17: De Asino et Catulo et Domino

The Donkey, the Puppy, and their Master

A donkey, jealous of the food and attention that a puppy receives, determines to be playful and jump on his master just as the puppy does, with disastrous results. It is not wise for to try to behave differently than nature intends.

Other versions: Perry 091.

1  caudae studiō: "the the eagerness of his tail," i.e., by wagging it eagerly.

1  testātur amōrem: “testifies (to his) love.”

3  cōmitque ... comitemque: note the etymological wordplay beloved of the author, equating cōmō -ere, "to take care of" with comes comitis, "companion." But as the vowel quantities show, the words are not related.

3-4  comitem ... cibōrum / efficit: “makes him a companion of the food,” i.e., shares his food with him.

4  turba ministra: the numerous servants in the (obviously wealthy) household play with the dog as well. 

4  canī: dative after allūdit ("play with"), as normal.

5-6  Arte pari similēsque cibōs similemque favōrem / lucrārī cupiēns inquit asellus iners: order: iners asellus, cupiēns lucrārī similēsque cibōs similemque favōrem arte parī, inquit. 

5  Arte pari: “in a similar manner,” i.e. the same way that the puppy has gained favor. 

5  que ... que: "both ... and."

6  lucrārī: "to win," pres. inf. dep. after cupiēns.

7  Mē catulō praefert: “places me before the puppy (i.e. in the master’s esteem).” Praefert takes an acc. + dat. 

7  vītae nitor: “the excellence of my life,” nom. subject of praefert. LS nitor2 II B. 

7  ūtile tergum: in apposition with vitae nitor. Donkeys are famous for being able to carry large amounts of weight on their back, so this is what sets him apart from the puppy.

8  frūctū: "by useful labor," in antithesis with iocō. 

8  Ille: the puppy.

8  iocō: lit. “with a joke,” but has the implication of “by being playful.” 

9  lūdam: “ I will play." Note the mannered variations on lūdō and lūdus.

9  lūde, placēs: asyndeton (lack of connective), giving what the ass takes to be the general rule: "play (and) you please (the master)."

9  tempore visō: “(with) an occasion having been seen,” “when he sees an opportunity,” ablative absolute.

10  ut ... placeat: “in order to please (i.e. the master)”; pres. subj. in a purpose clause.

10  lūdō: “with play,” i.e. by playing. 

10  īnstat erō: "he accosts the master." The verb (literally "sets foot on," + dat. as usual) implies urgent, even hostile insistence.

11  Blandīrī putat: “he thinks that he fawning on (the master),” OLD blandio 3, of dogs. Supply sē.

11  ōre tonāns: braying. The donkey is trying to make noises like the puppy, but every time he opens his mouth a hee haw comes out. 

11-12  umerīsque priōrum pressīs mōle pedum: umerīsque (erī) pressīs mōle priōrum pedum (asellī). Ablative absolute. Mōle ("the massive weight") is a comic hyperbole. The donkey is attempting to embrace the master but nearly crushes him instead.

13  vult clāmor opem: “the shout wants help,” i.e., “he shouts that he wants help.” 

13  ōrdō clientum: the "clients" are presumably the household slaves mentioned above (line 4). ōrdō implies many people in succession (OLD ordo 7.b).

14  multa ... clava: “many a club,” nom. sing. subject.

14  multō verbere: “with many a beating."

14  reum: “the culprit," "the guilty party” (OLD reus 4). The fate of the donkey is made clear by the legal language. It seems likely that his unusual behavior made his owner concerned that there was something either mentally or physically wrong with the donkey. LS reus II.B.β.

15  Quod nātūra negat: “(that) which nature denies,” direct object of audet. 

15  fēlīciter: “successfully.”

15  audet: = audet facere. 

16  unde: “from the place at which,” or “from whatever place.”