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I.9. Passer ad Leporem

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 473.

Sibi nōn cavēre et aliīs cōnsilium dare

stultum esse paucīs ostendāmus versibus.

Oppressum ab aquilā, flētūs ēdentem gravēs,

leporem obiūrgābat passer "Ubi pernīcitās

nōta" inquit "illa est? Quid ita cessārunt pedēs?"

Dum loquitur, ipsum accipiter necopīnum rapit

questūque vānō clāmitantem interficit.

Lepus sēmianimus "Mortis ēn sōlācium:

quī modo sēcūrus nostra inrīdēbas mala,

similī querellā fāta dēplōrās tua."

Paucīs versibus ostendāmus sibi nōn cavēre et aliīs cōnsilium dare stultum esse. Passer leporem obiūrgābat, ab aquilā oppressum, flētūs gravēs ēdentem; inquit: "Ubi illa pernīcitās nōta est? Quid pedēs ita cessārunt?" Dum loquitur, accipiter ipsum necopīnum rapit et questū vānō clāmitantem interficit. Lepus sēmianimus: "Ēn mortis sōlācium: quī modo sēcūrus nostra mala inrīdēbas, similī querellā fāta tua dēplōrās."

Paucis vérsibus ostendámus sibi non cavére et áliis consílium dare stultum esse. Passer léporem obiurgábat, ab áquila oppréssum, fletus graves edéntem; inquit: "Ubi illa pernícitas nota est? Quid pedes ita cessárunt?" Dum lóquitur, accípiter ipsum necopínum rapit et questu vano clamitántem intérficit. Lepus semiánimus: "En mortis solácium: qui modo secúrus nostra mala inridébas, símili querélla fata tua deplóras."

Sibi nōn · cavēr~ · et ali·īs cōn·silium · dare

stult~ es·se pau·cīs os·tendā·mus ver·sibus.

Oppress~ · ab aqui·lā, flē·tūs ē·dentem · gravēs,

lepor~ ob·iūrgā·bat pas·ser "Ubi · pernī·citās

nōt~" in·quit "ill~ · est? Quid i·ta ces·sārunt · pedēs?"

Dum loqui·tur, ip·s~ accipi·ter neco·pīnum · rapit

questū·que vā·nō clā·mitant~ · inter·ficit.

Lepus sē·miani·mus "Mor·tis ēn · sōlā·cium:

quī modo · sēcū·rus nos·tr~ inrī·dēbas · mala,

similī · querel·lā fā·ta dē·plōrās · tua."

Translation: 

The Hare and the Sparrow (trans. C. Smart)

Still to give cautions, as a friend,

And not one's own affairs attend,

Is but impertinent and vain,

As these few verses will explain.

A Sparrow taunted at a Hare

Caught by an eagle high in air,

And screaming loud-- "Where now," says she,

" Is your renown'd velocity ?

Why loiter'd your much boasted speed?"

Just as she spake, an hungry glede

Did on th' injurious railer fall,

Nor could her cries avail at all.

The Hare, with its expiring breath,

Thus said: " See comfort ev'n in death!

She that derided my distress

Must now deplore her own no less."

Illustration:

Here is an illustration by Samuel Howitt: