Thursday, June 30, 2011

Image: Anser et Lupus


M0571 - M0572 - M0573
572. Anser et Lupus. Hieme quaerebat escam lupus et, anserem nactus, in silvas devoraturus hunc asportavit. Qui, videns de se esse actum nisi consilium callidum excogitaret quo eriperetur e dentibus saevissimae bestiae, valde orat lupum, quoniam sibi moriendum esset, mediocriter se delectari, sine quidem incommodo ipsius ac molestia, pateretur, minus postea graviter mortem ut ferret. Lupus iubet petere quid concedi sibi velit. Tum ille respondit choream se cupere agitare, quam ipse ducat. Lupus, qui nihil fraudis metueret, “Age,” inquit, “fiat,” et, laevae alae pennam eminentiorem praehendens, cum ansere saltare coepit. At hic, occasione fugae oblata, relicta penna in ore lupi, avolavit. Lupus, cum gemitu, avolantem prosequens, “Me miserum,” inquit, “non oportuit saltare ieiunum.”



M0572 (not in Perry). Source: Camerarius 349. This fable is not included in Perry’s catalog. Compare the classic fable about the kid who asks the wolf to play the pipe, #330.

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Image: Gallus, Gallinae, et Vulpes


M0560 - M0561 - M0562
561. Gallus, Gallinae, et Vulpes. Vulpes, esuriens et algens, venit ad gallinarium, et rogavit gallinas quod aperirent ei. Et dixerunt, “Nolumus aperire, quia es inimicus noster et semper nobis nocuisti.” Et ait, “Nihil mali vobis faciam, et hoc per omnes sanctos iuro vobis.” Dixerunt gallinae, “Non credimus tibi.” Dixit vulpes, “Bene potestis credere, quod iam fame et frigore confecta debeo vitam terminare et, si mortua fuero, imputabit vobis Deus.” Gallus et gallinae, pietate ducti, ostium aperuerunt. Vulpes intravit et parum quievit. Et, calefacta tandem, promissione oblita, cepit unam gallinam, interfecit, comedit, postea aliam, et omnes turbavit.



M0561 = Perry611. Source: Odo, Fable 50. This is Perry 611. Compare the rooster who sees through the fox’s tricks, #47.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Image: Perdix et Villica


M0526 - M0527 - M0528
527. Perdix et Villica. Perdix, gravibus infortuniis vexata, ad villicam confugerat. “Matris miserere,” inquit, “quae potes sine metu parere et educare liberos! Venator, heu, crudelis atque barbarus, ova me incubare non sinit et, ferocius ingruens, nido expulit. Te ergo nunc obtestor, O bona, per dulce matris nomen, habere me hospitam velis, et nidum meum transfer in domum tuam.” Villica his precibus ultro annuit et iureiurando hospitali se obligat. Ad ova indicata properat, colligit et in cubiculi secreti angulo locat. Laeta tenerum gregem exsistere videt, at ubi corpus atque pinguitudinem pullis venisse advertit, dulce et utile horum carnibus vesci meminit et epulum solemne viro praeparandum esse. Heu, misellos necat et verubus fixos coquit; ipsamque matrem elixam iusculo condit. Ubi utilitas pugnat, fides facile vincitur.



M0527 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 11.17 (adapted into prose; shortened). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Le Brun as his source. Compare the fable about the tasty sparrow, #393.

Monday, June 27, 2011

Image: Columba et Pica


M0515 - M0516 - M0517
516. Columba et Pica. Columba, interrogata a pica quid eam induceret ut in eodem semper loco nidificaret, cum eius pulli inde sibi semper surriperentur. “Simplicitas,” respondit. Haec indicat fabula facile esse viros probos saepe decipi.



M0516 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 6. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. For another fable about the “simple” dove, see #424.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Image: Cuculus et Aquila


M0508 - M0509 - M0510
509. Cuculus et Aquila. Volucres quondam invenerunt nidum ex rosis contextum et floribus aromatum, et dixit aquila quod nidus ille daretur avi nobilissimae et facit convocare volucres caeli. Et quaerebat ab eis omnibus audientibus quae esset avis nobilissima. Et respondit cuculus, “Kuk, kuk.” Item quaerebat aquila quae esset avis velocissima. Et respondit cuculus, “Kuk, kuk.” Item quaerebat quae avis esset formosissima. Respondit cuculus, “Kuk, kuk.” Et quaerebat quae esset avis melius cantans. Et respondit cuculus, “Kuk, kuk.” Cui aquila indignata ait, “Cuculus infelix, te ipsum semper laudas, et ideo summam condemnationis contra te promitto, quod nec istum, nec alium nidum umquam habebis.” Unde cuculus semper ponit ova sua in nido alterius avis.



