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

# 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.

## 5. Book V

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/phaedrus-fables/5/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/phaedrus-fables/5/#p-N

[¶0] As on his head she chanced to sit,
A Man's bald pate a Gadfly bit;
He, prompt to crush the little foe,
Dealt on himself a grievous blow:
At which the Fly, deriding said,
" You that would strike an insect dead
For one slight sting, in wrath so strict,
What punishment will you inflict
Upon yourself, who was so blunt
To do yourself this gross affront?"-
"0," says the party, "as for me,
I with myself can soon agree.
The spirit of th' intention's all;
But thou, detested cannibal!
Blood-sucker! to have thee secured
More would I gladly have endured."
What by this moral tale is meant
Is-those who wrong not with intent
Are venial; but to those that do
Severity, I think, is due.

> Latin: Calvi momordit musca nudatum caput;
Quam opprimere captans alapam sibi duxit gravem.
Tunc illa irridens: Punctum volucris parvulae
Voluisti morte ulcisci; quid facies tibi,
Iniuriae qui addideris contumeliam?
Respondit: Mecum facile redeo in gratiam,
Quia non fuisse mentem laedendi scio.
Sed te, contempti generis animal improbum,
Quae delectaris bibere humanum sanguinem,
Optem necare vel maiore incommodo.
†Hoc argumentum veniam ei dari docet
Qui casu peccat. Nam qui consilio est nocens,
Illum esse quamvis dignum poena iudico.

[¶1] A certain Man, when he had made
A sacrifice, for special aid
To Hercules, and killed a swine,
Did for his Ass's share assign
All the remainder of the corn;
But he, rejecting it with scorn,
Thus said: "I gladly would partake-
But apprehend that life's at stake;
For he you fatted up and fed
With store of this, is stuck and dead."
Struck with the import of this tale,
I have succeeded to prevail
Upon my passions, and abstain,
From peril of immod'rate gain.
But, you will say, those that have come
Unjustly by a handsome sum,
Upon the pillage still subsist-
Why, if we reckon up the list,
You'll find by far the major part
Have been conducted in the cart:
Temerity for some may do,
But many more their rashness rue.

> Latin: Quidam immolasset verrem cum sancto Herculi,
Cui pro salute votum debebat sua,
Asello iussit reliquias poni hordei.
Quas aspernatus ille sic locutus est:
Libenter istum prorsus appeterem cibum,
Nisi, qui nutritus illo est, iugulatus foret.
Huius respectu fabulae deterritus
Periculosum semper vitavi lucrum.
Sed dicis: Qui rapuere divitias, habent.
Numeremus agedum qui deprensi perierunt:
Maiorem turbam punitorum reperies.
Paucis temeritas est bono, multis malo.

[¶2] In ev'ry age, in each profession,
Men err the most by prepossession;
But when the thing is clearly shown,
Is fairly urged, and fully known,
We soon applaud what we deride.
And penitence succeeds to pride.
A certain noble, on a day,
Having a mind to show away,
Invited by reward the mimes
And play'rs and tumblers of the times,
And built a large commodious stage
For the choice spirits of the age:
But, above all, amongst the rest
There came a genius who profess'd
To have a curious trick in store
That never was performed before.
Through all the town this soon got air,
And the whole house was like a fair;
But soon his entry as he made,
Without a prompter or parade,
'Twas all expectance and suspense,
And silence gagg'd the audience.
He, stooping down and looking big,
So wondrous well took off a pig,
All swore 'twas serious, and no joke,
For that, or underneath his cloak
He had concealed some grunting elf,
Or was a real hog himself
A search was made-no pig was found-
With thund'ring claps the seats resound,
And pit, and box, and gall'ries roar
With—" O rare! bravo!" and "encore."
Old Roger Grouse, a country clown,
Who yet knew something of the town,
Beheld the mimic of his whim,
And on the morrow challenged him
Declaring to each beau and belle
That he this grunter would excel.
The morrow came-the crowd was greater—
But prejudice and rank ill-nature
Usurp'd the minds of men and wenches,
Who came to hiss and break the benches.
The mimic took his usual station,
And squeak'd with general approbation;
Again "Encore! encore!" they cry-
" 'Tis quite the thing, 'tis very high."
Old Grouse conceal'd, amidst this racket,
A real pig beneath his jacket-
Then forth he came, and with his nail
He pinch'd the urchin by the tail.
The tortured pig, from out his throat,
Produced the genuine nat'ral note.
All bellow'd out 'twas very sad!
Sure never stuff was half so bad.
" That like a pig!" each cried in scoff;
"Pshaw! nonsense! blockhead! off! off! off!"
The mimic was extoll'd, and Grouse
Was hiss'd, and catcall'd from the house.
" Soft ye, a word before I go,"
Quoth honest Hodge; and stooping low,
Produced the pig, and thus aloud
Bespoke the stupid partial crowd:
"Behold, and learn from this poor cratur,
How much you critics know of natur!"
As yet my muse is not to seek,
But can from fresh materials speak;
And our poetic fountain springs
With rich variety of things.
But you're for sallies short and sweet;
Long tales their purposes defeat.
Wherefore, thou worthiest, best of men,
Particulo, for whom my pen
Immortal honour will insure,
Long as a rev'rence shall endure
For Roman learning-if this strain
Cannot your approbation gain,
Yet, yet my brevity admire,
Which may the more to praise aspire,
The more our poets now-a-days
Are tedious in their lifeless lays.

