THE tales of Phaedrus would you read,O Eutychus, you must be freedFrom business, that the mind unbentMay take the author's full intent.You urge that this poetic turnOf mine is not of such concern,As with your time to interfereA moment's space: 'tis therefore clearFor those essays you have no call,Which suit not your affairs at allA time may come, perhaps you'll say,That I shall make a holiday,And have my vacant thoughts at large,The student's office to discharge-And can you such vile stuff peruse,Rather than serve domestic views,Return the visits of a friend,Or with your wife your leisure spend,Relax your mind, your limbs relieve,And for new toil new strength receive?From wordly cares you must estrangeYour thoughts, and feel a perfect change,If to Parnassus you repair,And seek for your admission there,Me-(whom a Grecian mother boreOn Hill Pierian, where of yoreMnemosyne in love divineBrought forth to Jove the tuneful Nine.Though sprung where genius reign'd with artI grubb'd up av'rice from my heart,And rather for applause than pay,Embrace the literary way)Yet as a writer and a wit,With some abatements they admit.What is his case then, do you think,Who toils for wealth nor sleeps a wink.Preferring to the pleasing painOf composition sordid gain?But hap what will (as Sinon said,When to king Priam he was led),I book the third shall now fulfil,With Aesop for my master still;Which book I dedicate to you,As both to worth and honour duePleased, if you read-if not, contentAs conscious of a sure event,That these my fables shall remain,And after-ages entertain.In a few words I now proposeTo point from whence the Fable rose.A servitude was all alongExposed to most oppressive wrong,The suff'rer therefore did not dareHis heart's true dictates to declare;But couch'd his meaning in the veilOf many an allegoric tale,And jesting with a moral aim,Eluded all offence and blame.This is the path that I pursue,Inventing more than AEsop knew;And certain topics by-the-by,To my own hindrence did I try.But was there any of mankind,Besides Sejanus, so inclined,Who was alone to work my fall,Informer, witness, judge and all;I would confess the slander true,And own such hardships were my due;Nor would I fly, my grief to ease,To such poor lenitives as these.If any through suspicion errs,And to himself alone refers,What was design'd for thousands moreHe 'll show too plainly, where he's soreYet ev'n from such I crave excuse,For (far from personal abuse)My verse in gen'ral would put downTrue life and manners of the town.But here, perhaps, some one will askWhy I, forsooth, embraced this task?If Esop, though a Phrygian, rose,And ev'n derived from Scythian snows;If Anacharsis could deviseBy wit to gain th' immortal prize;Shall I, who to learn'd Greece belong,Neglect her honour and her song,And by dull sloth myself disgrace?Since we can reckon up in Thrace,The authors that have sweetest sung,Where Linus from Apollo sprung;And he whose mother was a muse,Whose voice could tenderness infuseTo solid rocks, strange monsters quell'd,And Hebrus in his course withheld.Envy, stand clear, or thou shalt rueTh' attack, for glory is my due.Thus having wrought upon your ear,I beg that you would be sincere,And in the poet's cause avowThat candor, all the world allow.
Phaedri libellos legere si desideras,Vaces oportet, Eutyche, a negotiis,Ut liber animus sentiat vim carminis.Verum inquis tanti non est ingenium tuum,Momentum ut horae pereat officiis meis.Non ergo causa est manibus id tangi tuis,Quod occupatis auribus non convenit.Fortasse dices: Aliquae venient feriae,Quae me soluto pectore ad studium vocent.Legesne, quaeso, potius viles nenias,Impendas curam quam rei domesticae,Reddas amicis tempora, uxori vaces,Animum relaxes, otium des corpori,Ut assuetam fortius praestes vicem?Mutandum tibi propositum est ut vitae genus,Intrare si Musarum limen cogitas.Ego, quem Pierio mater enixa est iugo,In quo tonanti sancta Mnemosyne IoviFecunda novies artium peperit chorum,Quamvis in ipsa paene natus sim scholaCuramque habendi penitus corde eraserimEt laude invicta vitam in hanc incubuerim,Fastidiose tamen in coetum recipior.Quid credis illi accidere, qui magnas opesExaggerare quaerit omni vigilia,Docto labori dulce praeponens lucrum?Sed iam quodcumque fuerit, ut dixit Sinon,Ad regem cum Dardaniae perductus foret,Librum exarabo tertium Aesopi stilo,Honori et meritis dedicans illum tuis.Quem si leges, laetabor; sin autem minus,Habebunt certe quo se oblectent posteri.Nunc fabularum cur sit inventum genus,Brevi docebo. Servitus obnoxia,Quia quae volebat non audebat dicere,Affectus proprios in fabellas transtulitCalumniamque fictis elusit iocis.Ego porro illius semita feci viam,Et cogitavi plura quam reliquerat,In calamitatem deligens quaedam meam.Quod si accusator alius Seiano foret,Si testis alius, iudex alius denique,Dignum faterer esse me tantis malis,Nec his dolorem delenirem remediis.Suspicione si quis errabit suaEt rapiet ad se quod erit commune omnium,Stulte nudabit animi conscientiam.Huic excusatum me velim nihilo minus:Neque enim notare singulos mens est mihi,Verum ipsam vitam et mores hominum ostendere.Rem me professum dicet fors aliquis gravem.Si Phryx Aesopus potuit, Anacharsis ScythaAeternam famam condere ingenio suo:Ego, litteratae qui sum propior Graeciae,Cur somno inerti deseram patriae decus?Threissa cum gens numeret auctores suos,Linoque Apollo sit parens, Musa Orpheo,Qui saxa cantu movit et domuit ferasHebrique tenuit impetus dulci mora.Ergo hinc abesto, livor, ne frustra gemas,Quoniam mihi sollemnis debetur gloria.Induxi te ad legendum; sincerum mihiCandore noto reddas iudicium peto.
