Friday, September 30, 2011

Image: Apes, Mel, et Vir


M0677 - M0678 - M0679
678. Apes, Mel, et Vir. Quidam, conspecto alveo intra quem apes acquiescerent, accessit et aperit illud, avidus mellis; tum in ipsum apes, facto impetu, involant et, quaecumque partes in corpore patebant, eas configunt aculeis suis. Hic vero, pessime acceptus, vix fuga se eripuit et periculum evasit. Quem conspicatus alius, quod esset ore tumido et ulcerato, causam mali sciscitatur. Hic vero, quid sibi accidisset, narrat. Tum ille, “At tu,” inquit, “posthac apes prius repellito et abigito, ita denique mel tuto carpere et frui illo secure poteris.”



M0678 (not in Perry). Source: Camerarius 413. This fable is not included in Perry’s catalog, although there is a classic Aesop’s fable about the dangers of collecting honey, #677.

Thursday, September 29, 2011

Image: Muscae et Equus


M0682 - M0683 - M0684
683. Muscae et Equus. Dira muscarum cohors aculeis pertinacibus equum pungebat macerrimum, ulceratum et insuper cauda carentem. Ille, postquam nulla vi hanc molestiam excutere potuit, denique volucres malas rogare coepit ipsae ultro discederent et cutem miserrimam ulceribus horridam spernerent et, equum alium simul ostendens pinguem et nitentem, suadet ut in hunc devolent, quippe sanguinem meliorem potaturae. Respondet una, “Forte fieret quod rogas, nisi ille nimium corpulentus foret et ferox, et cauda nimium longa praeditus.”



M0683 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 10.14 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the fable of the fox and the flies, #180.

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Image: Iuvenis et Vir Senex


M0968 - M0969 - M0970

969. Iuvenis et Vir Senex. Vir decrepitae senectutis irridebatur a iuvene quodam ut delirus quod arbores insereret, quarum non esset poma visurus. Cui senex “Nec tu,” inquit, “ex iis, quas nunc inserere paras, fructus fortasse decerpes.” Nec mora; iuvenis ex arbore, quam surculos decerpturus ascenderat, ruens collum fregit. Fabula indicat mortem omni aetati esse communem.




M0969 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 167. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. For a story about an old man surprised by death, see #818.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Image: Calvi Duo et Pecten


M0969 - M0970 - M0971

970. Calvi Duo et Pecten. Calvus forte pectinem invenit in trivio. Accessit alter, aeque pilis defectus. “Heia,” inquit, “in commune quodcumque est lucri!” Ille praedam ostendit et adiecit simul, “Superum voluntas favit; sed Fato invido carbonem, ut aiunt, pro thesauro invenimus.” Quem spes delusit, huic querela convenit.



M0970 = Perry528. Source: Phaedrus 5.28 (adapted into prose). This is Perry 528. For a man who unexpectedly goes bald, see #952. See also the story of the two men who found an axe in the road, #922.

Monday, September 26, 2011

Image: Senex et Cani Tincti


M0971 - M0972 - M0973

972. Senex et Cani Tincti. Quidam aetate provectus venit Lacedaemonem. Cum vero et alias turgeret superbia, et senectutis suae eum puderet, canos occulere conabatur tinctura. Itaque cum in conspectum Lacedaemoniorum prodisset, ostenso tali capite, exposuit quorum gratia venerat. Consurgens itaque rex Lacedaemoniorum, “Quid,” inquit, “hic sani diceret, qui non animum tantum gerit mendacem, sed etiam caput?”


M0972 (not in Perry). Source: Aelian, Historia 7.20. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry did not use Aelian as a source. Aelian tells this story about King Archidamus (there were several kings of Sparta by this name) and an old man from the island of Chios. For a note about Sparta and the Spartans, see #878.

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Image: Iactator et Aesopus


M0972 - M0973 - M0974

973. Iactator et Aesopus. Cum Aesopus sophus Phryx forte vidisset victorem gymnici certaminis iactantiorem, interrogavit an adversarius plus nervis valuisset. Ille ait, “Ne istud dixeris; multo maiores vires meae fuere. “Stulte,” inquit, “quod decus meruisti ergo, si tu fortior minus valentem vicisti? Ferendus esses, si diceres te arte eum superasse qui te melior viribus esset.”



