Cum cānē silva lupum sociat. Lupus inquit: “Amoenā

Pellē nitēs, in tē cōpia sāncta patet.”

Prō verbīs dat verba canis: “Mē dītat erīlis

Grātia, cum dominō mē cibat ipsa domus.

Nocte vigil furēs lātrātū nūntiō, tūtam 5

Servō domum; mihi dat culmus in aede torum.”

Haec movet ōre lupus: “Cupiō mē vīvere tēcum:

Commūnem capiant ōtia nostra cibum.”

Reddit verba canis: “Cupiō tē vīvere mēcum;

Ūna dabit nōbīs mēnsa manusque cibum.” 10

Ille favet sequiturque canem gutturque canīnum

Respicit et querit: “Cūr cecidēre pilī?”;

Inquit: “Nē valeam morsū peccāre diurnō,

Vincla diurna ferō, nocte labante vāgor.”

Reddit verba lupus: “Nōn est mihi cōpia tantī 15

Ut fierī servus ventris amōre velim.

Dītior est liber mendīcus dīvite servō:

Servus habet nec sē nec sua, līber habet;

Lībertās, praedulce bonum, bona cētera condit:

Quā nisi conditur, nīl sapit ēsca mihi. 20

Lībertās animī cibus est et vēra voluptās,

Quā quī dīves erit, dītior esse nequit.

Nōlō velle meum prō turpī vēndere lucrō;

Hās quī vēndit opēs, hic agit ut sit inops.

Nōn bene prō tōtō lībertās vēnditur aurō: 25

Hoc celēstē bonum praeterit orbis opēs.

    Another popular fable, “The Dog and the Wolf” seems to have been particularly important to medieval readers. The theme in this fable remains popular today. A wolf befriends a dog, and the dog begins to tell of all the luxuries that his master provides, including a warm bed and an abundance of food. The wolf is almost convinced to join the dog in this lifestyle until he notes the bare patches on the dog’s neck. The dog explains that those are left by the chains which bind him during the day so that he doesn’t injure anyone. The wolf explains that he would rather be a beggar and remain free than be fettered. Much like the country mouse and the ant of earlier fables, the wolf chooses to remain poor and retain his freedom.

     

    Perry 346

     

     

    cum cane: “joins with a dog”; ablative of accompaniment.

    amoena pellē: “in your lovely coat”; pellē: ablative of specification. Pellis is technically skin, but it works better as a coat, since we’re talking about a dog.  

    in tē cōpia sāncta patet: “sacred abundance lies open in you.”

    prō verbīs dat verba: “[the dog] gives words for words”; i.e. “the dog responds.”

    cum dominō: ablative of accompaniment.

    nocte vigil: “awake at night”; nocte: ablative of time when.

    lātrātū: “with my barking”; ablative of means.

    tūtam servō domum: “I keep the house safe.”

    mihi dat: “(my master) provides for me.” 

    ōre: ablative of means, “with his mouth.” 

    commūnem capiant...cibum: “let our leisure seize common food”; capiant: pres. jussive subj.

    cupiō tē vīvere mēcum: “I desire you to live with me.”

    ūna…mēnsa manūsque: “one table and one hand”; nom. compound subject

    cecidēre: syncopated form of ceciderunt; perfect tense. 

    nē valeam morsū peccāre: “lest I have power to sin with a bite”; nē valeam: pres. subj. in purpose clause; morsū: ablative of means.

    nocte labante: “with the night slipping away”; abl. abs.

    tantī ut fierī servus…velim: result clause; “so great that I wish to become a slave…”; fierī: pres. pass. infinitive; servus: predicate nominative; velim: pres. subj.

    ventris amōre: “because of the love of my stomach”; ablative of cause.

    dītior...servō: “wealthier than a rich slave”; ablative of comparison.

    nec sē nec sua: “neither himself nor his own (things).”

    praedulce bonum: “most sweet good”; appositive to lībertās.

    quā: “by which means,” or “by this means”; ablative of means; antecedent of lībertās.

    quī dīves erit: “he who will be (made) rich.”

    dītior esse nequit: “cannot be(come) richer”; dītior: comparative adj.

    Nōlō velle meum vēndere: “I do not want to sell my own (self).” 

    ut sit inops: purpose clause; sit: pres. subj., “(in such a way) that he is poor and helpless.” 

    prō tōtō... aurō: “for all the gold”; ablative of price.

    lupusi m.: a wolf

    socio –are –avi –atus : to unite, join

    inquam: to say

    amoenusaum: beautiful, attractive

    pellis –is f.: skin, hide

    dito –are –avi –atus: to enrich

    erilis –e: of a master or mistress

    cibo –are –avi –atum: to feed, nourish, give food

    vigil –is (gen.): awake, wakeful

    fur furis m./f.: a thief, robber

    latratusus m.: barking

    nuntio –are –avi –atus: to announce, report

    culmusi m.: hay, straw

    torusi m.: a bed, cushion

    faveo –ere favi fauturus: to befriend, support

    guttur –uris: throat, neck

    caninusaum: of a dog

    pilusi m.: hair

    morsus –us m.: a bite

    pecco –are –avi –atus: to sin, do wrong

    diurnusaum: by day

    labor –i lapsus: (dep.) to glide

    vagor –ari –atus: (dep.) to wander, roam

    venter –tris m.: a stomach

    ditiorus: rich, wealthy

    mendicusi m.: a beggar

    praedulcis –e: very sweet

    sapio –ere –ivi –– : to be tasty

    escaae f.: food, meat

    nequeo –ire –ivi (–ii) –itum: be unable (+ inf.)

    vendo –ere –didi: to sell

    lucrumi n.: gain, profit, avarice

    inops –opis (gen.): weak, poor

    celestis celeste: heavenly

    praetereo –ire –ii –itus: surpass, excel

    article nav