> Latin: Pravo favore labi mortales solent
Et, pro iudicio dum stant erroris sui,
Ad paenitendum rebus manifestis agi.
Facturus ludos dives quidam nobilis
Proposito cunctos invitavit praemio
Quam quisque posset ut novitatem ostenderet.
Venere artifices laudis ad certamina;
Quos inter scurra, notus urbano sale,
Habere dixit se genus spectaculi
Quod in theatro numquam prolatum foret.
Dispersus rumor civitatem concitat.
Paulo ante vacua turbam deficiunt loca.
In scaena vero postquam solus constitit
Sine apparatu, nullis adiutoribus,
Silentium ipsa fecit exspectatio.
Ille in sinum repente demisit caput
Et sic porcelli vocem est imitatus sua,
Verum ut subesse pallio contenderent
Et excuti iuberent. Quo facto simul
Nihil est repertum, multis onerant lancibus
Hominemque plausu prosequuntur maximo.
Hoc vidit fieri rusticus: Non mehercules
Me vincet inquit, et statim professus est
Idem facturum melius se postridie.
Fit turba maior. Iam favor mentes tenet
Et derisuri, non spectaturi sedent.
Uterque prodit. Scurra degrunnit prior
Movetque plausus et clamores suscitat.
Tunc simulans sese vestimentis rusticus
Porcellum obtegere (quod faciebat scilicet,
Sed, in priore quia nil compererant, latens)
Pervellit aurem vero, quem celaverat,
Et cum dolore vocem naturae exprimit.
Acclamat populus scurram multo similius
Imitatum, et cogit rusticum trudi foras.
At ille profert ipsum porcellum e sinu,
Turpemque aperto pignore errorem probans:
En hic declarat quales sitis iudices!

[¶3] As on his way a Bald-pate went,
He found a comb by accident;
Another, with a head as bare,
Pursued, and hollow'd for a share.
The first produced the prize, and cried,
" Good Providence was on our side;
But by the strange caprice of Fate,
We 're to no purpose fortunate;
And, as the proverb says, have found
A hobnail, for a hundred pound."
They by this tale may be relieved
Whose sanguine hopes have been deceived.

> Latin: Invenit calvus forte in trivio pectinem.
Accessit alter aeque defectus pilis.
Heia! inquit in commune quodcumque est lucri!
Ostendit ille praedam et adiecit simul:
Superum voluntas favit; sed fato invido
Carbonem, ut aiunt, pro thesauro invenimus.
Quem spes delusit, huic querela convenit.

