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Asinus et Isis

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The story of The Donkey and The Goddess is a poem by Caspar Barth. It is written in Sapphic stanzas. The Perry number for this fable is Perry 182. 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.

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

Auream portans Asinus figuram
Isidos magnae, populare vulgus
Dum genu flexo celebrare sacrum
Cernit honorem,
Ardet extemplo ambitione dia,
Seque cultores tot habere credit,
Quippe formosus satis et parente
Natus Equestri.
At sequens fastum premit hunc agaso
Fuste quadrato. Rediit tum asello
Conscius durorum animus laborum,
Numinis expers.
Quos levat Fortuna, aliena gaudent
Regna. Venturum est tumidos monere
Tempus inversa facie eruditum,
Sortis iniquae.

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

Asinus, portans auream figuram Isidos magnae, dum cernit populare vulgus genu flexo celebrare honorem sacrum,	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.
extemplo ardet ambitione dia, et credit se habere tot cultores,
quippe formosus satis est et natus parente equestri.
At agaso, sequens, hunc fastum premit fuste quadrato.
Animus conscius durorum laborum, et numinis expers tum asello rediit.
Aliena regna gaudent quos Fortuna levat.
Tempus venturum est eruditum inversa facie sortis iniquae tumidos monere.