Today's fable is Perry 226, the story of the tortoise and the hare. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected.
Here is the version from de Furia. What I especially like about this version is the way that the tortoise gets a nap, too - but only AFTER she finishes the race!
Pedes Testudinis Lepus olim deridebat. Cui illa subridens, Ego vero, inquit, te, quamvis velocem, in cursu tamen superabo. Quod impossibile omnino fore Lepus affirmans, Mecum, inquit, o Testudo, in certamen veni, et mei quid pedes valeant aperte cognosces. Cui Testudo adsibilans, Ecquis nobis, ait, cursus metam describet ac victoriae laudem decernet? Tunc Vulpes, brutorum omnium sagacissima, initium ac metam, nec non curriculi locum designavit. Testudo itaque, nulla mora interiecta, iter illico arripiens, ad praescriptum terminum tandem pevenit; sed Lepus interea, suis pedibus nimium confidens, placidum soporem captavit. Deinde vero somno excitatus, effuso cursu ad metam et ipse contendit, at ibi Testudinem dormientem invenit.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Pedes Testudinis
Lepus olim deridebat.
Cui
illa subridens,
Ego vero, inquit,
te, quamvis velocem,
in cursu tamen superabo.
Quod
impossibile omnino fore
Lepus affirmans,
Mecum, inquit, o Testudo,
in certamen veni,
et
mei quid pedes valeant
aperte cognosces.
Cui
Testudo adsibilans,
Ecquis nobis, ait,
cursus metam describet
ac victoriae laudem decernet?
Tunc Vulpes,
brutorum omnium sagacissima,
initium ac metam,
nec non curriculi locum
designavit.
Testudo itaque,
nulla mora interiecta,
iter illico arripiens,
ad praescriptum terminum
tandem pevenit;
sed Lepus interea,
suis pedibus nimium confidens,
placidum soporem captavit.
Deinde vero
somno excitatus,
effuso cursu
ad metam
et ipse contendit,
at ibi
Testudinem dormientem invenit.
Using Google's Picasa service, I've created a slideshow of images for this fable. You can access the The Tortoise and the Hare album directly if for some reason the slideshow does not play for you here; you can also watch a full-screen version of the slideshow. Enjoy!
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Friday, July 25, 2008
Perry 372: The Lion and the Bulls
Today's fable is Perry 372, the story of the lion and the bulls, showing how the lion used "divide and conquer" as a way to defeat the bulls. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected, including several Latin versions.
What I am going to do in the blog today is my first attempt at creating an image slideshow, using Google's Picasa service. You can access the Perry 372: The Lion and the Bulls album directly if for some reason the slideshow does not play for you here; you can also watch a full-screen version of the slideshow. Enjoy!
(To show or hide the captions, just click on the little caption icon in the lower left corner of the slideshow window.)
What I am going to do in the blog today is my first attempt at creating an image slideshow, using Google's Picasa service. You can access the Perry 372: The Lion and the Bulls album directly if for some reason the slideshow does not play for you here; you can also watch a full-screen version of the slideshow. Enjoy!
(To show or hide the captions, just click on the little caption icon in the lower left corner of the slideshow window.)
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Perry 147: Lion, Bear and Fox
Today's fable is Perry 147, the story of the lion and the bear who were outmaneuvered by the fox. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected. This fable is not found in the classical or medieval Latin traditions, but with the Renaissance and modern periods, it became incorporated into various Latin editions of Aesop.
Here is the version from the Renaissance poet, Candidus Pantaleon (1540-1608). As poetry goes, this is not difficult to read, and it has some great details - like the lion and the bear being barely able to open their eyes since they are so dizzy from fighting! It is in iambic meter:
Cum fortuito in hinnulum ursus ac leo
Simul incidissent, ac uterque tenderet
Eo potiri, tunc acerrime invicem
Coepere conflictari, et unus alterum
Sic impetivit, ut gravi vertigine
Oborta, humi iaceret expers virium
Uterque. Vulpes hoc videns, approximat
(Spectarat illa haud hinc procul pugnae exitum)
Et hinnulum mox e medio illorum abripit.
Quod semiapertis illi oculis cum cernerent,
Nec id valerent impedire, ad invicem
"O nos miseros," aiunt, "parumque providos,
Vulpisne dimicando perimus gratia?"
Saepe alter alterius fruitur laboribus.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, with some of the word order changed in order to clarify the syntax:
cum fortuito
in hinnulum
ursus ac leo
simul incidissent,
ac uterque tenderet eo potiri,
tunc acerrime invicem coepere conflictari,
et unus alterum sic impetivit,
ut, gravi vertigine oborta,
uterque humi iaceret,
expers virium.
vulpes,
hoc videns,
approximat
(spectaverat illa
haud hinc procul
pugnae exitum)
et hinnulum
mox e medio illorum
abripit.
quod cum illi cernerent
semiapertis oculis,
nec id valerent impedire,
ad invicem aiunt
"o nos miseros,
parumque providos,
vulpisne gratia
dimicando perimus?"
saepe alter alterius
fruitur laboribus.
