HOME | Phaedrus: Previous Page - Next Page

 

IV.8. Serpens ad Limam

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 93.

 

Mordaciorem qui improbo dente adpetit,

hoc argumento se describi sentiat.

In officinam fabri venit vipera.

Haec, cum temptaret si qua res esset cibi,

limam momordit. Illa contra contumax,

"Quid me," inquit, "stulta, dente captas laedere,

omne adsuevi ferrum quae conrodere?"

 

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

 

Qui adpetit mordaciorem improbo dente,

sentiat se describi hoc argumento.

Vipera venit in officinam fabri.

Haec, cum temptaret si qua res cibi esset,

momordit limam.

Illa contumax inquit contra:

"Quid me, stulta, captas laedere dente:

ego adsuevi conrodere omne ferrum?"

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Morda~cio~rem qu(i) im~probo ~ dent(e) ad~petit,

hoc ar~gumen~to se ~ descr~ibi sen~tiat.

In of~fici~nam fa~bri ve~nit vi~pera.

Haec, cum ~ tempta~ret si ~ qua res ~ esset ~ cibi,

limam ~ momor~dit. Il~la con~tra con~tumax,

"Quid m(e)," in~quit, "stul~ta, den~te cap~tas lae~dere,

omn(e) ad~sue~vi fer~rum quae ~ conro~dere?"

 

Translation:

 

Anyone who tries to cruelly take a bite out of someone with even sharper fangs may realize that he is being described in this example. A viper entered a blacksmith's workshop. When she wanted to see if it was something to eat, she bit the file. The file angrily responded: 'You fool! Why are you trying to wound me with your teeth, when I've spent my life gnawing every sort of iron?'

 

[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 Viper and the File (trans. C. Smart)

He that a greater biter bites,

His folly on himself requites,

As we shall manifest forthwith.-

There was a hovel of a smith,

Where a poor Viper chanced to steal,

And being greedy of a meal,

When she had seized upon a file,

Was answer'd in this rugged style:

" Why do you think, 0 stupid snake!

On me your usual meal to make,

Who've sharper teeth than thine by far,

And can corrode an iron bar ?"

 

Illustration:

 

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