437. Corvus et Vulpes Adulatrix. Corvus alicunde caseum rapuerat et cum illo in altam arborem subvolarat. Vulpecula, illum caseum appetens, corvum blandis verbis adoritur, cumque primum formam eius pennarumque nitorem laudasset, “Pol,” inquit, “te avium regem esse dicerem, si cantus pulchritudini tuae responderet.” Tum ille, laudibus vulpis inflatus, etiam cantu se valere demonstrare voluit. Ita vero e rostro aperto caseus delapsus est, quem vulpes arreptum devoravit. Haec fabula docet vitandas esse adulatorum voces, qui blanditiis suis nobis insidiantur.
"The Fox and the Crow" by Lacie Webb (2013); used by permission.
M0437 = Perry124. Source: Collar 21. This is Perry 124. For a story where the crow is not fooled by the fox, see #439. See also the fable of the fox and the cricket, #654.
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.
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.
438. Corvi et Caseus. Corvus, qui caseum forte reppererat, gaudium alta voce significavit. Quo sono allecti, plures corvi famelici advolaverunt, impetuque in illum facto, opimam ei dapem eripuerunt.
M0438 (not in Perry). Source: Jacobs & Doering 47. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog. Compare the proverbial saying, Si corvus posset tacitus pasci, haberet plus dapis (Erasmus, Adagia 4.1.94). For another fable about quarreling crows, see #577.
All the fables are here, and with each fable you can see the notes at the bottom of the fable (in the book, the notes are in the back). For more information about the free PDF of the book, see this post. :-)