22: De Accipitre et Columbis

The Hawk and the Doves

The doves accept a hawk as their king, hoping that he will help them ward off the attacks of the kite. Ultimately the hawk does more damage to the flock than the kite, and the moral encourages bearing lesser burdens (the kite) in order to avoid greater pain (the hawk).

Also know as The Kite and the Doves. Other versions: Perry 486.

1-2  Accipitrem mīlvī pulsūrum bella columbae accipiunt rēgem: order: columbae accipiunt accipitrem rēgem pulsūrum bella  mīlvī. 

1  pulsūrum:  fut. part. agreeing with acipitrem and regem and expressing purpose: "about to ward off," i.e., "to ward off."

1  bella: "attacks."

2  rēgem: in apposition with acciptrem, "as a king."

2  magis hoste: “more than an enemy." Magis + abl. of comparison is rare, but classical (LS magis B.1.a.β).

3  quod sanius esset: "because (they said) it would be a more sensible thing," impf. subj. in a relative clause expressing the view of the complaining doves. Alternatively, this could be indirect discourse after verbs of saying, thinking, discovering, etc., with quod (quia, or quoniam) plus a finite verb, indicative or subjunctive, a common medieval construction, where CL would use the accusative and infinitive construction. sanius is comparative adj. neut. sing. > sanus. 

4  patī: the inf. explains what would be sanius.

4  quam: "than," after the comparative sānius.

4  sine Marte: “without Mars,” i.e., “without war,” personification. The implication is that it would have been better for the doves to go to war with the kites than be killed by their leader, the hawk, in peace time. 

5  Sī quid agis, prūdenter agās et respice fīnem: this bit of wisdom was frequently quoted by medieval writers and is used (with small variations) as a school motto, e.g., by Homerton College, Cambridge, Georgetown College in Kentucky, Turnbull High School, Glasgow, and the London Oratory School. 

5  prudenter agas: “may you do (it) wisely,” pres. jussive subj. 

5  respice:  imperative. 

5  fīnem: "the end," i.e., the possibly unintended consequences of an action.

6  minōra: supply pericula, mala, or something similar.