M0973 = Perry541. Source: Phaedrus, Perotti’s Appendix 6.13 (adapted into prose). This is Perry 541. For a fable about skill and ingenuity being superior to brute force, see the story of the lion in the net, #28, or the crow and the jar, #447.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Image: Iactatores Duo, Atheniensis et Thebanus


M0974 - M0975 - M0976

975. Iactatores Duo, Atheniensis et Thebanus. Civis Atheniensis cum Thebano cive viam carpebat communiter et, ut fit, confabulabatur. Sermoque cum flueret, ad heroas usque delapsus est, prolixum quidem cetero argumentum, nec necessarium. Tandem Thebanus natum Alcmenae hominum maximum et nunc deorum quoque esse praedicabat. Qui autem Athenis oriundus multo praestantiorem Theseum fuisse reponebat, cum sortem vere divinam esset sortitus, servilem Hercules. Et ita locutus vincebat; disertus enim fuit rhetor. Alter vero, non aequa, quippe Boeotus, oratoriae concertationis arte pollens, rude Musa dixit, “Desine. Vincis. Igitur nobis Theseus irascatur, Atheniensibus Hercules.”




M0975 =  Perry278. Source: Babrius 15 (translated into Latin prose). This is Perry 278. Heracles was indeed a slave to Queen Omphale of Lydia. Theseus could claim god-like good luck in that he became the king of a great city, Athens. The humor of this story depends on the glib Athenian being bested by a hick from Thebes in Boeotia since, after all, Heracles was a much more accomplished hero than Theseus. For another fable about a Boeotian, see #925.

Friday, September 23, 2011

Image: Alexander et Lacedaemonii


M0975 - M0976 - M0977

976. Alexander et Lacedaemonii. Alexander, superato Dario et Persarum regno in suam potestatem redacto, sapiens altum et, ob prospera fortuna qua tum usus fuerat, divinos spiritus gerens, Graecis scripsit, ut se deum facerent; satis equidem stulte, neque enim quae natura ei largita non fuerat, haec ab hominibus petendo consequebatur. Itaque, aliis aliter statuentibus, Lacedaemonii decretum eiusmodi fecerunt: “Quoniam Alexander deus esse vult, esto deus.” Laconice simul et patrio more redarguentibus Lacedaemoniis stuporem et vecordiam Alexandri.



M0976 (not in Perry). Source: Aelian, Historia 2.19. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry did not use Aelian as a source. For other stories about Alexander, see #82, #872, or #913. For a note about Sparta and the Spartans, see #878.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Image: Annon et Aves


M0976 - M0977 - M0978

977. Annon et Aves. Annon Carthaginensis prae nimio fastu, noluit intra hominum septa permanere, sed praestantiorem de se famam evulgare statuit quam natura, quam sortitus erat, pateretur. Itaque plurimas aves ad perdiscendas cantiones idoneas coemit, et in tenebris obscuroque aluit, solumque unam cantilenam eas docuit, “ANNON EST DEUS.” Quae cum haec una dumtaxat audita voce, eam complexae essent consuetudinem, aliam alio in diversas plagas dimisit, arbitratus hoc avium carmen de se vulgatum iri. At illae semel alis solutae, libertatemque adeptae, et ad consuetum sibi victum reversae naturalem cantum ediderunt, et avium modulationes recoluerunt, longo vale Annoni doctrinaeque, qua in servitute fuerant imbutae, dicto.



M0977 (not in Perry). Source: Aelian, Historia 14.30. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry did not use Aelian as a source. There are several famous Carthaginians who bore the name “Hanno,” and it is not certain to which of them Aelian’s story refers. There is a similar story about an otherwise unknown “Psapho of Libya” in Erasmus, Adagia 1.2.100.

Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Image: Dives et Pauper, Iter Facientes


M0997 - M0998 - M0999

998. Dives et Pauper, Iter Facientes. Dives cum paupere iter faciebat. Ille sumptuosam togam gerebat; hic laceris vestibus membra induerat. Latrones in illos subito incidunt. Divitem gladiis occidunt, et veste spoliant. Pauperem interea neglegunt; nihil enim habet.



M0998 (not in Perry). Source: Thomas 6. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog, although it is quite similar to the story of the two mules, #252.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Image: Zoilus


M0977 - M0978 - M0979

978. Zoilus. Zoilus “canis rhetoricus” nominatus est. Erat is talis: barbam promissam alebat, caput usque ad cutem radebat, pallium supra genua pendebat, studiosus male loquendi, ferendis litibus operam sedulo dabat; contumeliosus denique et ad reprehensiones proclivis erat miser ille. Et cum rogaret ab eo quidam eruditus vir, quamobrem omnibus male loqueretur, “Quoniam,” inquit, “male facere cum velim, non possum.”