M0509 = Perry626. Source: Odo, Fable 76. This is Perry 626. For another story of the cuckoo singing about itself, see #508. See also the story of the owl and the rose, #463.

Saturday, June 25, 2011

Image: Alaudae et Bubo


M0502 - M0503 - M0504
503. Alaudae et Bubo. Alaudae bubonem sibi regem praefecerunt, ut eas ab importunis avibus defenderet, eo quod fortis et proceri corporis esse videretur. Cum autem quadam die volarent, capta est alauda illa quae in extremo exercitus alias sequebatur et delata est querimonia ad regem, qui respondit, “Quare in extremo et periculoso loco ibat?” Postmodum capta est alia quae in prima parte volabat, et respondit bubo, “Quare in prima parte se posuit?” Tandem, capta quadam alauda, quae in medio volabat, respondit bubo, “Quare inquietatis me? Quid vultis ut faciam vobis? Semper consuetudo fuit ut a nisis caperentur alaudae.”



M0503 (not in Perry). Source: De Vitry 4. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry was not systematic in his coverage of medieval sources. The word nisus is another Latin name for the hawk. For another useless king, see the story of the “Duke” bird, #521.

Friday, June 24, 2011

Image: Ciconia et Uxor Eius


M0471 - M0472 - M0473
472. Ciconia et Uxor Eius. Ciconia semel rixata est cum uxore sua et cum rostro oculum extraxit. Verecundata ciconia quod talem iniuriam intulerit, in aliam regionem volare coepit. Obviavit ei corvus et quaesivit causam itineris. Ciconia dixit quod cum rostro oculum uxoris extraxit. Respondit corvus, “Nonne adhuc habes idem rostrum?” Dixit ciconia quod sic. Dixit corvus, “Quare igitur fugis, quoniam, ubicumque fueris, semper rostrum tuum tecum portas?”



M0472 = Perry590. Source: Odo, Fable 11. This is Perry 590. Compare the story of the magpie and her tail, #495, or the bear and his wife, #134.

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Image: Upupa et Luscinia


M0466 - M0467 - M0468
467. Upupa et Luscinia. Upupa pulchra, varietate colorum distincta et eximie cristata, dixit lusciniae, “Tota nocte cantas; super ramos duros saltas. Veni et quiescas in nido meo.” Quae adquievit et in nidum upupae descendit, sed stercora fetentia invenit, quod ibi morari non potui et avolavit dicens, “Magis volo super duros ramos saltare quam in tali fetore quiescere.”



M0467 (not in Perry). Source: Odo, Fable 41. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry was not systematic in his coverage of medieval sources. The hoopoe is a paradoxical animal in European folklore: it possesses a beautiful crest of feathers, but it was also supposed to live in a nest made of filth and manure (one of the names for the hoopoe in German, for example, is stinkvogel, “the stink-bird”).

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Image: Monedula et Corvi


M0456 - M0457 - M0458
457. Monedula et Corvi. Monedula quaedam, corporis magnitudine ceteris praestantior, suarum consortium despiciens, ad corvos secessit rogavitque ut eorum societate frui permitterent. Illi, formam et vocem corvi ei deesse noscentes, inter verbera eiecere. Ita ab illis expulsa, ad monedulas revertitur, sed illae, ob iniuriam illatam iratae, non suscepere. Ac ita factum est ut utrorumque consortio privaretur.



M0457 = Perry123. Source: De Furia 285. This is Perry 123. Compare the fable of the wolf who thought he could be a lion, #91.

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Image: Aquila et Regulus


M0410 - M0411 - M0412
411. Aquila et Regulus. De celeritate volandi contendisse ferunt aliquando aquilam et regulum (est autem parvulus ales omnium maxime is qui hoc nomine appellatur). Atque, certamine instituto, clanculum supra dorsum aquilae consedit regulus, et sic deportatus ad praefinitum locum subito inde evolavit, et ita antevertit.



