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I.4. Canis Carnem Ferens

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 133. For  help in translating the poem, use the page for this poem at NoDictionaries.com, with interlinear word lists! (Here are some tips on using the NoDictionaries tool.)

 

Amittit merito proprium qui alienum adpetit.

Canis, per fluvium carnem cum ferret, natans

lympharum in speculo vidit simulacrum suum,

aliamque praedam ab altero ferri putans

eripere voluit; verum decepta aviditas

et quem tenebat ore dimisit cibum,

nec quem petebat adeo potuit tangere.

 

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

 

Qui adpetit alienum

merito amittit proprium.

Canis,

cum, natans, ferret carnem

per fluvium,

vidit simulacrum suum

in speculo lympharum,

et putans

aliam praedam

ferri ab altero cane,

voluit eripere;

verum

aviditas decepta est

et dimisit cibum

quem tenebat ore,

et adeo non potuit tangere cibum

quem petebat.

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Amit·tit meri·to pro·prium qu(i) al·ien(um) ad·petit.

Canis, · per flu·vium car·nem cum · ferret, · natans

lympha·r(um) in specu·lo vi·dit simu·lacrum · suum,

aliam·que prae·d(am) ab al·tero · ferri · putans

eripe·re volu·it; ve·rum de·cept(a) avi·ditas

et quem · tene·bat o·re di·misit · cibum,

nec quem · pete·bat ade·o potu·it tan·gere. 

 

The Dog in the River (trans. C. Smart)

 

The churl that wants another's fare

Deserves at least to lose his share.

As through the stream a Dog convey'd

A piece of meat, he spied his shade

In the clear mirror of the flood,

And thinking it was flesh and blood,

Snapp'd to deprive him of the treat:-

But mark the glutton's self-defeat,

Miss'd both another's and his own,

Both shade and substance, beef and bone.