---
title: "Fables · Fabulae"
author: "Phaedrus"
translator: "Christopher Smart"
languages: [la, en]
shelf: "Classical Latin"
section: 4 of 5
url: https://scriptura.si/works/phaedrus-fables/4/
cite: "Phaedrus, tr. Christopher Smart, Fables · Fabulae, section 4. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/phaedrus-fables/4/"
---

# Fables · Fabulae

*Phaedrus, tr. Christopher Smart*

Aesop’s fables in Latin verse: the fox and the grapes, the wolf and the lamb.

> Latin: ed. Lucian Mueller, from the Perseus Digital Library (canonical-latinLit, phi0975.phi001, CC BY-SA 4.0).

> English: Christopher Smart, from the Perseus Digital Library (phi0975.phi001.perseus-eng1). Notes are not included.

> Rows follow the references the two texts share (books, chapters and sections), cut where both reach the end of a sentence.

## 4. Book IV

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/phaedrus-fables/4/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/phaedrus-fables/4/#p-N

[¶0] That one man sometimes is more shrewd
Than a stupendous multitude,
To after-times I shall rehearse
In my concise familiar verse.
A certain man on his decease,
Left his three girls so much a-piece:
The first was beautiful and frail,
With eyes still hunting for the male;
The second giv'n to spin and card,
A country housewife working hard;
The third but very ill to pass,
A homely slut, that loved her glas.
The dying man had left his wife
Executrix, and for her life
Sole tenant, if she should fulfil
These strange provisos of his will:
" That she should give th' estate in fee
In equal portions to the three;
But in such sort, that this bequest
Should not be holden or possess'd;
Then soon as they should be bereav'n
Of all the substance that was giv'n,
They must for their good mother's ease
Make up an hundred sesterces."
This spread through Athens in a trice;
The prudent widow takes advice.
But not a lawyer could unfold
How they should neither have nor hold
The very things that they were left.
Besides, when once they were bereft,
How they from nothing should confer
The money that was due to her.
When a long time was spent in vain,
And no one could the will explain,
She left the counsellors unfeed,
And thus of her own self decreed:
The minstrels, trinkets, plate, and dres,
She gave the Lady to possess.
Then Mrs. Notable she stocks
With all the fields, the kine and flocks:
The workmen, farm, with a supply
Of all the tools of husbandry.
Last, to the Guzzler she consigns
The cellar stored with good old wine,
A handsome house to see a friend,
With pleasant gardens at the end.
Thus as she strove th' affair to close,
By giving each the things they chose,
And those that knew them every one
Highly applauded what was done
Esop arose, and thus address'd
The crowd that to his presence pressed:
"O that the dead could yet perceive!
How would the prudent father grieve,
That all th' Athenians had not skill
Enough to understand his will!
Then at their joint request he solved
That error, which had all involved.
" The gardens, house, and wine vaults too,
Give to the spinster as her due;
The clothes, the jewels, and such ware,
Be all the tippling lady's share;
The fields, the barns, and flocks of sheep,
Give the gay courtesan to keep.
Not one will bear the very touch
Of things that thwart their tastes so much '
The slut to fill her cellar straight
Her wardrobe will evacuate;
The lady soon will sell her farms,
For garments to set off her charms;
But she that loves the flocks and kine
Will alienate her stores of wine,
Her rustic genius to employ.
Thus none their portions shall enjoy,
And from the money each has made
Their mother shall be duly paid."
Thus one man by his wit disclosed
The point that had so many posed.

> Latin: Plus esse in uno saepe quam in turba boni,
Narratione posteris tradam brevi.
Quidam decedens tres reliquit filias:
Unam formosam et oculis venantem viros;
At alteram lanificam et frugi rusticam;
Devotam vino tertiam et turpissimam.
Harum autem matrem fecit heredem senex
Sub condicione totam ut fortunam tribus
Aequaliter distribuat, sed tali modo:
Ni data possideant aut fruantur; tum: simul
Habere res desierint, quas acceperint,
Centena matri conferant sestertia.
Athenas rumor implet. Mater sedula
Iuris peritos consulit; nemo expedit
Quo pacto non possideant, quod fuerit datum,
Fructumve capiant; deinde quae tulerint nihil,
Quanam ratione conferant pecuniam.
Postquam consumpta est temporis longi mora,
Nec testamenti potuit sensus colligi,
Fidem advocavit iure neglecto parens.
Seponit moechae vestem, mundum muliebrem,
Lavationem argenteam, eunuchos, glabros;
Lanificae agellos, pecora, villam, operarios,
Boves, iumenta et instrumentum rusticum;
Potrici plenam antiquis apothecam cadis,
Domum politam et delicatos hortulos.
Sic destinata dare cum vellet singulis
Et approbaret populus, qui illas noverat,
Aesopus media subito in turba constitit:
O si maneret condito sensus patri,
Quam graviter ferret, quod voluntatem suam
Interpretari non potuissent Attici!
Rogatus deinde solvit errorem omnium:
Domum et ornamenta cum venustis hortulis
Et vina vetera date lanificae rusticae;
Vestem, uniones, pedisequos et cetera
Illi assignate vitam quae luxu trahit;
Agros, buvile et pecora cum pastoribus
Donate moechae. Nulla poterit perpeti,
Ut moribus quid teneat alienum suis.
Deformis cultum vendet ut vinum paret;
Agros abiciet moecha ut ornatum gerat;
At illa gaudens pecore et lanae dedita
Quacumque summa tradet luxuriae domum.
Sic nulla possidebit quod fuerit datum,
Et dictam matri conferent pecuniam
Ex pretio rerum quas vendiderint singulae.
Ita quod multorum fugit imprudentiam
Unius hominis repperit sollertia.