An ancient dame a firkin sees,In which the rich Falernian leesSend from the nobly tinctured shellA rare and most delicious smell!There when a season she had clungWith greedy nostrils to the bung,"O spirit exquisitely sweet!"She cried, "how perfectly completeWere you of old, and at the best,When ev'n your dregs have such a zest!"They'll see the drift of this my rhyme,Who knew the author in his prime.
Anus iacere vidit epotam amphoram,Adhuc Falerna faece ex testa nobiliOdorem quae iucundum late spargeret.Hunc postquam totis avida traxit naribus:O suavis anima! quale te dicam bonumAntehac fuisse, tales cum sint reliquiae?Hoc quo pertineat, dicet qui me noverit.
Their scorn comes home to them againWho treat the wretched with disdain.A careless Panther long agoFell in a pit, which overthrowThe Shepherds all around alarm'd;When some themselves with cudgels arm'd;Others threw stones upon its head;But some in pity sent her bread,As death was not the creature's due.The night came on - the hostile crewWent home, not doubting in the wayTo find the Panther dead next day.But she, recovering of her strength,Sprang from the pit and fled at length.But rushing in a little spaceFrom forth her den upon the place,She tears the flock, the Shepherd slays,And all the region round dismays.Then they began to be afraidWho spared the beast and lent their aid;They reck not of the loss, but makeTheir pray'r for life, when thus she spake:"I well remember them that threwThe stones, and well remember youWho gave me bread—desist to fear,For 'twas the oppressor brought me here."
Solet a despectis par referri gratia.Panthera imprudens olim in foveam decidit.Videre agrestes: alii fustes congerunt,Alii onerant saxis; quidam contra miseritiPeriturae 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 liberatEt 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 qui me saxo petierit,Qui panem dederit; vos timere absistite;Illis revertor hostis, qui me laeserunt.
Not here translated.A certain person, as he stoodWithin the shambles buying food,Amongst the other kitchen fareBeheld an Ape suspended there;And asking how 'twould taste, when dress'd,The butcher shook his head in jest;"If for such prog your fancy is,Judge of the flavour by the phiz."This speech was not so true as keen,For I in life have often seenGood features with a wicked heart,And plainness acting virtue's part.Fools from success perdition meet.An idle wretch about the streetAt Esop threw a stone in rage." So much the better," quoth the sage,And gives three farthings for the job;" I've no more money in my fob;But if you 'll follow my advice,More shall be levied in a trice."It happen'd that the selfsame hourCame by a man of wealth and pow'r." There, throw your pellet at my lord,And you shall have a sure reward!"The fellow did as he was told;But mark the downfall of the bold;His hopes are baulk'd, and, lo! he gainsA rope and gibbet for his pains.'
Usu peritus hariolo vel doctiorVulgo esse fertur, causa sed non dicitur,Notescet quae nunc primum fabella mea.Habenti cuidam pecora pepererunt ovesAgnos humano capite. Monstro territusAd consulendos currit maerens hariolos.Hic pertinere ad domini respondet caputEt avertendum victima periculum.Ille autem affirmat coniugem esse adulteramEt insitivos significari liberos,Sed expiari posse maiore hostia.Quid multa? Variis dissident sententiisHominisque curam cura maiore aggravant.Aesopus ibi stans, naris emunctae senex,Natura numquam verba cui potuit dare:Si procurare vis ostentum, rustice,Uxores inquit da tuis pastoribus.Pendere ad lanium quidam vidit simium,Inter reliquas merces atque obsonia;Quaesivit quidnam saperet. Tum lanius iocans:Quale inquit caput est, talis praestatur sapor.Ridicule magis hoc dictum quam vere aestimo;Quando et formosos saepe inveni pessimos,Et turpi facie multos cognovi optimos.Successus ad perniciem multos devocat.Aesopo quidam petulans lapidem impegerat.Tanto inquit melior! Assem deinde illi dedit,Sic prosecutus: Plus non habeo mehercules,Sed unde accipere possis monstrabo tibi.Venit ecce dives et potens: huic similiterImpinge lapidem et dignum accipies praemium.Persuasus ille fecit quod monitus fuit;Sed spes fefellit impudentem audaciam:Comprensus namque poenas persolvit cruce.
