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DE CORNICE ET URNA

 

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

 

Introduction: This fable is an example of what was called, in Latin, the "sollertia" of the animals, their "wiles" or "wisdom." In a way, this type of fable is like something you might see on "America's Funniest Home Videos" or on "YouTube," documenting a type of animal behavior that is fascinating for humans to watch. In this story, the crow does not speak, but if she could talk, what do you think she would say at the end of the story? What lesson do you think this wise crow could teach us? For other fables about wise birds, see the story of the swallow and the flax or the dove who rescued the ant.

 

Latin Text:

 

Sitibunda Cornix reperit urnam aqua plenam, sed erat urna profundior quam ut exhauri a Cornice possit. Conatur igitur vano molimine aquam effundere, sed non valet. Lectos igitur ex arena lapillulos iniectat. Hoc modo aqua levatur et Cornix bibit.

 

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

 

Sitibunda Cornix

reperit urnam

aqua plenam,

sed erat urna

profundior

quam

ut exhauri a Cornice possit.

Conatur igitur

vano molimine

aquam effundere,

sed non valet.

Lectos igitur ex arena

lapillulos iniectat.

Hoc modo

aqua levatur

et Cornix bibit.

 

Translation: A thirsty crow found a pitcher, full of water, but the urn was deeper than the crow could drink from. The crow therefore tried with a futile effort to pour out the water, but did not have the strength to do that. So she gathered little stones from the sand and dropped the little stones in the jar. In this way, the water was raised up and the crow had a drink.

 

[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 390.

 

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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