[¶1] The routed Mice upon a day
Fled from the Weasels in array;
But in the hurry of the flight,
What with their weakness and their fright
Each scarce could get into his cave:
Howe'er, at last their lives they save.
But their commanders (who had tied
Horns to their heads in martial pride,
Which as a signal they design'd
For non-commission'd mice to mind)
Stick in the entrance as they go,
And there are taken by the foe,
Who, greedy of the victim, gluts
With mouse-flesh his ungodly guts.
Each great and national distress
Must chiefly mighty men oppress;
While folks subordinate and poor
Are by their littleness secure.

> Latin: Cum victi mures mustelarum exercitu
(Historia quorum et in tabernis pingitur)
Fugerent et artos circum trepidarent cavos,
Aegre recepti tamen evaserunt necem.
Duces eorum, qui capitibus cornua
Suis ligarant, ut conspicuum in proelio
Haberent signum quod sequerentur milites,
Haesere in portis suntque capti ab hostibus;
Quos immolatos victor avidis dentibus
Capacis alvi mersit tartareo specu.
Quemcumque populum tristis eventus premit,
Periclitatur magnitudo principum;
Minuta plebes facili praesidio latet.

[¶2] Thou that against my tales inveigh'st,
As much too pleasant for thy taste;
Egregious critic, cease to scoff
While for a time I play you off,
And strive to soothe your puny rage.
As Esop comes upon the stage,
And dress'd entirely new in Rome,
Thus enters with the tragic plume.-
" O that the fair Thessalian pine
Had never felt the wrath divine,
And fearless of the axe's wound,
Had still the Pelian mountain crown'd!
That Argus by Palladian aid
Had ne'er the adventurous vessel made;
In which at first, without dismay,
Death's bold professors won their way,
In which th' inhospitable main
Was first laid open for the bane
Of Grecians and barbarians too.
Which made the proud AEetas rue,
And whence Medea's crimes to nought
The house and reign of Pelias brought.
She-while in various forms she tries
Her furious spirit to disguise,
At one place in her flight bestow'd
Her brother's limbs upon the road;
And at another could betray
The daughters their own sire to slay.
How think you now?-What arrant trash
And our assertions much too rash!-
Since prior to th' AEgean fleet
Did Minos piracy defeat,
And made adventures on the sea.
How then shall you and I agree?
Since, stern as Cato's self, you hate
All tales alike, both small and great.
Plague not too much the man of parts;
For he that does it surely smarts.-
This threat is to the fools, that squeam
At every thing of good esteem;
And that they may to taste pretend,
Ev'n heaven itself will discommend.

> Latin: Tu qui, nasute, scripta destringis mea
Et hoc iocorum legere fastidis genus,
Parva libellum sustine patientia,
Severitatem frontis dum placo tuae
Et in cothurnis prodit Aesopus novis.
Utinam nec umquam Pelii nemoris iugo
Pinus bipenni concidisset Thessala,
Nec ad professae mortis audacem viam
Fabricasset Argus opere Palladio ratem,
Inhospitalis prima quae ponti sinus
Patefecit in perniciem Graium et barbarum!
Namque et superbi luget Aeetae domus,
Et regna Peliae scelere Medeae iacent,
Quae saevum ingenium variis involvens modis
Illic per artus fratris explicuit fugam,
Hic caede patris Peliadum infecit manus.
Quid tibi videtur? Hoc quoque insulsum est ait
Falsoque dictum; longe quia vetustior
Aegaea Minos classe perdomuit freta
Iustoque vindicavit exemplo impetum.
Quid ergo possum facere tibi, lector Cato,
Si nec fabellae te iuvant nec fabulae?
Noli molestus esse omnino litteris,
Maiorem exhibeant ne tibi molestiam.
Hoc illis dictum est, qui stultitia nauseant
Et ut putentur sapere caelum vituperant.

[¶3] He that a greater biter bites,
His folly on himself requites,
As we shall manifest forthwith.-
There was a hovel of a smith,
Where a poor Viper chanced to steal,
And being greedy of a meal,
When she had seized upon a file,
Was answer'd in this rugged style:
" Why do you think, 0 stupid snake!
On me your usual meal to make,
Who've sharper teeth than thine by far,
And can corrode an iron bar?"