The image is from Winter's Aesop for Children:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Here is the version from the Renaissance poet, Candidus Pantaleon (1540-1608). As poetry goes, this is not difficult to read, and it has some great details - like the lion and the bear being barely able to open their eyes since they are so dizzy from fighting! It is in iambic meter:
Cum fortuito in hinnulum ursus ac leo
Simul incidissent, ac uterque tenderet
Eo potiri, tunc acerrime invicem
Coepere conflictari, et unus alterum
Sic impetivit, ut gravi vertigine
Oborta, humi iaceret expers virium
Uterque. Vulpes hoc videns, approximat
(Spectarat illa haud hinc procul pugnae exitum)
Et hinnulum mox e medio illorum abripit.
Quod semiapertis illi oculis cum cernerent,
Nec id valerent impedire, ad invicem
"O nos miseros," aiunt, "parumque providos,
Vulpisne dimicando perimus gratia?"
Saepe alter alterius fruitur laboribus.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, with some of the word order changed in order to clarify the syntax:
cum fortuito
in hinnulum
ursus ac leo
simul incidissent,
ac uterque tenderet eo potiri,
tunc acerrime invicem coepere conflictari,
et unus alterum sic impetivit,
ut, gravi vertigine oborta,
uterque humi iaceret,
expers virium.
vulpes,
hoc videns,
approximat
(spectaverat illa
haud hinc procul
pugnae exitum)
et hinnulum
mox e medio illorum
abripit.
quod cum illi cernerent
semiapertis oculis,
nec id valerent impedire,
ad invicem aiunt
"o nos miseros,
parumque providos,
vulpisne gratia
dimicando perimus?"
saepe alter alterius
fruitur laboribus.
The image is from Winter's Aesop for Children:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Friday, July 18, 2008
Perry 257: Fox and Lioness
Today's fable is Perry 257, the story of the fox and the lioness debating the number of offspring they each produce. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected. Sometimes you'll also see this as a debate between a sow and a lioness, since the sow is also famous for giving birth to many piglets at once. I like the version with the fox best, since it's always fun to see the fox being taken down a peg or two.
Here is the version from the Jacobs & Doering Latin reader. This version is brief and to the point, which befits a fable whose moral is "quality, not quantity," after all!
Vulpes leaenam exprobrabat, quod non nisi unum catulum pareret. Huic dicitur respondisse, unum, sed leonem. Haec fabula, non copiam, sed bonitatem rerum aestimandam esse, docet.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Vulpes
leaenam exprobrabat,
quod
non nisi unum catulum pareret.
Huic dicitur respondisse,
unum,
sed leonem.
Haec fabula,
non copiam,
sed bonitatem rerum
aestimandam esse,
docet.
The image is from Garrett's Aesop; I like how you can see the lion cub in this one:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Here is the version from the Jacobs & Doering Latin reader. This version is brief and to the point, which befits a fable whose moral is "quality, not quantity," after all!
Vulpes leaenam exprobrabat, quod non nisi unum catulum pareret. Huic dicitur respondisse, unum, sed leonem. Haec fabula, non copiam, sed bonitatem rerum aestimandam esse, docet.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Vulpes
leaenam exprobrabat,
quod
non nisi unum catulum pareret.
Huic dicitur respondisse,
unum,
sed leonem.
Haec fabula,
non copiam,
sed bonitatem rerum
aestimandam esse,
docet.
The image is from Garrett's Aesop; I like how you can see the lion cub in this one:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Perry 187: Doctor Lion and the Horse
Today's fable is Perry 187, the story of the lion who pretended to be a doctor, and the sly horse who managed to escape. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected. Sometimes the fable is told with a wolf instead of a lion as the doctor, and a donkey instead of a horse. I like the versions with the lion best, simply because of the unintended irony which resonates between this fable about how the lion was outsmarted by the horse pretending to have a thorn in his paw and how a lion in another story - Androcles and the lion - really did have a thorn in his paw!
Here is the version from Steinhowel. What I especially like about this version is the way it teaches a quite cynical lesson: what you can learn from this fable is how to be a successful, blood-thirsty lion, unlike this failed lion, who let his prey get away!
