food he tossed him, the dog said: "Hey! Do you want to tie up my tongue so that I won't bark on behalf of my master's business? You are much mistaken. For this sudden kindness on your part warns me to watch out so that you do not make a profit through some fault of mine."

[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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Asinus ad Senem: The Donkey to the Old Man

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 476.

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

Text:

In principatu commutando civium
nil praeter domini nomen mutant pauperes.
Id esse verum, parva haec fabella indicat.
Asellum in prato timidus pascebat senex.
Is hostium clamore subito territus
suadebat asino fugere, ne possent capi.
At ille lentus "Quaeso, num binas mihi
clitellas impositurum victorem putas?"
Senex negavit. "Ergo, quid refert mea
cui serviam, clitellas dum portem unicas?"

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

In principatu commutando civium
pauperes mutant nil praeter nomen domini.
Haec parva fabella indicat id esse verum.
Senex timidus pascebat asellum in prato.
Is subito territus clamore hostium
suadebat asino fugere, ne possent capi.
At ille lentus:
"Quaeso, num putas
victorem impositurum mihi binas clitellas?"
Senex negavit.
"Ergo, quid refert mea
cui serviam,
dum portem clitellas unicas?"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

In prin~cipa~tu com~mutan~do ci~vium
nil prae~ter dom'~ni no~men mu~tant pau~peres.
Id es~se ve~rum, par~v(a h)aec fa~bel~l(a) in~dicat.
Asel~l(um) in pra~to tim'~dus pas~cebat ~ senex.
Is hos~tium ~ clamo~re sub'~to ter~ritus
suade~bat as'~no fug'~re, ne ~ possent ~ capi.
At il~le len~tus "Quae~so, num ~ binas ~ mihi
clitel~las im~pos'tu~rum vic~torem ~ putas?"
Senex ~ nega~vit. "Er~go, quid ~ refert ~ mea
cui ser~vjam, cli~tellas ~ dum por~tem u~nicas?"

Translation:

When the citizens experience a change in regime, the poor people change nothing except the name of their master. This little fable shows that this is true. A fearful old man was pasturing his donkey in the meadow. All of a sudden he was terrified by the shouts of the enemy and persuaded the donkey to run away so that they would not be captured. But the donkey calmly answered: "Tell me please, do you think that the victor is going to put a double pack on my back?" The old man said no. "Therefore, what difference does it make to me whom I serve, so long as I still carry a single pack?"

[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 an old man and a donkey:

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Canis Parturiens: Dog Giving Birth

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 480.

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

Text:

Habent insidias hominis blanditiae mali;
quas ut vitemus, versus subiecti monent.
Canis parturiens cum rogasset alteram,
ut fetum in eius tugurio deponeret,
facile impetravit. Dein reposcenti locum
preces admovit, tempus exorans breve,
dum firmiores catulos posset ducere.
Hoc quoque consumpto flagitari validius
cubile coepit. "Si mihi et turbae meae
par" inquit "esse potueris, cedam loco".

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

Blanditiae hominis mali habent insidias;
versus subiecti monent ut vitemus illas.
Cum canis parturiens rogasset alteram,
ut deponeret fetum in eius tugurio,
impetravit facile.
Dein admovit preces reposcenti locum,
exorans tempus breve,
dum posset ducere catulos firmiores.
Hoc consumpto quoque,
coepit validius flagitari cubile.
Inquit:
"Si potueris esse par mihi et turbae meae,
cedam loco."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Habent ~ insid~jas hom'~nis blan~ditjae ~ mali;
quas ut ~ vite~mus, ver~sus sub~iecti ~ monent.
Canis ~ partur~jens cum ~ rogas~set al~teram,
ut fet(um) ~ in ei~us tu~gurjo ~ depo~neret,
fac'l(e) im~petra~vit. Dein ~ repos~centi ~ locum
preces ~ admo~vit, tem~pus ex~orans ~ breve,
dum fir~mio~res cat'~los pos~set du~cere.
Hoc quoq'~ consum~pto fla~gita~ri val'~dius
cubi~le coe~pit. "Si ~ mih(i) et ~ turbae ~ meae
par" in~quit "es~se pot~veris, ~ cedam ~ loco".