> Latin: Mordaciorem qui improbo dente appetit
Hoc argumento se describi sentiat.
In officinam fabri venit vipera.
Haec cum temptaret si qua res esset cibi,
Limam momordit. Illa contra contumax:
Quid me inquit stulta, dente captas laedere,
Omne assuevi ferrum quae corrodere?

[¶4] A crafty knave will make escape,
When once he gets into a scrape,
Still meditating self-defence,
At any other man's expense.
A Fox by some disaster fell
Into a deep and fenced well:
A thirsty Goat came down in haste,
And ask'd about the water's taste,
If it was plentiful and sweet?
At which the Fox, in rank deceit,
" So great the solace of the run,
I thought I never should have done.
Be quick, my friend, your sorrows drown,"
This said, the silly Goat comes down.
The subtle Fox herself avails,
And by his horns the mound she scales,
And leaves the Goat in all the mire,
To gratify his heart's desire.

> Latin: Homo in periclum simul ac venit callidus,
Reperire effugium quaerit alterius malo.
Cum decidisset vulpes in puteum inscia
Et altiore clauderetur margine,
Devenit hircus sitiens in eundem locum;
Simul rogavit esset an dulcis liquor
Et copiosus. Illa fraudem moliens:
Descende, amice; tanta bonitas est aquae
Voluptas ut satiari non possit mea.
Immisit se barbatus. Tum vulpecula
Evasit puteo nixa celsis cornibus,
Hircumque clauso liquit haerentem vado.

[¶5] Great Jove, in his paternal care,
Has giv'n a man two Bags to bear;
That which his own default contains
Behind his back unseen remains;
But that which others' vice attests
Swags full in view before our breasts.
Hence we're inevitably blind,
Relating to the Bag behind;
But when our neighbours misdemean,
Our censures are exceeding keen.

> Latin: Peras imposuit Iuppiter nobis duas:
Propriis repletam vitiis post tergum dedit,
Alienis ante pectus suspendit gravem.
Hac re videre nostra mala non possumus;
Alii simul delinquunt, censores sumus.

[¶6] A villain to Jove's altar came
To light his candle in the flame,
And robb'd the god in dead of night,
By his own consecrated light:
Then thus an awful voice was sent,
As with the sacrilege he went:
"Though all this gold and silver plate
As gifts of evil men I hate;
And their removal from the fane
Can cause the Deity no pain;
Yet, caitiff, at th' appointed time
Thy life shall answer for thy crime.
But, for the future, lest this blaLe,
At which the pious pray and praise,
Should guide the wicked, I decree
That no such intercourse there be."
Hence to this day all men decline
To light their candle at the shrine;
Nor from a candle e'er presume
The holy light to re-illume.
How many things are here contained,
By him alone can be explain'd
Who could this useful tale invent.
In the first place, herein is meant,
That they are often most your foes
Who from your fost'ring hand arose.
Next, that the harden'd villain's fate
Is not from wrath precipitate,
But rather at a destined hour.
Lastly, we're charg'd with all our pow'r,
To keep ourselves, by care intense,
From all connexions with offence.

> Latin: Lucernam fur accendit ex ara Iovis
Ipsumque compilavit ad lumen suum.
Onustus qui sacrilegio cum discederet,
Repente vocem sancta misit Religio:
Malorum quamvis ista fuerint munera
Mihique invisa, ut non offendar surripi,
Tamen, sceleste, spiritu culpam lues,
Olim cum ascriptus venerit poenae dies.
Sed ne ignis noster facinori praeluceat,
Per quem verendos excolit pietas deos,
Veto esse tale luminis commercium.
Itaque hodie nec lucernam de flamma deum
Nec de lucerna fas est accendi sacrum.
Quot res contineat hoc argumentum utiles,
Non explicabit alius quam qui repperit.
Significat primo saepe quos ipse alueris,
Tibi inveniri maxime contrarios;
Secundum ostendit scelera non ira deum,
Fatorum dicto sed puniri tempore;
Novissime interdicit ne cum malefico
Usum bonus consociet ullius rei.

[¶7] Wealth by the brave is justly scorn'd,
Since men are from the truth suborn'd,
And a full chest perverts their ways
From giving or deserving praise.
When Hercules, for matchless worth,
Was taken up to heav'n from earth,
As in their turns to all the crowd
Of gratulating gods he bow'd,
When Plutus, Fortune's son, he spies,
He from his face averts his eyes.
Jove ask'd the cause of this disgust:
"I hate him, as he is unjust,
To wicked men the most inclined,
And grand corrupter of mankind."

> Latin: Opes invisae merito sunt forti viro,
Quia dives arca veram laudem intercipit.
Caelo receptus propter virtutem Hercules
Cum gratulantes persalutasset deos,
Veniente Pluto, qui Fortunae est filius,
Avertit oculos. Causam quaesivit pater.
Odi inquit illum, quia malis amicus est
Simulque obiecto cuncta corrumpit lucro.