[¶4] A little, friv'lous, abject mind,
Pleased with the rabble, puff'd with wind,
When once, as fast as pride presumes,
Itself with vanity it plumes,
Is by fond lightness brought with ease
To any ridicule you please.
One Prince, a piper to the play,
Was rather noted in his way,
As call'd upon to show his art,
Whene'er Bathyllus did his part,
He being at a certain fair,
(I do not well remember where,)
While they pull'd down the booth in haste,
Not taking heed, his leg displaced,
He from the scaffold fell so hard-
(Would he his pipes had rather marr'd!
Though they, poor fellow! were to him
As dear almost as life and limb).
Borne by the kind officious crowd,
Home he's conducted, groaning loud.
Some months elapsed before he found
Himself recover'd of his wound:
Meantime, according to their way,
The droll frequenters of the play
Had a great miss of him, whose touch
The dancers' spirits raised so much.
A certain man of high renown
Was just preparing for the town
Some games the mob to entertain,
When Prince began to walk again;
Whom, what with bribes and pray'rs, his grace?
Prevail'd upon to show his face
In this performance, by all means-
And while he waits behind the scenes,
A rumour through the house is spread,
By certain, that "the piper's dead."
Others cried out, "The man is here,
And will immediately appear."
The curtain draws, the lightnings flash,
The gods speak out their usual trash.
An ode, not to the Piper known,
Was to the chorus leader shown,
Which he was order'd to repeat,
And which was closed with this conceit—
"Receive with joy, O loyal Rome,
Thy Prince just rescued from his tomb."
They all at once stand up and clap,
At which my most facetious chap
Kisses his hand, and scrapes and bows
To his good patrons in the house.
First the equestrian order smoke
The fool's mistake, and high in joke,
Command the song to be encored;
Which ended, flat upon the board
The Piper falls, the knights acclaim;
The people think that Prince's aim
Is for a crown of bays at least.
Now all the seats perceived the jest,
And with his bandage white as snow,
White frock, white pumps, a perfect beauty
Proud of the feats he had achieved,
And these high honours he received,
With one unanimous huzza,
Poor Prince was kick'd out of the play.

> Latin: Ubi vanus animus aura captus frivola
Arripuit insolentem sibi fiduciam,
Facile ad derisum stulta levitas ducitur.
Princeps tibicen notior paulo fuit,
Operam Bathyllo solitus in scaena dare.
Is forte ludis (non satis memini quibus)
Dum pegma rapitur, concidit casu gravi
Nec opinans, et sinistram fregit tibiam,
Duas cum dextras maluisset perdere.
Inter manus sublatus et multum gemens
Domum refertur. Aliquot menses transeunt,
Ad sanitatem dum venit curatio.
Ut spectatorum mos est et lepidum genus,
Desiderari coepit, cuius flatibus
Solebat excitari saltantis vigor.
Erat facturus ludos quidam nobilis,
Et incipiebat a se Princeps ingredi:
Reducem tum adducit prece, pretio ut tantummodo
Ipso ludorum ostenderet sese die.
Qui simul advenit, rumor de tibicine
Fremit in theatro. Quidam affirmant mortuum,
Quidam in conspectum proditurum sine mora.
Aulaeo misso, devolutis tonitribus
Di sunt locuti more translaticio.
Tunc chorus ignotum modo reducto canticum
Insonuit, cuius haec fuit sententia:
Laetare, incolumis Roma, salvo principe!
In plausus consurrectum est. Iactat basia
Tibicen: gratulari fautores putat.
Equester ordo stultum errorem intellegit
Magnoque risu canticum repeti iubet.
Iteratur illud. Homo meus se in pulpito
Totum prosternit. Plaudit illudens eques.
Rogare populus hunc coronam existimat.
Ut vero cuneis notuit res omnibus,
Princeps, ligato crure nivea fascia,
Niveisque tunicis, niveis etiam calceis,
Superbiens honore divinae domus,
Ab universis capite est protrusus foras.

[¶5] Bald, naked, of a human shape,
With fleet wings ready to escape,
Upon a razor's edge his toes,
And lock that on his forehead grows-
Him hold, when seized, for goodness' sake
For Jove himself cannot retake
The fugitive when once he's gone.
The picture that we here have drawn
Is Opportunity so brief.-
The ancients, in a bas-relief,
Thus made an effigy of Time,
That every one might use their prime;
Nor e'er impede, by dull delay,
Th' effectual business of to-day.

