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DE LEAENA ET VULPE

 

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

 

Introduction: This fable provides an example of "quality, not quantity." There are various versions of the story featuring different animals who debate with the lioness. Sometimes, it is a sow who debates with the lion, which makes sense because a sow is notorious for having many piglets in each litter. In this version of the fable, however, it is the fox who makes fun of the lioness for having only one cub at a time. The lioness, of course, is able to wittily refute the fox's insult, and she shows herself to be a quite Roman animal, swearing by the god Pollux, "edepol!"  For another fable about an animal mother, see the story of the sow in labor and the wolf or the story of the fox and her cubs.

 

Latin Text:

 

Leaena, cum a Vulpe saepe exprobraretur quod quolibet partu unum dumtaxat catulum parturiret, respondit, "Unum sane, at pol Leonem."

 

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

 

Leaena,

cum a Vulpe saepe exprobraretur

quod

quolibet partu

unum dumtaxat catulum parturiret,

respondit,

"Unum sane,

at pol Leonem."

 

Translation: The lioness was frequently upbraided by the fox because, whenever the lioness gave birth, she produced only one cub. The lioness replied, "One cub, yes, but by God he's a lion!"

 

[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 257.

 

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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