M0436 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 7.26 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the crow who tries to help the foolish jackdaw, #453.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Image: Corvus et Lepus
436. Corvus et Lepus. Dum per rura odora lepus thymum carpit, corvus per auras volans hunc simul videt, simulque venatores adspicit procul, et “Nisi pecudem miseram cito admoneam,” ait, “his venatoribus facile praeda fiet.” Anxius ergo monitor delapsus et, postquam solo consedit, leporem quietum hortatus est fugiat et in latibulum suum se recipiat, ac vitet venatorum adventum et necem. Ille his monitis paruit, falsis licet, nam venatores alio cursum verterant. At corvus, ut humo se tollere tentat, sentit pedes retineri, cassibus impeditos in quos latentes improvidus se induit, dum saluti alterius providere cupit. Qui vigilantius quam opus sit rebus student alienis, saepe nihil vident in propriis.