> Latin: Cursu volucri, pendens in novacula,
Calvus, comosa fronte, nudo corpore,
(Quem si occuparis, teneas; elapsum semel
Non ipse possit Iuppiter reprehendere),
Occasionem rerum significat brevem.
Effectus impediret ne segnis mora,
Finxere antiqui talem effigiem Temporis.

[¶6] A Bull was struggling to secure
His passage at a narrow door,
And scarce could reach the rack of hay,
His horns so much were in his way.
A Calf officious, fain would show
How he might twist himself and go.
"Hold thou thy prate; all this," says he,
Ere thou wert calved was known to me."
He, that a wiser man by half
Would teach, may think himself this Calf.

> Latin: Angusto in aditu taurus luctans cornibus
Cum vix intrare posset ad praesepia,
Monstrabat vitulus quo se pacto plecteret.
Tace inquit ante hoc novi quam tu natus es.
Qui doctiorem emendat sibi dici putet.

[¶7] A Dog, that time and often tried,
His master always satisfied;
And whensoever he assail'd,
Against the forest-beasts prevail'd
Both by activity and strength,,
Through years began to flag at length
One day, when hounded at a boar,
His ear he seized, as heretofore;
But with his teeth, decay'd and old,
Could not succeed to keep his hold.
A t which the huntsman, much concern'd,
The vet'ran huff'd, who thus return'd:
" My resolution and my aim,
Though not my strength, are still the same;
For what I am if I am chid,
Praise what I was, and what I did."
Philetus, you the drift perceive
Of this, with which I take my leave.