M0978 (not in Perry). Source: Aelian, Historia 11.10. This story is not in Perry; Perry did not use Aelian as a source. Zoilus was a Cynic philosopher and literary critic of the fourth century BCE. He was a Thracian by birth and is sometimes referred to as the “Thracian dog.” His criticisms of Homer were so stinging that he was known as Homeromastix, the “scourge of Homer.” Compare the fable of the toothless frog, #603, or the hypercritical Momus, #802. For a barking dog, see #380.

Monday, September 19, 2011

Image: Avarus et Leo Aureus


M0978 - M0979 - M0980

979. Avarus et Leo Aureus. Timidus una et avarus, leone aureo reperto, seipsum sic alloquebatur, “Quis modo sim nescio, et quid agam ignoro, ita sum mente animoque deiectus. Hinc me auri copia, hinc timor rapit. Quae fors igitur, quisve deorum aureum leonem effinxit? At nunc meus animus in praesentia sibi ipsi adversatur. Amat enim aurum sed metuit, ne auro insidiae subsint. O Fortuna, quae te mihi praebes, neque frui permittis! O iniucundus thesaurus! O inutilis gratia deorum! Quomodo nunc utar? Quid consilii capiam? Profecto domum abibo, domesticos accersam, quorum numero et auxilio fretus hanc auri massam hinc asportabo, ac simul procul spectator ero.”




M0979 =  Perry071. Source: De Furia 295. This is Perry 71. For another paradoxical problem, see the story of the father and his two daughters, #932.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Image: Avarus Agros Custodiens


M0982 - M0983 - M0984

983. Avarus Agros Custodiens. Vir quidam extremae avaritiae emit praedia admodum feracia et omni fructiferarum arborum genere referta, quae priori domino amplissimos fructus reddebant quamvis immunita essent et cunctis viatoribus pervia. Ratus igitur novus dominus, si melius coleret et diligentius custodiret, uberiores fructus se inde capturum. Optime colere coepit et densis vepribus et parietibus clausit custodesque diligentes apposuit. Verum post hanc diligentem custodiam agri parum fructus illi reddebant. Consultus autem Deus unde hoc accidisset, ita respondit:

IPSE MALI TANTI CAVSA ES, QVI SEPIBVS AGROS
PARIETIBVSQVE ARCTIS OBSTRVCTOS VNDIQVE SERVAS;
MVLTA DEDI QVONDAM, QVIA MVLTI MVLTA PETEBANT;
VNI SERVIT AGER TIBI NVNC, CVR TANTA REQVIRIS?

Fabula indicat liberali viro Deum multa largiri, quo multorum indigentia valeat subvenire.



M0983 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 180. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. Compare the fable where the farmer opens up access to his land, #825.

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Image: Avarus, Ignis Repertor


M0985 - M0986 - M0987

986. Avarus, Ignis Repertor. Qui primus ignem reperit, vivido splendore eius captus, in sinus suos illum recondidisse fertur ne cum ceteris hominibus tanti boni vim communicare cogeretur. At ignis, sic reconditus, amatoris sui viscera sensim peredit. Fabella notat avari pectori vitium; simul indicat ipsi quam noxiae sint opes.



M0986 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 12.21 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Alberti as his source. For a fable about Prometheus bringing the gift of fire to mankind, see #796.

Friday, September 16, 2011

Image: Avarus Moriens et Amici Eius


M0987 - M0988 - M0989

988. Avarus Moriens et Amici Eius. Vir avarus, moriens, cum tunc demum intellegeret nihil secum laturum, vertit se ad amicos et propinquos quos praesentes cernebat, dicens, “Disce a me, qui omne vitae tempus struendis opibus incubui ne nimium studeatis congregare divitias. Ex tot enim terrae iugeribus, et tam pretiosis vestibus, quas tanto sudore paravi, quinque pedum fossam, et linteamen unum, quo mortuus tegatur, possidebo.”



