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Appendix 1. Simius et Vulpes

 

Parallels: For parallel versions, see Perry 533.

 

Vulpem rogabat partem caudae simius,

contegere honeste posset ut nudas nates;

cui sic maligna: "Longior fiat licet,

tamen illam citius per lutum et spinas traham,

partem tibi quam quamvis parvam impartiar."

 

Here is the poem in a more prose-like word order for easy reading:

 

Simius rogabat vulpem partem caudae,

ut posset contegere honeste nudas nates;

cui sic maligna:

"Licet fiat longior,

tamen citius traham illam per lutum et spinas,

quamvis impartiar tibi quam parvam partem."

 

Here is the poem with meter marks:

 

Vulpem ~ roga~bat par~tem cau~dae si~mius,

conteg'~r(e h)ones~te pos~set ut ~ nudas ~ nates;

cui sic ~ mali~gna: "Lon~gior ~ fiat ~ licet,

tam'n il~lam cit~jus per ~ lut(um) et ~ spinas ~ traham,

partem ~ tibi ~ quam quam~vis par~v(am) impar~tiar."

 

Translation:

 

A monkey asked a fox to give him a part of her tail so that he could respectably cover up his bare behind. The malicious fox said in reply, 'Even if my tail grew longer than it is now, I would sooner drag it through filth and thorns than share even the smallest part of it with 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.]

 

Illustration:

 

Here is an illustration from an early printed edition; click on the image for a larger view.