Translation:

The sweet entreaties of a wicked person contain a trap; the following poem warns us to avoid them. When a dog who was giving birth asked another dog to let her bring forth her offspring in that dog's doghouse, she easily got her way. Later, she made a request to the dog asking for her doghouse back to give her a little more time so that she could raise her pups till they were stronger. When this time too had passed, the dog began more forcefully to demand the return of her bed. The reply: "If you are equal to me and to my pack, I'll surrender the place."

[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 scriptor: Aesop and The Writer

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 537.

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

Text:

Aesopo quidam scripta recitarat mala,
in quis inepte multum se iactaverat.
Scire ergo cupiens quidnam sentiret senex,
"Numquid tibi" inquit "visus sum superbior?"
Haud vana nobis ingeni fiducia est."
Confectus ille pessimo volumine,
"Ego" inquit "quod te laudas vehementer probo;
namque hoc ab alio numquam contiget tibi."

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

Quidam recitarat Aesopo mala scripta,
in quis iactaverat se multum inepte.
Ergo cupiens scire quidnam senex sentiret,
inquit: "Numquid visus sum tibi superbior?
Fiducia ingeni nobis haud vana est."
Ille confectus pessimo volumine,
inquit: "Ego vehementer probo quod te laudas;
namque hoc numquam contiget tibi ab alio."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Aeso~po qui~dam scrip~ta rec'~tarat ~ mala,
in quis ~ inep~te mul~tum se ~ iacta~verat.
Scir(e) er~go cup~jens quid~nam sen~tiret ~ senex,
"Numquid ~ tib(i)" in~quit "vi~sus sum ~ super~bior?"
Haud va~na no~bis in~geni ~ fidu~ci(a) est."
Confec~tus il~le pes~simo ~ volu~mine,
"Eg(o)" in~quit "quod ~ te lau~das ve(h)e~menter ~ probo;
namqu(e h)oc ~ ab al~jo num~quam con~tiget ~ tibi."

Translation:

A certain man had read to Aesop selections from a badly written work in which he stupidly boasted at length about what a great writer he was. The man wanted to know what old Aesop thought, so the writer said to him, 'Surely you do not think I have too high an opinion of myself? My confidence in my own genius is not misplaced?' Aesop, worn out by the wretched book, said: 'I strongly encourage you to praise yourself, since it will never happen to you that anyone else will praise 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 of Aesop from an early printed edition:

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Terraneola et vulpes: The Ground-Bird and The Fox

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 557.

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

Text:

Avis quam dicunt terraneolam rustici,
in terra nidum quia componit scilicet,
forte occucurrit improbae vulpeculae,
qua visa pennis altius se sustulit.
"Salve," inquit illa, "cur me fugisti obsecro?
Quasi non abunde sit mihi in prato cibus,
grilli, scarabaei, locustarum copia;
nihil est quod metuas, ego te multum diligo
propter quietos mores et vitam probam."
Respondit cantrix: "Tu quidem bene praedicas,
in campo non par, par sum sublimis tibi.
Quin sequere; tibi salutem hic committo meam."

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

Avis quam rustici dicunt terraneolam,
scilicet quia componit nidum in terra,
forte occucurrit improbae vulpeculae,
qua visa
sustulit se altius pennis.
Illa vulpecula inquit:
"Salve! obsecro cur fugisti me?
Quasi cibus non sit mihi in prato abunde,
grilli, scarabaei, copia locustarum;
nihil est quod metuas, ego multum diligo te
propter quietos mores et probam vitam."
Cantrix respondit:
"Tu quidem bene praedicas,
non sum par tibi in campo,
sum par tibi sublimis.
Quin sequere; hic committo tibi meam salutem."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Avis ~ quam di~cunt ter~raneo~lam rus~tici,
in ter~ra nid~um qui' ~ compo~nit sci~licet,
fort(e) oc~cucur~rit im~probae ~ vulpe~culae,
qua vi~sa pen~nis al~tius ~ se sus~tulit.
"Salv(e)," in~quit il~la, "cur ~ me fu~gist(i) ob~secro?
Quasi ~ non ab~unde ~ sit m(ihi) in ~ prato ~ cibus,
grilli, ~ scar'bae~i, lo~custa~rum co~pia;
ni(hi)l est ~ quod met~vas, eg' ~ te mul~tum di~ligo
propter ~ quie~tos mo~res et ~ vitam ~ probam."
Respon~dit can~trix: "Tu ~ quidem ~ ben' prae~dicas,
in cam~po non ~ par, par ~ sum sub~limis ~ tibi.
Quin se~quer'; tib' ~ salu~t(em h)ic com~mitto ~ meam."