Quicumque artem ignorant, illi se perdunt. Sic nobis haec fabula refert. Equum pascentem vidit leo fortissimus in prato. Hunc enim ut frangeret, se subtiliter approximavit ac veluti familiaris, qui se diceret medicum. Equus persensit dolum sed non repudiavit officium. Tamen mente ad locum invenit cito ingenium; finxit se stirpem calcatam habere; levato pede, Frater, inquit, succurre; gratulor quia venisti liberare me, nam in stirpem calcavi. Leo patiens accessit, fraudem dissimilans, stirpem extracturus. Cui velociter equus calces turbulentes dedit. Cadit corpus hostile leonis et iacuit amens diutius in terra. At ubi vires resumpsit, memor sui factus, nusquam vidit equum. Intellexit caput et faciem et totum se laesum fuisse, et ait: Digne haec passus sum, qui semper lanius veniebam; huic etiam medicus fallax et familiaris accessi, qui inimicus venire debui. Ideo quod es, esto; mentiri noli.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Quicumque
artem ignorant,
illi
se perdunt.
Sic nobis haec fabula refert.
Equum pascentem vidit
leo fortissimus
in prato.
Hunc enim ut frangeret,
se subtiliter approximavit
ac veluti familiaris,
qui se diceret medicum.
Equus
persensit dolum
sed non repudiavit officium.
Tamen mente
ad locum invenit cito
ingenium;
finxit
se stirpem calcatam habere;
levato pede,
Frater, inquit, succurre;
gratulor
quia venisti liberare me,
nam in stirpem calcavi.
Leo patiens accessit,
fraudem dissimilans,
stirpem extracturus.
Cui
velociter equus
calces turbulentes dedit.
Cadit corpus hostile leonis
et iacuit amens diutius in terra.
At ubi vires resumpsit,
memor sui factus,
nusquam vidit equum.
Intellexit
caput et faciem et totum se
laesum fuisse,
et ait:
Digne haec passus sum,
qui semper lanius veniebam;
huic etiam
medicus fallax et familiaris accessi,
qui inimicus venire debui.
Ideo
quod es,
esto;
mentiri noli.
The image is from an edition of Croxall's Aesop, which is online at Google Books:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Here is the version from Steinhowel. What I especially like about this version is the way it teaches a quite cynical lesson: what you can learn from this fable is how to be a successful, blood-thirsty lion, unlike this failed lion, who let his prey get away!
Quicumque artem ignorant, illi se perdunt. Sic nobis haec fabula refert. Equum pascentem vidit leo fortissimus in prato. Hunc enim ut frangeret, se subtiliter approximavit ac veluti familiaris, qui se diceret medicum. Equus persensit dolum sed non repudiavit officium. Tamen mente ad locum invenit cito ingenium; finxit se stirpem calcatam habere; levato pede, Frater, inquit, succurre; gratulor quia venisti liberare me, nam in stirpem calcavi. Leo patiens accessit, fraudem dissimilans, stirpem extracturus. Cui velociter equus calces turbulentes dedit. Cadit corpus hostile leonis et iacuit amens diutius in terra. At ubi vires resumpsit, memor sui factus, nusquam vidit equum. Intellexit caput et faciem et totum se laesum fuisse, et ait: Digne haec passus sum, qui semper lanius veniebam; huic etiam medicus fallax et familiaris accessi, qui inimicus venire debui. Ideo quod es, esto; mentiri noli.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Quicumque
artem ignorant,
illi
se perdunt.
Sic nobis haec fabula refert.
Equum pascentem vidit
leo fortissimus
in prato.
Hunc enim ut frangeret,
se subtiliter approximavit
ac veluti familiaris,
qui se diceret medicum.
Equus
persensit dolum
sed non repudiavit officium.
Tamen mente
ad locum invenit cito
ingenium;
finxit
se stirpem calcatam habere;
levato pede,
Frater, inquit, succurre;
gratulor
quia venisti liberare me,
nam in stirpem calcavi.
Leo patiens accessit,
fraudem dissimilans,
stirpem extracturus.
Cui
velociter equus
calces turbulentes dedit.
Cadit corpus hostile leonis
et iacuit amens diutius in terra.
At ubi vires resumpsit,
memor sui factus,
nusquam vidit equum.
Intellexit
caput et faciem et totum se
laesum fuisse,
et ait:
Digne haec passus sum,
qui semper lanius veniebam;
huic etiam
medicus fallax et familiaris accessi,
qui inimicus venire debui.
Ideo
quod es,
esto;
mentiri noli.
The image is from an edition of Croxall's Aesop, which is online at Google Books:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Perry 210: Boy Who Cried Wolf
Today's fable is Perry 210, the story of the boy who cried "Wolf!" - surely one of the best known of Aesop's fables, even though many people do not realize that the story is found in Aesop. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected.
Here is the version from Steinhowel. What I especially like about this version is the very clear statement of the moral: it is not just that lying is bad in and of itself, but that if you are a liar, you will not believed if and when you finally do tell the truth - a very practical consequence to the habitual telling of lies!
