Saturday, October 23, 2010

Image: Lupus et Canes Duo


M0079 - M0080 + English - M0081

80. Lupus et Canes Duo. Lupus, ex alta specula contemplatus canes geminos, gregis ovium custodes, inter se pugnantes et sese mutuis morsibus dilacerantes, spem concepit posse tuto oves invadere. Magno igitur impetu in oves delatus, cum unam oppido pinguem rapuisset, concite fugiebat. Canes, id conspicati, omissa domestica pugna, lupum fugientem assecuti, tantis illum affecere vulneribus ut vix posset evadere. Cum autem mox ab alio lupo interrogaretur cur solus gregem esset adortus, ubi tam validi erant propugnatores, “Domestica,” inquit, “pugna deceptus sum.”


Here is an illustration for the story (image source) showing a discouraged wolf.

M0080 (not in Perry). Source: Abstemius 153. This fable is not in Perry’s catalog; Perry omitted most of Abstemius’s fables. Compare the story of the snake and the cat fighting, #616.