Translation:

There is a bird that country folk call 'ground-bird,' which makes sense, because this bird makes her nest on the ground. A ground-bird happened to run into a conniving vixen, and as soon as she noticed her, she flew even higher on her wings. The vixen said: 'Greetings! May I ask why you are running away from me? It's not as if there were not plenty of food for me here in the field - grasshoppers, beetles, locusts in abundance. There's nothing for you to be afraid of. I am very fond of you because of your retiring manner and honest way of life.' The singing bird replied, 'You do speak very nicely, but I am no equal to you on the ground; in the air I am your equal. Why don't you come on up with me? This is the place where I can trust you with my 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 illustration of a fox from a medieval manuscript; click on the image for a larger view.

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Muli Duo et Latrones: The Two Mules

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 491.

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


Text:

Muli gravati sarcinis ibant duo:
unus ferebat fiscos cum pecunia,
alter tumentis multo saccos hordeo.
ille onere dives celsa cervice eminens,
clarumque collo iactans tintinabulum;
comes quieto sequitur et placido gradu.
subito latrones ex insidiis advolant,
interque caedem ferro ditem sauciant:
diripiunt nummos, neglegunt vile hordeum.
spoliatus igitur casus cum fleret suos,
"Equidem" inquit alter "me contemptum gaudeo;
nam nil amisi, nec sum laesus vulnere".
Hoc argumento tuta est hominum tenuitas,
magnae periclo sunt opes obnoxiae.

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

Duo muli ibant
gravati sarcinis:
unus ferebat fiscos cum pecunia,
alter ferebat saccos tumentis multo hordeo.
Ille dives onere
eminens celsa cervice
et iactans collo clarum tintinabulum;
comes sequitur quieto et placido gradu.
Latrones advolant subito ex insidiis
et inter caedem sauciant ferro ditem:
diripiunt nummos,
neglegunt vile hordeum.
Igitur
cum spoliatus fleret casus suos,
alter inquit
"Equidem gaudeo me contemptum;
nam amisi nil,
et non sum laesus vulnere."
Hoc argumento
tenuitas hominum est tuta,
opes sunt obnoxiae magnae periclo.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Muli ~ grava~ti sar~cinis ~ ibant ~ duo:
unus ~ fere~bat fis~cos cum ~ pecu~nia,
alter ~ tumen~tis mul~to sac~cos hor~deo.
ill(e) on'~re di~ves cel~sa cer~vic(e) e~minens,
clarum~que col~lo iac~tans tin~tina~bulum;
comes ~ quie~to seq'~tur et ~ plac'do ~ gradu.
sub'to ~ latro~nes ex ~ insid~jis ad~volant,
inter~que cae~dem fer~ro di~tem sau~ciant:
diripj~unt num~mos, neg~legunt ~ vil(e h)or~deum.
spolja~tus ig'~tur ca~sus cum ~ fleret ~ suos,
"Eq'd(em)" in~quit al~ter "me ~ contemp~tum gau~deo;
nam nil ~ ami~si, nec ~ sum lae~sus vul~nere".
Hoc ar~gumen~to tu~t(a) est hom'~num ten~vitas,
magnae ~ peri~clo sunt ~ opes ~ obnox~iae.

Translation:

Two mules were walking along, weighed down by bundles: one mule was carrying bags with money, while the other mule was carrying sacks stuffed with lots of barley. The mule who was rich with his load proudly lifted his head, tossing the little bell on his neck, while his companion followed along at a calm and quiet pace. Robbers suddenly swooped down on them from an ambush and in the slaughter they wounded the rich mule with a sword: they grabbed the money, and ignored the worthless barley. Therefore when the mule who had been stripped was bewailing his fate, the other mule said: "Indeed, I am glad that I was treated with contempt; for I lost nothing and I have not suffered a wound." With this fable you can see that people's poverty is safe, while riches are exposed to great danger.

[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 two mules:

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Ranae ad Solem: The Frogs to The Sun

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 314.