Qui cognoscitur mentiri, ei veritas postea non creditur. De hoc talis dicitur fabula. Puer quidam, cum oves in eminentiori loco depasceret, saepius clamabat: Heus, o! a lupis mihi succurrite! Qui circumaderant cultores agrorum, cultum omittentes ac illi occurrentes, ac nihil esse comperientes, ad opera sua redeunt. Cum pluries puer id, ioci causa, fecisset, ecce: cum lupus pro certo adesset, puer, ut sibi succurratur, serio clamat; agricolae id verum non esse putantes, cum minime occurrerent, lupus oves facile perdidit, nam puero mentienti non credebatur.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Qui cognoscitur mentiri,
ei veritas postea non creditur.
De hoc
talis dicitur fabula.
Puer quidam,
cum oves in eminentiori loco depasceret,
saepius clamabat:
Heus, o!
a lupis mihi succurrite!
Qui circumaderant cultores agrorum,
cultum omittentes ac illi occurrentes,
ac nihil esse comperientes,
ad opera sua redeunt.
Cum pluries puer
id, ioci causa, fecisset,
ecce:
cum lupus pro certo adesset,
puer,
ut sibi succurratur,
serio clamat;
agricolae
id verum non esse
putantes,
cum minime occurrerent,
lupus
oves facile perdidit,
nam puero mentienti
non credebatur.
The image is from Thomas Bewick's Aesop, first published in 1818:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Here is the version from Steinhowel. What I especially like about this version is the very clear statement of the moral: it is not just that lying is bad in and of itself, but that if you are a liar, you will not believed if and when you finally do tell the truth - a very practical consequence to the habitual telling of lies!
Qui cognoscitur mentiri, ei veritas postea non creditur. De hoc talis dicitur fabula. Puer quidam, cum oves in eminentiori loco depasceret, saepius clamabat: Heus, o! a lupis mihi succurrite! Qui circumaderant cultores agrorum, cultum omittentes ac illi occurrentes, ac nihil esse comperientes, ad opera sua redeunt. Cum pluries puer id, ioci causa, fecisset, ecce: cum lupus pro certo adesset, puer, ut sibi succurratur, serio clamat; agricolae id verum non esse putantes, cum minime occurrerent, lupus oves facile perdidit, nam puero mentienti non credebatur.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Qui cognoscitur mentiri,
ei veritas postea non creditur.
De hoc
talis dicitur fabula.
Puer quidam,
cum oves in eminentiori loco depasceret,
saepius clamabat:
Heus, o!
a lupis mihi succurrite!
Qui circumaderant cultores agrorum,
cultum omittentes ac illi occurrentes,
ac nihil esse comperientes,
ad opera sua redeunt.
Cum pluries puer
id, ioci causa, fecisset,
ecce:
cum lupus pro certo adesset,
puer,
ut sibi succurratur,
serio clamat;
agricolae
id verum non esse
putantes,
cum minime occurrerent,
lupus
oves facile perdidit,
nam puero mentienti
non credebatur.
The image is from Thomas Bewick's Aesop, first published in 1818:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Perry 181: The Laden Donkey and the Selfish Horse
Today's fable is Perry 181, the story of the heavily laden donkey and the horse who refused to carry even part of the load. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected. This is absolutely one of my favorite Aesop's fables. Not only is the cruel horse punished, but he is punished in a matter that perfectly befits his crime, a very elegant example of karma indeed!
Here is the version from Jacobs & Doering's Latin reader. I was both surprised and pleased to find the story of the laden donkey included in this little book. The fable is not especially famous, but I am guessing that the wonderful moral it teaches is what caught the editors' notice and prompted them to include it in the book!
Asinus, onustus sarcinis, equum rogavit, ut aliqua parte oneris se levaret, si se vivum videre vellet. Sed ille asini preces repudiavit. Paulo post igitur asinus labore consumptus in via corruit et efflavit animam. Tum agitator omnes sarcinas, quas asinus portaverat, atque insuper etiam pellem asino detractam, in equum imposuit. Ibi ille sero priorem superbiam deplorans, O me miserum, inquit, qui parvulum onus in me recipere noluerim, cum nunc cogar tantas sarcinas ferre, una cum pelle comitis mei, cuius preces tam superbe contempseram.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Asinus, onustus sarcinis,
equum rogavit,
ut
aliqua parte oneris
se levaret,
si se vivum videre
vellet.
Sed ille
asini preces repudiavit.
Paulo post igitur
asinus
labore consumptus
in via corruit
et efflavit animam.
Tum agitator
omnes sarcinas,
quas asinus portaverat,
atque insuper
etiam pellem asino detractam,
in equum imposuit.