M0411 = Perry434. Source: Camerarius 503. This is Perry 434. The name of the regulus bird is ironic, of course: he is not the rex, but is nevertheless a regulus. In modern scientific classification, the Regulus regulus is the name of the English goldcrest, a tiny sparrow which is the smallest European bird, about 3-4 inches in length and weighing as little as 5 grams. Despite his tiny size, his golden crown may have earned him the name of “little king.” Compare the story of the fox and the turtle, #639.

Monday, June 20, 2011

Image: Luscinia et Cicindela


M0541 - M0542 - English - M0543

542. Luscinia et Cicindela. Dum luscinia, super lauro sedens, sonis canoris noctem quondam aestivam mulcet, cicindela ignes suos iactare et gloriari incepit, rata se sidus terrestre esse et sic dictitans. Luscinia admonet, “Nunc cum tenebrae tibi favent, micas quidem lumine aliquo insignis, sed simul lux publica umbram expulerit et te afflaverit, turpicula bestia videberis, qualis es.”



M0542 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 13.19 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the story of the stars and the sun, #740.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Image: Perdix, Gallus, et Venator


M0530 - M0531 - M0532
531. Perdix, Gallus, et Venator. Venatori cuidam, dum sibi cenam parabat, amicus repente supervenit. Is vero, cum nullas aves haberet in cavea, nihil enim ea die venatus fuerat, confestim ad perdicem quamdam interficiendam se contulit, quam cicurem fecerat et ad venandum egregie docuerat. Quod ubi illa vidit, ne se occideret exorabat; “Quid enim,” aiebat, “me caesa, tibi retia proderunt, si quando venatum exibis? Quis tibi avium turmas congregabit?” His auditis, venator perdicem dimisit et ad gallum capiendum se convertit. At ille, ex summo tecti fastigio clamans, “Quomodo posthac,” aiebat, “scire poteris, quantum ortus distet aurorae? Si me horarum indicem neci dederis, quis tibi quae mane sunt facienda commemorabit?” Sed venator “Aptas,” inquit, “venationi tempestates bene cognoscis, attamen aliquid oportet habere, quod amicus meus cenare possit.”



M0531 = Perry361. Source: De Furia 369 (shortened). This is Perry 361. Compare the fable of the rooster pleading for its life while in the clutches of the cat, #394, or in the clutches of the thieves, #554.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Image: Cygnus et Herus Eius


M0531 - M0532 - M0533
532. Cygnus et Herus Eius. Cygnos aiunt circa mortis tempus canere solere. Quidam igitur, cum in cygnum venalem incidisset eumque simul mansuetum ac mite animal esse audivisset, illico emit. Is deinde, cum convivium aliquando ageret, cygnum, ut caneret, accivit. At ille tunc omnino siluit. Postea vero, cum moriendum sibi esse intellegeret ac flebiliter caneret, “Mehercle,” ei herus ait, “si tu non cantas nisi cum sis moriturus, plane stultus ego fui, quod te ad canendum antea impuli, non occidi.”


(Grandville: Although this is for a different fable, it works for this one, too!)

M0532 = Perry233. Source: De Furia 288. This is Perry 233. For another fable about the swan and its song, see #537. The ‘swan song’ was a legend known in both ancient Greece and Rome. Plato’s Phaedo contains a discussion of the reason why swans supposedly sing at the moment of their death; in his Natural History, Pliny claims that he conducted “experiments” which disproved the legend.

Friday, June 17, 2011

Image: Avarus et Aureorum Sacculus


M0986 - M0987 - M0988

987. Avarus et Aureorum Sacculus. Vir quidam avarus, qui ingentem aureorum acervum male partum relicturus moriebatur, interrogabat sacculum nummorum, quem morienti sibi iusserat afferri, quibus voluptatem esset allaturus. Cui sacculus “Heredibus,” inquit, “tuis qui nummos a te tanto sudore quaesitos in scortis et conviviis profundent, et daemonibus qui animam tuam aeternis suppliciis mancipabunt.” Haec indicat fabula stultissimum esse in iis laborare quae aliis gaudium, nobis autem sint allatura tormentum.


