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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 fidēlis cum potente societās.

Testātur haec fābella prōpositum meum.

Vacca et capella et patiēns ovis iniūriae

sociī fuēre cum leōne in saltibus.

Hī cum cēpissent cervum vāstī corporis,

sīc est locūtus partibus factīs leō:

"Ego prīmam tollō nōminor quoniam leō;

secundam, quia sum consors, tribuētis mihi;

tum, quia plūs valeō, mē sequētur tertia;

malō adficiētur sī quis quartam tetigerit."

Sīc tōtam praedam sōla improbitās abstulit.

Societās cum potente numquam fidēlis est. Haec fābella prōpositum meum testātur. Vacca et capella et ovis patiēns iniūriae sociī cum leōne in saltibus fuēre. Cum hī cervum vāstī corporis cēpissent, partibus factīs, leō sīc est locūtus: "Ego prīmam tollō, quoniam leō nōminor; secundam mihi tribuētis, quia consors sum; tum, tertia mē sequētur, quia plūs valeō; sī quis quartam tetigerit, malō adficiētur." Sīc improbitās sōla tōtam praedam abstulit.

Socíetas cum poténte numquam fidélis est. Haec fabélla propósitum meum testátur. Vacca et capélla et ovis pátiens iniúriae sócii cum leóne in sáltibus fuére. Cum hi cervum vasti córporis cepíssent, pártibus factis, leo sic est locútus: "Ego primam tollo, quóniam leo nóminor; secúndam mihi tribuétis, quia consors sum; tum, tértia me sequétur, quia plus váleo; si quis quartam tetígerit, malo adficiétur." Sic impróbitas sola totam praedam ábstulit.

Numqu~ est · fidē·lis cum · poten·te soci·etās.

Testā·tur haec · fābel·la prō·positum · meum.

Vacc~ et · capell~ · et pati·ēns ovis · iniū·riae

sociī · fuē·re cum · leōn~ · in sal·tibus.

Hī cum · cēpis·sent cer·vum vās·tī cor·poris,

sīc est · locū·tus par·tibus · factīs · leō:

"Ego prī·mam tol·lō nō·minor · quoniam · leō;

secun·dam, quia · sum con·sors, tribu·ētis · mihi;

tum, quia · plūs vale·ō, mē · sequē·tur ter·tia;

mal~ ad·ficiē·tur sī · quis quar·tam teti·gerit."

Sīc tōt·am prae·dam sōl~ · improbi·tās 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.