Fabulae 1-20 Stories 1-20

1) Leo et Canis 1) The Lion and the Dog

Occurrit canis leoni et iocatur, “Quid tu, miser, exhaustus inedia, percurris silvas et devia? The dog meets the lion and jokes, "What are you, wretched, exhausted by starvation, as you run through the woods and inaccessible places?" Me specta pinguem ac nitidum, atque haec non labore consequor, sed otio.” Tum leo, “Habes tu quidem tuas epulas, sed habes stolide etiam vincula. Look at me fat and bright, and I achieve these not by labor but by idleness.” Then the lion said, "You have your own banquet, but you stupidly even have chains." Tu servus esto, qui servire potes; equidem sum liber, nec servire volo.” Be thou a slave, who can serve indeed I am free, and I do not want to be slaves."

2) Leo Iratus et Puteus 2) Angry Lion and Well

Leo olim, iratus et odio furens, dum leonem alium elapsum quaerit quem mactet, in puteum offendit. Once a lion, enraged and furious with hatred, while in search of another lion that has escaped him to kill, he stumbles into a pit. Inspicit; suam imaginem in liquore pictam videt. He inspects he sees his image painted in liquid. Sibi credit hunc hostem adesse quem vult; irruit, et perit. He believes to himself that this enemy is near whom he will; he falls and perishes.

Saepe furiosi plus sibi quam aliis nocent. Mad men often do more harm to themselves than to others.

3) Leo Furens et Caprea 3) The Furious Lion and the Capri

Conspecto leone furente, “O miseram et infelicem conditionem bestiarum,” inquit caprea, “siquidem etiam furiosos habiturae sumus leones, quorum mentis et rationis compotum saevitiam intolerabilem esse experimur.” On seeing the raging lion, "What a miserable and unfortunate condition of the beast," said the roe, "for we are going to have even insane lions, whose savagery we experience as an intolerable measure of our mind and reason."

4) Leo et Tauri Duo 4) Leo and Taurus

In duos tauros leo faciebat impetum, lautas sibi epulas quaerens. The lion made an attack on two bulls, seeking a sumptuous banquet for him. Illi, coniunctis viribus, opponunt cornua, medios ne irruere possit leo. They, having combined their strength, oppose the horns, lest a lion may rush into the midst. Duobus ergo impar leo viribus, dolo agere coepit, sicque est allocutus alterum, “Amicum tuum si prodideris mihi, incolumem hinc ego te dimittam.” Qua usus fraude, facili utrumque necavit negotio. The lion, therefore, being unequal to the two forces, began to act deceitfully, and thus spoke to the other, "If you betray your friend to me, I'll release you from here safe." Using this treachery, he slew both of them with an easy affair.

5) Leo, Lepus, et Cerva 5) The lion, the hare, and the deer

Leo, dormientem leporem nactus, confestim eum devorare parabat. The lion, having obtained a sleeping hare, immediately prepared to devour him. Cervam interim praetereuntem conspicatus, relicto lepore, eam persequi coepit. Meanwhile, catching a deer passing by, leaving the hare, he began to pursue her. Lepus interea, strepitu excitatus, inde fugam abripuit. In the mean time the hare, roused by the noise, carried off the fugitives. Leo autem, postquam cervam longe est insecutus nec eam adsequi potuit, ad leporem reversus est. But the lion, after having pursued the deer afar off, and could not catch it, returned to the hare. Sed eum quoque fuga elapsum cum reperisset, “Ego mehercule digna patior,” inquit, “quia, paratam in manibus escam reiiciens, incertam volui spem sequi.” But when he had discovered that flight had also escaped him, "I, by Hercules, deserve to suffer," he said, "because, by rejecting the prepared food in my hands, I wished to follow an uncertain hope."

