Dum canis ōre gerit carnem, caro porrigit umbram;
umbra cohaeret aquīs: hās canis urget aquās.
Spem carnis plūs carne cupit, plūs faenore signum
faenoris; os aperit, sīc caro spēsque perit.
Nōn igitur dēbent prō vānīs certa relinquī. 5
Nōn sua sī quis amat, mox caret ipse suīs.
notes
The Dog Carrying Meat
Seeing the reflection of a piece of meat in his mouth, the dog drops it, hoping to be able to grab the other, imaginary piece.
Also known as The Dog and Its Reflection. Other versions: Perry 133.
1 umbram: "reflection.” Literally, “shadow.”
2 cohaeret aquīs: “clings to the water,” "stays in the water." The dative is normal with this verb (LS cohaereo II.A.1).
2 urget: "pursues with vigor," "goes after."
3 spem: "anticipation," "expectation," object of cupit.
3 carne ... faenore: abl. of comparison after plus, supply ipsō with both nouns: “more than the meat (itself) ... more than the advantage (itself).”
3 signum: "image," direct object of cupit.
5 prō vānīs: "in exchange for empty things," i.e., delusive hopes. See LS pro II.B.2.c.
5 certa: n. pl., "sure things," subject of debent.
6 sua: n. pl., "his own things," object of amat.
6 caret: "lacks," i.e., “loses,” (+ abl.), stating the general rule.
6 suīs: ablative of separation after caret, as normal with this verb.
vocabulary
caro, carnis f.: meat
porrīgō –ere –rēxī –rēctus: to cast, extend
cohaereō –ēre –haesī –haesus: to cling to (+ dat.)
urgeō –ēre –ursī –: to pursue with vigor
faenus –oris n.: profit, gain, advantage
aperiō –īre –ēruī –ertus: to open
vānus -a -um: empty, vain, delusory