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IV.10. Iuppiter et Perae

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 266.

 

Peras imposuit Iuppiter nobis duas:

propriis repletam vitiis post tergum dedit,

alienis ante pectus suspendit gravem.

Hac re videre nostra mala non possumus;

alii simul delinquunt, censores sumus.

 

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

 

Iuppiter imposuit nobis duas peras:

dedit peram repletam propriis vitiis post tergum,

suspendit peram gravem alienis vitiis ante pectus.

Hac re non possumus videre nostra mala;

sumus censores simul alii delinquunt.

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Peras ~ impos~vit Iup~piter ~ nobis ~ duas:

proprjis ~ reple~tam vit~jis post ~ tergum ~ dedit,

alje~nis an~te pec~tus sus~pendit ~ gravem.

Hac re ~ vider' ~ nostra ~ mala ~ non pos~sumus;

alii ~ simul ~ delin~quunt, cen~sores ~ sumus.

 

Translation:

 

Jupiter has given us two sacks to carry. He put one sack, filled with our own faults, on our back, and he suspended a sack heavy with the faults of others in front of us. This is the reason why we are blind to our own bad habits but we sit in judgment as soon as others make a mistake.

 

[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 Two Bags (trans. C. Smart)

Great Jove, in his paternal care,

Has giv'n a man two Bags to bear;

That which his own default contains

Behind his back unseen remains;

But that which others' vice attests

Swags full in view before our breasts.

Hence we're inevitably blind,

Relating to the Bag behind;

But when our neighbours misdemean,

Our censures are exceeding keen.

 

Illustration:

 

Here is an image of Zeus: