Legenda: Femina et Coluber

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Femina et Coluber

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The story of The Woman and The Snake is adapted from Phaedrus, Ademar, Odo of Cheriton and the Romulus Anglicus.

Most versions of this story are about a man and a snake, but the version in Ademar features a woman instead. You can also read a version of this story in verse: Homo et Coluber.

The original texts are available at the aesopica.net website. The Perry number for this fable is Perry 176 (with links to the Latin texts).

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).

Use this Study Guide to organize your learning activities.

Non est confidendum de hoste suo.	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.
Coluber semel iacebat super terram gelatam et multum algebat.
A femina quadam gratiam ut vivere posset postulavit.
Pietate mota Colubrum ad se sustulit, et posuit in sinum suum ad calefaciendum.
Sic Colubrum in latere suo habuit, et tota hieme fovit.
Estate autem facta coepit esse iniuriosus nec de voluntate sua exire curavit.
Veneno suo domum et vasa inficiebat, etiam feminam fortiter pungebat.
Et ait illa: Quare ita male me punxisti? quia sinu meo pro bono tuo te collocavi?
Respondit: Nonne scis quod semper sunt inimitiae inter genus meum et genus hominum, et naturaliter ipsum odio?
Nonne scis quod Serpens in sinu, Mus in pera, Ignis in gremio male remunerant hospites suos?
Qui fert malis auxilium, post tempus dolet.