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 deadFor one slight sting, in wrath so strict,What punishment will you inflictUpon yourself, who was so bluntTo 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 securedMore would I gladly have endured."What by this moral tale is meantIs-those who wrong not with intentAre venial; but to those that doSeverity, I think, is due.
Calvi momordit musca nudatum caput;Quam opprimere captans alapam sibi duxit gravem.Tunc illa irridens: Punctum volucris parvulaeVoluisti 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 docetQui casu peccat. Nam qui consilio est nocens,Illum esse quamvis dignum poena iudico.
A certain Man, when he had madeA sacrifice, for special aidTo Hercules, and killed a swine,Did for his Ass's share assignAll 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 fedWith store of this, is stuck and dead."Struck with the import of this tale,I have succeeded to prevailUpon my passions, and abstain,From peril of immod'rate gain.But, you will say, those that have comeUnjustly by a handsome sum,Upon the pillage still subsist-Why, if we reckon up the list,You'll find by far the major partHave been conducted in the cart:Temerity for some may do,But many more their rashness rue.
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 deterritusPericulosum semper vitavi lucrum.Sed dicis: Qui rapuere divitias, habent.Numeremus agedum qui deprensi perierunt:Maiorem turbam punitorum reperies.Paucis temeritas est bono, multis malo.
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 mimesAnd play'rs and tumblers of the times,And built a large commodious stageFor the choice spirits of the age:But, above all, amongst the restThere came a genius who profess'dTo have a curious trick in storeThat 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 cloakHe had concealed some grunting elf,Or was a real hog himselfA search was made-no pig was found-With thund'ring claps the seats resound,And pit, and box, and gall'ries roarWith—" 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 himDeclaring to each beau and belleThat he this grunter would excel.The morrow came-the crowd was greater—But prejudice and rank ill-natureUsurp'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 nailHe 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 GrouseWas 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 aloudBespoke 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 springsWith 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 penImmortal honour will insure,Long as a rev'rence shall endureFor Roman learning-if this strainCannot your approbation gain,Yet, yet my brevity admire,Which may the more to praise aspire,The more our poets now-a-daysAre tedious in their lifeless lays.
Pravo favore labi mortales solentEt, pro iudicio dum stant erroris sui,Ad paenitendum rebus manifestis agi.Facturus ludos dives quidam nobilisProposito cunctos invitavit praemioQuam quisque posset ut novitatem ostenderet.Venere artifices laudis ad certamina;Quos inter scurra, notus urbano sale,Habere dixit se genus spectaculiQuod in theatro numquam prolatum foret.Dispersus rumor civitatem concitat.Paulo ante vacua turbam deficiunt loca.In scaena vero postquam solus constititSine apparatu, nullis adiutoribus,Silentium ipsa fecit exspectatio.Ille in sinum repente demisit caputEt sic porcelli vocem est imitatus sua,Verum ut subesse pallio contenderentEt excuti iuberent. Quo facto simulNihil est repertum, multis onerant lancibusHominemque plausu prosequuntur maximo.Hoc vidit fieri rusticus: Non meherculesMe vincet inquit, et statim professus estIdem facturum melius se postridie.Fit turba maior. Iam favor mentes tenetEt derisuri, non spectaturi sedent.Uterque prodit. Scurra degrunnit priorMovetque plausus et clamores suscitat.Tunc simulans sese vestimentis rusticusPorcellum 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 similiusImitatum, et cogit rusticum trudi foras.At ille profert ipsum porcellum e sinu,Turpemque aperto pignore errorem probans:En hic declarat quales sitis iudices!
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 foundA hobnail, for a hundred pound."They by this tale may be relievedWhose sanguine hopes have been deceived.
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 invidoCarbonem, ut aiunt, pro thesauro invenimus.Quem spes delusit, huic querela convenit.