A Fly that sat upon the beamRated the Mule: " Why, sure you dream?" Pray get on faster with the cartOr I shall sting you till you smart!"She answers: " All this talk I hearWith small attention, but must fearHim who upon the box sustainsThe pliant whip, and holds the reins.Cease then your pertness-for I knowWhen to give back, and when to go."This tale derides the talking crew,Whose empty threats are all they do.
Musca in temone sedit et mulam increpans:Quam tarda es! inquit non vis citius progredi?Vide ne dolone collum compungam tibi.Respondit illa: Verbis non moveor tuis;Sed istum timeo sella qui prima sedensIugum flagello temperat lento meumEt 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.
I will, as briefly as I may,The sweets of liberty display.A Wolf half famish'd, chanced to seeA Dog, as fat as dog could be:For one day meeting on the road,They mutual compliments bestowed:" Prithee," says Isgrim, faint and weak,"How came you so well fed and sleek?I starve, though stronger of the two."" It will be just as well with you,"The Dog quite cool and frank replied,"If with my master you'll abide.""For what?" "Why merely to attend,And from night thieves the door defend."" I gladly will accept the post,What! shall I bear with snow and frostAnd all this rough inclement plight,Rather than have a home at night,And feed on plenty at my ease?"" Come, then, with me "-the Wolf agrees.But as they went the mark he found,Where the Dog's collar had been bound:"What's this, my friend?" "Why, nothing." "Nay,Be more explicit, sir, I pray."" I'm somewhat fierce and apt to bite,Therefore they hold me pretty tight,That in the day-time I may sleep,And night by night my vigils keep.At eveningtide they let me out,And then I freely walk about:Bread comes without a care of mine.I from my master's table dine;The servants throw me many a scrap,With choice of pot-liquor to lap;So, I've my bellyful, you find.""But can you go where you've a mind?""Not always, to be flat and plain.""Then, Dog, enjoy your post again,For to remain this servile thing,Old Isgrim would not be a king."
Quam dulcis sit libertas, breviter proloquar.Cani perpasto macie confectus lupusForte occucurrit. Dein salutati invicemUt 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.Ego vero sum paratus: nunc patior nivesImbresque in silvis asperam vitam trahens:Quanto est facilius mihi sub tecto vivere,Et otiosum largo satiari cibo?Veni ergo mecum. Dum procedunt, aspicitLupus a catena collum detritum cani.Unde hoc, amice? Nihil est. Dic sodes tamen.Quia videor acer, alligant me interdiu,Luce ut quiescam et vigilem, nox cum venerit:Crepusculo solutus, qua visum est, vagor.Affertur ultro panis; de mensa suaDat ossa dominus; frusta iactat familiaEt, quod fastidit quisque, pulmentarium.Sic sine labore venter impletur meus.Age, si quo abire est animus, est licentia?Non plane est inquit. Fruere, quae laudas, canis:Regnare nolo, liber ut non sim mihi.
Warn'd by our council, oft beware,And look into yourself with care.There was a certain father hadA homely girl and comely lad.These being at their childish playWithin their mother's room one day,A looking-glass was in the chair,And they beheld their faces there.The boy grows prouder as he looks;The girl is in a rage, nor brooksHer boasting brother's jests and sneers,Affronted at each word she hears:Then to her father down she flies,Arid urges all she can deviseAgainst the boy, who could presumeTo meddle in a lady's room.At which, embracing each in turn,With most affectionate concern," My dears," he says, " ye may not passA day without this useful glass;You, lest you spoil a pretty face,By doing things to your disgrace;You, by good conduct to correctYour form, and beautify defect."