M0988 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 132. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. For a fable about death’s approach, see #818.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Image: Divitiae Regis


M0988 - M0989 - M0990

989. Divitiae Regis. Rex erat dives et potens valde, quem cum quidam miraretur et felicem diceret, rex sapiens illum sedere fecit in loco valde eminenti, super cathedram quae minabatur ruinam, magnumque ignem subtus cathedram accendi fecit et gladium cum filo tenui super caput sedentis suspendi. Cumque fecisset apponi copiosa et delicata cibaria, dixit ei ut comederet. At ille, “Quomodo comedere possem, cum in summo periculo sim constitutus et semper timeam ruinam?” Cui rex ait, “Et ego in maiori periculo sum constitutus, in cathedra ruinosa residens, timens gladium divinae sententiae et ignem gehennae. Quare ergo tu dixisti me felicem?”



M0989 Perry631. Source: De Vitry 8. This is Perry 631. This story is based on the legend of Damocles: when Damocles praised King Dionysius II of Syracuse, the king offered to switch places. Damocles enjoyed feasting like a king but was horrified but when he looked up and saw a sword hanging over his head, the proverbial “sword of Damocles.” For a king who is instead infatuated with opulence, see #874.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Image: Dives et Lyra Eius


M0991 - M0992 - M0993

992. Dives et Lyra Eius. Graeculus olim lyram optimam coemerat, unde sonos suaves elicere didicerat. Ex nervis autem bubulis, quibus omnis lyrae suavitas bene canora vigebat, unus demum attritus rumpitur ac perit. Quod damnum ille ut reparet ad novam et inusitatam viam sibi recurrendum putat: sibi in sinu plaudens, nervum ruptum amovet et, amens, chordam reponit argenteam. At mox paenituit, namque plane contigit ut lyra priorem symphoniam amitteret.



M0992 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 12.33 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the myth of King Midas and his golden touch: by turning this lyre string to silver, the man ruined its sound, just as King Midas was unable to eat the food that his touch turned to gold.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Image: Gulosus et Olla Pretiosa


M0993 - M0994 - M0995

994. Gulosus et Olla Pretiosa. Gulosus erat qui ventri serviebat. Cum igitur olla coqueretur in caupona, tantisper delectabatur et seipsum odore pascebat. Cum vero magis magisque ei appetitus insurgeret, et natura superaret (natura, O Dii, nequissima!), non amplius hoc sustinens iussit puerum ollam emere. Qui cum responderet cauponem eam magno pretio vendere, “Hoc suavior,” inquit, “et iucundior erit quo maiori pretio eam emero.” Sunt haec etiam memoriae prodenda non ut ad imitationem eorum inducamur, sed ut fugere et declinare possimus.



M0994 (not in Perry). Source: Aelian, Historia 10.9. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry did not use Aelian as a source. Aelian tells this story of a certain “Philoxenus,” otherwise unknown.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Image: Opulentus et Pauper Frigore Afflicti


M0998 - M0999 - M1000

999. Opulentus et Pauper Frigore Afflicti. Tempore brumali obviam factus fuit pauper opulento bene vestito, ipse pertenue amiculum indutus. Cumque ille effertus pannis, frigus tamen vix ferret, hic autem nullum signum daret frigore se affligi, miratus quo fieret opulentus causam e paupere quaerit. “Nam ego,” inquit, “dentibus crepito prae frigoris vi, tu autem ne sentire quidem illud videris; ita ingrederis alacriter, et sum tamen ego quam tu multo vestitior.” Cui alter “Nihil,” inquit, “mirum, pro copia enim sua quemque vitam degere oportet. Ego omnibus meis vestibus amictus sum; similiter et tu fac in tuas universas te implices, et frigus facile vitaveris.”



M0999 (not in Perry). Source: Camerarius 444. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog. For another story about the perils of winter, see the story of the young man and the swallow, #489.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Image: Ciconia et Catus


M0470 - M0471 - English - M0472

471. Ciconia et Catus. Ciconia anguillam sibi et pullis suis ad vescendum portavit. Quod videns catus, qui libenter comedit pisces, licet non velit humectare pedes, ait, “O avis pulcherrima, rostrum habes rubeum et plumas albissimas; numquid rostrum tuum ita rubeum est interius ut exterius?” Ciconia noluit aliquid respondere nec rostrum aperire, quia noluit anguillam dimittere. Iratus murilegus vituperabat ciconiam, “Vel es surda vel muta. Non poteris respondere, miserrima? Nonne quandoque comedis serpentes quae sunt animalia venenosa et immundissima? Quodlibet animal mundum munda diligit, et tu, turpia et immunda. Igitur es inter ceteras aves immundissima.” Ciconia, nihil respondens, cum anguilla tenuit viam suam. Sic vir iustus nec in laudibus extollitur nec in vituperiis deicitur.


