281. Bos Philosophus. Bos olim philosophus fama celeberrimus erat. “Quid ista cornua magna,” ait, “me iuvant ad sapientiam quam volo consequendam? Supervacua sunt; immo, plurimum nocent. Namque quoties per nemora et sub umbris silentibus ambulo, ut sapientes solent, densis fruticibus et arborum ramulis retenta me turbant et mihi multa meditanti ne totus adesse possim vetant.” Lanium ergo rogat cornua sibi revellat. Ille monet videat porro prudens, quid roget; id sine doloris sensu vix tolerabili non posse fieri. “Falleris, bone vir,” ait bos obstinatus; “haec propago cornea sensum ipsa nec habet, nec potest progignere, neque illa nostro vertici multum adhaeret; age modo, propera.” Lanius ergo paruit sed, cum ille summis viribus niteretur, philosophus, dolore victus, manum odiosam repulit et procul fugit immugiens.
M0281 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 12.7 (adapted into prose; shortened). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. By contrast, compare the story of the bear who wanted to get horns like the bull, #136.