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 easeTo 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 himAs dear almost as life and limb).Borne by the kind officious crowd,Home he's conducted, groaning loud.Some months elapsed before he foundHimself recover'd of his wound:Meantime, according to their way,The droll frequenters of the playHad a great miss of him, whose touchThe dancers' spirits raised so much.A certain man of high renownWas just preparing for the townSome 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 faceIn 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 chapKisses his hand, and scrapes and bowsTo his good patrons in the house.First the equestrian order smokeThe fool's mistake, and high in joke,Command the song to be encored;Which ended, flat upon the boardThe Piper falls, the knights acclaim;The people think that Prince's aimIs 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 beautyProud 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.
Ubi vanus animus aura captus frivolaArripuit 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 graviNec opinans, et sinistram fregit tibiam,Duas cum dextras maluisset perdere.Inter manus sublatus et multum gemensDomum refertur. Aliquot menses transeunt,Ad sanitatem dum venit curatio.Ut spectatorum mos est et lepidum genus,Desiderari coepit, cuius flatibusSolebat excitari saltantis vigor.Erat facturus ludos quidam nobilis,Et incipiebat a se Princeps ingredi:Reducem tum adducit prece, pretio ut tantummodoIpso ludorum ostenderet sese die.Qui simul advenit, rumor de tibicineFremit in theatro. Quidam affirmant mortuum,Quidam in conspectum proditurum sine mora.Aulaeo misso, devolutis tonitribusDi sunt locuti more translaticio.Tunc chorus ignotum modo reducto canticumInsonuit, cuius haec fuit sententia:Laetare, incolumis Roma, salvo principe!In plausus consurrectum est. Iactat basiaTibicen: gratulari fautores putat.Equester ordo stultum errorem intellegitMagnoque risu canticum repeti iubet.Iteratur illud. Homo meus se in pulpitoTotum 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.
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' sakeFor Jove himself cannot retakeThe fugitive when once he's gone.The picture that we here have drawnIs 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.
Cursu volucri, pendens in novacula,Calvus, comosa fronte, nudo corpore,(Quem si occuparis, teneas; elapsum semelNon ipse possit Iuppiter reprehendere),Occasionem rerum significat brevem.Effectus impediret ne segnis mora,Finxere antiqui talem effigiem Temporis.
A Bull was struggling to secureHis 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 showHow 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 halfWould teach, may think himself this Calf.
Angusto in aditu taurus luctans cornibusCum 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.
A Dog, that time and often tried,His master always satisfied;And whensoever he assail'd,Against the forest-beasts prevail'dBoth by activity and strength,,Through years began to flag at lengthOne 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 perceiveOf this, with which I take my leave.
Adversus omnes fortis veloces ferasCanis cum domino semper fecisset satis,Languere coepit annis ingravantibus.Aliquando obiectus hispidi pugnae suisArripuit aurem, sed cariosis dentibusPraedam dimisit. Hic tunc venator dolensCanem 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 meoGenus 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 IovisFatalis annos decurramus temporis,Nec plus conemur quam sinit mortalitas.Mercurium hospitio mulieres olim duaeIlliberali 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 protinusQuod quaeque optarit. Mater suppliciter rogatBarbatum 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 manuTraxitque ad terram nasi longitudinem,Et aliam ridens ipsa ridenda exstitit.Olim Prometheus saeculi figulus noviCura subtili Veritatem fecerat,Ut iura posset inter homines reddere.Subito accersitus nuntio magni IovisCommendat 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 DolusMetu 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 laborMendacium appellatum est; quod negantibusPedes habere facile et ipse assentio.Ixion quod versari narratur rota,Volubilem Fortunam iactari docet.Adversus altos Sisyphus montes agitSaxum labore summo, quod de verticeSudore semper irrito revolvitur,Ostendit hominum sine fine esse miserias.Quod stans in amne Tantalus medio sitit,Avari describuntur, quos circumfluitUsus 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 coniugesDefendite 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 corporisFracte loquendo et ambulando molliterFamam cinaedi