43: De Equo et Asino

Now it is the character of the horse that is repeated for a number of fables; here, just as in the previous pairing, the horse turns from a wise, discerning character, to an overly proud animal. The horse in this fable is particularly proud of the nice bridle and saddle that his owner has given him, and brags about these trappings to an ass who carries a heavy load. As the horse becomes less useful, his master replaces him, and he is stripped of his noble bridle and saddle, and is hooked to a work cart instead. The ass sees this, and asks the horse what has become of his noble appearance. The moral notes that everything is fleeting, and he who is rich can easily become poor.

Perry 565

frēnō sellāque: abl. of cause with superbit.

ista arma: acc. pl., “decorates those implements,” i.e., the items mentioned in the previous line.

vīcus artus: “a narrow street.” DMLBS vicus II. The implication is that it’s tricky for the donkey to get through the narrow street while pulling a wagon, and the horse is in his way.  

nātus eundō labor: “the work produced by going.” Eundō is a gerund governed by nātus.

phalerīs: “the breastcollar” of a horse. Always plural. Ablative with gaudet. 

asello: “cries out to the ass”; dat. with inclāmat.

Sonipēs: subject of both claudit and inclāmat. Substantive, “the noisy-hoofed one,” i.e. horse.

dominō tuō: dative with occurris.

dē tantī crīmine fastūs: “for the crime of such haughtiness”; fastūs, gen. with crimine.

via danda fuit lībera: “a free way ought to have been given”; danda, gerundive in a passive periphrastic.

minīs: abl. of means with supplicat. 

timore: “and nods with fear”; ablative of manner with nūtatque.

silendo: “safer by being silent”; gerund, ablative of comparison with tūtior.

surda aure: “with a deaf ear”; ablative of manner.

phalerīs: ablative of separation with prīvātur.

frēnō honestō: ablative of separation with prīvātur.

assiduō iugō: abl. of means with premit. 

raeda cruenta: nom. subject.

tergum acuit: “sharpens his back.” i.e., makes his bones protrude.

ulcerat armōs: “makes his shoulders sore.” 

sodes: (= si audes): parenthetical, “if you please.”

sella nītēns: “shining saddle.” 

ille nitor: “that sheen,” i.e. his formerly glossy coat. 

gradūs: “stride.” Modified by ēlātōs. The implication is that the horse’s stride has changed as he’s aged.  

nec vīs nec honor nec fōrma nec aetās: subjects of sufficit. Polysyndeton.  

rīsum det tua vīta mihi: “let your life give laughter to me”; pres. jussive subj.

Pennātīs nē crēde bonīs: “do not trust in winged goods,” i.e., in fleeting goods; dat. after crede.

tē nūlla potestās in miserōs armet: “let no power rouse you against wretched people”; pres. jussive subj.