6) Leo et Equus 6) The Lion and the Horse

Venit ad equum comedendum leo. The lion comes to eat the horse. Carens autem prae senecta viribus, meditari coepit artem. But lacking in strength because of his old age, he began to meditate on his art. Medicumque se esse profitetur verborumque ambagibus equum moratur. He confesses that he is a doctor and stays a horse with winding words. Equus dolo dolum, artem opponit arti; fingit se dudum in loco spinoso pupugisse pedem oratque ut inspiciens sentem medicus educat. The horse contrasts craft with deceit, art contrasts with art; he imagines himself a long time ago in a prickly place with a prickly foot, and begs that upon inspecting it, the doctor may develop it. Paret leo, at equus multa vi calcem leoni impingit et se continuo conicit in pedes. The lion obeys, but the horse with great force strikes the lion's heel and immediately hurls himself at his feet. Leo, vix tandem ad se rediens, ictu enim prope exanimatus fuerat, “Pretium,” inquit, “fero ob stultitiam, et is iure effugit. The lion, scarcely at last returning to him, for he had been nearly breathless by a stroke, said: "I am slain on account of the folly of Price, and he escaped by law." Dolum enim dolo ultus est.” For deceit is revenge by deceit.”

7) Leo et Unicornis 7) The lion and the unicorn

Leo, fingens se infirmum, obviavit, claudicans, unicorni, adversario suo capitali et salutato eo dixit, “Qualitercumque actum fuerit inter nos hactenus, remittatur hinc inde, quod ego ulterius nulli nocere potero, prout vides, senio et variis incommodis debilitatus. The lion, forming himself weak, met the lame, unicorn, and saluted his chief opponent, and said, "Whatever has been done among us thus far, let it be forgiven henceforth; Sed multum affectarem semel loqui cum coniuge mea, quae est in deserto, ante meam mortem et peterem a te ut accommodare mihi velis cornu tuum pro podio habendo in itinere, quia satis longum et forte est. But I aspired a lot once to chat with my wife, who is in the desert before my death, and ask you to ask me if you'd like to accommodate me by having your horn on the balcony for the trip, perhaps because it's long enough. Tibi remittam illud quam cito ad coniugem pervenero, et ad hoc tibi do fidem meam.” Unicornis vero, dictis eius omnibus credens et ipsius confictae miseriae compatiens, commodavit cornu suum et sic remansit inermis. Leo vero, modicum progrediens, fecit insultum in unicornem et, proprio cornu graviter vulnerans, devicit eum.

8) Leaena et Ursa

Erat leaena duos habens catulos. Exit autem ad venandum et venit quidam venator et catulos occidit et cum ipsorum pellibus discessit. And he goes out to hunt, and there comes a hunter, and slays the cubs, and departs with their skins. Hoc videns, leaena contristata valde flebat. On seeing this, the lioness was very sad and wept. Ursa vero, tristitiam eius videns, venit ad eam dixitque ei, “Cur tristaris?” Illa respondit, “Quia venator catulos meos interfecit.” Ursa dixit, “Noli tristari; desine flere, quia passa es quod fecisti. But the bear, seeing his sorrow, came to her and said to her, "Why are you sad?" She replied, "Because a hunter has killed my puppies." The bear said, "Don't be sad; cease to weep, because you have suffered what you have done. Dic mihi, quid his annis comedisti?” Leaena respondit, “Carnes animalium.” Dixit ursa, “Quis tibi dabat?” Et ipsa, “Ego capiebam.” Et ursa, “Animalia quae capiebas parentes habebant?” Et illa, “Habebant.” Ursa ait, “Sic de filiis tristabantur ut tu nunc de tuis, et ipsa passa es sicut tu faciebas.” Haec audiens, leaena siluit et paenituit et, carnes comedere desinens, fructus manducare incepit. Tell me, what have you eaten these years? The lion replied, "The flesh of the animals." The bear said, "Who gave it to you?" And she said, "I was taking it." And the bear said, "The animals that you used to feed your parents had?" And she said, "They had." The bear said, "They were so saddened by your sons that you were now on your own, and you suffered as you did." On hearing these things, the lioness was silent and relented, and, ending up eating flesh, began to eat fruit.

