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.
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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.
