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DE LUPO ET SUE

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

Introduction: This is one of the many Aesop's fables in which a dangerous predator pretends to be a helpful friend. In the 15th-century version of this fable by Caxton, the moral is: "It is not good to byleue all suche thynges as men may here; thus he that folysshly byleueth folysshly it happeth to hym," or, in more modern spelling, "It is not good to believe all such things as men may hear; thus he that foolishly believes, foolishly it happens to him." In the 17th-century version by Sir Roger L'Estrange, the moral is "There are no snares so dangerous as those that are laid for us under the name of good offices." How would you express the moral of this story? For another story about the wolf's pretend friendship, see the story of the treaty between the sheep and the wolves. You can also learn something about the danger of trusting in a wolf from the story of the wolf and the crane. 

Latin Text:

Parturiebat Sus; pollicetur Lupus se custodem fore fetus. Respondet Puerpera Lupi obsequio se non egere, oratque si velit pius haberi, longius abeat; lupi enim benevolentia constabat non praesentia, sed absentia.

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

Parturiebat Sus;

pollicetur Lupus

se

custodem fore fetus.

Respondet Puerpera

Lupi obsequio

se non egere,

oratque

si velit pius haberi,

longius abeat;

lupi enim benevolentia

constabat non praesentia,

sed absentia.

Translation: A sow was giving birth and a wolf promised that he would be a guardian to her offspring. The expectant mother answered that she had no need of the indulgence of the wolf and asked him to move farther away if he wanted to be considered respectful, for the good will of the wolf consisted not in his presence but in his absence. 

[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 547.

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.