(image: with a fish, instead of an eel)

M0471 (not in Perry). Source: Odo, Fable 71. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry was not systematic in his coverage of medieval sources. Compare the story of the young man and the bones, #894.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Image: Latrunculorum Ludus


M1000 - M1001 - M0001

1001. Latrunculorum Ludus. Cum luditur latrunculorum proeliis, rex et regina, pedites et equites, quisque loco suo et ordine munia varia obeunt. At ubi bello ludicro finis impositus est, omnes una capsa promiscue conduntur. Vices humanas vita variat, mors aequat.



M1001 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 13.32 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Aubert as his source. The same motif also appears in Odo of Cheriton 36, De Scacis.

Friday, September 9, 2011

Image: Sirpiculi et Ranae


M0733 - M0734 - M0735

734. Sirpiculi et Ranae. Familia quaedam ranunculorum in paludis sirpiculis annos multos habitaverat et diligenter sirpiculos, ut tecta sua, conservarant et integros praestiterant. Horum posteritas petulantior et lascivior tenellos sirpos arrodere et vastare coepit. Hanc iniuriam ferebant aegre sirpiculi et primum precari incolas suos ne se, a maioribus ipsorum defensos et custoditos, perderent. Deinde cum precibus parum proficerent cumque illos ranunculi irriderent et dicerent maiores suos bonis suis uti nescivisse, sirpiculi sceleratam vim alumnorum suorum confirmatis animis pertulerunt. Sed non longe abfuit vindicta et scelerata vis in capita ingratae sobolis celeriter convertit, nam, erosis sirpiculis et loco iam aperto atque patente, mox ranae visae, absque negotio a volucribus et hydris arreptae et distractae fuerunt.



M0734 (not in Perry). Source: Camerarius 426 (shortened). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog. Compare Abstemius’s fable of the dormice and the oak tree, #706.

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Image: Harundo et Avicula


M0731 - M0732 - M0733

732. Harundo et Avicula. Harundo aegre ferebat cum ceterae non solum arbores, verumetiam herbae, interdum nidos avium sustinerent, se eo honore privari. Rogavit ergo aviculam quandam ut ipsa nidificaret. Cui illa “Facerem,” inquit, “nisi instabilitati tuae diffiderem. Nolo enim filiorum meorum domum in fundamento tam instabili collocare.”


M0732 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 155. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. For another story about an unsafe nest, see the story of the halcyon, #479.

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

Image: Ligna Regem Eligentes


M0725 - M0726 - M0727

726. Ligna Regem Eligentes. Convenerunt ligna ut eligerent super se regem, et dixerunt olivae, “Impera nobis.” Quae respondit, “Non possum relinquere pinguedinem meam ut inter ligna promovear.” Dixerunt igitur ligna ad ficulneam, “Impera nobis.” Quae respondit, “Non possum relinquere dulcedinem meam ut promovear.” Dixerunt ad vitem, “Esto rex noster.” Quae respondit, “Non possum deserere vinum meum, quod laetificat Deum et homines, ut praesim vobis.” Dixerunt denique ad ramnum, “Veni et impera nobis.” Respondit ramnus, “Si vero me regem constituistis, venite et sub umbra mea requiescite. Si vero nolueritis, egrediatur ignis de ramno et devoret cedros Libani.” Ecce lignum minus validum regnare concessit et, nisi regnet, comminatur. Meliora vero et validiora regnare renuunt, et suo statu contenta sunt.


(image: Cedar of Lebanon)

M0726 = Perry262. Source: Sheppey 17. This is Perry 262. This Biblical fable from the Book of Judges was added to the Aesopic corpus by the Byzantine monks. The Vulgate Latin word ramnus is from the Greek rhamnos, a kind of prickly thornbush. Compare the traditional Aesop’s fables about the birds electing a king, #454, the animals electing a king, #120, and, most famously, the frogs who asked Jupiter for a king, #605.