"Death and the Miser" by Hieronymus Bosch

M0987 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 100. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. Compare the tale of the greedy toad, #612.

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Image: Feles, Mus, et Caseus


M0387 - M0388 - M0389
388. Feles, Mus, et Caseus. Vir quidam magnum ac pulcherrimum in capsa caseum habebat, quem musculus edebat. Ex consilio ergo amici, felem illuc clausit quae, occiso mure, totum caseum comedit. Fabula indicat eos non adhibendos custodes, qui non minus quam hostes nobis nocere possunt.



M0388 = Perry594. Source: Abstemius 116. This is Perry 594. Compare the story of the man and the weasel, #193.

Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Image: Acanthis et Pica


M0551 - M0552 - M0553
552. Acanthis et Pica. Sola loquacitas sua picam futilem domino fecerat iucundam amabilemque. Illa, clangoribus procacibus perstrepens, modo omnem familiam obiurgabat, modo potum aut cibum sibi darent postulabat, et statim, quidquid vellet, habebat affatim. Acanthis, quae in domo eadem latebat, sonos canoros tantum fundere didicerat; solitudinem suam cantu mulcens durabat, omni querimonia se abstinens, nec dignabatur quidpiam postulare. Interdum familia et dominus ipse, ad eius lene et argutum melos attenti, aurium operam dicabant et magnis laudibus delicias musicas ultro remunerabant, sed alia munera raro impertiebant. Ergo, avis misella victibus quibus spiritum etiam sustineret saepe caruit, et elanguit ac denique periit fame.


(image: acanthis)

M0552 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 8.17 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Richer as his source. For another fable about the chattering magpie, see #496. For another fable about a neglected pet bird, see #551.

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Image: Salix et Agricola


M0711 - M0712 - M0713

712. Salix et Agricola. Salix adulta in valle aquosa ad humidam paludis pinguissimae oram vernabat. Cum hinc suspiciens videret consitas in propinquo monte pinus verticibus altis ad caelum inter nubila ardua erigi, his invidere coepit et sortem suam despicere. Cumque cultor pauperis loci huc accessisset, ipsum incessit questibus amaris: se languere in ea tristi, insalubri valle iam diu; brevi morituram, ni citius in monte transferat ex hoc solo praeter modum humido nimisque frigente. Agricola, stultus ipse, stultis eius precibus paruit et solo natali avulsam, licet valentem, in altum montis iugum transtulit. Illa triumphat se iam putri humore carere, nec bufonum sordibus infici, nec ranarum contumeliis affici. Aquilonis autem flamine primo impulsa, deiicitur et per saxa praecipitans ruit.




M0712 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 12.28 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Le Brun as his source. For another story about a failed relocation, see the story of the apple tree, #711.

Monday, June 13, 2011

Image: Pisces et Quadrupedes


M0577 - M0578 - M0579
578. Pisces et Quadrupedes. Quadrupedes, cum bellum sibi ab avibus esset indictum, cum piscibus foedus inierunt ut, eorum auxilio, se ab avium furore tuerentur. Cum autem optata exspectarent auxilia, pisces negant se per terram ad eos accedere posse. Haec nos admonet fabula ne eos nobis socios faciamus, qui, cum opus sit, nobis adesse non possint.



M0578 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 21. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. Compare the story of the viper and the frogs, #625, or the alliance of the dolphin and the lion, #597.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Image: Turbo et Puer


M0756 - M0757 - M0758

757. Turbo et Puer. Puer, dum turbinem exercet verbere torto, "Cur te pulsare cogor," inquit, "ut motu idoneo agitere?" Turbo respondet, "Statim iners iacerem, nisi plagae animos darent." Multis necesse est vexari ne torpeant.



M0757 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 4.27 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Regnerius as his source. Compare the story of the lazy boy, #968.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Image: Cicada et Vulpes


M0653 - M0654 - M0655
654. Cicada et Vulpes. Cicada procera quadam in arbore canebat. Vulpes, eam devorare cupiens, ut capere posset, huiusmodi dolum commenta est. Stans ex adverso atque eius vocis suavitatem simulans admirari, eam ut descenderet hortabatur, aiens optare se, quantum sit animal illud quod tam sonoram vocem emitteret, propius videre. Illa, dolum suspicata, “Heus tu, falleris,” ait, “si me descensuram putas. Ex quo enim vulpino in stercore cicadae alas esse vidi, a vulpibus caveo.” Prudentes homines aliorum calamitates cautos faciunt.



