Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Illustrated: Simia et Piscatores


M0122 - M0123 - M0124
123. Simia et Piscatores. Simia, procera quadam in arbore sedens, cum piscatores ad flumen quoddam retia ferentes vidisset, sedulo quae ab iis gerebantur observabat. Ipsi itaque cum retia iecissent ac paulum ut cibum sumerent recessissent, simia, confestim ex arbore descendens, eos imitari conabatur (aiunt enim hoc animal imitandi studio quam maxime teneri). Retibus vero vix tactis, comprehensa simia iamiam demergebatur. Quamobrem ad se conversa, “Digna quidem patior,” inquit, “quid enim piscandi ignara, piscari volui?”

Simius et Piscator

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M0123 = Perry203. Source: De Furia 162. This is Perry 203. Compare the fable of a man who tries to imitate a skill he does not understand, #839. For other fables about the monkey as a mimic, see #121 or #122.