> Latin: Adversus omnes fortis veloces feras
Canis cum domino semper fecisset satis,
Languere coepit annis ingravantibus.
Aliquando obiectus hispidi pugnae suis
Arripuit aurem, sed cariosis dentibus
Praedam dimisit. Hic tunc venator dolens
Canem obiurgabat. Cui latrans contra senex:
Non te destituit animus, sed vires meae.
Quod fuimus laudas, si iam damnas quod sumus.
Hoc cur, Philete, scripserim, pulchre vides.
Vulpem rogabat partem caudae simius,
Contegere honeste posset ut nudas nates;
Cui sic maligna: Longior fiat licet,
Tamen illam citius per lutum et spinas traham,
Quam parvam quamvis partem impertiar tibi.
Arbitrio si natura finxisset meo
Genus mortale, longe foret instructius:
Nam cuncta nobis attribuisset commoda,
Quaecumque indulgens Fortuna animali dedit:
Elephanti vires, et leonis impetum,
Cornicis aevum, gloriam tauri trucis,
Equi velocis placidam mansuetudinem,
Et adesset homini sua tamen sollertia.
Nimirum in caelo secum ridet Iuppiter,
Haec qui negavit magno consilio homini,
Ne sceptrum mundi raperet nostra audacia.
Ergo contenti munere invicti Iovis
Fatalis annos decurramus temporis,
Nec plus conemur quam sinit mortalitas.
Mercurium hospitio mulieres olim duae
Illiberali et sordido receperant:
Quarum una in cunis parvum habebat filium,
Quaestus placebat alteri meretricius.
Ergo ut referret gratiam officiis parem,
Abiturus et iam limen excedens ait:
Deum videtis; tribuam vobis protinus
Quod quaeque optarit. Mater suppliciter rogat
Barbatum ut videat natum quam primum suum;
Moecha ut sequatur sese quicquid tetigerit.
Volat Mercurius, intro redeunt mulieres.
Barbatus infans ecce vagitus ciet.
Id forte meretrix cum rideret validius,
Nares replentur umore, ut fieri solet.
Emungere igitur se volens prendit manu
Traxitque ad terram nasi longitudinem,
Et aliam ridens ipsa ridenda exstitit.
Olim Prometheus saeculi figulus novi
Cura subtili Veritatem fecerat,
Ut iura posset inter homines reddere.
Subito accersitus nuntio magni Iovis
Commendat officinam fallaci Dolo,
In disciplinam nuper quem receperat.
Hic studio accensus, facie simulacrum pari,
Una statura, simile et membris omnibus,
Dum tempus habuit, callida finxit manu.
Quod prope iam totum mire cum positum foret,
Lutum ad faciendos illi defecit pedes.
Redit magister; quo festinanter Dolus
Metu turbatus in suo sedit loco.
Mirans Prometheus tantam similitudinem,
Propriae videri voluit artis gloriam.
Igitur fornaci pariter duo signa intulit;
Quibus percoctis atque infuso spiritu,
Modesto gressu sancta incessit Veritas;
At trunca species haesit in vestigio.
Tunc falsa imago atque operis furtivi labor
Mendacium appellatum est; quod negantibus
Pedes habere facile et ipse assentio.
Ixion quod versari narratur rota,
Volubilem Fortunam iactari docet.
Adversus altos Sisyphus montes agit
Saxum labore summo, quod de vertice
Sudore semper irrito revolvitur,
Ostendit hominum sine fine esse miserias.
Quod stans in amne Tantalus medio sitit,
Avari describuntur, quos circumfluit
Usus bonorum, sed nil possunt tangere.
Urnis scelestas Danaides portant aquas,
Pertusa nec complere possunt dolia;
Immo luxuriae quicquid dederis perfluet.
Novem porrectus Tityos est per iugera,
Tristi renatum suggerens poenae iecur;
Quo quis maiorem possidet terrae locum,
Hoc demonstratur cura graviore affici.
Consulto involvit veritatem antiquitas,
Ut sapiens intellegeret, erraret rudis.
Utilius nobis quid sit dic, Phoebe, obsecro,
Qui Delphos et formosum Parnasum incolis.
Quid hoc? sacratae vatis horrescunt comae,
Tripodes moventur, mugit adytis Religio,
Tremuntque lauri et ipse pallescit dies.
Voces resolvit icta Python numine:
Audite, gentes, Delii monitus dei:
Pietatem colite; vota superis reddite;
Patriam, parentes, natos, castas coniuges
Defendite armis, hostem ferro pellite;
Amicos sublevate; miseris parcite;
Bonis favete, subdolis ite obviam;
Delicta vindicate; †cohibete impios;
Punite turpi thalamos qui violant stupro;
Malos cavete; nulli nimium credite.
Haec elocuta concidit virgo furens:
Furens profecto, nam quae dixit perdidit.
Aesopo quidam scripta recitarat mala,