[¶8] Not here translated Not here translated Not here translated
When the She-Goats from Jove obtain'd
A beard, th' indignant Males complain'd,
That females by this near approach
Would on their gravity encroach.
"Suffer, my sapient friends," says he,
"Their eminence in this degree,
And bear their beard's most graceful length,
As they can never have your strength."
Warn'd by this little tale, agree
With men in gen'ral form'd like thee
While you by virtue still exceed,
And in the spirit take the lead.
On hearing a poor man lament
His worldly thoughts in discontent,
Esop this tale began to write,
For consolation and delight.
The ship by furious tempests tossed,
The Mariners gave all for lost;
But midst their tears and dread, the scene
Is changed at once, and all serene.
The wind is fair, the vessel speeds,
The Sailors' boisterous joy exceeds:
The Pilot then, by peril wise,
Was prompted to philosophise.
"'Tis right to put a due restraint
On joy, and to retard complaint,
Because alternate hope and fright
Make up our lives of black and white."

> Latin: Utilius homini nihil est quam recte loqui:
Probanda cunctis est quidem sententia,
Sed ad perniciem solet agi sinceritas.
Cum se ferarum regem fecissit leo
Et aequitatis vellet famam consequi,
A pristina deflexit consuetudine
Atque inter illas tenui contentus cibo
Sancta incorrupta iura reddebat fide.
Postquam labare coepit paenitentia,
…
…
A fictione veretri linguam mulieris.
Affinitatem traxit inde obscenitas.
Rogavit alter, tribadas et molles mares
Quae ratio procreasset. Exposuit senex:
Idem Prometheus, auctor vulgi fictilis
Qui simul offendit ad fortunam frangitur,
Naturae partis veste quas celat pudor,
Cum separatim toto finxisset die,
Aptare mox ut posset corporibus suis,
Ad cenam est invitatus subito a Libero.
Ubi irrigatus multo venas nectare,
Sero domum est reversus titubanti pede.
Tum semisomno corde et errore ebrio
Applicuit virginale generi masculo
Et masculina membra applicuit feminis.
Ita nunc libido pravo fruitur gaudio.
Barbam capellae cum impetrassent ab Iove,
Hirci maerentes indignari coeperunt
Quod dignitatem feminae aequassent suam.
Sinite inquit illas gloria vana frui
Et usurpare vestri ornatum muneris,
Pares dum non sint vestrae fortitudinis.
Hoc argumentum monet ut sustineas tibi
Habitu esse similes qui sint virtute impares.
Cum de fortunis quidam quereretur suis,
Aesopus finxit consolandi gratia:
Vexata saevis navis tempestatibus,
Inter vectorum lacrimas et mortis metum
Faciem ad serenam subito ut mutatur dies,
Ferri secundis tuta coepit flatibus
Nimiaque nautas hilaritate extollere.
Factus periclis tum gubernator sophus:
Parce gaudere oportet et sensim queri,
Totam aeque vitam miscet dolor et gaudium.

[¶9] Not here translated
He, that malicious men relieves,
His folly in a season grieves.
A Man, against himself humane,
Took up an Adder, that had lain
And stiffen'd in the frosty air,
And in his bosom placed with care,
Where she with speed recovering breath,
Her benefactor stung to death.
Another Adder near the place,
On asking why she was so base,
Was told, " 'Tis others to dissuade
From giving wickedness their aid."
A Fox was throwing up the soil,
And while with his assiduous toil
He burrow'd deep into the ground,
A Dragon in his den he found,
A-watching hidden treasure there,
Whom seeing, Renard speaks him fair:
" First, for your pardon I apply
For breaking on your privacy;
Then, as you very plainly see
That gold is of no use to me,
Your gentle leave let me obtain
To ask you, what can be the gain
Of all this care, and what the fruit,
That you should not with sleep recruit
Your spirits, but your life consume
Thus in an everlasting gloom?"
"'Tis not my profit here to stay,"
He cries; " but I must Jove obey."
"What! will you therefore nothing take
Yourself, nor others welcome make?"
"Ev'n so the fates decree." - "Then, sir,
Have patience, whilst I do aver
That he who like affections knows
Is born with all the gods his foes.
Since to that place you needs must speed,
Where all your ancestors precede,
Why in the blindness of your heart
Do you torment your noble part?"
All this to thee do I indite,
Thou grudging churl, thy heir's delight,
Who robb'st the gods of incense due,
Thyself of food and raiment too;
Who hear'st the harp with sullen mien,
To whom the piper gives the spleen;
Who'rt full of heavy groans and sighs
When in their price provisions rise;
Who with thy frauds heaven's patience tire
To make thy heap a little higher,
And, lest death thank thee, in thy will
Hast tax'd the undertaker's bill.

