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I.6. Ranae ad Solem

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 314. 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.)

 

Vicini furis celebres vidit nuptias

Aesopus, et continuo narrare incipit -

Uxorem quondam Sol cum vellet ducere,

clamorem ranae sustulere ad sidera.

Convicio permotus quaerit Iuppiter

causam querellae. Quaedam tum stagni incola

'Nunc' inquit 'omnes unus exurit lacus,

cogitque miseras arida sede emori.

Quidnam futurum est si crearit liberos?'

 

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

 

Aesopus vidit celebres nuptias vicini furis

et continuo incipit narrare:

Quondam, cum Sol vellet ducere uxorem,

ranae sustulere clamorem ad sidera.

Iuppiter, permotus convicio,

quaerit causam querellae.

Tum quaedam incola stagni inquit:

"Nunc unus Sol exurit omnes lacus

et cogit miseras ranas emori arida sede.

Quidnam futurum est si Sol crearit liberos?"

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Vici~ni fu~ris cel~'bres vi~dit nup~tias

Aeso~pus, et ~ contin~vo nar~rar(e) in~cipit -

Uxo~rem quon~dam Sol ~ cum vel~let du~cere,

clamo~rem ra~nae sus~tuler(e) ~ ad si~dera.

Convi~cio ~ permo~tus quae~rit Iup~piter

causam ~ querel~lae. Quae~dam tum ~ stagn(i) in~cola

'Nunc' in~quit 'om~nes u~nus ex~urit ~ lacus,

cogit~que mis'~ras ~ a~rida ~ sed(e) e~mori.

Quidnam ~ futur(um) ~ est si ~ crea~rit li~beros?' 

 

The Frogs and Sun (trans. C. Smart)

When Esop saw, with inward grief,

The nuptials of a neighboring thief,

He thus his narrative begun:

Of old 'twas rumor'd that the Sun

Would take a wife: with hideous cries

The quer'lous Frogs alarm'd the skies.

Moved at their murmurs, Jove inquired

What was the thing that they desired?

When thus a tenant of the lake,

In terror, for his brethren spake:

"Ev'n now one Sun too much is found,

And dries up all the pools around,

Till we thy creatures perish here;

But oh, how dreadfully severe,

Should he at length be made a sire,

And propagate a race of fire !"