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DE CANE VETULO ET MAGISTRO

 

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

 

Introduction: This is a fable about a once valiant hunting dog who has lost his strength. In the version of the fable by G.F. Townsend, the dog tells his master: "I rather deserve to be praised for what I have been, than to be blamed for what I am." In Caxton's 15th-century version of the fable, the moral is given as: "Men ought not to dysprayse the auncyent; thow oughtest to loue and prayse the dedes whiche the haue done in theyr yongthe;" in other words, "Men ought not to insult the elderly; you should love and praise the deeds which they have done in their youth." What words would you use to express the moral of this fable? For another fable about old age, see the story of the old lion and the donkey. For a fable about a master who is more wise than this dog's master, see the story of the deer hidden in the stable.

 

Latin Text:

 

Canis venaticus, qui quondam velocitate ceteris praecelluit et magno erat olim usui et emolumento Hero, iam longaevus et imbellis, fortuito Cervum persequebatur et apprehensum (dentibus privatus) mox demisit. Quem iratus, Herus verbis et verberibus increpabat. Cui Canis: "O dure et severe mihi Magister, qui multifaria mea merita tam male pensitaveris!"

 

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

 

Canis venaticus,

qui quondam

velocitate ceteris praecelluit

et magno erat olim usui et emolumento

Hero,

iam longaevus et imbellis,

fortuito

Cervum persequebatur

et apprehensum

(dentibus privatus)

mox demisit.

Quem iratus,

Herus

verbis et verberibus increpabat.

Cui Canis:

"O dure et severe mihi Magister,

qui multifaria mea merita

tam male pensitaveris!"

 

Translation: A hunting dog who once upon a time had excelled the other dogs in speed and had formerly been of great use and profit for his mater, now was old and feeble. By chance the old dog was chasing a stag and having grabbed the stag, he immediately had to let go, since he didn't have teeth. The master was angry and upbraided the old dog with words and whippings, so the dog said to him, "O master, so harsh and cruel to me, you must think very little of the many good deeds I have done for you."

 

[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 532.

 

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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