> Latin: Canes legatos olim misere ad Iovem
Melioris vitae tempus oratum suae,
Ut sese eriperet hominum contumeliis,
Furfuribus sibi consparsum quod panem darent
Fimoque turpi maximam explerent famem.
Profecti sunt legati non celeri pede.
Dum naribus scrutantur escam in stercore,
Citati non respondent. Vix tandem invenit
Eos Mercurius et turbatos attrahit.
Tum vero vultum magni ut viderunt Iovis,
Totam timentes concacarunt regiam;
Propulsi vero fustibus vadunt foras.
Vetat dimitti magnus illos Iuppiter.
Mirati sibi legatos non revertier,
Turpe aestimantes aliquid commissum a suis,
Post aliquod tempus alios ascribi iubent.
Rumor legatos superiores prodidit.
Timentes rursus aliquid ne simile accidat,
Odore canibus anum, sed multo, replent.
Mandata dantur et dimittuntur statim.
Adeunt. Rogantes aditum continuo impetrant.
Consedit genitor tum deorum maximus
Quassatque fulmen: tremere coepere omnia.
Canes, confusus subito quod fuerat fragor,
Repente odorem mixtum cum merdis cacant.
Reclamant omnes vindicandam iniuriam.
Sic est locutus ante poenam Iuppiter:
Legatos non est regis non dimittere,
Nec est difficile poenas culpae imponere;
Sed hoc feretis pro iudicio praemium:
Non veto dimitti, verum cruciari fame,
Ne ventrem continere non possint suum.
Illi autem qui miserunt vos tam futtiles
Numquam carebunt hominis contumelia.
Ita nunc legatos exspectant et posteri
Novum et venire qui videt culum olfacit.
Qui fert malis auxilium post tempus dolet.
Gelu rigentem quidam colubram sustulit
Sinuque fovit contra se ipse misericors:
Namque ut refecta est necuit hominem protinus.
Hanc alia cum rogaret causam facinoris,
Respondit: Ne quis discat prodesse improbis.
Vulpes, cubile fodiens, dum terram eruit
Agitque pluris altius cuniculos,
Pervenit ad draconis speluncam ultimam,
Custodiebat qui thesauros abditos.
Hunc simul aspexit: Oro ut imprudentiae
Des primum veniam; deinde si pulchre vides,
Quam non conveniens aurum sit vitae meae,
Respondeas clementer. Quem fructum capis
Hoc ex labore, quodve tantum est praemium
Ut careas somno et aevum in tenebris exigas?
Nullum inquit ille verum hoc ab summo mihi
Iove attributum est. Ergo nec sumis tibi
Nec ulli donas quicquam? Sic fatis placet.
Nolo irascaris, libere si dixero:
Dis est iratis natus, qui est similis tibi.
Abiturus illuc, quo priores abierunt,
Quid mente caeca miserum torques spiritum?
Tibi dico, avare, gaudium heredis tui,
Qui ture superos, ipsum te fraudas cibo,
Qui tristis audis musicum citharae sonum,
Quem tibiarum macerat iucunditas,
Obsoniorum pretia cui gemitum exprimunt,
Qui dum quadrantes aggeras patrimonio
Caelum fatigas sordido periurio,
Qui circumcidis omnem impensam funeri
Libitina ne quid de tuo faciat lucri.

[¶10] What certain envious hearts intend
I very clearly comprehend,
Let them dissemble e'er so much.-.
When they perceive the master's touch,
And find 'tis likely to endure,
They'll say 'tis Esop to be sure-
But what appears of mean design,
At any rate they'll vouch for mine.
These in a word I would refute:
Whether of great or no repute,
What sprung from Esop's fertile thought
This hand has to perfection brought;
But waiving things to our distaste,
Let's to the destined period haste.

> Latin: Quid iudicare cogitet livor modo,
Licet dissimulet, pulchre tamen intellego.
Quicquid putabit esse dignum memoria,
Aesopi dicet; si quid minus arriserit,
A me contendet fictum quovis pignore.
Quem volo refelli iam nunc responso meo:
Sive hoc ineptum sive laudandum est opus,
Invenit ille, nostra perfecit manus.
Sed exsequamur coepti propositum ordinem.

[¶11] A man, whose learned worth is known,
Has always riches of his own.
Simonides, who was the head
Of lyric bards, yet wrote for bread,
His circuit took through every town
In Asia of the first renown,
The praise of heroes to rehearse,
Who gave him money for his verse.
When by this trade much wealth was earn'd,
Homewards by shipping he return'd
(A Cean born, as some suppose):
On board he went, a tempest rose,
Which shook th' old ship to that degree,
She founder'd soon as out at sea.
Some purses, some their jewels tie
About them for a sure supply;
But one more curious, ask'd the seer,
"Poet, have you got nothing here?"
"My all," says he, "is what I am."-
On this some few for safety swam
(For most o'erburden'd by their goods,
Were smother'd in the whelming floods).
The spoilers came, the wealth demand,
And leave them naked on the strand.
It happen'd for the shipwreck'd crew
An ancient city was in view,
By name Clazomena, in which
There lived a scholar learned and rich,
Who often read, his cares to ease,
The verses of Simonides,
And was a vast admirer grown
Of this great poet, though unknown.
Him by his converse when he traced,
He with much heartiness embraced,
And soon equipp'd the bard anew,
With servants, clothes, and money too
The rest benevolence implored,
With case depicted on a board:
Which when Simonides espied,
"I plainly told you all," he cried,
"That all my wealth was in myself;
As for your chattels and your pelf.
On which ye did so much depend,
They're come to nothing in the end."