Ibi ille
sero priorem superbiam deplorans,
O me miserum, inquit,
qui parvulum onus
in me recipere noluerim,
cum nunc cogar
tantas sarcinas ferre,
una cum pelle comitis mei,
cuius preces
tam superbe contempseram.
The image is from Osius. What I like about this version is that the donkey looks angry about what is going on.
In other illustrations, the donkey usually looks miserable rather than indignant, as in this image from Salomon (which clearly influenced Osius's illustrator, as often).
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Here is the version from Jacobs & Doering's Latin reader. I was both surprised and pleased to find the story of the laden donkey included in this little book. The fable is not especially famous, but I am guessing that the wonderful moral it teaches is what caught the editors' notice and prompted them to include it in the book!
Asinus, onustus sarcinis, equum rogavit, ut aliqua parte oneris se levaret, si se vivum videre vellet. Sed ille asini preces repudiavit. Paulo post igitur asinus labore consumptus in via corruit et efflavit animam. Tum agitator omnes sarcinas, quas asinus portaverat, atque insuper etiam pellem asino detractam, in equum imposuit. Ibi ille sero priorem superbiam deplorans, O me miserum, inquit, qui parvulum onus in me recipere noluerim, cum nunc cogar tantas sarcinas ferre, una cum pelle comitis mei, cuius preces tam superbe contempseram.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Asinus, onustus sarcinis,
equum rogavit,
ut
aliqua parte oneris
se levaret,
si se vivum videre
vellet.
Sed ille
asini preces repudiavit.
Paulo post igitur
asinus
labore consumptus
in via corruit
et efflavit animam.
Tum agitator
omnes sarcinas,
quas asinus portaverat,
atque insuper
etiam pellem asino detractam,
in equum imposuit.
Ibi ille
sero priorem superbiam deplorans,
O me miserum, inquit,
qui parvulum onus
in me recipere noluerim,
cum nunc cogar
tantas sarcinas ferre,
una cum pelle comitis mei,
cuius preces
tam superbe contempseram.
The image is from Osius. What I like about this version is that the donkey looks angry about what is going on.
In other illustrations, the donkey usually looks miserable rather than indignant, as in this image from Salomon (which clearly influenced Osius's illustrator, as often).
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Perry 176: The Frozen Serpent
Today's fable is Perry 176, the story of the man who nursed a frozen snake back to health... big mistake, of course! At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected. In some versions of the fable, the snake ends up biting the man fatally (as in the Latin version I've provided here), while in other versions, the man realizes his mistake in time and expels the snake from his house before it can destroy him and his family (as in Crane's illustration below).
Here is the version from De Furia's translation of Aesop's fables into Latin. What I especially like about this version is the elegant twist to the moral of the fable, as expressed by the dying man himself!
Vir quidam hiberno tempore iter habens, cum viperam prae gelu morientem vidisset, misericordia motus, eam sustulit, suoque in sinu refovit. Ea vero, dum frigore detinebatur, quiete ac pacate se gessit; at postquam demum calefacta fuit, illico viatoris ventrem momordit. Is itaque iam iam moriturus, "Merito quidem haec patior," inquit; "Quid enim hanc pereuntem curavi, quam etiam bene valentem interficere oportebat?" Ita quoque nonnulli homines, dum in quosdam beneficia conferent, non sentiunt se pro gratia dolores recepturos.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Vir quidam
hiberno tempore
iter habens,
cum viperam
prae gelu morientem
vidisset,
misericordia motus,
eam sustulit,
suoque in sinu refovit.
Ea vero,
dum frigore detinebatur,
quiete ac pacate se gessit;
at postquam demum calefacta fuit,
illico
viatoris ventrem momordit.
Is
itaque iam iam moriturus,
"Merito quidem
haec patior," inquit;
"Quid enim
hanc pereuntem curavi,
quam
etiam bene valentem
interficere oportebat?"
Ita quoque nonnulli homines,
dum in quosdam
beneficia conferent,
non sentiunt
se
pro gratia
dolores recepturos.
Walter Crane's image for this story is fantastic, kind of like Laocoon, but with the man having the serpent in hand this time! In Crane's version of the story, the man manages to get the snake under control before it does any actual damage.
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Here is the version from De Furia's translation of Aesop's fables into Latin. What I especially like about this version is the elegant twist to the moral of the fable, as expressed by the dying man himself!
