Barlow's Aesop: Previous Page - Next Page
De Iove et Camelo: Jupiter and the Camel
Source: Aesop's Fables, 1687 (illustrated by Francis Barlow).
Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 117.
Latin Text:
Cum primum visus est Camelus, homines perterriti et magnitudinem admirati fugiebant. Camelus vero sui paenitens, querebatur Tauros insignes ire geminis cornibus, se inermem obiectum esse ceteris animalibus. Orat igitur Iovem ut Cornua sibi donet. Ridet Iupiter stultitiam Cameli, nec solum votum negat, sed etiam et auriculas Bestiae decurtat.
Here is a segmented version to help you see the grammatical patterns:
Cum primum
visus est Camelus,
homines
perterriti et magnitudinem admirati
fugiebant.
Camelus vero
sui paenitens,
querebatur
Tauros
insignes ire
geminis cornibus,
se inermem
obiectum esse
ceteris animalibus.
Orat igitur Iovem
ut Cornua sibi donet.
Ridet Iupiter
stultitiam Cameli,
nec solum
votum negat,
sed etiam
et auriculas Bestiae decurtat.
Translation:
When for the first time the Camel was seen, the people, terrified and amazed at its size, ran away. The camel, in fact, dissatisfied with himself, complained that the bulls went about, so distinguished with their twin horns, while he was exposed to the rest of the animals with no protection. Therefore, the camel begged Jupiter to give him horns. Jupiter laughed at the foolishness of the camel and not only denied his request, he even cropped the beast's ears.
[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):
For horns the Camel Iupiter implored
With which so many beasts so well were stored.
The God enraged replied, Thy forehead bears
Henceforth no horns and what is worse no ears.
With what kind heaven bestows, be thou at rest,
For that knows where to place its bounty best.
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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