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Equus et Homo

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The story of The Horse and The Man is a poem by Alexander Nequam. It is written in elegiac couplets. The Perry number for this fable is Perry 269. 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):

Fortis Equus Cervum nimis oderat, et tamen illum
Cornibus armatum vincere non poterat.

Venatoris opem tandem petit et sibi Cervum
Praepinguem blande suggerit ut capiat,

Et iubet ipse sibi frenum sellamque parari,
Et se praedictis quid fieret docuit.

Dicta placent; Vir scandit Equum, Cervumque fugacem
Per sata, per campos, per nemus insequitur,

Et tamen evasit velox sine vulnere Cervus,
Ut qui non aliquo pondere pressus erat.

Iam sudore fluens, defessus et ilia ducens,
Vix Hominis pondus ferre valebat Equus.

Ergo gemens Hominem descendere saepe precatur,
Ut liber solito vivere more queat.

Ille refert: Te sponte tua mihi subposuisti,
Exhinc ut domino subditus esto mihi.

Ora reluctantis torquebant frena; flagellis
Nolentem cogam te mea iussa sequi.

Quisquis vindictam nimiam capit, audiat ista,
Ne, dum vult hostem perdere, se perimat.

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

Fortis Equus Cervum nimis oderat, et tamen non poterat vincere illum cornibus armatum.	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.
Tandem petit Venatoris opem et blande suggerit ut sibi capiat Cervum praepinguem.
Et ipse iubet sibi frenum sellamque parari, et docuit se praedictis quid fieret.
Dicta placent.
Vir scandit Equum, et per sata, per campos, per nemus Cervum fugacem insequitur.
Et tamen Cervus velox evasit sine vulnere ut qui non pressus erat aliquo pondere.
Equus, iam sudore fluens, defessus et ilia ducens, Hominis pondus vix ferre valebat.
Ergo gemens saepe precatur Hominem descendere, ut liber solito more vivere queat.
Ille refert: Te mihi subposuisti sponte tua, ut exhinc subditus esto mihi domino.
Frena ora reluctantis torquebant;
flagellis cogam te nolentem mea iussa sequi.
Quisquis capit vindictam nimiam, audiat ista:
ne perimat se dum vult hostem perdere.