> Latin: Homo doctus in se semper divitias habet.
Simonides, qui scripsit egregium melos,
Quo paupertatem sustineret facilius,
Circum ire coepit urbes Asiae nobiles,
Mercede accepta laudem victorum canens.
Hoc genere quaestus postquam locuples factus est,
Redire in patriam voluit cursu pelagio;
Erat autem, ut aiunt, natus in Cia insula:
Ascendit navem, quam tempestas horrida
Simul et vetustas medio dissolvit mari.
Hi zonas, illi res pretiosas colligunt,
Subsidium vitae. Quidam curiosior:
Simonide, tu ex opibus nil sumis tuis?
Mecum inquit mea sunt cuncta. Tunc pauci enatant,
Quia plures onere degravati perierant.
Praedones adsunt, rapiunt, quod quisque extulit,
Nudos relinquunt. Forte Clazomenae prope
Antiqua fuit urbs, quam petierunt naufragi.
Hic litterarum quidam studio deditus,
Simonidis qui saepe versus legerat
Eratque absentis admirator maximus,
Sermone ab ipso cognitum cupidissime
Ad se recepit; veste, nummis, familia
Hominem exornavit. Ceteri tabulam suam
Portant rogantes victum. Quos casu obvios
Simonides ut vidit: Dixi, inquit, mea
Mecum esse cuncta; vos quod rapuistis perit.

[¶12] The Mountain labor'd, groaning loud,
On which a num'rous gaping crowd
Of noodles came to see the sight,
When, lo! a mouse was brought to light!
This tale 's for men of swagg'ring cast,
Whose threats, voluminous and vast,
With all their verse and all their prose,
Can make but little on 't, God knows.

> Latin: Mons parturibat, gemitus immanes ciens,
Eratque in terris maxima exspectatio.
At ille murem peperit. †Hoc scriptum est tibi,
Qui, magna cum minaris, extricas nihil.

[¶13] An Ant and Fly had sharp dispute
Which creature was of most repute;
When thus began the flaunting Fly:
"Are you so laudible as I?
I, ere the sacrifice is carved,
Precede the gods; first come, first served—
Before the altar take my place,
And in all temples show my face,
Whene'er I please I set me down
Upon the head that wears a crown.
I with impunity can taste
The kiss of matrons fair and chaste,
And pleasure without labor claim-
Say, trollop, canst thou do the same?"
"The feasts of gods are glorious fare,
No doubt, to those who're welcome there;
But not for such detested things.-
You talk of matron's lips and kings;
I, who with wakeful care and pains
Against the winter hoard my grains,
Thee feeding upon ordure view.-
The altars you frequent, 'tis true;
But still are driv'n away from thence,
And elsewhere, as of much offence.
A life of toil you will not lead,
And so have nothing when you need.
Besides all this, you talk with pride
Of things that modesty should hide.
You plague me here, while days increase,
But when the winter comes you cease.
Me, when the cold thy life bereaves,
A plenteous magazine receives.
I think I need no more advance
To cure you of your arrogance."
The tenor of this tale infers
Two very diff'rent characters;
Of men self-praised and falsely vain,
And men of real worth in grain.

> Latin: Nihil agere quod non prosit fabella admonet.
Formica et musca contendebant acriter
Quae pluris esset. Musca sic coepit prior:
Conferre nostris tu potes te laudibus?
Moror inter aras, templa perlustro omnia,
Ubi immolatur, exta praegusto deum.
In capite regis sedeo cum visum est mihi,
Et matronarum casta delibo oscula.
Laboro nihil atque optimis rebus fruor.
Quid horum simile tibi contingit, rustica?
Est gloriosus sane convictus deum,
Sed illi qui invitatur, non qui invisus est.
Aras frequentas? nempe abigeris, quom venis.
Reges commemoras et matronarum oscula?
Super etiam iactas tegere quod debet pudor.
Nihil laboras? ideo, cum opus est, nil habes.
Ego granum in hiemem cum studiose congero,
Te circa murum pasci video stercore.
Aestate me lacessis; cum bruma est siles.
Mori contractam cum te cogunt frigora,
Me copiosa recipit incolumem domus.
Satis profecto rettudi superbiam.
Fabella talis hominum discernit notas
Eorum qui se falsis ornant laudibus,
Et quorum virtus exhibet solidum decus.