M0654 = Perry241. Source: De Furia 322. This is Perry 241. Compare the fable of the fox and the crow, #437.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Image: Murilegus Candelam Portans


M0397 - M0398 - M0399
398. Murilegus Candelam Portans. Quoniam operarii per totam septimanam in officio sunt ligati, in diebus festis per luxuriam et ebrietatem et alia vitia resolvuntur. Tales similes sunt murilego qui didicit candelam accensam portare. Sed, cum videt murem, lumen relinquit et murem sequitur.



M0398 (not in Perry). Source: Odo, Parable 79. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry was not systematic in his coverage of medieval sources. Compare the fable of the monkeys and the nuts, #125.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Image: Sancti Martini Avis


M0805 - M0806 - M0807

806. Sancti Martini Avis. Quaedam avis dicitur Sancti Martini, parvula, ad modum reguli. Haec graciles habet tibias ad modum iunci et longas. Contigit quod, sole calente, circa festum Sancti Martini, proiecit se iuxta arborem ad solem, et erexit tibias suas, dicens, “Eia! Si caelum iam caderet, ipsum sustinerem super tibias meas.” Et cecidit folium unum iuxta, et avis exterrita evolat, dicens, “O Sancte Martine, cur non succurris aviculae tuae?”



M0806 = Perry589. Source: Odo, Fable 7. This is Perry 589. Saint Martin’s Day, or Martinmas, is celebrated on November 11, so you could certainly imagine the leaves would be falling at that time. The English phrase “Saint Martin’s Summer” is equivalent to the American “Indian Summer,” referring to a warm spell that would come on in the fall before winter set in. Compare the fable of Hercules and the man bitten by a flea, #703, or the story of the little regulus bird, #411.

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Image: Musca et Viator


M0685 - M0686 - M0687
686. Musca et Viator. Viator olim sub alta palma propter aquam consederat. Itinere fessus se somno dabat. Musca tamen eum diu quiescere non sinebat; modo circum caput assiduo strepitu volitat, modo in os leviter residit; inde audacior fit, et stimulum acutum in tenerrimam cervicis cutem infigit. Statim viator exsilit; iam vigil circumspicit; ingentem leonem instantem videt. Quam celerrime summam palmam petit. Sic musca viatoris vitam servavit. Minimae res interdum nobis magno usui sunt.



M0686 (not in Perry). Source: Thomas 40. This fable is not included in Perry’s catalog. Compare the fable of the fly and the heretic, #685.

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Image: Canis et Sciurus


M0383 - M0384 - M0385
384. Canis et Sciurus. Sciurum e nemore patrio raptum coquus alebat. Ille, textili cavea inclusus, vivido corpore et agili leves celeresque motus dabat, suamque rotam pensilem movens, modo in partem posticam, modo in anticam, et usque et usque ludo inani longum sui carceris taedium fallere studebat. Canis interea ad tepentes foci reliquias in angulo iacebat, quietus. Sciurus hunc ita increpat, “Non te pudet dies solidos corrumpere pigritia tam veternosa? Ad me verumtamen respice aliquando, si sapis, et ex hoc meo more vivendi laborioso virus pigrum excutere disce.” Canis respondet, “Cur non quiescam, cum datur licentia? Exspecta vero; cena herilis mox assanda erit. Tunc meam quoque rotam versatilem permovebo et labor meus proderit; tuus quidem est perpetuus, ast inutilis.”



M0384 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 13.29 (adapted into prose; shortened). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the fable about the dog and the blacksmiths, #382.

Monday, June 6, 2011

Image: Sanctus Petrus et Rusticus


M0804 - M0805 - M0806

805. Sanctus Petrus et Rusticus. Asinus cuiusdam rustici in fimum cecidit. Rusticus supra herbam discubuit, clamans, “Petre, succurre asino meo.” Petrus percutiens rusticum ait, “Surge, piger, et asino tuo primo appone manum, et coadiuvabo te.”



