31: De Cervo et Ove et Lupo

The Stag, the Sheep, and the Wolf

In this fable an agreement is made between a stag and a sheep that the sheep will pay back the jar full of wheat which she owes. However, a wolf is present when the agreement is made, and after the wolf is gone, the sheep refuses to make the payment. The stag alone cannot incite enough fear to convince the sheep to repay the wheat, and he is forced to realize that it was only the presence of the wolf that intimidated the sheep. The moral warns against any agreement which is made in fear.

Other versions: Perry 477. Prose Romulus versions.

1  praesente lupō: “with the wolf being present,” ablative absolute.

1-2  amplum / vās triticī:  "a large measure of wheat." In Classical Latin vās, vāsis n. is a vessel or implement of any kind. In Medieval Latin it can be used as a dry measure, like modius ("bushel").

2  dēbēs reddere: the sheep has evidently borrowed the wheat from the stag. See line 4, dēbita. In Phaedrus (1.16) and the Prose Romulus versions it is the stag who wants to borrow wheat from the sheep and brings in the wolf as his guarantor. But the sheep is too smart, and refuses to lend. 

3  Sīc iubet esse lupus: “the wolf orders things to be thus,” i.e., he backs up the stag's demand for the return of the wheat.

3  timor: i.e., ovis timēns.

3  ista iubentī: “the one ordering such things,” dat. after pāret.

4  dēbita: “what is owed”, direct object of spondet. 

5  dē foedere: “about the pact,” “about the contract.” 

5  Cervō: dative and inquit. The construction is rare but classical (LS inquam I.A.β.

7  Mē decuit: “it’s fitting for me” + infinitive. Repeated in the next line. 

7  quaecumque fatērī: “to agree to whatever,” pres. inf. deponent after decuit.

8  fraude parī: “with an equal fraud,” ablative of means.

9  in promptū: “at hand,” i.e. is present.  

10  fideī: partitive genitive (AG 346).

10  timentis: substantival participle, "of one who is afraid."