83. Lupus Fugiens et Pastor. Cum venatorem instantem fugeret lupus, et pastor vidisset qua parte fugeret et quo se loco absconderet, ille, vehementer metuens, “Oro te, pastor,” inquit, “ne me prodas innocentem. Nihil umquam mali tibi feci.” Et pastor “Noli,” inquit, “timere; alteram venatori monstrabo partem.” Mox venator, cum advolasset, “Pastor, vidistine huc,” inquit, “lupum venientem?” Huic pastor, voce maxima, “Venit ille quidem, sed laeva fugit.” At simul, oculis clam dextram partem designat. Venator non intellexit nutum et, festinans, abiit. Tum lupum pastor interrogat, “Quam tu mihi habebis gratiam quod te celavi?” Tum ille “Maximas,” inquit, “linguae tuae gratias ago, at oculis tuis fallacibus,” secum murmurans subiecit, “talem gratiam referam, ut ex minore in dies ovium numero cognoscas - quam memor sim meriti tui!”
Here is an illustration for the story (
image source) from a 15th-century edition of Aesop's fables; this actually shows what is supposed to be a fox but I thought it might look a bit like a wolf!
M0083 = Perry022. Source: Gildersleeve 29 (shortened). This is Perry 22. Greek versions of this fable are about a fox. Phaedrus told the story about a rabbit, lepus. This lepus turned into a lupus in the medieval Latin tradition. Compare the story of the deer seeking refuge from the lion, #158.