Vir quidam hiberno tempore iter habens, cum viperam prae gelu morientem vidisset, misericordia motus, eam sustulit, suoque in sinu refovit. Ea vero, dum frigore detinebatur, quiete ac pacate se gessit; at postquam demum calefacta fuit, illico viatoris ventrem momordit. Is itaque iam iam moriturus, "Merito quidem haec patior," inquit; "Quid enim hanc pereuntem curavi, quam etiam bene valentem interficere oportebat?" Ita quoque nonnulli homines, dum in quosdam beneficia conferent, non sentiunt se pro gratia dolores recepturos.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Vir quidam
hiberno tempore
iter habens,
cum viperam
prae gelu morientem
vidisset,
misericordia motus,
eam sustulit,
suoque in sinu refovit.
Ea vero,
dum frigore detinebatur,
quiete ac pacate se gessit;
at postquam demum calefacta fuit,
illico
viatoris ventrem momordit.
Is
itaque iam iam moriturus,
"Merito quidem
haec patior," inquit;
"Quid enim
hanc pereuntem curavi,
quam
etiam bene valentem
interficere oportebat?"
Ita quoque nonnulli homines,
dum in quosdam
beneficia conferent,
non sentiunt
se
pro gratia
dolores recepturos.
Walter Crane's image for this story is fantastic, kind of like Laocoon, but with the man having the serpent in hand this time! In Crane's version of the story, the man manages to get the snake under control before it does any actual damage.
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Monday, July 07, 2008
Perry 153: Treaty of Wolves and Sheep
Today's fable is Perry 153, the story of the sheep who made a peace treaty with the wolves... big mistake, of course! As soon as they give up the protection of the sheep dogs, those sheep are in big trouble. At del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected.
Here is the version from Steinhowel's Aesop. What I especially like about this version of the story is how the wolves turn their cubs as hostages over to the sheep - and it is the howling of the cubs which provides a pretense (pretense only, of course!) for the wolves to attack their supposed allies, the sheep:
Defensorem et patronum non expedit relinquere. De hoc auctor talem fabulam dixit. Oves et lupi bellum inter se gerebant, ita ut nulla pars alii cederet. Illae plures fuerunt et cum eis canes et arietes, et visum est signum victoriae esse ovium. Tunc lupi, legatos mittentes, petunt concordiam et pacem iurando si canes obsides darent et econtra oves eorum catulos ab eis reciperent. Ita fecerunt et iurandi fidem dederunt illis. Ovibus in pace positis, lupini catuli ululaverunt. Illi, natos vexare putantes, veniunt undique simul et dicunt pacem ab illis ruptam, et coeperunt laniare oves, nullo tutore praestante auxilium ac nullo patrono defendente.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Defensorem et patronum
non expedit relinquere.
De hoc
auctor
talem fabulam dixit.
Oves et lupi
bellum inter se gerebant,
ita ut
nulla pars
alii cederet.
Illae
plures fuerunt
et cum eis
canes et arietes,
et visum est
signum victoriae
esse ovium.
Tunc lupi,
legatos mittentes,
petunt concordiam et pacem
iurando
si canes obsides darent
et econtra
oves
eorum catulos ab eis reciperent.
Ita fecerunt
et iurandi fidem dederunt illis.
Ovibus in pace positis,
lupini catuli ululaverunt.
Illi,
natos vexare
putantes,
veniunt undique simul
et dicunt
pacem ab illis ruptam,
et coeperunt laniare oves,
nullo tutore praestante auxilium
ac nullo patrono defendente.
For an image of the story, here is an illustration by the Renaissance engraver, Bernard Salomon; if you look you can see how the ram is trying to defend the flock, but the dogs are far away and not able to lend any help:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Here is the version from Steinhowel's Aesop. What I especially like about this version of the story is how the wolves turn their cubs as hostages over to the sheep - and it is the howling of the cubs which provides a pretense (pretense only, of course!) for the wolves to attack their supposed allies, the sheep:
Defensorem et patronum non expedit relinquere. De hoc auctor talem fabulam dixit. Oves et lupi bellum inter se gerebant, ita ut nulla pars alii cederet. Illae plures fuerunt et cum eis canes et arietes, et visum est signum victoriae esse ovium. Tunc lupi, legatos mittentes, petunt concordiam et pacem iurando si canes obsides darent et econtra oves eorum catulos ab eis reciperent. Ita fecerunt et iurandi fidem dederunt illis. Ovibus in pace positis, lupini catuli ululaverunt. Illi, natos vexare putantes, veniunt undique simul et dicunt pacem ab illis ruptam, et coeperunt laniare oves, nullo tutore praestante auxilium ac nullo patrono defendente.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Defensorem et patronum
non expedit relinquere.
De hoc
auctor
talem fabulam dixit.
Oves et lupi
bellum inter se gerebant,
ita ut
nulla pars
alii cederet.
Illae
plures fuerunt
et cum eis
canes et arietes,
et visum est
signum victoriae
esse ovium.
Tunc lupi,
legatos mittentes,
petunt concordiam et pacem
iurando
si canes obsides darent
et econtra
oves
eorum catulos ab eis reciperent.