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

Text:

Vicini furis celebres vidit nuptias
Aesopus, et continuo narrare incipit -
Uxorem quondam Sol cum vellet ducere,
clamorem ranae sustulere ad sidera.
Convicio permotus quaerit Iuppiter
causam querellae. Quaedam tum stagni incola
'Nunc' inquit 'omnes unus exurit lacus,
cogitque miseras arida sede emori.
Quidnam futurum est si crearit liberos?'

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

Aesopus vidit celebres nuptias vicini furis
et continuo incipit narrare:
Quondam, cum Sol vellet ducere uxorem,
ranae sustulere clamorem ad sidera.
Iuppiter, permotus convicio,
quaerit causam querellae.
Tum quaedam incola stagni inquit:
"Nunc unus Sol exurit omnes lacus
et cogit miseras ranas emori arida sede.
Quidnam futurum est si Sol crearit liberos?"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Vici~ni fu~ris cel~'bres vi~dit nup~tias
Aeso~pus, et ~ contin~vo nar~rar(e) in~cipit -
Uxo~rem quon~dam Sol ~ cum vel~let du~cere,
clamo~rem ra~nae sus~tuler(e) ~ ad si~dera.
Convi~cio ~ permo~tus quae~rit Iup~piter
causam ~ querel~lae. Quae~dam tum ~ stagn(i) in~cola
'Nunc' in~quit 'om~nes u~nus ex~urit ~ lacus,
cogit~que mis'~ras ~ a~rida ~ sed(e) e~mori.
Quidnam ~ futur(um) ~ est si ~ crea~rit li~beros?'

Translation:

Aesop saw the festive wedding celebration of his neighbor the thief and immediately he started to tell this story: Once upon a time, when the Sun wanted to take a wife, the frogs raised a shout up to the heavens. Jupiter, disturbed by the noise, asked the cause of their worry. Then an inhabitant of the pond said: "Now when there is just one Sun he burns all the ponds and compels the wretched frogs to die in their dry abode. What then will happen if the Sun has sons?"

[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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Canes et Corcodilli: Dogs and Crocodiles

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 482.

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

Text:

Consilia qui dant prava cautis hominibus
et perdunt operam et deridentur turpiter.
Canes currentes bibere in Nilo flumine,
a corcodillis ne rapiantur, traditum est.
Igitur cum currens bibere coepisset canis,
sic corcodillus "Quamlibet lambe otio,
noli vereri". At ille "Facerem mehercules,
nisi esse scirem carnis te cupidum meae".

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

Qui dant prava consilia cautis hominibus
et perdunt operam
et turpiter deridentur.
Traditum est
canes bibere in Nilo flumine,
currentes ne rapiantur a corcodillis.
Igitur cum canis currens coepisset bibere,
sic corcodillus:
"Quamlibet lambe otio;
noli vereri."
At ille:
"Mehercules facerem,
nisi scirem
te cupidum esse carnis meae."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Consil~ja qui ~ dant pra~va cau~tis hom'~nibus
et per~dunt op'~r(am) et de~riden~tur tur~piter.
Canes ~ curren~tes bib'~r(e) in Ni~lo flu~mine,
a cor~codil~lis ne ~ rapjan~tur, tra~dit(um) est.
Ig'tur ~ cum cur~rens bi~b're coe~pisset ~ canis,
sic cor~codil~lus "Quam~libet ~ lamb(e) o~tio,
noli ~ verer~(i)". At il~le "Fac~'rem m'her~cules,
nis(i) es~se sci~rem car~nis te ~ cup'dum ~ meae".

Translation:

People who give crooked advice to thoughtful men both waste their time and are laughed at as losers besides. The story goes that dogs drink from the Nile river on the run so as not to be caught by crocodiles. So when a dog went running along to take a drink, the crocodile said: "Lap as much as you want at your leisure; don"t be afraid." But the dog said: "By god, I would do that, if I didn"t know that you are eager to eat my flesh."

[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 (this shows crocodiles, although it is not an illustration for this particular fable); click on the image for a larger view.

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Musca et Mula: Fly and Mule

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 498.

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

Text:

Musca in temone sedit et mulam increpans
"Quam tarde es" inquit "non vis citius progredi?
Vide ne dolone collum conpungam tibi."
Respondit illa: "Verbis non moveor tuis;
sed istum timeo sella qui prima sedens
cursum flagello temperat lento meum,
et ora frenis continet spumantibus.
quapropter aufer frivolam insolentiam;
nam et ubi tricandum et ubi sit currendum scio."
Hac derideri fabula merito potest
qui sine virtute vanas exercet minas.

