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DE VULPE ET AQUILA
Source: Aesop's Fables, 1687 (illustrated by Francis Barlow).
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?
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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.]
Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 1.
Related Links: Crossword Puzzle
Illustration: Here is an illustration from this edition, by the renowned artist Francis Barlow; click on the image for a larger view.
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