Phaedrus 1.10

Phaedr. 1.10.1Quīcumque turpī fraude semel innōtuit,
etiam sī vērum dīcit, āmittit fidem.

Whoever has once become known for a shameful fraud loses credit, even if he tells the truth.

Note. Quīcumque: 'whoever'. innōtuit: 'has become known'. fidem: 'credit, trust'. The story of the boy who cried wolf makes the same point.

Phaedr. 1.10.3Hoc attestātur brevis Aesōpī fābula.

A short fable of Aesop's bears this out.

Note. attestātur: deponent, 'confirms'. Aesōpī: genitive, 'of Aesop'.

Phaedr. 1.10.4Lupus arguēbat vulpem fūrtī crīmine;

A wolf was accusing a fox on a charge of theft;

Note. arguēbat … fūrtī crīmine: 'was accusing … on a charge of theft'.

Phaedr. 1.10.5negābat illa sē esse culpae proximam.

she denied that she was anywhere near the crime.

Note. negābat illa sē esse: indirect statement, 'she denied that she was'. culpae proximam: 'near to guilt', i.e. at all guilty.

Phaedr. 1.10.6Tunc iūdex inter illōs sēdit sīmius.

Then an ape sat as judge between them.

Note. sīmius: an ape, a figure of cleverness in fable.

Phaedr. 1.10.7Uterque causam cum perōrāssent suam,
dīxisse fertur sīmius sententiam:
tū nōn vidēris perdidisse quod petis;

When each had pleaded his case, the ape is said to have given this verdict: 'You do not seem to have lost what you are claiming;

Note. perōrāssent = perōrāvissent, 'had finished pleading'. dīxisse fertur: 'is said to have pronounced'. tū: the wolf, who has lost nothing.

Phaedr. 1.10.10tē crēdō surripuisse quod pulchrē negās.

you, I believe, stole what you so nicely deny.'

Note. tē: the fox. surripuisse: 'to have stolen'. pulchrē negās: 'you deny so nicely'. The ape condemns both.