[¶14] Th' attention letters can engage,
Ev'n from a base degenerate age,
I've shown before; and now shall show
Their lustre in another view,
And tell a memorable tale,
How much they can with heav'n prevail,
Simonides, the very same
We lately had a call to name,
Agreed for such a sum to blaze
A certain famous champion's praise.
He therefore a retirement sought,
But found the theme on which he wrote
So scanty, he was forced to use
Th' accustomed license of the muse,
And introduced and praise bestow'd
On Leda's sons to raise his ode;
With these the rather making free,
As heroes in the same degree.
He warranted his work, and yet
Could but one third of payment get.
Upon demanding all the due,
" Let them," says he, "pay t' other two,
Who take two places in the song;
But lest you think I do you wrong
And part in dudgeon-I invite
Your company to sup this night,
For then my friends and kin I see,
'Mongst which I choose to reckon thee."
Choused and chagrined, yet shunning blame,
He promised, set the hour, and came;
As fearful lest a favour spurn'd
Should to an open breach be turn'd.
The splendid banquet shone with plate,
And preparations full of state
Made the glad house with clamors roar-
When on a sudden at the door
Two youths, with sweat and dust besmear'd,
Above the human form appear'd,
And charged forthwith a little scout
To bid Simonides come out,
That 'twas his interest not to stay.-
The slave, in trouble and dismay,
Roused from his seat the feasting bard,
Who scarce had stirr'd a single yard
Before the room at once fell in,
And crushed the champion and his kin.
No youths before the door are found.-
The thing soon spread the country round;
And when each circumstance was weighed,
They knew the gods that visit made,
And saved the poet's life in lieu
Of those two-thirds which yet were due.

> Latin: Quantum valerent inter homines litterae,
Dixi superius: quantus nunc illis honos
A superis sit tributus tradam memoriae.
Simonides idem ille de quo rettuli,
Victori laudem cuidam pyctae ut scriberet
Certo conduxit pretio, secretum petit.
Exigua cum frenaret materia impetum,
Usus poeta moris est licentia
Atque interposuit gemina Ledae sidera,
Auctoritatem similis referens gloriae.
Opus approbavit; sed mercedis tertiam
Accepit partem. Cum reliquum posceret:
Illi inquit reddent quorum sunt laudis duae.
Verum ut ne irate te dimissum sentiant,
Ad cenam mihi promitte; cognatos volo
Hodie invitare, quorum es in numero mihi.
Fraudatus quamvis et dolens iniuria,
Ne male dimissam gratiam corrumperet,
Promisit. Rediit hora dicta, recubuit.
Splendebat hilare poculis convivium,
Magno apparatu laeta resonabat domus,
Repente duo cum iuvenes sparsi pulvere,
Sudore multo diffluentes corpora,
Humanam supra formam, cuidam servulo
Mandant ut ad se provocet Simonidem;
Illius interesse, ne faciat moram.
Homo perturbatus excitat Simonidem.
Unum promorat vix pedem triclinio,
Ruina camerae subito oppressit ceteros;
Nec ulli iuvenes sunt reperti ad ianuam.
Ut est vulgatus ordo narratae rei,
Omnes scierunt numinum praesentiam
Vati dedisse vitam mercedis loco.