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Image: Platanus et Xerxes


M0719 - M0720 - M0721

720. Platanus et Xerxes. Ridendus profecto Xerxes est quod, cum vidisset proceram platanum, integrum diem ibi commoratus est, nulla postulante necessitate, et castra posuit in solitudine circa platanum. Sed et multiplicem ac pretiosum ornatum ex ea suspendit torquibus armillisque ramos veneratus et curatorem ei reliquit, quasi custodem et propugnatorem amasiae. Sed quid tandem ex his ad arborem emolumenti rediit? Nam ornatus, nihil ad ipsam pertinens, frustra perpendit neque ullum momentum ad arboris pulchritudinem attulit. Nam in arboribus commendantur generosi rami, coma densa, stirps firma ac stabilis, radices in profundum actae, ventorum agitatio, et umbrae ex iis procedentis amplitudo. At chlamydes Xerxis et aurum barbari, reliquaque munera neque ad platani neque ad ullius alterius arboris generositatem quicquam faciunt.


M0720 (not in Perry). Source: Aelian, Historia 2.14 (shortened). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry did not use Aelian as a source. Xerxes the Great was the king of Persia in the 5th century BCE; he died in 465 BCE. Compare the story of the lyre and the silver string, #992.

Monday, September 5, 2011

Image: Olea et Ficus


M0714 - M0715 - M0716

715. Olea et Ficus. Ficum irridebat olea, quasi ipsa quidem omni tempore florida, ficus vero cum tempore mutaret florem. Quo cum aliquando nix caderet, comantem deprehendens oleam ramisque insidens, una cum pulchritudine et ipsam simul corrupit. At huic, cum nudam destitutamque foliis inveniret, in terram defluens non obfuit.



M0715 =  Perry413. Source: Aphthonius 22. This is Perry 413. For another story about the ravages of winter, see the debate between the crow and the swallow, #485.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Image: Malus Exspoliata


M0709 - M0710 - M0711

710. Malus Exspoliata. Malus, pulchris optimisque fructibus onusta, superbiebat, nam quotidie herilis familia ad ipsam ventitabat pomum decerpendi gratia, modo hoc, modo illud, cui maturitas pretium addidisset. Sic malus illa stulta credidit amicos facere. At postquam nil superfuit, praeter folia. Repente sese desertam videns, “Heu,” inquit, “mihi diviti multus amicus fuerat, quoniam nullus est nunc pauperi.”



M0710 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 2.1 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the fable of the wolf without friends, #96.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

Image: Ficus et Aves


M0708 - M0709 - M0710

709. Ficus et Aves. Ficus diu multis avibus adversus solis calorem hospitium umbrosum et adversus famem praeclaros fructus large praebuerat. Tandem fulmen ficum ferit, folia adurit, fructus perdit. Protinus aves procul avolaverunt, neque ulla postea ramos revisit aridos. Quem fortuna deseruit, eum adulatores quoque deserunt.


M0709 (not in Perry). Source: Heidelberg 25. This fable is not included in Perry’s catalog. For another story about the fig tree, see #715.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Image: Quercus et Arbuscula


M0706 - M0707 - M0708

707. Quercus et Arbuscula. Arbuscula, sub quercus umbra geminans, eius arduae praestantiam laudabat. Quercus “Meum quidem,” inquit, “cacumen altum in aethera surgit; in totum nemus dominor. At quo magis praecello arboribus ceteris, tanto facilius iniuriae venti, grandinis, nivis, et fulminis atroces me petunt.” Homines infimi hac fabula commonentur, ne summis invidere velint sortem suam.


M0707 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 9.28 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the fable of the mule who envied the horse, #253.

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Image: Delphinus et Piscis Nomine Lupus


M0595 - M0596 - M0597
596. Delphinus et Piscis Nomine Lupus. Lupus piscis erat in amne quodam qui pulchritudine, magnitudine, ac robore ceteros eiusdem fluvii pisces excedebat. Unde cuncti eum admirabantur et tamquam regem praecipuo prosequebantur honore. Quare in superbiam elatus, maiorem principatum coepit appetere. Relicto igitur amne in quo multos annos regnaverat, ingressus est mare ut eius regnum sibi vendicaret. Sed, offendens delphinum mirae magnitudinis qui in illo regnabat, ita ab illo insectatus est ut aufugiens vix amnis ostium ingrederetur, unde amplius non est ausus exire. Haec fabula nos admonet ut, rebus nostris contenti, ea non appetamus quae nostris viribus sunt longe maiora.



M0596 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 82. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. This “wolf-fish” (probably a pike) has a lot in common with the wolf who thought he was lion, #91.