Est pater, huic nātus; hic patrī cēdere nescit:
Nam fugienda facit et facienda fugit.
Mēns vaga discurrit et mentī cōnsonat aetās:
Mentis et aetātis turbine frēna fūgit.
Īra senis pūnit prō nātī crīmine servōs. 5
Īnstruit ista senem fābula nōta senī.
Cauta bovem vitulumque manus suppōnit arātrō:
Hic subit, ille iugum pellit. Arātor ait:
“Gaudē, laetē ārā, tū quem domat ūsus arandī. 10
Ā bove maiōrī discat arāre minor.
Nōn placet ut sūdēs, sed dēs exempla minōrī,
Quī pede, quī cornū, pugnat abīre iugō.”
Sīc domat indomitum, domitō bove, cautus arātor,
Sīc veterem sequitur iūnior ille bovem.
Prōficit exemplī meritō cautēla docendī, 15
Maiōrīque suā crēdat in arte minor.
notes
Like the early “Woman Marrying a Thief,” the narrative of the father and the son serves as a framework for the animal fable. Here a father is frustrated with his son’s bad behavior, but continuously punishes his servants for it. The fable is included to instruct the old man; a wise man hooks both an ox and his calf to a yoke, so that the calf might learn to plow from his parent. The moral suggests to the father this form of instruction — teaching by example.
huic: “for whom (there is) a son”; dative of possession referring to the father
hic: refers to the son.
patri: “yield to the father”; dative with cēdere.
fugienda…facienda: supply a form of the verb esse, “things that must be fled … things that must be done”; the son makes escapes and avoids doing chores.
menti: dative with cōnsonat.
Mentis et aetātis turbine: “from the whirlwind of the mind and age.” Turbine could be an abl of means or an abl. of place from which with the ex understood.
prō nātī crīmine: “for the crimes of his son.”
nōta senī: “known to the old man.” Nōta modifies ista fabula.
cauta bovem vitulumque manus: chiasmus. Cauta manus is the subject.
arātrō: dative with suppōnit.
laetē: the text technically has laetus but it does not scan properly.
maiōrī: dative of reference with arare
des: “you should give”; second person jussive
pede, cornū: abl. of means.
pugnat abīre: “fights to escape.”
iugō: abl of place from which with ab assumed because of abīre.
domitō bove: abl. abs.
Maiōrī: abl. of comparison, “more than in the elder.”
merito: “is deservedly useful”; ablative of manner.
docendi: “of the example that must be taught,” i.e., teaching by example; gerundive agreeing with exempli.
credat: “let the lesser trust”; pres. jussive subj. Ordinarily credo takes a dative, but here it’s taking in + abl.
vocabulary
discurro –ere –curri (–cucurri) –cursus: to wander, roam
consono –are –ui ––: to sound, utter
turbo –inis n.: a whirlwind, storm
frenum –i n.: a bridle, check
punio –ire –ivi –itus: to punish
instruo –ere –uxi –uctus: to prepare, instruct
cautus –a –um: cautious, careful
vitulus –i m.: a calf
suppono –ere –posui –positus: to place X (acc.) under Y (dat.)
aratrum –i n.: a plow
arator –oris m.: a plowman, farmer
aro –are –avi –atus: to plow, till
domo –are –ui –itus: to subdue, master
minor –us: inferior in rank
sudo –are –avi –atus: to sweat, perspire
indomitus –a –um: untamed
veterrimus –a –um: old, aged
junior junius: younger
proficio –ere –feci –fectus: to accomplish, be useful
meritum –i n.: merit, service
cautela –ae f.: caution, precaution