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Barlow 64. DE CANE VETULO ET MAGISTRO

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Canis venaticus, qui quondam velocitate ceteris praecelluit et magno erat olim usui et emolumento Hero, iam longaevus et imbellis, fortuito cervum persequebatur et apprehensum (dentibus privatus) mox demisit. Quem iratus Herus verbis et verberibus increpabat. Cui Canis: “O dure et severe mihi Magister, qui multifaria mea merita tam male pensitaveris!”

Translation: A hunting dog who once upon a time had excelled the other dogs in speed and had formerly been of great use and profit for his mater, now was old and feeble. By chance the old dog had chased and caught a stag, but since he didn't have any teeth, he had immediately let the stag get away. The master was angry and chastised the old dog with words and whippings. The dog then said to him: "O master, so harsh and cruel to me, you who think so poorly of the many good deeds I have done for you."

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

Illustration: Here is an illustration from this edition, by the renowned artist Francis Barlow; click on the image for a larger view.