In quis inepte multum se iactaverat.
Scire ergo cupiens quidnam sentiret senex,
Numquid tibi inquit visus sum superbior?
Haud vana nobis ingeni fiducia est.
Confectus ille pessimo volumine:
Ego inquit quod te laudas vehementer probo,
Namque hoc ab alio numquam continget tibi.
Magni Pompei miles vasti corporis
Fracte loquendo et ambulando molliter
Famam cinaedi traxerat certissimam.
Hic insidiatus nocte iumentis ducis,
Cum veste et auro et magno argenti pondere
Avertit mulos. Factum rumor dissipat;
Arguitur miles, rapitur in praetorium.
Tum Magnus: Quid ais? tune me, commilito,
Spoliare es ausus? Ille continuo exscreat
Sibi in sinistram et sputum digitis dissipat.
Sic, imperator, oculi exstillescant mei,
Si vidi aut tetigi. Tum vir animi simplicis
Id dedecus castrorum propelli iubet,
Nec cadere in illum credit tantam audaciam.
Breve tempus intercessit, et fidens manu
Unum e Romanis provocabat barbarus.
Sibi quisque metuit; primi mussitant duces.
Tandem cinaedus habitu, sed Mars viribus,
Adit sedentem pro tribunali ducem,
Et voce molli: Licet? Enimvero eici
Virum ut in re atroci Magnus stomachans imperat.
Tum quidam senior ex amicis principis:
Hunc ego committi satius fortunae arbitror,
In quo iactura levis est, quam fortem virum,
Qui casu victus temeritatis te arguat.
Assensit Magnus et permisit militi
Prodire contra; qui mirante exercitu,
Dicto celerius hostis abscidit caput
Victorque rediit. His tunc Pompeius super:
Corona, miles, equidem te dono libens,
Quia vindicasti laudem Romani imperi;
Sed exstillescant oculi sic inquit mei,
Turpe illud imitans ius iurandum militis,
Nisi tu abstulisti sarcinas nuper meas.
Cum castitatem Iuno laudaret suam,
Iucunditatis causam haud depellit Venus,
Nullamque ut affirmaret esse illi parem,
Interrogasse sic gallinam dicitur:
Dic sodes quanto possis satiari cibo.
Respondit illa: Quicquid dederis, satis erit,
Sic ut concedas pedibus aliquid scalpere.
Ne scalpas inquit satis est modius tritici?
Plane, immo nimium est, sed permittes scalpere?
Ex toto, ne quid scalpas, quid desideras?
Tum denique illa fassa est naturae malum:
Licet horreum mi pateat, ego scalpam tamen.
Risisse Iuno dicitur Veneris iocos,
Quia per gallinam denotarit feminas.
Paterfamilias saevum habebat filium.
Hic e conspectu cum patris recesserat,
Verberibus servos afficiebat plurimis
Et exercebat fervidam adulescentiam.
Aesopus ergo narrat hoc breviter seni:
Quidam iuvenco vetulum adiungebat bovem.
Is cum refugiens impari collo iugum
Aetatis excusaret vires languidas:
Non est quod timeas, inquit illi rusticus;
Non ut labores dico, sed ut istum domes,
Qui calce et cornu multos reddit debiles.
Et tu nisi istum tecum assidue detines
Feroxque ingenium comprimis clementia,
Vide ne querela maior accrescat domus.
Atrocitati mansuetudo est remedium.
Victorem forte gymnici certaminis
Iactantiorem cum vidisset Phryx sophus,
Interrogavit an plus adversarius
Valuisset eius. Ille: Ne istud dixeris;
Multo fuere vires maiores meae.
Quod inquit ergo, stulte, meruisti decus,
Minus valentem si vicisti fortior?
Ferendus esses, forte si te diceres
Superasse, melior qui fuisset viribus.
Asinus iacentem vidit in prato lyram.
Accessit et temptavit chordas ungula;
Sonuere tactae. Bella res sed mehercules
Male cessit inquit artis quia sum nescius.
Si repperisset aliquis hanc prudentior,
Divinis aures oblectasset cantibus.
Sic saepe ingenia calamitate intercidunt.
Per aliquot annos quaedam dilectum virum
Amisit et sarcophago corpus condidit;
A quo revelli nullo cum posset modo
Et in sepulcro lugens vitam degeret,
Claram assecuta est famam castae virginis.
Interea fanum qui compilarant Iovis,
Cruci suffixi luerunt poenas numini.
Horum reliquias ne quis posset tollere,
Custodes dantur milites cadaverum
Monumentum iuxta mulier quo se incluserat.
Aliquando sitiens unus de custodibus
Aquam rogavit media nocte ancillulam,
Quae forte dominae tunc assistebat suae
Dormitum eunti; namque lucubraverat
Et usque in serum vigilias perduxerat.
Paulum reclusis foribus miles prospicit
Videtque et aegram et facie pulchra feminam.