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

Musca sedit in temone, mulam increpans,
et inquit: "Quam tarde es; non vis citius progredi?
Vide ne conpungam dolone collum tibi."
Illa respondit: "Non moveor verbis tuis;
sed timeo istum
qui sedens prima sella
temperat cursum meum flagello lento,
et continet ora frenis spumantibus.
Quapropter aufer frivolam insolentiam;
nam scio et ubi tricandum sit et ubi currendum."
Qui exercet vanas minas sine virtute
merito potest derideri hac fabula.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Musc(a) in ~ temo~ne se~dit et ~ mul(am) in~crepans
"Quam tar~d(e) es" in~quit "non ~ vis cit~jus pro~gredi?
Vid' ne ~ dolo~ne col~lum con~pungam ~ tibi."
Respon~dit il~la: "Ver~bis non ~ moveor ~ tuis;
sed is~tum tim~eo sel~la qui ~ prima ~ sedens
cursum ~ flagel~lo tem~perat ~ lento ~ meum,
et o~ra fre~nis con~tinet ~ spuman~tibus.
quaprop~ter au~fer fri~vol(am) in~solen~tiam;
n(am) et ub' ~ trican~d(um) et ub' ~ sit cur~rendum ~ scio."
Hac de~ride~ri fa~bula ~ mer'to ~ potest
qui sin' ~ virtu~te va~nas ex~ercet ~ minas.

Translation:

A fly sat on the wagon, nagging the mule, and said: "How slow you are going! Don't you want to go faster?" Watch out or I'll pierce your neck with my stinger!" The mule replied: "I am not moved by your words; but I am afraid of that man who sits in the front seat and governs my pace with his tenacious whip, and checks my mouth with the frothing reins. So put away your silly insolence; for I know when to dilly-dally and when to run." The person who makes empty threats with no strength behind them can justifiably be mocked by means of this fable.

[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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Ursus esuriens: The Hungry Bear

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 550.

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

Text:

Si quando in silvis urso desunt copiae,
scopulosum ad litus currit et prendens petram
pilosa crura sensim demittit vado;
quorum inter villos haeserunt cancri simul,
in terram adsiliens excutit praedam maris,
escaque fruitur passim collecta vafer.
Ergo etiam stultis acuit ingenium fames.

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

Si quando copiae desunt urso in silvis,
currit ad scopulosum litus
et prendens petram
sensim demittit vado pilosa crura;
cancri simul haeserunt inter villos crurum
adsiliens in terram
excutit praedam maris,
et vafer fruitur esca collecta passim.
Ergo fames acuit ingenium etiam stultis.

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Si quan~d(o) in sil~vis ur~so de~sunt co~piae,
scop'lo~s(um) ad li~tus cur~rit et ~ prendens ~ petram
pilo~sa cru~ra sen~sim de~mittit ~ vado;
quor(um) in~ter vil~los hae~serunt ~ cancri ~ simul,
in ter~r(am) adsil~jens ex~cutit ~ praedam ~ maris,
esca~que frui~tur pas~sim col~lecta ~ vafer.
Erg(o) et~jam stul~tis ac~vit in~genjum ~ fames.

Translation:

If the food supply ever runs low for the bear in the woods, he runs down to the rocky shore and, grabbing onto a rock, he gradually lowers his bristly legs into the stream; as soon as crabs have grabbed onto the hairs of his shanks, he leaps up onto the land and shakes off the prizes of the sea, and he cleverly enjoys the food he has collected all over his legs. So it is that hunger sharpens the wits of even foolish people.

[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 (this shows bears, but not this particular story); click on the image for a larger view.

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Asinus et Galli: The Donkey and The Priests

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 164.

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

Text:

Qui natus est infelix, non vitam modo
tristem decurrit, verum post obitum quoque
persequitur illum dura fati miseria.
Galli Cybebes circum in questus ducere
asinum solebant, baiulantem sarcinas.
Is cum labore et plagis esset mortuus,
detracta pelle sibi fecerunt tympana.
Rogati mox a quodam, delicio suo
quidnam fecissent, hoc locuti sunt modo:
"Putabat se post mortem securum fore:
ecce aliae plagae congeruntur mortuo!"

