Quadrupedēs pugnant avibus, victōria nūtat;
Spēs onerāta metū vexat utrumque gregem.
Linquit avēs quae sūmit avīs dē vespere nōmen,
Nec timet oppositī castra iuvāre chorī.
Armat avēs aquilae virtūs, et vīribus implet 5
Et monitū; torpet altera turba metū.
Amplexātur avēs ulnīs victōria laetīs;
Prō titulō poenam trānsfuga sūmit avis:
Vellere nūda suō, prō plūmīs vellera vestit
Ēdictumque subit nē nisi nocte volet. 10
Nōn bonus est cīvis quī praefert cīvibus hostem:
ūtiliter servit nēmō duōbus eris.
notes
Again, the horse appears in this fable, but this time only as a secondary character. The horses and other quadrupeds are engaged in a battle against the birds, and they appear poised to emerge victorious. The bat sees that the birds are losing, and switches his allegiances to the quadrupeds. An eagle joins the birds, and adds to their strength, so that the birds are able to win the battle. The traitor is then revealed, stripped of his feathers, and forced to fly only at night. The moral notes that no man can serve two masters.
avibus: “with birds”; ablative of association.
onerāta metū: “loaded with fear”; metū, ablative of means.
quae sūmit avīs dē vespere nōmen: “the bird which takes its name from the evening,” i.e.. the bat (vespertilio). Subject of linquit.
oppositī castra chorī: “the camp of the opposing side.” Castra is the direct object of iuvāre.
viribus ... monitu: “fills them with strength and warning”; abl. after implet. The implication is that of a general rousing his troops to fight.
torpet metū: “struck motionless from fear”; metū, ablative of means.
ulnīs laetīs: “embraces with joyful arms”; ablative of manner with amplexātur.
pro titulo: “instead of distinction.”
vellere suo: “nude of her proper coat,” i.e. her feathers; ablative of separation after nuda.
prō plūmīs: “in place of (her) feathers.”
vellera vestit: “she wears wool.”
nē volet: “an edict not to fly”; pres. subj. in an indirect command governed by edictum subit.
nisi nocte: “except at night.”
cīvibus hostem: accusative and dative with praefert.
duōbus eris: “serve two masters”; dat. after servit.
vocabulary
quadrupes –pedis m./f.: four-footed animals
nuto –are –avi –atus: to waver, be in doubt
onero –are –avi –atus: to burden, oppress
grex gregis m./f.: flock, herd
linquo –ere liqui: to leave, quit
vesper –eris m.: evening
oppono –ere –posui –positus: to oppose
chorus –i m.: a group
aquila –ae f.: an eagle
monitus –us m.: a warning, command
torpeo –ere –– –– : to be struck motionless
amplexor –are –atus: (dep.) to embrace, clasp
ulna –ae f.: an arm
titulus –i m.: a title, distinction
transfuga –ae f.: a deserter
vellus –eris n.: fleece, hide
pluma –ae f.: a feather, plume
vestio –ire –ivi –itus: to clothe, put on
edictum –i n.: a proclamation, edict
volo –are –avi –aturus: to fly
praefero –ferre –tuli –latus: prefer X (acc.) over Y (dat.)
utiliter: usefully
erus –i m.: a master, owner