Friday, October 29, 2010

Image: Simius Decoratus


M0125 - M0126 - M0127
126. Simius Decoratus. Simius, politi et lepidi et urbani famam captare volens, munditiam exquisitam et omnem ornatum hominis pulchelli induit. Ita decoratus, conventum celebrem petit; magnam confidentiam rite praefert ac pro troffulo elegante sese gerit. Continuo meritis talibus honor habetur, at ille, gaudio gestiens ubi vult loqui, omnes pudere coepit quod animal ineptum honoraverint. Abiguntque et foras eiiciunt. Fabula hos monet qui ornatu corporis splendido abundant sed sensu communi carent.



M0126 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 12.4 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Le Brun and Le Noble as his sources. Compare the fable of the bird in borrowed feathers, #449, or the donkey in the lion’s skin, #56.