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Camelus et Iupiter

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The story of The Camel and Jupiter is a poem written by Avianus. It is written in elegiac couplets. You can find this poem, Avianus 8, along with other poems by Avianus, at the aesopica.net website. The Perry number for this fable is Perry 117. You can see a 1501 woodcut illustration for this fable at the University of Mannheim website. You can find a translation of a Greek version of this story in Aesop's Fables, by Laura Gibbs (Oxford University Press, 2003).

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Here is the poem (click "play" icon for brief audio sample):

Contentum propriis sapientem vivere rebus,
Nec cupere alterius fabella nostra monet,

Indignata cito ne stet Fortuna recursu
Atque eadem minuat quae dedit ante rota.

Corporis immensi fertur pecus isse per auras
Et magnum precibus sollicitasse Iovem:

Turpe nimis cunctis irridendumque videri,
Insignes geminis cornibus ire boves,

Et solum nulla munitum parte camelum,
Obiectum cunctis expositumque feris.

Iupiter irridens postquam sperata negavit,
Insuper et magnae sustulit auris onus.

Vive minor merito, cui sors non sufficit, inquit,
Et tua perpetuum, livide, damna geme.

The following version puts the words in a more prose-like order so that it will be easier for you to read:

Fabella nostra monet sapientem vivere contentum rebus propriis, nec cupere res alterius,	Additional grammar commentary to be added... meanwhile, if you have questions, use the Comments? Questions? Suggestions? link at the top or bottom of this page if you have a query. You might also want to look at these Tips on Using Segmented Texts.
ne Fortuna, indignata, cito recursu stet atque minuat eadem quae rota ante dedit .
Pecus corporis immensi fertur isse per auras et sollicitasse Iovem magnum precibus:
Turpe nimis videri et cunctis irridendum boves ire insignes geminis cornibus,
et solum camelum munitum nulla parte obiectum expositumque cunctis feris.
Postquam Iupiter irridens sperata negavit, insuper et sustulit onus magnae auris.
Inquit: Vive minor merito, cui sors non sufficit,
et, livide, geme perpetuum tua damna.