Corruptus animus ilico succenditur
Et uritur impudentis sensim cupiditas.
Sollers acumen mille causas invenit,
Per quas videre possit illam saepius.
Cotidiana capta consuetudine
Paulatim facta est advenae submissior;
Mox artior revinxit animum copula.
Hic dum consumit noctes custos diligens,
Desideratum est corpus ex una cruce.
Turbatus miles factum exponit mulieri.
At sancta mulier: Non est quod timeas, ait,
Virique corpus tradit figendum cruci,
Ne subeat ille poenas neglegentiae.
Sic turpitudo laudis obsedit locum.
Unam expetebant virginem iuvenes duo;
Vicit locuples genus et formam pauperis.
Ut nuptiarum dictus advenit dies,
Amans dolorem quia non poterat perpeti,
Maerens propinquos contulit se in hortulos,
Quos ultra paulo villa splendida divitis
Erat acceptura virginem e matris sinu,
Parum ampla in urbe visa quod fuerat domus.
Pompa explicatur, turba concurrit frequens,
Et coniugalem praebet Hymenaeus facem.
Asellus autem, qui solebat pauperi
Quaestum referre, stabat portae in limine.
Illum puellae casu conducunt suae,
Viae labores teneros ne laedant pedes.
Repente caelum, Veneris misericordia,
Ventis movetur, intonat mundi fragor
Noctemque densis horridam nimbis parat:
Lux rapitur oculis et simul vis grandinis
Effusa trepidos passim comites dissipat,
Sibi quemque cogens petere praesidium fuga.
Asellus notum proximum tectum subit
Et voce magna sese venisse indicat.
Procurrunt pueri, pulchram aspiciunt virginem
Et admirantur: deinde domino nuntiant.
Inter sodales ille paucos accubans
Amorem crebris avocabat poculis.
Ubi nuntiatum est, recreatus gaudiis
Hortante Baccho et Venere, dulces perficit
Aequalitatis inter plausus nuptias.
Quaerunt parentes per praeconem filiam;
Novus maritus coniuge amissa dolet.
Quid esset actum postquam populo innotuit,
Omnes favorem comprobarunt caelitum.
Aesopus turpi cum serviret feminae,
Quae se expingendo totum intricaret diem,
Vestem, uniones, aurum, argentum sumeret,
Nec inveniret digito qui se tangeret:
Licetne paucis? inquit—Dicas.—Censeo,
Quidvis efficies, cultum si deposueris.—
Adeone per me videor tibi meliuscula?—
Immo, nisi dederis, sponda cessabit tua.
—At non cessabunt latera respondit tua,
Et obiurgari iussit servum garrulum.
Post paulo armillam tollit fur argenteam.
Eam non apparere ut dictum est mulieri,
Furore plena vocat omnes et verbera
Proponit gravia, verum si non dixerint.
Aliis minare inquit me non falles, era;
Flagris sum caesus, verum quia dixi modo.
Feles habebat gallus lecticarios.
Hunc gloriosum vulpes ut vidit vehi,
Sic est locuta: Moneo praecaveas dolum;
Istorum vultus namque si consideras,
Praedam portare iudices, non sarcinam. …
Postquam esurire coepit societas fera,
Discerpsit dominum et fecit partes facinoris.
Premente partu scrofa cum gemeret iacens,
Accurrit lupus et obstetricis partibus
Se posse fungi dixit, promittens opem.
Quae vero nosset pectoris fraudem improbi,
Suspectum officium repudiavit malefici
Et: Satis est inquit si recedis longius.
Quod si perfidiae se commisisset lupi,
Pari dolore fata deflesset sua.
Servus profugiens dominum naturae asperae,
Aesopo occurrit notus e vicinia.
Quid tu confusus?—Dicam tibi clare, pater,
Hoc namque es dignus appellari nomine,
Tuto querela quia apud te deponitur.
Plagae supersunt, desunt mihi cibaria;
Subinde ad villam mittor sine viatico.
Domi si cenat, totis persto noctibus,
Sive est vocatus, iaceo ad lucem in semita.
Emerui libertatem, canus servio.
Ullius essem culpae mihi si conscius,
Aequo animo ferrem; numquam sum factus satur
Et super infelix saevum patior dominium.
Has propter causas et quas longum est promere,
Abire destinavi quo tulerint pedes.
Ergo inquit audi: cum mali nil feceris,
Haec experiris, ut refers, incommoda;
Quid si peccaris? quae te passurum putas?
Tali consilio est a fuga deterritus.
Equum ex quadriga multis palmis nobilem
Abegit quidam et in pistrinum vendidit.
Productus ad bibendum cum foret a molis,
In circum aequales ire conspexit suos,
Ut grata ludis redderent certamina.
Lacrimis obortis: Ite felices ait;
Celebrate sine me cursu sollemnem diem;