Ita fecerunt
et iurandi fidem dederunt illis.
Ovibus in pace positis,
lupini catuli ululaverunt.
Illi,
natos vexare
putantes,
veniunt undique simul
et dicunt
pacem ab illis ruptam,
et coeperunt laniare oves,
nullo tutore praestante auxilium
ac nullo patrono defendente.
For an image of the story, here is an illustration by the Renaissance engraver, Bernard Salomon; if you look you can see how the ram is trying to defend the flock, but the dogs are far away and not able to lend any help:
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Perry 155: Wolf and Lamb
Today's fable is Perry 155, the story of the wolf and the lamb who came to drink at the spring. At the del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected. This is one of the best-attested fables in the Latin tradition, and often appears first in the medieval "Romulus" collections, just as it was the first poem in Phaedrus's fables from ancient Rome.
You can find this story told in many versions, with the wolf making all kinds of elaborate charges against the lamb, and the lamb steadfastly maintaining his innocence. Here in this version by John of Sheppey, you can see the story reduced to its most clear and simple message: the wolf is going to eat that lamb, no matter what! Notice that Bishop John casts the story as an allegory of rich and poor, a common theme in the sermons of the medieval preachers:
Contra calumniosos causam nocendi quaerentes, cum sum potentes, contra pauperes. Agnus et Lupus sitientes ad rivulum e diverso venerunt. Sursum bibebat Lupus, longeque inferio Agnus. Lupus, ut Agnum vidit, sic ait: Turbas mihi aquam bibenti. Agnus vero patienter dixit: Quo modo eam turbarem tibi, quae de te ad me currit? Cui Lupus: Et maledicis mihi. Et Agnus: Non. Et Lupus: Adhuc mihi loqueris! Statimque ei vitam eripuit.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Contra calumniosos
causam nocendi quaerentes,
cum sum potentes,
contra pauperes.
Agnus et Lupus
sitientes
ad rivulum e diverso venerunt.
Sursum bibebat Lupus,
longeque inferio Agnus.
Lupus,
ut Agnum vidit,
sic ait:
Turbas mihi aquam bibenti.
Agnus vero
patienter dixit:
Quo modo eam turbarem tibi,
quae de te ad me currit?
Cui Lupus:
Et maledicis mihi.
Et Agnus:
Non.
Et Lupus:
Adhuc mihi loqueris!
Statimque
ei vitam eripuit.
For an image of the story, here is an illustration from Bewick's Aesop - what I like about this one is that it makes it very clear how the water is running down from the wolf to the lamb; there's even a little waterfall there!
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
You can find this story told in many versions, with the wolf making all kinds of elaborate charges against the lamb, and the lamb steadfastly maintaining his innocence. Here in this version by John of Sheppey, you can see the story reduced to its most clear and simple message: the wolf is going to eat that lamb, no matter what! Notice that Bishop John casts the story as an allegory of rich and poor, a common theme in the sermons of the medieval preachers:
Contra calumniosos causam nocendi quaerentes, cum sum potentes, contra pauperes. Agnus et Lupus sitientes ad rivulum e diverso venerunt. Sursum bibebat Lupus, longeque inferio Agnus. Lupus, ut Agnum vidit, sic ait: Turbas mihi aquam bibenti. Agnus vero patienter dixit: Quo modo eam turbarem tibi, quae de te ad me currit? Cui Lupus: Et maledicis mihi. Et Agnus: Non. Et Lupus: Adhuc mihi loqueris! Statimque ei vitam eripuit.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Contra calumniosos
causam nocendi quaerentes,
cum sum potentes,
contra pauperes.
Agnus et Lupus
sitientes
ad rivulum e diverso venerunt.
Sursum bibebat Lupus,
longeque inferio Agnus.
Lupus,
ut Agnum vidit,
sic ait:
Turbas mihi aquam bibenti.
Agnus vero
patienter dixit:
Quo modo eam turbarem tibi,
quae de te ad me currit?
Cui Lupus:
Et maledicis mihi.
Et Agnus:
Non.
Et Lupus:
Adhuc mihi loqueris!
Statimque
ei vitam eripuit.
For an image of the story, here is an illustration from Bewick's Aesop - what I like about this one is that it makes it very clear how the water is running down from the wolf to the lamb; there's even a little waterfall there!
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Perry 156: Wolf and Crane
Today's fable is Perry 156, the story of the wolf and the crane. At the del.icio.us, you can see a complete list of the versions of this fable type that I have collected. It is one of the fables which has a close parallel in the Buddhist jataka tradition, where the story involves a lion instead: The Lion and The Crane.
