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I.10. Lupus et Vulpis Iudice Simio

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 474.

Quīcumque turpī fraude semel innōtuit,

etiam si vērum dīcit, āmittit fidem.

Hōc attestātur brevis Aesōpi fābula.

Lupus arguēbat vulpem fūrtī crīmine;

negābat illa sē esse culpae proximam.

Tunc iūdex inter illōs sēdit sīmius.

Uterque causam cum perōrāssent suam,

dīxisse fertur sīmius sententiam:

"Tū nōn vidēris perdidisse quos petis;

tē crēdō subripuisse quod pulchrē negās."

Quīcumque turpī fraude semel innōtuit, fidem āmittit, etiam si vērum dīcit. Aesōpi brevis fābula hōc attestātur. Lupus vulpem fūrtī crīmine arguēbat; illa negābat sē culpae proximam esse. Tunc sīmius iūdex inter illōs sēdit. Cum uterque causam suam perōrāssent, sīmius fertur sententiam dīxisse: "Tū nōn vidēris perdidisse quos petis; crēdō tē subripuisse quod pulchrē negās."

Quicúmque turpi fraude semel innótuit, fidem amíttit, etiam si verum dicit. Aesópi brevis fábula hoc attestátur. Lupus vulpem furti crímine arguébat; illa negábat se culpae próximam esse. Tunc símius iudex inter illos sedit. Cum utérque causam suam perorássent, símius fertur senténtiam dixísse: "Tu non vidéris perdidísse quos petis; credo te subripuísse quod pulchre negas."

Quīcum·que tur·pī frau·de semel · innōt·uit,

etiam · si vē·rum dī·cit, ā·mittit · fidem.

Hōc at·testā·tur brevis · Aesō·pi fā·bula.

Lupus ar·guē·bat vul·pem fūr·tī crī·mine;

negā·bat il·la s~ es·se cul·pae pro·ximam.

Tunc iū·dex in·ter il·lōs sē·dit sī·mius.

Uter·que cau·sam cum · perō·rāssent · suam,

dīxis·se fer·tur sī·mius · senten·tiam:

"Tū nōn · vidē·ris per·didis·se quos · petis;

tē crē·dō sub·ripuis·se quod · pulchrē · negās."

Translation:

The Wolf and Fox, with the Ape for Judge (trans. C. Smart)

Whoe'er by practice indiscreet

Has pass'd for a notorious cheat,

Will shortly find his credit fail,

Though he speak truth, says Esop's tale.

The Wolf the Fox for theft arraigned;

The Fox her innocence maintained:

The Ape, as umpire, takes his seat;

Each pleads his cause with skill and heat.

Then thus the Ape, with aspect grave,

The sentence from the hustings gave:

"For you, Sir Wolf, I do descry

That all your losses are a lie-

And you, with negatives so stout,

0 Fox! have stolen the goods no doubt."