Praeda virī, praedō mūrum, mustēla precātur:
“dā veniam, dēbēs parcere, parce mihi.
Quod caret hoste domus, quod abest ā sorde, fatētur
esse meum, prō mē tē rogat, ergō favē.
Servitiō mē redde tuō, mihi redde labōris 5
praemia, prō dōnō sit mea vīta mihi.”
“Ille refert: “Operum dēbētur grātia mentī,
nōn operī: grātum mēns bona reddit opus.
Nēmō, licet prōsit, nisi vult prōdesse, merētur:
Nam prōdesse potest hostis, obēsse putāns.10
Cum mihi prōdessēs, mihi nōn prōdesse volēbās:
hostibus ipsa meīs et mihi hostis erās;
Nōn mihi, mōnstra necāns, sed erās tibi prōvida sōlī;
Sīc pānem poterās rōdere sōla meum.
Pāne meō pinguis, mihi dā pinguēdinis ūsum: 15
Damnīs pēnsō necem; digna perīre perī.”
Nīl honōrat factum nisi factī sōla voluntās:
nōn operīs frūctum, sed notō mentis opus.
notes
A weasel has been living in a man’s house for a number of years, and as a result, the house has remained free of mice and other nuisances. The weasel cites this as a reason that the man might grant him particular favor. The man refuses however, noting that the deeds that the weasel has done may have been beneficial to him, but the animal did not do them with this in mind. He argues that in keeping the house clear of varmints, the weasel was only thinking of himself, as the mice filled his stomach. The moral then notes that a deed should not be counted as good unless the accompanying motives were good as well.
praeda virī, praedō mūrum: “the captured animal of a man, the plunderer of mice,” nom., in apposition to mustella, the subject of precatur.
da ... mihi: the three pairs of words in this verse all mean the same thing, an example of pleonasm.
hoste: “the house lacks an enemy”; ablative of separation after caret. The implication is that the weasel has rid the house of mice and other varmints.
meum (sc. donum): “bears witness that it is my (gift).”
rogat: “(your home) asks you”; pres.
tuo servitio: “return me to your service”; dat. after redde.
pro dono: “in return for my gift.”
sit mea vīta: “let my life be”; pres. subj. Jussive.
mihi: dative of possession after sit.
menti ... operi: “is owed to the mind not to the deed”; dat. ind. Obj.
grātum opus: direct object of reddit.
prosit: “although it is useful”; pres. concessive subj. after licet.
Cum mihi prodesses: “although you were useful to me”; impf. subj., concessive.
ipsa: “you yourself.” Feminine because it modifies mustela. Nom. with erās.
hostibus ... meis: “you were an enemy to my enemies”; dat.
mihi hostis: “an enemy to me,” or “my enemy.” Some of the manuscripts have meus, which would be fine except for the gender of ipsa earlier in the line.
mōnstra necans: hyperbolic,“by killing pests.” Necāns, pres. part., instrumental.
tibi soli: “providing for yourself alone”; dat. after provida.
sola: “you alone were able”; nom.
Pāne meō pinguis: “fat from my bread”; pāne meō, ablative of cause.
pinguēdinis ūsum: “a use for your fat.”
damnis: “for your crimes I judge”; abl.
perire: “you, worthy to die”; epexegetical inf. after digna.
vocabulary
rusticus –i m.: a peasant, farmer
mustela –ae f.: a weasel
praedo –onis m.: a robber, thief
venia –ae f.: favor, kindness
sordes –is f.: filth, dirt
faveo –ere favi fauturus: to favor
servitium –i n.: slavery, servitude
obsum –esse –fui (offui): to hurt, be an enemy to (+ dat.)
monstrum –i n.: a beast
neco –are –avi –atus : to kill, murder
providus –a –um: providing for (+ dat.)
panis –is m.: bread, loaf
rodo –ere rosi rosus: to gnaw, peck
panis –is m.: bread
pinguis –e: fat, rich
pinguedo –inis f.: abundance
penso –are –avi –atus: to weigh, judge
noto –are –avi –atus: to observe, record