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DE CANE MORDACI

 

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

 

Introduction: You have probably heard of the Latin saying, "Cave canem," "Beware of dog!" In this story, you will read about another way that someone could indicate that a dog was dangerous: his master might tie a bell around his neck, so that everybody could hear when the dog was coming and thus be alert. Another technique that was used was to tie a wooden "clog" around the dog's neck in order to hobble the dog's movement. In this fable, you will see what the dog with a bell (or the dog with a clog) thought about his dubious honor! For another fable about a dog who is confused by appearances, see the story of the dog and the reflection. For another fable about a dog prone to bite, see the story of the dog in the manger.

 

Latin Text:

 

Cani, saepius homines mordenti, illigavit Dominus nolam, scilicet ut sibi quisque caveret. Canis, ratus virtuti suae tributum hoc decus esse, populares omnes despicit. Accedit tandem ad hunc Canem aliquis, iam aetate et auctoritate gravis, monens eum ne erret. "Nam ista nola (inquit) data est tibi in dedecus, non in decus."

 

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

 

Cani,

saepius homines mordenti,

illigavit Dominus

nolam,

scilicet ut sibi quisque caveret.

Canis,

ratus

virtuti suae

tributum hoc decus esse,

populares omnes despicit.

Accedit tandem

ad hunc Canem

aliquis,

iam aetate et auctoritate gravis,

monens eum

ne erret.

"Nam ista nola (inquit)

data est tibi

in dedecus,

non in decus."

 

Translation: There was a dog who very often bit people, so his master tied a bell on him, that is, so that everybody would look out for him. The dog thought that this honor was awarded to him for his virtue, and he looked down on all his fellows. But a dog, imposing in both age and authority, came up to this dog and warned him that he was mistaken. This bell, the dog explained, was given to you as a badge of shame, not a badge of honor.

 

[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 332.

 

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. Unlike the Latin story, which simply tells us that the dog is wearing a bell, in the illustration the dog is wearing something much more elaborate, called a "clog" in English, which was traditionally a block or heavy piece of wood tied to an animal or even to a human being in order to hobble their movement.

 

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