Here is the version from Steinhowel's Aesop. What is interesting about this version is that the wolf does not address the crane directly at the end (as in the classical version by Phaedrus), but instead waxes indignant while speaking about the crane in the third person, as if the poor crane were not even worthy of direct address!
Quicumque malo benefacit, satis peccat, de quo talem audi fabulam. Ossa lupus cum devoraret, unum ex illis in faucibus ei adhaesit transversum, graviter eum affligens. Invitavit lupus magno praemio qui ab hoc malo ipsum liberaret, os illud de faucibus extrahendo. Rogabatur grus collo longo, ut praestaret lupo medicinas. Id egit ut immitteret caput faucibus lupi et os laedens extraheret. Sanus cum esset lupus, rogabat grus promissa sibi praemia reddi. At lupus dixisse dicitur: O quam ingrata est grus illa, quae caput incolume e nostris faucibus extraxit nec dentibus meis in aliquo vexatum, et insuper mercedem postulat. Numquid meis virtutibus facit iniuriam? Haec fabula monet illos qui malis volunt benefacere.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Quicumque malo benefacit,
satis peccat,
de quo
talem audi fabulam.
Ossa
lupus cum devoraret,
unum ex illis
in faucibus ei adhaesit transversum,
graviter eum affligens.
Invitavit lupus
magno praemio
qui
ab hoc malo
ipsum liberaret,
os illud
de faucibus extrahendo.
Rogabatur
grus collo longo,
ut praestaret lupo medicinas.
Id egit
ut immitteret caput
faucibus lupi
et os laedens extraheret.
Sanus cum esset lupus,
rogabat grus
promissa sibi praemia
reddi.
At lupus dixisse dicitur:
O quam ingrata est
grus illa,
quae
caput incolume
e nostris faucibus extraxit
nec dentibus meis in aliquo vexatum,
et insuper mercedem postulat.
Numquid meis virtutibus facit iniuriam?
Haec fabula monet illos
qui malis volunt benefacere.
For an image of the story, here is an illustration by Walter Crane, which is unusual in that it shows the crane after she has pulled out the bone (you can see the bone if you look closely; you can click on the image for a larger view) - most illustrations of the story instead show the crane with her head plunged inside the mouth of the wolf (as you can see in these other illustrations):
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
Here is the version from Steinhowel's Aesop. What is interesting about this version is that the wolf does not address the crane directly at the end (as in the classical version by Phaedrus), but instead waxes indignant while speaking about the crane in the third person, as if the poor crane were not even worthy of direct address!
Quicumque malo benefacit, satis peccat, de quo talem audi fabulam. Ossa lupus cum devoraret, unum ex illis in faucibus ei adhaesit transversum, graviter eum affligens. Invitavit lupus magno praemio qui ab hoc malo ipsum liberaret, os illud de faucibus extrahendo. Rogabatur grus collo longo, ut praestaret lupo medicinas. Id egit ut immitteret caput faucibus lupi et os laedens extraheret. Sanus cum esset lupus, rogabat grus promissa sibi praemia reddi. At lupus dixisse dicitur: O quam ingrata est grus illa, quae caput incolume e nostris faucibus extraxit nec dentibus meis in aliquo vexatum, et insuper mercedem postulat. Numquid meis virtutibus facit iniuriam? Haec fabula monet illos qui malis volunt benefacere.
Here it is written out in segmented style to make it easier to follow, while respecting the Latin word order:
Quicumque malo benefacit,
satis peccat,
de quo
talem audi fabulam.
Ossa
lupus cum devoraret,
unum ex illis
in faucibus ei adhaesit transversum,
graviter eum affligens.
Invitavit lupus
magno praemio
qui
ab hoc malo
ipsum liberaret,
os illud
de faucibus extrahendo.
Rogabatur
grus collo longo,
ut praestaret lupo medicinas.
Id egit
ut immitteret caput
faucibus lupi
et os laedens extraheret.
Sanus cum esset lupus,
rogabat grus
promissa sibi praemia
reddi.
At lupus dixisse dicitur:
O quam ingrata est
grus illa,
quae
caput incolume
e nostris faucibus extraxit
nec dentibus meis in aliquo vexatum,
et insuper mercedem postulat.
Numquid meis virtutibus facit iniuriam?
Haec fabula monet illos
qui malis volunt benefacere.
For an image of the story, here is an illustration by Walter Crane, which is unusual in that it shows the crane after she has pulled out the bone (you can see the bone if you look closely; you can click on the image for a larger view) - most illustrations of the story instead show the crane with her head plunged inside the mouth of the wolf (as you can see in these other illustrations):
Some dynamic content may not display if you are reading this blog via RSS or through an email subscription. You can always visit the Bestiaria Latina blog to see the full content, and to find out how to subscribe to the latest posts.
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