25: De Terra parturiente murem

In this fable the earth is swollen, and continues to swell, which frightens many people. Finally the swollen earth gives birth to a mouse, and the fear gives way to laughter because of the small size of the mouse. The moral continues to poke fun, saying that those who claim great things often do less. The cast of characters in this fable is quite unusual; much like the earlier fable about the sun wishing to wed, here both planets and animals are animated, and the fable also has human characters.

Perry 520

gemitūque fatētur partum: “acknowledges its pregnancy with a groan.”  LS partus II.

metu: “perishes from fear”; ablative of cause with perit. 

tumeat: “since the earth was swollen”; pres. subj. in a cum causal clause.

se daturam (sc. esse): “shows that she is about to give”; fut. inf. in an indirect statement after monstrat.

Dīcunt: lit., “they say,” but more generally, “they gossip.” The subject is the people of both sexes from earlier in the story.  

In rīsum redit: “is reduced to laughter.” LS redeo II. 2.   

quod timor ante fuit: “the fear that was (there) before.” The implication being that where there was previously fear now there is humor. 

quī magna minantur: “who threaten (to do) great things.” 

causa pusilla: subject of gerit.