9) Leaena et Sus 9) Lion and Sus

Sus et leaena litigabant ad invicem. Sus autem dixit leaenae, “Et tu, in quo te iactas, pro qua re tantam elevaris in superbiam? And the sow said to the lion, "And you, in whom you boast yourself, for what reason are you raised to such great pride?" Labor tuus inanis est, et cum per annum unum labores, non potest habere nisi catulum unum. Your labor is in vain, and when you have worked for one year, you can only have one puppy. Ego fecunda et grata sum hominibus, et per duos quosque menses porto quattuordecim porcellos.” Respondit, “Verum est, sed tu paris porcellos, ego leonem.” I am prolific and attractive to men, and I carry fourteen piglets every two months." He replied, "It is true, but you bear piglets, I am a lion."

Exemplum est verbosi, qui multa loquitur inutilia. He is an example of a man who speaks useless things. Sapiens autem paucis contentus est verbis. But a wise man is content with a few words.

10) Leonis Filius et Homo 10) The Son of the Lion and the Man

Leo filio praecipiebat ne cum homine depugnaret, sed dicta eius filii animum non tangebant. Leo commanded his son not to fight with a man, but his son's words did not touch his heart. Cum adolevisset, progreditur videtque in agro boves et rogat num homines sint; illi se homines esse negant, sed iugum ab homine impositum portare dicunt. Tum equum conspicatur et rogat num homo sit. Then she looks at the horse and asks whether he is a man. “Minime,” inquit; “ego equus, sed homini servio.” Paulo post, quendam cernit in silva, ligna cuneis findentem. “Homo videris esse,” inquit; “pugnabis igitur mecum.” “Maxime,” inquit ille; “sed, quaeso te, distrahe prius hanc arborem.” Leo mox ungulas arboris fissurae incutit et dimovit ut cuneus excideret, et sic captus est. "You seem to be a man," he said; "You will fight with me." "Most of all," said he; "but, I beg you, pull this tree first." The lion soon strikes the hoofs of a cleft tree, and parted it so that a wedge might fall off, and so he was captured. Omnibus vero viribus adhibitis, pedes de ligno retraxit ac ad suum patrem pedibus cruentis reversus est, et ait, “Mi pater, si paruissem monitis tuis, ungulas non amisissem.”

11) Leo et Iaculator

Quidam, iaculandi peritus, in montem venatum profectus est. Animalia, ubi eum conspexerunt, quaelibet sibi fuga consuluere. Leo solus eum in pugnam provocavit. Tunc venator, iaculum emittens et leonem feriens, “Nuntium meum hunc accipe,” inquit, “et qualis sit vide; haud mora ipse quoque ad te veniam.” Vulneratus leo in fugam protinus se coniecit. Then the hunter, sending out his dart and slashing the lion, said, "Get this message from me," and see what it is; I will come to you without delay too.” The lion, being wounded, threw himself into flight immediately. Quem cum vulpes ut animum sumeret et resisteret hortaretur, “Nequaquam,” ait, “me decipies, amica; si enim tam acerbum nuntium habet, cum ipse venerit, haud sane potero sustinere.” When the fox exhorted him to take up his mind and to resist him, he said, "You will not deceive me, darling; for if he has such a bitter message, when he himself comes, I will not be able to bear it.”

12) Leo Amatorius et Silvanus 12) Leo Amatorius and Silvanus

Leo silvani cuiusdam filiam perdite amavit et patrem virginis sollicitabat ut illi virgo in matrimonium daretur. The lion loved the daughter of a certain sylvan desperately, and enticed the girl's father to marry her as a virgin. Respondebat silvanus filiam esse tenellam et delicatulam virginem et numquam hamatos eius ungues dentesque passuram. The woodsman replied that the daughter was a tender and delicate girl and would never suffer her hooked nails and teeth. Passus est igitur leo dentes et ungues evelli ut virgine frueretur. Therefore the lion suffered plucked teeth and claws to enjoy the virgin. Quod cum vidisset pater, fustibus leoni involabat et longius imbellem abigebat. When his father saw this, he flew at the clubs of a lion, and drove away the unwary men at a considerable distance.