[¶15] I yet have stock in hand to spare,
And could write on-but will forbear-
First, lest I tire a friend, whose state
And avocations are so great:
And then, if other pens should try
This morals cheme as well as I,
They may have something to pursue:—
Yet if the spacious field we view,
More men are wanting for the plan,
Rather than matter for the man.
Now for that prize I make my plea
You promised to my brevity.
Keep your kind word; for life, my friend,
Is daily nearer to its end;
And I shall share your love the less
The longer you your hand repress:
The sooner you the boon insure,
The more the tenure must endure;
And if I quick possession take,
The greater profit must I make,
While yet declining age subsists,
A room for friendly aid exists.
Anon with tasteless years grown weak,
In vain benevolence will seek
To do me good-when Death at hand
Shall come and urge his last demand.
'Tis folly, you'll be apt to say,
A thousand times to beg and pray
Of one with so much worth and sense,
Whose gen'rous bounty is propense.
If e'er a miscreant succeeds,
By fair confession of his deeds,
An innocent offender's case
Is far more worthy of your grace.
You for example sake begin,
Then others to the lure you'll win,
And in rotation more and more
Will soon communicate their stoic.
Consider in your mind how far
At stake your word and honour are;
And let your closing the debate
By what I may congratulate.
I have been guilty of excess
Beyond my thought in this address
But 'tis not easy to refrain
A spirit work'd up to disdain
By wretches insolent and vile,
With a clear conscience all the while.
You'll ask me, sir, at whom I hint-
In time they may appear in print.
But give me leave to cite a phrase
I met with in my boyish days.
"'Tis dangerous for the mean and low
Too plain their grievances to show."
This is advice I shall retain
While life and sanity remain.
WHEN I resolved my hand to stay
For this, that others might have play,
On reconsidering of my part
I soon recanted in my heart:
For if a rival should arise,
How can he possibly devise
The things that I have let alone,
Since each man's fancy is his own,
And likewise colouring of the piece?"-
It was not therefore mere caprice,
But strong reflection made me write:
Wherefore since you in tales delight,
Which I, in justice, after all,
Not Esop's, but Esopian call;
Since he invented but a few;
I more, and some entirely new,
Keeping indeed the ancient style,
With fresh materials all the while.
As at your leisure you peruse
The fourth collection of my muse,
That you may not be at a stand,
A fifth shall shortly come to hand;
'Gainst which, if as against the rest,
Malignant cavillers protest,
Let them carp on, and make it plain
They carp at what they can't attain.
My fame's secure, since I can show
How men of eminence like you
My little book transcribe and quote,
As like to live of classic note.
It is th' ambition of my pen
To win th' applause of learned men.
If Esop's name at any time
I bring into this measured rhyme,
To whom I've paid whate'er I owe,
Let all men by these presents know.
I with th' old fabulist make free,
To strengthen my authority.
As certain sculptors of the age,
The more attention to engage,
And raise their price, the curious please,
By forging of Praxiteles;
And in like manner they purloin
A Myro to their silver coin.
'Tis thus our fables we can smoke,
As pictures for their age bespoke:
For biting envy, in disgust
To new improvements, favors rust;
But now a tale comes in of course,
Which these assertions will enforce.
Demetrius, who was justly call'd
The tyrant, got himself install'd,
And held o'er Athens impious sway.
The crowd, as ever is the way,
Came, eager rushing far and wide,
And, "Fortunate event!" they cried.
The nobles came, the throne address'd'
The hand by which they were oppress'd
They meekly kiss'd, with inward stings
Of anguish for the face of things.
The idlers also, with the tribe
Of those who to themselves prescribe
Their ease and pleasure, in the end
Came sneaking, lest they should offend.
Amongst this troop Menander hies,
So famous for his comedies
(Him, though he was not known by sight,
The tyrant read with great delight,
Struck with the genius of the bard.)
In flowing robes bedaub'd with nard,
And saunt'ring tread he came along,
Whom, at the bottom of the throng,
When Phalereus beheld, he said:
" How dares that fribble show his head
In this our presence?" he was told-
" It is Menander you behold."
Then, changed at once from fierce to bland,
He call'd, and took him by the hand.
Two men equipp'd were on their way;
One fearful; one without dismay,
An able fencer. As they went,
A robber came with black intent;
Demanding, upon pain of death,
Their gold and silver in a breath.
At which the man of spirit drew,
And instantly disarm'd and slew
The Thief, his honor to maintain.
Soon as the rogue was fairly slain,
The tim'rous chap began to puff,
And drew his sword, and stripp'd in buff-
"Leave me alone with him! stand back!
I'll teach him whom he should attack."
Then he who fought, " I wish, my friend,
But now you'd had such words to lend;
I might have been confirm'd the more,
Supposing truth to all you swore;
Then put your weapon in the sheath,
And keep your tongue within your teeth,
Though you may play an actor's part
On them who do not know your heart,
I, who have seen this very day
How lustily you ran away,
Experience when one comes to blows
How far your resolution goes."
This narrative to those I tell
Who stand their ground when all is well;
But in the hour of pressing need
Abash'd, most shamefully recede.

> Latin: Adhuc supersunt multa quae possim loqui,
Et copiosa abundat rerum varietas;
Sed temperatae suaves sunt argutiae,
Immodicae offendunt. Quare, vir sanctissime,
Particulo, chartis nomen victurum meis
Latinis dum manebit pretium litteris,
Si non ingenium, certe brevitatem approba,
Quae commendari tanto debet iustius
Quanto poetae sunt molesti validius.
Aesopi nomen sicubi interposuero,
Cui reddidi iam pridem quicquid debui,
Auctoritatis esse scito gratia:
Ut quidam artifices nostro faciunt saeculo,
Qui pretium operibus maius inveniunt novis,
Si marmori ascripserunt Praxitelen suo,
Trito Myronem argento, tabulae Zeuxidem.
Adeo fucatae plus vetustati favet
Invidia mordax quam bonis praesentibus.
Sed iam ad fabellam talis exempli feror.
Demetrius qui dictus est Phalereus,
Athenas occupavit imperio improbo.
Ut mos est vulgi, passim et certatim ruit,
"Feliciter!" succlamans. Ipsi principes
Illam osculantur, qua sunt oppressi, manum,
Tacite gementes tristem fortunae vicem.
Quin etiam resides et sequentes otium,
Ni defuisse noceat, repunt ultimi;
In quis Menander, nobilis comoediis
Quas, ipsum ignorans, legerat Demetrius
Et admiratus fuerat ingenium viri,
Unguento delibutus, vestitu fluens,
Veniebat gressu delicato et languido.
Hunc ubi tyrannus vidit extremo agmine:
Quisnam cinaedus ille in conspectum meum
Audet venire? Responderunt proximi:
Hic est Menander scriptor. Mutatus statim:
Homo inquit fieri non potest formosior.
Duo cum incidissent in latronem milites,
Unus profugit, alter autem restitit
Et vindicavit sese forti dextera.
Latrone exciso timidus accurrit comes
Stringitque gladium, dein reiecta paenula:
Cedo inquit illum; iam curabo sentiat,
Quos attentarit. Tunc, qui depugnaverat:
Vellem istis verbis saltem adiuvisses modo;
Constantior fuissem vera existimans.
Nunc conde ferrum et linguam pariter futtilem.
Ut possis alios ignorantes fallere,
Ego qui sum expertus quantis fugias viribus,
Scio quam virtuti non sit credendum tuae.
Illi assignari debet haec narratio
Qui re secunda fortis est, dubia fugax.