Praecepto monitus saepe te considera.Habebat quidam filiam turpissimamIdemque insignem pulchra facie filium.Hi, speculum in cathedra matris ut positum fuit,Pueriliter ludentes forte inspexerunt.Hic se formosum iactat: illa irasciturNec gloriantis sustinet fratris iocos,Accipiens, quid enim? cuncta in contumeliam.Ergo ad patrem decurrit laesura invicemMagnaque invidia criminatur filium,Vir natus quod rem feminarum tetigerit.Amplexus ille utrumque et carpens osculaDulcemque in ambos caritatem partiens:Cotidie inquit speculo vos uti volo:Tu formam ne corrumpas nequitiae malis;Tu faciem ut istam moribus vincas bonis.
Though common be the name of friend,Few can to faithfulness pretend,That Socrates (whose cruel case,I'd freely for his fame embrace,And living any envy bearTo leave my character so fair)Was building of a little cot,When some one, standing on the spot,Ask'd, as the folks are apt to do," How comes so great a man as youContent with such a little hole?"-"I wish," says he, "with all my soulThat this same little house I buildWas with true friends completely fill'd."
Vulgare amici nomen, sed rara est fides.Cum parvas aedes sibi fundasset Socrates,(Cuius non fugio mortem, si famam assequar,Et cedo invidiae, dummodo absolvar cinis),Ex populo sic nescio quis, ut fieri solet:Quaeso, tam angustam talis vir ponis domum?Utinam inquit veris hanc amicis impleam!.
'Tis frequently of bad eventTo give or to withhold assent.Two cases will th' affair explain-The good Hippolytus was slain;In that his stepdame credit found,And Troy was levell d with the ground;Because Cassandra's prescious careSought, but obtain'd no credence there.The facts should then be very strong,Lest the weak judge determine wrong:But that I may not make too freeWith fabulous antiquity,I now a curious tale shall tell,Which I myself remember well.An honest man, that loved his wife,Was introducing into lifeA son upon the man's estate.One day a servant (whom, of late,He with his freedom had endu'd)Took him aside, and being shrewd,Supposed that he might be his heirWhen he'd divulged the whole affair.Much did he lie against the youth,But more against the matron's truth:And hinted that, which worst of allWas sure a lover's heart to gall,The visits of a lusty rake,And honour of his house at stake.He at this scandal taking heat,Pretends a journey to his seat;But stopp'd at hand, while it was light,Where, on a sudden, and by night,He to his wife's apartment sped,Where she had put the lad to bed,As watchful of his youthful bloom.While now they're running to the room,And seek a light in haste, the sire,No longer stifling of his ire,Flies to the couch, where grouping round,A head, but newly shaved, he found;Then, as alone, he vengeance breath'd,The sword within his bosom sheath'd-The candle entering, when he spiedThe bleeding youth, and by his sideThe spotless dame, who being fastAsleep, knew nothing that had pass'd,Instant in utmost grief involved,He vengeance for himself resolved;And on that very weapon flew,Which his too cred'lous fury drew.Th' accusers take the woman straight,And drag to the centumvirate;Th' ill-natured world directly builtA strong suspicion of her guilts,As she th' estate was to enjoy-The lawyers all their skill employ;And a great spirit those exertWho most her innocence assert.The judges then to Caesar pray'dThat he would lend his special aid;Who, as they acted upon oath,Declared themselves extremely lothTo close this intricate affairHe, taking then himself the chair,The clouds of calumny displaced.And Truth up to her fountain traced." Let the freedman to vengeance go,The cause of all this scene of woe:For the poor widow, thus undone,Deprived of husband and of son,To pity has a greater pleaThan condemnation, I decree-But if the man, with caution due,Had rather blamed than listen'd toThe vile accuser, and his lieHad strictly search'd with Reason's eye,This desp'rate guilt he had not known,Nor branch and root his house o'erthrown."Nor wholly scorn, nor yet attendToo much at what the tatlers vend,Because there's many a sad neglect.Where you have little to suspect;And treacherous persons will attaintMen, against whom there's no complaint.Hence simple folks too may be taughtHow to form judgments as they ought,And not see with another's glass;For things are come to such a pass,That love and hate work diff'rent waysAs int'rest or ambition sways.Them you may know, in them confide,Whom by experience you have tried.Thus have I made a long amendsFor that brief style which some offends.