M0805 (not in Perry). Source: Odo, Parable 164. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry was not systematic in his coverage of medieval sources. Compare the fable about the drowning man and the goddess Minerva, #790.

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Image: Arbor Pusilla


M0720 - M0721 - M0722

721. Arbor Pusilla. Arbores complures in eodem creverant loco procerae, rectae enodesque, praeter unam humilem, parvam nodosamque, quam ut deformem pusillamque ceterae ludibrio habere solitae erant. Aedificaturus domum, loci dominus iubet omnes excidi, praeter eam quae brevitate et deformitate sua aedificium indecorum redditura videbatur. Ceteris excisis, deformis haec secum dicebat, “De te non amplius querar, Natura, quod me turpem genueris, cum formosis tam magna videam imminere discrimina.”


M0721 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 12. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. Compare the story of the big fish and the little fish, #581.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Image: Culex et Lumen


M0698 - M0699 - M0700
699. Culex et Lumen. Culex, cum gentem suam opprimi ab hirundine avida videret, aeriis plagis cessit et in rustici casam se recepit. Sed, videns usquequaque hic retia extendere araneam, “Heu,” ait, “quid misero mihi quaesii? Iste locus insidiis periclisque plenus est.” Ergo textricem suae genti inimicam abominatur et fugit. Hinc ad divitis domum superbam volat et furtim in conclave splendidum permeat. Latet aliquandiu, animi dubius an tandem satis tuta sibi omnia sint. Postquam metum omnem abiecit, ex angulo erumpit atque “Bona Salus,” dixit, “has aedes habitat; hic laute, beate, tuto vivere licet.” Nox interim advenit; lumina accenduntur. Iste fulgor novus culici insueto placet. Huc ergo ruit, at ustulatur et crepat. Sapiens qui suos hostes fugit, deinde ipse sibi hostis saepe perit stultitia sua.



M0699 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 9.13 (adapted into prose; shortened). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; it appears original to Desbillons, as he cites no source. Compare the fable of the wax and the fire, #753.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Image: Lucerna et Ventus


M0753 - M0754 - M0755

754. Lucerna et Ventus. Lucerna, affatim plena oleo, vesperi gloriabatur coram adstantibus se lucifero fulgentiorem esse, cunctis quae mitteret lucem splendidissimam. Sed ventus sibilavit, subitoque fuit exstincta, flabello flatus ventilata. Quam rursus accendens aliquis “Debilis,” ait, “lucernae spiritus erat. Astrorum vero lux non emoritur.” Docet nos fabula nobis non insolescendum esse rebus vitae prosperis, bene qui noverimus nihil esse stabile.





M0754 = Perry349. Source: Babrius 114 (translated into Latin prose). This is Perry 349. Compare the story of the sun and the stars, #740.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Image: Lyra et Homo


M0755 - M0756 - M0757

756. Lyra et Homo. Homo rudis, asper, horridusque, et musicae plane imperitus, in lyram forte incidit. Statimque digitis protervis ausus est chordas tinnulas increpare. Illae sonos tali artifice dignos, ineptos scilicet, et miserabiles reddidere. Tum indignatio gravis in eius animum subiit et “Quales,” inquit, “esse iudices dicam, qui contendunt te, O inepta, locum nec ultimum habere inter organa suavissima?” “Si me,” lyra refert, “uti nosses, tu quoque, pignore quovis, id ipsum contenderes.”



M0756 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 12.1 (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 donkey and the lyre, #217.

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Image: Libellus et Iudex


M0754 - M0755 - M0756

755. Libellus et Iudex. Iudex libellum spurcum et impium damnaverat et flammis ultricibus concremari iusserat. Libellus superbus, qui nitidus per sophistarum manus amicas prius volitaverat, nunc sordidatus supplicium depellere et misericordiam excitare tentat, dictitans se nil facinoris commisisse; hominem flagitiis turpibus contaminatum omnia excogitasse et perpetrasse. At querela vana iudicem non movet. “Auctor sacrilegus aut profugit, aut latet,” inquit, “sed tu teneris et poenam dabis. Nam qui minister sceleris est, scelus facit.”


M0755 (not in Perry). Source: Desbillons 13.31 (adapted into prose). This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Desbillons cites Le Brun as his source. For a book that suffered a different fate, see #218.