Mūla rapit cursum: nam mūlam mūliō cōgit.

Mūlae musca nocet vulnere sīve minīs:

“Cūr pede sōpītō cursum tempusque morāris?

Tē premō, tē pungō: pessima, curre levis.

Mūla refert: “Quia magna tonās? Vīs magna vidērī? 5

Nec tua facta nocent, nec tua verba mihi,

Nec tē sustineō, sed eum, quem sustinet axis,

Quī mea frēna tenet, quī mea terga ferit.

Audet in audācem timidus fortīque minātur

Dēbilis, audendī dum videt esse locum. 10

    As is often the case, this fable has the same basic lesson as the preceding fable. Here, it is a fly that tries to rise above his station, giving orders to the mule. The mule responds that he only takes direction from his master, and the fly is put back into his humble position. The moral, however, takes a slightly different approach, stating that weak men often assert themselves against the strong, but rarely are effective.

    Perry 498

    rapit cursum: “he hurries on his way.”

    Mūlae: dative with nocet. 

    vulnere sīve minīs: abl. of means with nocet, “with a wound or with threats.”

    pede sopito: “with a sleepy foot”; ablative of manner.

    levis“lightly”; nom. with adverbial force.

    magna tonās: “do you thunder greatly” or perhaps, “why do you buzz so much?” 

    vis: “do you wish”; pres. > volo (+ inf.)

    magna vidērī: “to seem great.” 

    nec tua ... nec tua/ qui mea ... qui mea: examples of anadiplosis, “doubling”

    mihi: dative with nocent. 

    audet in audacem: “dares against a daring one.” 

    forti: “threatens the strong”; dat. after minatur.

    audendi: lit., “a place of daring”; gen. gerund with locum, but can more generally be taken as, “an opportunity for daring.” 

    mulaae f.: a mule

    mulio –onis m.: a muleteer, mule driver

    muscaae f.: a fly

    minaae f.: threats

    sopitusaum: sleepy

    pungo –ere pupugi punctus: prick, sting

    pessimusaum: worst

    tono –are –ui –– : to thunder

    axis –is m.: an axis, chariot

    frenumi n.: a bridle

    ferio –ire –– –– : to hit

    timidusaum: timid, fearful

    minor –ari –atus : to threaten

    debilis –e: weak

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