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

Qui infelix natus est,
non modo decurrit tristem vitam, verum post obitum quoque
dura miseria fati persequitur illum.
Galli Cybebes solebant
circum ducere in questus asinum,
baiulantem sarcinas.
Cum is mortuus esset labore et plagis,
detracta pelle
Gallis sibi fecerunt tympana.
Mox rogati a quodam,
quidnam fecissent delicio suo,
locuti sunt hoc modo:
"Putabat
se fore securum post mortem;
ecce: aliae plagae congeruntur mortuo!"

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Qui na~tus est ~ infe~lix, non ~ vitam ~ modo
tristem ~ decur~rit, ve~rum post ~ ob'tum ~ quoque
perseq'~tur il~lum du~ra fa~ti mis'~ria.
Galli ~ Cybe~bes cir~c(um) in ques~tus du~cere
as'num ~ sole~bant, bai~ulan~tem sar~cinas.
Is cum ~ labo~r(e) et pla~gis es~set mor~tuus,
detrac~ta pel~le sib' ~ fece~runt tym~pana.
Roga~ti mox ~ a quo~dam, de~licjo ~ suo
quidnam ~ fecis~sent, hoc ~ locu~ti sunt ~ modo:
"Puta~bat se ~ post mor~tem se~curum ~ fore:
ecc(e) al~jae pla~gae con~gerun~tur mor~tuo!"

Translation:

It is not enough that a man who is born under an unlucky star leads an unhappy life: the bitter affliction of his fate pursues him even after he is dead. The Galli, priests of the goddess Cybebe, used a donkey to carry their luggage around when they went around begging for alms. When their donkey finally died, overcome by work and the whip, they stripped his hide and made themselves some tambourines. When someone asked them what they had done with their darling donkey, the priests replied as follows, 'He thought that once he died he would get some rest, but in death the beatings keep getting added on!"

[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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Passer ad Leporem: The Sparrow to the Rabbit

Source: Phaedrus.

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 473.

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

Text:

Sibi non cavere et aliis consilium dare
stultum esse paucis ostendamus versibus.
Oppressum ab aquila, fletus edentem graves,
leporem obiurgabat passer "Ubi pernicitas
nota" inquit "illa est? Quid ita cessarunt pedes?"
Dum loquitur, ipsum accipiter necopinum rapit
questuque vano clamitantem interficit.
Lepus semianimus "Mortis en solacium:
qui modo securus nostra inridebas mala,
simili querella fata deploras tua".

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

Ostendamus paucis versibus
stultum esse non cavere sibi
et dare consilium aliis:
Passer obiurgabat leporem,
oppressum ab aquila, edentem fletus graves,
et inquit: "Ubi illa nota pernicitas est?
Quid pedes ita cessarunt?"
Dum loquitur,
accipiter rapit passerem necopinum
et interficit ipsum clamitantem vano questu.
Lepus semianimus:
"En: solacium mortis!
Qui modo securus inridebas nostra mala,
deploras fata tua simili querella."

Here is the poem with meter marks:

Sib' non ~ cave~r(e) et al~jis con~siljum ~ dare
stult(um) es~se pau~cis os~tenda~mus ver~sibus.
Oppres~s(um) ab aq'~la, fle~tus e~dentem ~ graves,
lep'r(em) ob~iurga~bat pas~ser "Ub' ~ perni~citas
not(a)" in~quit "il~l(a) est? Quid ~ it' ces~sarunt ~ pedes?"
Dum loq'~tur, ip~s(um) accip'~ter nec'~pinum ~ rapit
questu~que va~no cla~mitan~t(em) inter~ficit.
Lepus ~ semjan'~mus "Mor~tis en ~ sola~cium:
qui m'do ~ secu~rus nos~tr(a) inri~debas ~ mala,
sim'li ~ querel~la fa~ta de~ploras ~ tua".

Translation:

Let us show in a few lines of poetry that it is a stupid thing to not watch out for oneself while giving advice to others. A sparrow scolded a rabbit who had been caught by an eagle and who was sobbing loudly; the sparrow said to him: "Where is that famous speed of yours? Why have your feet thus stopped running?" While the sparrow was speaking, a hawk seized him, unawares, and killed him while he shouted out his useless protest. The half-dead rabbit said: "Aha: a comfort in my dying! Carefree, you were just now making fun of our troubles but now you are bewailing your fate with a complaint similar to mine."

[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 by Samuel Howitt:

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