Fabula indicat vesaniam inutilis amoris, propter quem pretiosissima perdimus et captivitatem patimur. The play reveals the madness of useless love, on account of which we lose our most precious possessions and suffer captivity.

13) Leo et Homo, Concertantes

Homo et leo inter se concertabant quis eorum esset superior et, cum venissent ut quaererent huius altercationis testimonium ad monumentum ubi erat pictura quomodo ab homine leo suffocaretur, ostendit leoni homo testimonium in pictura. The man and the lion were struggling among themselves as to which of them was the best, and when they came to seek evidence of this altercation at the tomb where there was a picture of how a lion was strangled by a man, the man in the picture showed the lion witness. Cui leo sic ait, “Hoc ab homine pictum est. To whom the lion thus says, "This was pictured by man. Nam si leo pingere posset, pinxisset quomodo leo suffocasset hominem. For if he could paint a lion, he would have painted how a lion would have smothered a man. Veni mecum et dabo tibi verum testimonium.” Deduxit leo hominem ad amphitheatrum, et ostendit illi veram fidem quomodo homo a leone suffocatur et dixit homini, “Hoc testimonium non est color, sed opus in veritate factum.”

14) Leo in Stabulum Ingressus 14) Lion Entrance into the Inn

Leo in agricolae stabulum ingressus erat, quem cum agricola comprehendere vellet, stabuli portam continuo clausit. A lion entered the farmer's stable, which, when the farmer wanted to take him, immediately closed the door of the stable. Belua ita inclusa, cum egredi ullo modo nequiret, primum quidem pecudes discerpsit, ac deinde ad boves quoque sternendos se convertit. The beast was so shut up, that, when it was unable to escape in any way, he first tore off the cattle, and then turned himself to the oxen to spread them also. Tunc sibi agricola metuens, ianuam subito reseravit. Ita, leone digresso, cum mulier gementem virum vidisset, “Tibi quidem digna,” ait, “evenere. Thus, when the lion departed, when the woman saw the man groaning, "It has come to you that you deserve it." Quonam enim consilio eum hic claudere voluisti, quem procul etiam formidare oportebat?”

15) Leo et Pastor

Leo, errans, spinam calcavit et illico ad pastorem, cauda blandiens, venit, cui ait, “Non perturberis. The lion, wandering, has trodden on the thorn, and immediately at the shepherd, caressing the tail, comes to him and says, “Don't be upset. Auxilium a te imploro; non indigeo esca.” Sublatum hominis posuit in gremio pedem. I beg for help from you; I don't need food." The man picked up and put his foot on his lap. Pastor spinam exemit pede. The shepherd removed the thorn in his foot. Redit in silvas leo. Post autem, pastor falso incusatur crimine et ludis proximis emissis bestiis proiicitur. Afterwards, however, the shepherd is falsely accused of the crime, and is cast into the wild beasts after sending out their games. Passim dum discurrunt ferae, eum agnovit leo, qui fuerat medicatus. Sublatum rursus pastori ponit in gremio pedem. When he has been removed, he puts his foot on the shepherd's lap. Hoc rex ut cognovit, leoni iussit parci et mansuetum pastorem dimitti parentibus. As soon as the king learned this, he ordered the lion to be spared and the meek shepherd released to his parents.

Bene gerenti numquam poterunt adversariorum praevalere supplicia. Those who perform well will never be able to overcome the punishments of the enemy.

16) Leo, Vacca, Capra, et Ovis

Societatem aliquando iunxerant leo, vacca, capra, et ovis. Cervum permagnum cum cepissent, leo praedam divisit in quattuor partes aequales. Tum ita locutus est, “Prima pars mea est, quia sum leo; secundum mihi tribuetis, quia sum fortissimus; tertiam mihi sumo propter egregium laborem meum; quartam qui tetigerit, iram meam excitabit.” Sic totam praedam solus retinuit. Then he spoke thus, "The first part is mine, because I am a lion; you will give to me the second one, because I am the strongest; I take a third for myself on account of my excellent work; the fourth one who touches will stir up my anger." Thus he alone kept back all the spoil.

