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V.6. Duo Calvi

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 528.

 

Invenit calvus forte in trivio pectinem.

Accessit alter aeque defectus pilis.

"Heia" inquit "in commune quodcumque est lucri! "

Ostendit ille praedam et adiecit simul:

"Superum voluntas favit; sed fato invido

carbonem, ut aiunt, pro thesauro invenimus."

Quem spes delusit, huic querela convenit.

 

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

 

Forte calvus invenit pectinem in trivio.

Alter, aeque defectus pilis, accessit.

Inquit: "Heia! quodcumque lucri est in commune!"

Ille ostendit praedam et adiecit simul:

"Voluntas superum favit,

sed fato invido,

invenimus carbonem pro thesauro,

ut aiunt."

Querela convenit huic

quem spes delusit.

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Inve~nit cal~vus for~t(e) in tri~vjo pec~tinem.

Acces~sit al~ter ae~que de~fectus ~ pilis.

"Hei(a)" in~quit "in ~commu~ne quod~cumqu(e) est ~ lucri! "

Osten~dit il~le prae~d(am) et ad~iecit ~ simul:

"Sup'rum ~ volun~tas fa~vit; sed ~ fat(o) in~vido

carbo~n(em), ut ai~unt, pro ~ thesau~r(o) inve~nimus."

Quem spes ~ delu~sit, huic ~ quere~la con~venit.

 

Translation:

 

By chance a bald man found a comb lying in the street. Another man, equally lacking hair, approached and said: "Hey! Whatever of value you've found is for us both!" The first one showed the prize and quickly added: "The will of the gods has favored us, but fate must have a grudge against us: we have found coal rather than gold, as the saying goes." This complaint suits a man whose high hopes have played him false.

 

[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 Bald Men (trans. C. Smart)

As on his way a Bald-pate went,

He found a comb by accident;

Another, with a head as bare,

Pursued, and hollow'd for a share.

The first produced the prize, and cried,

" Good Providence was on our side;

But by the strange caprice of Fate,

We 're to no purpose fortunate;

And, as the proverb says, have found

A hobnail, for a hundred pound."

They by this tale may be relieved

Whose sanguine hopes have been deceived.

 

Illustration:

 

Here is an illustration of a bald man: