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III.6. Musca et Mula

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 498.

 

Musca in temone sedit et mulam increpans

"Quam tarde es" inquit "non vis citius progredi?

Vide ne dolone collum conpungam tibi."

Respondit illa: "Verbis non moveor tuis;

sed istum timeo sella qui prima sedens

cursum flagello temperat lento meum,

et ora frenis continet spumantibus.

quapropter aufer frivolam insolentiam;

nam et ubi tricandum et ubi sit currendum scio."

Hac derideri fabula merito potest

qui sine virtute vanas exercet minas.

 

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

 

Musca sedit in temone, mulam increpans,

et inquit: "Quam tarde es; non vis citius progredi?

Vide ne conpungam dolone collum tibi."

Illa respondit: "Non moveor verbis tuis;

sed timeo istum

qui sedens prima sella

temperat cursum meum flagello lento,

et continet ora frenis spumantibus.

Quapropter aufer frivolam insolentiam;

nam scio et ubi tricandum sit et ubi currendum."

Qui exercet vanas minas sine virtute

merito potest derideri hac fabula.

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Musc(a) in ~ temo~ne se~dit et ~ mul(am) in~crepans

"Quam tar~d(e) es" in~quit "non ~ vis cit~jus pro~gredi?

Vid' ne ~ dolo~ne col~lum con~pungam ~ tibi."

Respon~dit il~la: "Ver~bis non ~ moveor ~ tuis;

sed is~tum tim~eo sel~la qui ~ prima ~ sedens

cursum ~ flagel~lo tem~perat ~ lento ~ meum,

et o~ra fre~nis con~tinet ~ spuman~tibus.

quaprop~ter au~fer fri~vol(am) in~solen~tiam;

n(am) et ub' ~ trican~d(um) et ub' ~ sit cur~rendum ~ scio."

Hac de~ride~ri fa~bula ~ mer'to ~ potest

qui sin' ~ virtu~te va~nas ex~ercet ~ minas.

 

Translation:

 

A fly sat on the wagon, nagging the mule, and said: "How slow you are going! Don't you want to go faster?" Watch out or I'll pierce your neck with my stinger!" The mule replied: "I am not moved by your words; but I am afraid of that man who sits in the front seat and governs my pace with his tenacious whip, and checks my mouth with the frothing reins. So put away your silly insolence; for I know when to dilly-dally and when to run." The person who makes empty threats with no strength behind them can justifiably be mocked by means of this fable.

 

[This translation is meant as a help in understanding the story, not as a "crib" for the Latin. I have not hesitated to change the syntax to make it flow more smoothly in English, altering the verb tense consistently to narrative past tense, etc.]

 

The Fly and the Mule (trans. C. Smart)

A Fly that sat upon the beam

Rated the Mule: " Why, sure you dream ?

" Pray get on faster with the cart

Or I shall sting you till you smart!"

She answers: " All this talk I hear

With small attention, but must fear

Him who upon the box sustains

The pliant whip, and holds the reins.

Cease then your pertness-for I know

When to give back, and when to go."

This tale derides the talking crew,

Whose empty threats are all they do.

 

Illustration:

 

Here is an illustration from an early printed edition; click on the image for a larger view.