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I.6. Ranae ad Solem

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 314. For  help in translating the poem, use the page for this poem at NoDictionaries.com, with interlinear word lists! (Here are some tips on using the NoDictionaries tool.)

Vīcīnī fūris celebrēs vīdit nūptiās

Aesōpus, et continuō nārrāre incipit:

Uxōrem quondam Sōl cum vellet dūcere,

clāmōrem rānae sustulēre ad sīdera.

Convīciō permōtus quaerit Iuppiter

causam querellae. Quaedam tum stāgnī incola

"Nunc" inquit "omnēs ūnus exūrit lacūs,

cōgitque miserās āridā sēde ēmorī.

Quidnam futūrum est sī creārit līberōs?"

Aesōpus vīcīnī fūris celebrēs nūptiās vīdit et continuō nārrāre incipit: Quondam, cum Sōl uxōrem dūcere vellet, rānae clāmōrem ad sīdera sustulēre. Iuppiter, convīciō permōtus, querellae causam quaerit. Tum stāgnī incola quaedam inquit: "Nunc ūnus lacūs omnēs exūrit, et āridā sēde miserās ēmorī cōgit. Quidnam futūrum est sī līberōs creārit?"

Aesópus vicíni furis célebres núptias vidit et contínuo narráre íncipit: Quondam, cum Sol uxórem dúcere vellet, ranae clamórem ad sídera sustulére. Iúppiter, convício permótus, queréllae causam quaerit. Tum stagni íncola quaedam inquit: "Nunc unus lacus omnes exúrit, et árida sede míseras émori cogit. Quidnam futúrum est si líberos creárit?"

Vīcī·nī fū·ris cele·brēs vī·dit nūp·tiās

Aesō·pus, et · continu·ō nār·rār~ in·cipit:

Uxō·rem quon·dam Sōl · cum vel·let dū·cere,

clāmō·rem rā·nae sus·tulēr~ · ad sī·dera.

Convīciō permōtus quaerit Iuppiter

causam querellae. Quaedam tum stāgn~ incola

"Nunc" inquit "omnēs ūnus exūrit lacūs,

cōgit·que mise·rās ā·ridā · sēd~ ē·morī.

Quidnam · futūr~ est sī · creā·rit lī·berōs?"

The Frogs and Sun (trans. C. Smart)

When Esop saw, with inward grief,

The nuptials of a neighboring thief,

He thus his narrative begun:

Of old 'twas rumor'd that the Sun

Would take a wife: with hideous cries

The quer'lous Frogs alarm'd the skies.

Moved at their murmurs, Jove inquired

What was the thing that they desired?

When thus a tenant of the lake,

In terror, for his brethren spake:

"Ev'n now one Sun too much is found,

And dries up all the pools around,

Till we thy creatures perish here;

But oh, how dreadfully severe,

Should he at length be made a sire,

And propagate a race of fire !"