Periculosum est credere et non credere.Utriusque exemplum breviter exponam rei.Hippolytus obiit, quia novercae creditum est;Cassandrae quia non creditum, ruit Ilium.Ergo exploranda est veritas multum, priusQuam stulta prave iudicet sententia.Sed fabulosa ne vetustate elevem,Narrabo tibi memoria quod factum est mea.Maritus quidam cum diligeret coniugemTogamque puram iam pararet filio,Seductus in secretum a liberto est suo,Sperante heredem suffici se proximum.Qui cum de puero multa mentitus foretEt plura de flagitiis castae mulieris,Adiecit id, quod sentiebat maximeDoliturum amanti, ventitare adulterumStuproque turpi pollui famam domus.Incensus ille falso uxoris crimineSimulavit iter ad villam clamque in oppidoSubsedit: deinde noctu subito ianuamIntravit, recta cubiculum uxoris petens,In quo dormire mater natum iusserat,Aetatem adultam servans diligentius.Dum quaerunt lumen, dum concursant familia,Irae furentis impetum non sustinensAd lectum vadit, temptat in tenebris caput.Ut sentit tonsum, gladio pectus transigit,Nihil respiciens, dum dolorem vindicet.Lucerna allata, simul aspexit filiumSanctamque uxorem dormientem cubiculo,Sopita primo quae nil somno senserat;Repraesentavit in se poenam facinorisEt ferro incubuit, quod credulitas strinxerat.Accusatores postularunt mulieremRomamque pertraxerunt ad centumviros.Maligna insontem deprimit suspicio,Quod bona possideat. Stant patroni fortiterCausam tuentes innocentis feminae.A Divo Augusto tunc petierunt iudices,Ut adiuvaret iuris iurandi fidem,Quod ipsos error implicuisset criminis.Qui postquam tenebras dispulit calumniaeCertumque fontem veritatis repperit:Luat inquit poenas causa libertus mali;Namque orbam nato simul et privatam viroMiserandam potius quam damnandam existimo.Quod si delata perscrutatus criminaPaterfamilias esset, si mendaciumSubtiliter limasset, a radicibusNon evertisset scelere funesto domum.Nil spernat auris, nec tamen credat statim.Quandoquidem et illi peccant, quos minime putes,Et qui non peccant, impugnantur fraudibus.Hoc admonere simplices etiam potest,Opinione alterius ne quid ponderent:Ambitio namque dissidens mortaliumAut gratiae subscribit aut odio suo.Erit ille notus quem per te cognoveris.Haec exsecutus sum propterea pluribusBrevitate nimia quoniam quosdam offendimus.
Not here translated.A Cock, while scratching all around,A Pearl upon the dunghill found:"O splendid thing in foul disgrace,Had there been any in the placeThat saw and knew thy worth when sold,Ere this thou hadst been set in gold.But I, who rather would have gotA corn of barley, heed thee not;No service can there render'd beFrom me to you, and you to me."I write this tale to them aloneTo whom in vain my pearls are thrown.
Eunuchus litigabat cum quodam improbo,Qui super obscena dicta et petulans iurgiumDamnum insectatus est amissi corporis.En ait hoc unum est, cur laborem validius,Integritatis testes quia desunt mihi.Sed quid fortunae, stulte, delictum arguis?Id demum est homini turpe, quod meruit pati.In sterquilino pullus gallinaceusDum 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.
Up in a lofty oak the BeesHad made their honey-combs: but theseThe Drones asserted they had wrought.Then to the bar the cause was broughtBefore the wasp, a learned chief,Who well might argue either brief,As of a middle nature made.He therefore to both parties said:"You're not dissimilar in size,And each with each your color vies,That there's a doubt concerning both:But, lest I err, upon my oath,'Hives for yourselves directly choose,And in the wax the work infuse,That, from the flavor and the form,We may point out the genuine swarm."The Drones refuse, the Bees agree-Then thus did Justice Wasp decree:" Who can, and who cannot, is plain,So take, ye Bees, your combs again."This narrative had been suppress'dHad not the Drones refused the test.
Apes in alta fecerant quercu favos:Hos fuci inertes esse dicebant suos.Lis ad forum deducta est, vespa iudice.Quae genus utrumque nosset cum pulcherrime,Legem duabus hanc proposuit partibus:Non inconveniens corpus et par est color,In dubium plane res ut merito venerit.Sed ne religio peccet imprudens mea,Alvos accipite et ceris opus infundite,Ut ex sapore mellis et forma favi,De quis nunc agitur, auctor horum appareat.Fuci recusant: apibus condicio placet.Tunc illa talem protulit sententiam:Apertum est quis non possit et quis fecerit.Quapropter apibus fructum restituo suum.Hanc praeterissem fabulam silentio,Si pactam fuci non recusassent fidem.
As Esop was with boys at play,And had his nuts as well as they,A grave Athenian, passing by,Cast on the sage a scornful eye,As on a dotard quite bereaved:Which, when the moralist perceived,(Rather himself a wit profess'dThan the poor subject of a jest)Into the public way he flungA bow that he had just unstrung:There solve, thou conjurer," he cries,"The problem, that before thee lies."The people throng; he racks his brain,Nor can the thing enjoin'd explain.At last he gives it up-the seerThus then in triumph made it clear:" As the tough bow exerts its spring,A constant tension breaks the string;But if 'tis let at seasons loose,You may depend upon its use."Thus recreative sports and playAre good upon a holiday,And with more spirit they'll pursueThe studies which they shall renew.
