24: De lupo et sue

Echoing the message of the previous fable, the pig and the wolf is one of the few fables where an animal behaves wisely, and is able to save herself through this wisdom. A wolf attempts to convince a pig to let him watch over her newly born litter so that she might rest. The pig sees through this ploy and sends the wolf away, and the moral emphasizes that the cautious behavior of the pig is one the reader should emulate.

Perry 547

ut pariat: “wishes that she (i.e., the sucula) would give birth”; pres. subj. in a noun clause, object of vult.

novī gregis: “care of the new litter”; obj. gen. after curam.

se habere: “he promises that he himself has”; indirect statement after spondet.

novi gregis: “care of the new litter”; obj. gen. after curam.

careas: “why would you miss this?” i.e., why would you want this?; pres. deliberative subj.

hac: ablative of separation after careas, referring to curam.

ministro: “I do not wish that you serve”; pres subj in a noun clause after nolo.

vīscera: can imply that the pig is having a visceral reaction to the wolf or that even the piglets inside her are “shuddering” at the wolf’s pretend service.

Ī: 2nd sing. imperative of īre.

ut liceat: “go so that it is permitted”; pres. subj. in a purpose clause (+ inf.).

mihi: “suitable to me”; dat. after apta.

timuisse: “orders a parent to fear (for the offspring)”;  perf. inf. in indirect command.

hic…illa: “this one…that one”.

fine dato: “an end having been given to the words”; ablative absolute.

verbīs: abl. Means.

nōn omnī nōn omnibus omnia: “not every time should you trust all to not all,” i.e. to anyone. Note the elaborate litotes and the acoustic impact of the assonance created by the words and their order.

credas: “you should trust”;  pres. subj. in a jussive clause.

Quī: “He who.”

misere: “who trusts miserably,” i.e., who trusts too much; adv.