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DE CATTO ET VULPE

 

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

 

Introduction: In the fragmentary writings of the archaic Greek poet Archilochus, who was born sometime around 680 B.C.E., you can find this saying about the fox and hedgehog: "The fox knows many things," Archilochus said, "but the hedgehog knows one big thing." What the hedgehog knows to do is to roll itself up into a ball when it is attacked, so that it is defended by its spines all over. The fable you are about to read expresses the same idea about a cat, who knows just one trick, as opposed to the fox, who knows many tricks. To find out just what trick this cat knows, read on! For an example of the cat playing different kind of trick, see the story of the old mouse and the cat. For another story where the fox gets herself into terrible trouble, see the story of the rooster, the fox and the sleeping dog.

 

Latin Text:

 

Contrahebant inter se amicitias Cattus et Vulpes. Cui Vulpes astutiarum suarum grandem recensebat numerum. Cattus replicuit, "Ast ego uno tantum consilio et, quod natura ad meipsum praeservandum suggessit, contentus sum." Inter haec, odoram Canum vim appropinquantium audiunt. Cattus confestim altissimos arboris scandebat ramos et secure despectans sedebat. Vulpes autem et hic et illic trepide currebat et, nulla aufugiendi spe relicta, nulla uspiam latebra inventa, a Canibus apprehensa laceratur.

 

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

 

Contrahebant inter se amicitias

Cattus et Vulpes.

Cui

Vulpes

astutiarum suarum grandem recensebat numerum.

Cattus replicuit,

"Ast ego

uno tantum consilio

et,

quod natura

ad meipsum praeservandum suggessit,

contentus sum."

Inter haec,

odoram Canum vim appropinquantium

audiunt.

Cattus

confestim altissimos arboris scandebat ramos

et secure despectans

sedebat.

Vulpes autem

et hic et illic trepide currebat

et, nulla aufugiendi spe relicta,

nulla uspiam latebra inventa,

a Canibus apprehensa

laceratur.

 

Translation: A cat and a fox became friends. The fox recited to the cat the huge number of tricks that she, the fox, had. The cat replied, "But I am a cat with only one plan, and because nature has made it possible for me to keep myself safe, I am content." Meanwhile, they heard the smelly pack of dogs drawing near. The cat immediately climbed the tallest branches of the tree, and sat there in safety, looking down. The fox, however, terrified, ran here and there. There was no hope of getting away left, and no hiding place to be found, and so the fox was seized by the dogs and torn to pieces.

 

[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 605.

 

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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