Puerorum in turba quidam ludentem AtticusAesopum nucibus cum vidisset, restititEt quasi delirum risit. Quod sensit simulDerisor potius quam deridendus senex,Arcum retensum posuit in media via:Heus! inquit sapiens, expedi quid fecerim.Concurrit populus. Ille se torquet diuNec 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.
A Dog bespoke a sucking Lamb,That used a she-goat as her dam," You little fool, why, how you baa!This goat is not your own mamma:"Then pointed to a distant mead,Where several sheep were put to feed." I ask not," says the Lamb, "for herWho had me first at Nature's spur,And bore me for a time about,Then, like a fardel, threw me out;But her that is content to bilkHer own dear kids, to give me milk."" Yet she that yean'd you sure," says Tray," Should be preferr'd"—I tell thee nay—Whence could she know that what she hidWas black or white?-but grant she did—I being thus a male begot'Twas no great favor, since my lotWas hour by hour, throughout my life,To dread the butcher and his knife.Why should I therefore give my voiceFor her who had no pow'r or choiceIn my production, and not cleaveTo her so ready to relieve,When she beheld me left alone,And has such sweet indulgence shown?"Kind deeds parental love proclaimNot mere necessity and name.
Inter capellas agno balanti 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 ubereFraudatque natos lacte, ne desit mihi.Tamen illa est potior quae te peperit. Non ita est.Unde illa scivit niger an albus nascerer?Age porro: parere si voluisset feminam,Quid profecisset, cum crearer masculus?Beneficium sane magnum natali dedit,Ut exspectarem lanium in horas singulas!Cuius potestas nulla in gignendo fuit,Cur hac sit potior quae iacentis miserita estDulcemque sponte praestat benevolentiam?Facit parentes bonitas, non necessitas.His demonstrare voluit auctor versibusObsistere homines legibus, meritis capi.
Those who will not the forms obeyTo be obliging in their way,Must often punishment abideFor their ill-nature, and their pride.A Grasshopper, in rank ill-will,Was very loud and very shrillAgainst a sapient Owl's repose,Who was compelled by day to dozeWithin a hollow oak's retreat,As wont by night to quest for meat—She is desired to hold her peace.But at the word her cries increase;Again requested to abateHer noise, she's more importunate.The Owl perceiving no redress,And that her words were less and lessAccounted of, no longer pray'd,But thus an artifice essay'd:" Since 'tis impossible to nod,While harping like the Delphian god,You charm our ears, stead of a nap,A batch of nectar will I tap,Which lately from Minerva came;Now if you do not scorn the same,Together let us bumpers ply."The Grasshopper, extremely dry,And, finding she had hit the keyThat gain'd applause, approach'd with glee;At which the Owl upon her flew,And quick the trembling vixen slew.Thus by her death she was adjudgedTo give what in her life she grudged.
Humanitati qui se non accommodat,Plerumque poenas oppetit superbiae.Cicada acerbum noctuae conviciumFaciebat, solitae victum in tenebris quaerereCavoque ramo capere somnum interdiu.Rogata est ut taceret. Multo validiusClamare occepit. Rursus admota preceAccensa magis est. Noctua ut vidit sibiNullum esse auxilium et verba contemni sua,Hac est aggressa garrulam fallacia:Dormire quia me non sinunt cantus tui,Sonare citharam quos putes Apollinis,Potare est animus nectar, quod Pallas mihiNuper donavit; si non fastidis, veni;Una bibamus. Illa, quae arebat siti,Simul cognovit vocem laudari suam,Cupide advolavit. Noctua egressa e cavoTrepidantem consectata est et leto dedit.Sic viva quod negarat tribuit mortua.
The gods took certain trees (th' affairWas some time since) into their care.The oak was best approved by Jove,The myrtle by the queen of love;The god of music and the dayVouchsafed to patronise the bay;The pine Cybele chanced to please,And the tall poplar Hercules.Minerva upon this inquiredWhy they all barren trees admired?" The cause," says Jupiter, "is plain,Lest we give honour up for gain."" Let every one their fancy suit,I choose the olive for its fruit."The sire of gods and men replies," Daughter, thou shalt be reckon'd wiseBy all the world, and justly too;For whatsover things we do,If not a life of useful days,How vain is all pretence to praise!"Whate'er experiments you try,Have some advantage in your eye.