traxerat certissimam.Hic insidiatus nocte iumentis ducis,Cum veste et auro et magno argenti pondereAvertit mulos. Factum rumor dissipat;Arguitur miles, rapitur in praetorium.Tum Magnus: Quid ais? tune me, commilito,Spoliare es ausus? Ille continuo exscreatSibi in sinistram et sputum digitis dissipat.Sic, imperator, oculi exstillescant mei,Si vidi aut tetigi. Tum vir animi simplicisId dedecus castrorum propelli iubet,Nec cadere in illum credit tantam audaciam.Breve tempus intercessit, et fidens manuUnum 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 eiciVirum 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 militiProdire contra; qui mirante exercitu,Dicto celerius hostis abscidit caputVictorque 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 plurimisEt exercebat fervidam adulescentiam.Aesopus ergo narrat hoc breviter seni:Quidam iuvenco vetulum adiungebat bovem.Is cum refugiens impari collo iugumAetatis 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 detinesFeroxque ingenium comprimis clementia,Vide ne querela maior accrescat domus.Atrocitati mansuetudo est remedium.Victorem forte gymnici certaminisIactantiorem cum vidisset Phryx sophus,Interrogavit an plus adversariusValuisset 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 diceresSuperasse, melior qui fuisset viribus.Asinus iacentem vidit in prato lyram.Accessit et temptavit chordas ungula;Sonuere tactae. Bella res sed meherculesMale 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 virumAmisit et sarcophago corpus condidit;A quo revelli nullo cum posset modoEt 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 cadaverumMonumentum iuxta mulier quo se incluserat.Aliquando sitiens unus de custodibusAquam rogavit media nocte ancillulam,Quae forte dominae tunc assistebat suaeDormitum eunti; namque lucubraveratEt usque in serum vigilias perduxerat.Paulum reclusis foribus miles prospicitVidetque et aegram et facie pulchra feminam.Corruptus animus ilico succenditurEt uritur impudentis sensim cupiditas.Sollers acumen mille causas invenit,Per quas videre possit illam saepius.Cotidiana capta consuetudinePaulatim 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 divitisErat 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 pauperiQuaestum referre, stabat portae in limine.Illum puellae casu conducunt suae,Viae labores teneros ne laedant pedes.Repente caelum, Veneris misericordia,Ventis movetur, intonat mundi fragorNoctemque densis horridam nimbis parat:Lux rapitur oculis et simul vis grandinisEffusa trepidos passim comites dissipat,Sibi quemque cogens petere praesidium fuga.Asellus notum proximum tectum subitEt voce magna sese venisse indicat.Procurrunt pueri, pulchram aspiciunt virginemEt admirantur: deinde domino nuntiant.Inter sodales ille paucos accubansAmorem crebris avocabat poculis.Ubi nuntiatum est, recreatus gaudiisHortante Baccho et Venere, dulces perficitAequalitatis 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 verberaProponit 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 partibusSe posse fungi dixit, promittens opem.Quae vero nosset pectoris fraudem improbi,Suspectum officium repudiavit maleficiEt: 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 saturEt 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 nobilemAbegit 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 petramPilosa crura sensim demittit vado;Quorum inter villos simul haeserunt canceres,In terram abripiens excutit praedam marisEscaque fruitur passim collecta vafer.Ergo etiam stultis acuit ingenium fames.Quidam per agros devium carpens iterAve 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 diuEt perdidisset tempus aliquot milium,Ostendit sese corvus et supervolansAve 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 lepusEt a bubulco visus veprem irreperet:Per superos oro perque spes omnes tuas,Ne me indices, bubulce; nihil umquam maliHuic agro feci. Et rusticus: Ne timueris;Late securus. Iamque venator sequens:Quaeso, bubulce, numquid huc venit lepus?Venit, sed abiit hac ad laevam; et dexteramDemonstrat nutu partem. Venator citusNon intellexit seque e conspectu abstulit.Tunc sic bubulcus: Ecquid est gratum tibi,Quod te celavi? Linguae prorsus non negoHabere atque agere maximas me gratias;Verum oculis ut priveris opto perfidis.Cum blandiretur iuveni meretrix perfida,Et ille laesus multis saepe iniuriisTamen praeberet sese facilem mulieri,Sic insidiatrix: Omnes muneribus licetContendant, 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 castoremEt 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 suoVellent 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 diligoPropter 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.