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.