Olim quas vellent esse in tutela sua,Divi legerunt arbores. Quercus IoviEt myrtus Veneri placuit, Phoebo laurea,Pinus Cybebae, populus celsa Herculi.Minerva admirans, quare steriles sumerentInterrogavit. Causam dixit Iuppiter:Honorem fructu ne videamur vendere.At mehercules narrabit quod quis voluerit,Oliva nobis propter fructum est gratior.Tunc 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.
Her favorite bird to Juno came,And was in dudgeon at the dame,That she had not attuned her throatWith Philomela's matchless note;" She is the wonder of all ears;But when I speak the audience sneersThe goddess to the bird replied,(Willing to have him pacified,)" You are above the rest enduedWith beauty and with magnitude;Your neck the emerald's gloss outvie?,And what a blaze of gemmeous diesShines from the plumage of your tail!"" All this dumb show will not avail,"Cries he, "if I'm surpass'd in voice."" The fates entirely have the choiceOf all the lots-fair form is yours;The eagle's strength his prey secures;The nightingale can sing an ode;The crow and raven may forebode:All these in sheer contentment craveNo other voice than Nature gave."By affectation be not sway'd,Where Nature has not lent her aid;Nor to that flattering hope attend,Which must in disappointment end.
Pavo ad Iunonem venit, indigne ferensCantus luscinii quod sibi non tribuerit;Illum esse cunctis avibus admirabilem,Se derideri simul ac vocem miserit.Tunc consolandi gratia dixit dea:Sed forma vincis, vincis magnitudine;Nitor smaragdi collo praefulget tuoPictisque 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 affectare quod tibi non est datum,Delusa ne spes ad querelam reccidat.
Esop (no other slave at hand)Received himself his lord's commandAn early supper to provide.From house to house he therefore triedTo beg the favor of a light;At length he hit upon the right.But as when first he sallied outHe made his tour quite round about,On his return he took a raceDirectly, cross the market-place:When thus a talkative buffoon," Esop, what means this light at noon?'He answer'd briefly, as he ran,"Fellow, I'm looking for a man."Now if this jackanapes had weighedThe true intent of what was said,He'd found that Esop had no senseOf manhood in impertinence.
Aesopus domino solus cum esset familia,Parare cenam iussus est maturius.Ignem ergo quaerens aliquot lustravit domus,Tandemque invenit ubi lucernam accenderet.Tum circumeunti fuerat quod iter longiusEffecit brevius: namque recta per forumCoepit redire. Et quidam e turba garrulus:Aesope, medio sole quid cum 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 alluserit.
Not here translatedNot here translatedThe luckless wretch that's born to woeMust all his life affliction know-And harder still, his cruel fateWill on his very ashes wait,Cybele's priests, in quest of bread,An Ass about the village led,With things for sale from door to door;Till work'd and beaten more and more,At length, when the poor creature died,They made them drums out of his hide.Then question'd "how it came to passThey thus could serve ther darling Ass?"The answer was, " He thought of peaceIn death, and that his toils would cease;But see his mis'ry knows no bounds,Still with our blows his back resounds."To you, who 've graver things bespoke,This seems no better than a joke,And light for mere amusement made;Yet still we drive the scribbling trade,And from the pen our pleasure find,When we've no greater things to mind.Yet if you look with care intense,These tales your toil shall recompense;Appearance is not always true,And thousands err by such a view.'Tis a choice spirit that has priedWhere clean contrivance chose to hide;That this is not at random said,I shall produce upon this headA fable of an arch device,About the Weasel and the Mice.A Weasel, worn with years, and lame,That could not overtake its game,Now with the nimble Mice to deal,Disguised herself with barley meal;Then negligent her limbs she spreadIn a sly nook, and lay for dead.A Mouse that thought she there might feed,Leapt up, and perish'd in the deed;A second in like manner died;A third, and sundry more beside:Then comes the brindled Mouse, a chapThat oft escaped both snare and trap,And seeing how the trick was played,Thus to his crafty foe he said:-"So may'st thou prosper day and night,As thou art not an errant bite."An hungry Fox with fierce attackSprang on a Vine, but tumbled back,Nor could attain the point in view,So near the sky the bunches grew.As he went off, "They're scurvy stuff,"Says he, "and not half ripe enough—And I 've more rev'rence for my tripesThan to torment them with the gripes."For those this tale is very patWho lessen what they can't come at.A Wild-Boar wallow'd in the flood,And troubled all the stream with mud,Just where a horse to drink repair'd-He therefore having war declared,Sought man's alliance for the fight,And bore upon his back the knight;Who being skill'd his darts to throw,Despatched the Wild-Boar at a blow.Then to the steed the victor said," I'm glad you came to me for aid,For taught how useful you can be,I've got at once a spoil and thee."On which the fields he made him quit,To feel the spur and champ the bit.Then he his sorrow thus express'd:"I needs must have my wrongs redress'd,And making tyrant man the judge,Must all my life become a drudge."This tale the passionate may warn,To bear with any kind of scorn;And rather all complaint withdrawThan either go to war or law.