17) Leo Epulum Faciens

Leo epulum opipare apparateque ceteris brutis animalibus exhibebat, in quo gallinae, turdi et huiusmodi avium carnes, partim assae, partim elixae erant. The lion used to provide a sumptuous and sumptuous feast for other brute animals, in which chickens, thrush, and the like of birds were partly roasted and partly boiled. Hoc cani, feli, et ceteris animalibus carnivoris gratum admodum erat. This was very pleasing to the dog, cat, and other carnivorous animals. Cetera autem, quaecumque herbis hordeoque vescuntur, huiusmodi convivium ut insipidum damnabant. But the rest, whatever herbs and barley they eat, they condemned as a tasteless banquet of this kind.

Fabula indicat quam difficile sit variae vulgi voluntati satisfacere. The story tells how difficult it is to satisfy the various people's wishes.

18) Leo et Catus

Contigit quod animalia invitata sunt a leone ad magnum prandium. Fuit invitatus catus. Quaerebat leo quid libentius comederet, volens singulis satisfacere. The lion asked what he ate more willingly, desiring to satisfy each one. Et ait catus, “Rattos et mures.” Cogitavit leo, “Nisi omnes haberent de hoc ferculo, esset villania.” Tandem facit venire ferculum generale de rattis, et catus optime comedit. And the cat said, "Ratti and mice." Leo thought, "Unless they had all of this dish, it would be a villany." At last he makes a general dish of rattis, and the cat eats very well. Alii murmuraverunt, dicentes, “Fi, fi! Quid apponitur nobis?” Et totum prandium propter hoc maculatum est.

Sic plerique faciunt magnum convivium; tandem sunt ibi quidam cati et nihil placet eis nisi habeant immundam ebrietatem, et gratia illorum omnes tam volentes quam nolentes retinentur usque ad noctem ut omnes possint inebriare. Thus most people make a great feast; At length there are some cats there, and nothing pleases them unless they have an unclean drunkenness; and by their grace all will be detained, both willing and unwilling, until the night that they may all be intoxicated.

19) Leo et Acies Eius

Leo, rex quadrupedum, adversus volucres pugnaturus, suorum acies instruebat. The lion, king of the four-legged animals, drew up the battle-fields of his men to fight against the birds. Interrogatus autem ab urso quid ei asini inertia aut leporis timiditas ad victoriam conferre possent, quos ibi inter ceteros milites adesse cernebat, respondit, “Asinus tubae suae clangore milites ad pugnam concitabit; lepus vero ob pedum celeritatem tabellarii fungetur officio.” And being asked by a bear what cowardice or cowardice of the donkey might contribute to that victory, those whom he perceived to be among the other soldiers were present there, he replied, "The ass with the sound of his trumpet will stir up the soldiers to battle; but a hare, on account of the speed of his feet, shall perform the duty of a courier."

Fabula significat neminem adeo contemptibilem qui aliqua re nobis prodesse non possit.

20) Leo Rex et Regia Eius

Rex leo quondam animo instituit singulas quibus imperitabat ferarum gentes recensere; ergo clientes subditosque cuiusque generis ad se legatos mittere iussit. Epistola sigillo regio munita circumfertur: Regem mense integro clientes excepturum in aula; magnum apparari convivium. Hac munificentia princeps suis suam indicabat potentiam. In regiam eos vocat. Quae regia? Ossuarium, cuius fetor nauseam provocat! Ursus nares reclusit. Displicuit; rex offensus ursum fastidiosum ad Plutonis regna detrusit. Huic asperitati applausit simia; iram, ungues, speluncam regis putidam adulatoriis laudibus extulit. Verum, insulsa adulatio male accepta, poenas dedit. Rex ille leoninae gentis Caligulae consimilis fuit! Vulpi vicinae ait, “Quid olfacis? Dic, nec simula.” Illa vero, “Excusatam me habeas, quippe quae rheumate oppressam carentemque olfactu.” Ita vulpes se expedit.