20: De Hirundine Aves Monente

In this fable a wise swallow warns the other birds that they should eat the flax seed when it is sown, so that the farmer will not use it to ensnare them later. The birds refuse to listen, so the swallow befriends the humans instead. Just as the swallow predicted, the other birds are ensnared after the flax is harvested, and the moral warns against rejecting wise council.

Perry 039

ut līnum pariat: “in order to acquire the flax”; pres. subj. in a purpose clause.

metū: ablative of means with tangit, “strikes with fear.”

nōbīs mala vincla minātur: “threatens evil chains for us.” The implication is that the birds should get the seeds now and not wait until the farmer sets traps. If the birds wait to go for the flax later, then they will be captured. 

pro nostris ... malis: Take with sparsa, “sown for our harm.” 

sānōs monitūs vānōsque timōrēs arguit: vanosque timores is an acc. pred., “and denounces the sound warnings as groundless fears.” 

humo: “sprouts from the ground”; ablative of place from which.

instare: “warns that dangers are approaching”; pres. inf. in an indirect statement.

hominem plācat sibi: “reconciles the man to himself (i.e. the swallow).” Placat often takes an acc. + dat. 

cantu amico: abl. of means with blanditur, “he soothes (him) with friendly song.”

praevīsa: “foreseen,” modifies tela as the subject of solent. 

minus: adv. with laedere, “wound less.”

conscia avis: “the knowing bird(s),” singular for the whole flock; nom. Subj.

quī spernit: “he who despises.” Ūtile cōnsilium is the direct object. 

inūtile sūmit: supply consilium with inutile. The subject here again is qui spernit from the previous clause. 

quī est: “he who is.” 

rētis iūre subit: “bears the justice of the net.” Subit can take an abl.