Ego quo scelesta furis attraxit manus,
Ibi sorte tristi fata deflebo mea.
Si quando in silvis urso desunt copiae,
Scopulosum ad littus currit et prendens petram
Pilosa crura sensim demittit vado;
Quorum inter villos simul haeserunt canceres,
In terram abripiens excutit praedam maris
Escaque fruitur passim collecta vafer.
Ergo etiam stultis acuit ingenium fames.
Quidam per agros devium carpens iter
Ave exaudivit et moratus paululum,
Adesse ut vidit neminem, cepit gradum.
Iterum salutat idem ex occulto sonus.
Voce hospitali confirmatus restitit,
Ut quisquis esset par officium reciperet.
Cum circumspectans errore haesisset diu
Et perdidisset tempus aliquot milium,
Ostendit sese corvus et supervolans
Ave usque ingessit. Tum se lusum intellegens:
At male tibi sit inquit ales pessime,
Qui festinantis sic detinuisti pedes.
Pastor capellae cornu baculo fregerat:
Rogare coepit ne se domino proderet.
Quamvis indigne laesa, reticebo tamen;
Sed res clamabit ipsa quid deliqueris.
Serpens lacertam forte aversam prenderat;
Quam devorare patula cum vellet gula,
Arripuit illa prope iacentem surculum,
Et pertinaci morsu transversum tenens,
Avidum sollerti rictum frenavit mora.
Praedam dimisit ore serpens irritam.
Odiosa cornix super ovem consederat;
Quam dorso cum tulisset invita et diu:
Hoc inquit si dentato fecisses cani,
Poenas dedisses. Illa contra pessima:
Despicio inermes, eadem cedo fortibus;
Scio quem lacessam, cui dolosa blandiar;
Ideo senectam mille in annos prorogo.
Cum servus nequam Socrati malediceret,
Uxorem domini qui corrupisset sui,
Idque ille sciret notum circumstantibus:
Places tibi inquit quia cui non debes places;
Sed non impune, quia cui debes non places.
Cum venatorem celeri pede fugeret lepus
Et a bubulco visus veprem irreperet:
Per superos oro perque spes omnes tuas,
Ne me indices, bubulce; nihil umquam mali
Huic agro feci. Et rusticus: Ne timueris;
Late securus. Iamque venator sequens:
Quaeso, bubulce, numquid huc venit lepus?
Venit, sed abiit hac ad laevam; et dexteram
Demonstrat nutu partem. Venator citus
Non intellexit seque e conspectu abstulit.
Tunc sic bubulcus: Ecquid est gratum tibi,
Quod te celavi? Linguae prorsus non nego
Habere atque agere maximas me gratias;
Verum oculis ut priveris opto perfidis.
Cum blandiretur iuveni meretrix perfida,
Et ille laesus multis saepe iniuriis
Tamen praeberet sese facilem mulieri,
Sic insidiatrix: Omnes muneribus licet
Contendant, ego te plurimi facio tamen.
Iuvenis recordans quotiens deceptus foret:
Libenter, inquit, mea lux, hanc vocem audio,
Non quod fidelis, sed quod iucunda est mihi.
Canes effugere cum iam non possit fiber,
(Graeci loquaces quem dixerunt castorem
Et indiderunt bestiae nomen dei,
Illi qui iactant se verborum copia),
Abripere morsu fertur testiculos sibi,
Quia propter illos sentiat sese peti.
Divina quod ratione fieri non negem;
Venator namque simul invenit remedium,
Omittit ipsum persequi et vocat canes.
Hoc si praestare possent homines, ut suo
Vellent carere, tuti posthac viverent;
Haud quisquam insidias nudo faceret corpori.
Papilio vespam praetervolitans viderat.
O sortem iniquam! dum vivebant corpora,
Quorum ex reliquiis animam nos accepimus,
Ego eloquens in pace, fortis proeliis,
Arte omni princeps inter aequales fui.
En cuncta: levitas putris et volito cinis!
Tu qui fuisti mulus clitellarius,
Quemcumque visum est laedis infixo aculeo.
Et vespa dignam moribus vocem edidit:
Non qui fuerimus, sed qui nunc simus vide.
Avis quam dicunt terraneolam rustici,
In terra nidum quia componit scilicet,
Forte occucurrit improbae vulpeculae;
Qua visa, pennis altius se sustulit.
Salve inquit illa cur me fugisti, obsecro?
Quasi non abunde sit mihi in prato cibus,
Grilli, scarabaei, locustarum copia:
Nihil est quod metuas: ego te multum diligo
Propter quietos mores et vitam probam.
Respondit contra: Tu quidem bene praedicas;
In campo non sum, sed par sub divo tibi.
Quin sequere: salutem tibi non committo meam.
Hoc qualecumque est Musa quod ludit mea,
Nequitia pariter laudat et frugalitas,
Sed haec simpliciter; illa tacite irascitur.