Supersunt mihi quae scribam, sed parco sciens,Primum ne videar esse tibi molestior,Distringit quem multarum rerum varietas;Dein si quis eadem forte conari velit,Habere ut possit aliquid operis residui:Quamvis materiae tanta abundet copia,Labori faber ut desit, non fabro labor.Brevitati nostrae praemium ut reddas petoQuod es pollicitus: exhibe vocis fidem.Nam vita morti propior est cotidie,Et hoc minus perveniet ad me muneris,Quo plus consumet temporis dilatio.Si cito rem perages, usus fiet longior:Fruar diutius, si celerius coepero.Languentis aevi dum sunt aliquae reliquiae,Auxilio locus est: olim senio debilemFrustra adiuvare bonitas nitetur tua,Cum iam desierit esse beneficium utileEt mors vicina flagitabit debitum.Stultum admovere tibi preces existimo,Proclivis ultro cum sit misericordia.Saepe impetravit veniam confessus reus:Quanto innocenti iustius debet dari?Tuae sunt partes; fuerunt aliorum prius,Dein simili gyro venient aliorum vices.Decerne quod religio, quod patitur fides,Et graviter me tutare iudicio tuo.Excedit animus quem proposuit terminum;Sed difficulter continetur spiritus,Integritatis qui sincerae consciusA noxiorum premitur insolentiis.Qui sint, requires; apparebunt tempore.Ego, quondam legi quam puer sententiam,Palam muttire plebeio piaculum est,Dum sanitas constabit, pulchre meminero.Cum destinassem operis habere terminumIn hoc, ut aliis esset materiae satis,Consilium tacito corde damnavi meum.Nam si quis talis etiam tituli est appetens,Quo pacto divinabit quidnam omiserim,Ut illud ipsum cupiat famae tradere,Sua cuique cum sit animi cogitatioColorque proprius? Ergo non levitas mihi,Sed certa ratio causam scribendi dedit.Quare, Particulo, quoniam caperis fabulis,(Quas Aesopias, non Aesopi, nomino,Quia paucas ille ostendit, ego plures fero,Usus vetusto genere, sed rebus novis),Quartum libellum, cum vacarit, perleges.Hunc obtrectare si volet malignitas,Imitari dum non possit, obtrectet licet.Mihi parta laus est quod tu, quod similes tuiVestras in chartas verba transfertis mea,Dignumque longa iudicatis memoria.Illitteratum plausum nec desidero.Qui natus est infelix, non vitam modoTristem decurrit, verum post obitum quoquePersequitur illum dura fati miseria.Galli Cybebes circum in quaestus ducereAsinum solebant baiulantem sarcinas.Is cum labore et plagis esset mortuus,Detracta pelle sibi fecerunt tympana.Rogati mox a quodam, delicio suoQuidnam fecissent, hoc locuti sunt modo:Putabat se post mortem securum fore;Ecce aliae plagae congeruntur mortuo.Ioculare tibi videtur, et sane levi,Dum nihil habemus maius, calamo ludimus.Sed diligenter intuere has nenias:Quantam sub titulis utilitatem reperies!Non semper ea sunt quae videntur; decipitFrons prima multos: rara mens intellegitQuod interiore condidit cura angulo.Hoc ne locutus sine mercede existimer,Fabellam adiciam de mustela et muribus.Mustela cum annis et senecta debilisMures veloces non valeret assequi,Involvit se farina et obscuro locoAbiecit neglegenter. Mus escam putansAssiluit et compressus occubuit neci.Alter similiter, deinde perit et tertius.Mox venit aliquot saeculis retorridusQui saepe laqueos et muscipula effugerat;Proculque insidias cernens hostis callidi:Sic valeas inquit ut farina es quae iaces!Fame coacta vulpes alta in vineaUvam appetebat summis saliens viribus;Quam tangere ut non potuit, discedens ait:Nondum matura est; nolo acerbam sumere.Qui facere quae non possunt verbis elevant,Ascribere hoc debebunt exemplum sibi.Equus sedare solitus quo fuerat sitim,Dum sese aper volutat turbavit vadum.Hinc orta lis est. Sonipes iratus feroAuxilium petiit hominis, quem dorso levansRediit ad hostem. Iactis hunc telis equesPostquam 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 reiDum quaero demens, servitutem repperi.Haec iracundos admonebit fabulaImpune potius laedi quam dedi alteri.