| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

barlow010

This version was saved 16 years, 2 months ago View current version     Page history
Saved by PBworks
on January 10, 2008 at 8:25:34 pm
 

 

Barlow's Aesop: Previous Page - Next Page

 

De vulpe et aquila: The Eagle's Nest

 

Source: Aesop's Fables, 1687 (illustrated by Francis Barlow).

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 1.

 

Introduction: There are various versions of this fable, some with happy endings, some with unhappy endings. In the happy versions of the story, the fable is about persuasion: the fox uses the threat of fire in order to get the eagle to return her cubs. In the unhappy versions of the story, the fable is about revenge: after the eagle kills her cubs, the fox sets the eagle's nest on fire and burns up all the eagle's chicks. So, brace yourself: when you read the version of the fable given here, you will find out for yourself if this particular version of the story ends happiily or unhappily for the fox and her cubs. What do you think should be the moral of this particular version of the fable?

 

Video:


Find more videos like this on eLatin eGreek eLearn

 

Latin Text:

 

Dum Vulpis proles fores excurrebant, ab Aquila comprehensae matris fidem implorabant. Accurrit Vulpes, Aquilamque rogat ut captivam prolem dimittat. Aquila nacta praedam ad pullos subvolat. Vulpes, correpta face, quasi nidum incendio absumptura esset, insequitur. Trepidans Aquila: Parce, inquit, mihi parvisque libris, et tuum quidquid habeo reddidero.

 

Here is a segmented version to help you see the grammatical patterns:

 

Dum Vulpis proles

fores excurrebant,

ab Aquila comprehensae

matris fidem implorabant.

Accurrit Vulpes,

Aquilamque rogat

ut captivam prolem dimittat.

Aquila

nacta praedam

ad pullos subvolat.

Vulpes,

correpta face,

quasi nidum

incendio absumptura esset,

insequitur.

Trepidans Aquila:

Parce, inquit,

mihi parvisque libris,

et tuum

quidquid habeo

reddidero.

 

Translation:

 

While the fox's offspring were running around outside, they were caught by the eagle, and called upon their mother's protection. The fox ran up and aked the eagle to let her captured offspring go free. The eagle, having obtained this plunder, flew up to her chicks. The fox, having snatched up a torch, pursued, as if she were going to destroy the nest with fire. The eagle was frightened and said: Spare me and my little children, and whatever of yours I have, I will give back.

 

[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.]

 

This edition of Aesop's fables was published in French, Latin, and English, so here it the English poem that accompanies this fable (I've modernized some of the 17th-century spelling):

 

A Fox's cub the kingly Eagle pressed,

And bore the trembler to her royal nest.

The Fox enraged the sacred pile will burn,

To save her throne the prize she does return.

The haughty great with caution should oppress,

Since slaves provoked deep injuries may redress.

 

Illustration:

 

Here is an illustration from this edition, by the renowned artist Francis Barlow; click on the image for a larger view.

 

 

Related Links

 

Crossword Puzzle

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.