Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Illustrated: Simia, Camelus, et Elephantus


M0119 - M0120 - M0121
120. Simia, Camelus, et Elephantus. Cum de rege e suis eligendo agerent bruta, camelus et elephantus progressi inter se contendebant, ambo ceteris ob corporis molem et robur praelatum iri sperantes. At simia utrosque imperio ineptos esse affirmavit: camelum quidem quod bilem ad iniustos puniendos non haberet; elephantum vero quod, si regnaret, a porcellorum insidiis summopere esset metuendum.

Camelus et Simia

Click here for a SLIDESHOW of all the Milo Winter images. Although this is an image for a different fable, it can work with this fable, too!

M0120 = Perry220. Source: De Furia 280. This is Perry 220. According to ancient Greek animal lore, the camel supposedly did not have a gall bladder; hence the monkey’s complaint that the camel has no bile, referring to the yellow bile which, according to the theory of the humors, would make someone “choleric” and a good fighter. Likewise, elephants were supposedly afraid of pigs (something like the modern legend that elephants are afraid of mice). For another fable about legendary animal fears, see the story of the lion and the rooster, #797.