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I.29. Asinus Inridens Aprum

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 484.

Plerumque stulti, risum dum captant levem,
gravi destringunt alios contumelia,
et sibi nocivum concitant periculum.
Asellus apro cum fuisset obvius,
'Salve' inquit 'frater'. Ille indignans repudiat
officium, et quaerit cur sic mentiri velit?
Asinus demisso pene 'Similem si negas
tibi me esse, certe simile est hoc rostro tuo'.
Aper, cum vellet facere generosum impetum,
repressit iram et 'Facilis vindicta est mihi:
sed inquinari nolo ignavo sanguine'.

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

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Here is the poem with meter marks:

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Translation:

When a foolish person just wants to get a laugh, he often teases someone in a way that is actually quite insulting, thus getting himself into serious trouble indeed.

A donkey happened to run into a wild boar and greeted him, 'Good day, brother.' The boar was indignant and, spurning the donkey's salutation, he demanded to know how the donkey could make such an outrageous claim. The donkey extended his prick and said, 'Even if you deny that you have anything in common with me, this certainly seems to have a great deal in common with your snout.' Although he wanted to launch an attack that would be worthy of his breeding, the boar checked his rage and said, 'I could easily avenge myself, but I don't want to sully myself with the blood of this worthless coward!'

Illustration:

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