39: De Rustico et Mustela

The Peasant and the Weasel

A weasel has been living in a man’s house, and as a result, the house has remained free of mice and other pests. The weasel cites this as a reason that the man might grant him mercy. The man refuses however, noting that the deeds that the weasel has done may have been beneficial to him, but the animal did not do them with this in mind. He argues that in keeping the house clear of varmints, the weasel was only thinking of himself, as the mice filled his stomach. The moral then notes that a deed should not be counted as good unless the accompanying motives were good as well.

Other versions: Perry 293.

1  praeda virī, praedō mūrum: “the captured animal of a man, the plunderer of mice,” nom. in apposition to mustela, the subject of precatur.

2  Dā ... mihi: the three pairs of words in this verse all mean the same thing, an example of pleonasm.

3  Quod caret hoste domus: “(the fact) that (your) house lacks a foe.” The weasel has rid the house of mice and other varmints. Hoste is ablative of separation after caret, as usual. 

3-4  fatētur / esse meum: “bears witness to my work” (Pepin). The quod-clause is the subject.

4  rogat: "begs (for mercy)." The quod-clause is still the subject.

4  favē: "be favorably disposed," "look kindly." Supply mihi.

5  tuō ... servitiō: “to your service,” dat. after redde.

5  redde ... redde: "return ... render." The author is fond of using the same word in slightly different senses.

6  prō donō: “as a gift,” "a kind of gift" (LS pro II.B.3) predicate after sit, emphatic by position.

7  refert: "replies" (LS refero II.B.3.c.), a common idiom in this work. See 21.38, 36.5, 46.5, 56.7, 59.10, 59.18.

7-8  mentī ... operī: “for the intent, not (just) for the work (itself)." LS mens II.C.

8  mēns bona: "good intent."

8  reddit: "renders," "makes" + double acc., as normal in this sense of reddere.

9  licet: "though," used as a conjunction followed by the subjunctive, as often, equivalent to a concessive cum-clause.

9  merētur: "merits (reward)," DMLBS merere 2.a. The verb is used as a deponent, as often.

10  obesse putāns: supply sē.

11  Cum mihi prodessēs: concessive cum-clause.

11  volēbās: "you did not want," i.e., you were not trying. Emphatic.

12  ipsa: “you yourself.” Feminine because it modifies mustela. Nom. with erās.

13  mōnstra: a poetic hyperbole for “pests.”

13  tibi ... solī: “for yourself alone."

14  sola: without competition from the mice.

15  pinguēdinis ūsum: “a use for your fat.” 

16  pēnsō: "I weigh out as punishment," DMLBS pensare 2.

16  damnīs: "for the damages" you have inflicted. 

17  honorat: "makes honorable," DMLBS honorare 1.

17  voluntās: "will," "disposition" towards a person, DMLBS voluntas 4.

18  mentis opus: "the work of the mind," i.e., the intent of the work. In Phaedrus the fable is directed against those "who take care of their own private business while vainly boasting to gullible people that they are doing them a favor" (1.22.11-12).