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I.5. Vacca, Capella, Ovis et Leo

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 339. 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.)

 

Numquam est fidelis cum potente societas.

Testatur haec fabella propositum meum.

Vacca et capella et patiens ovis iniuriae

socii fuere cum leone in saltibus.

Hi cum cepissent cervum vasti corporis,

sic est locutus partibus factis leo:

"Ego primam tollo nomine hoc quia rex cluo;

secundam, quia sum consors, tribuetis mihi;

tum, quia plus valeo, me sequetur tertia;

malo adficietur si quis quartam tetigerit".

Sic totam praedam sola improbitas abstulit.

 

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

 

Numquam societas cum potente est fidelis.

Haec fabella testatur propositum meum.

Vacca et capella et ovis patiens iniuriae

fuere socii cum leone in saltibus.

Cum hi cepissent cervum vasti corporis,

partibus factis, sic leo locutus est:

"Ego tollo primam quia hoc nomine cluo rex;

secundam tribuetis mihi, quia sum consors;

tum, tertia sequetur me quia plus valeo;

si quis tetigerit quartam, adficietur malo."

Sic improbitas sola abstulit totam praedam.

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Numqu(am) est ~ fide~lis cum ~ poten~ te soc~jetas.

Testa~tur haec ~ fabel~la pro~pos'tum ~ meum.

Vacc(a) et ~ capel~l(a) et pat~jens ov's ~ iniur~iae

socji ~ fuer~e cum ~ leo~n(e) in sal~tibus.

Hi cum ~ cepis~sent cer~vum vas~ti cor~poris,

sic est ~ locu~tus par~tibus ~ factis ~ leo:

"Eg' pri~mam tol~lo nom~in(e h)oc ~ qui' rex ~ cluo;

secun~dam, qui' ~ sum con~sors, tri~bvetis ~ mihi;

tum, qui' ~ plus va~leo, me ~ seque~tur ter~tia;

mal(o) ad~ficje~tur si ~ quis quar~tam tet'~gerit".

Sic to~tam prae~dam sol(a) ~ improb'~tas abs~tulit. 

 

The Heifer, Goat, Sheep, and Lion (trans. C. Smart)

A partnership with men in power

We cannot build upon an hour.

This Fable proves the fact too true:

An Heifer, Goat, and harmless Ewe,

Were with the Lion as allies,

To raise in desert woods supplies.

There, when they jointly had the luck

To take a most enormous buck,

The Lion first the parts disposed,

And then his royal will disclosed.

" The first, as Lion hight, I crave;

The next you yield to me, as brave;

The third is my peculiar due,

As being stronger far than you;

The fourth you likewise will renounce,

For him that touches, I shall trounce."

Thus rank unrighteousness and force

Seized all the prey without remorse.