Lectitō › Phaedrus › Fables, Book 1
Phaedrus 1.16
The stag, the sheep and the wolf
Phaedrus, Fabulae I. Latin text with a sentence-by-sentence English translation, notes and vocabulary.
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Read in LectitōPhaedr. 1.16.1Fraudātor hominēs cum advocat spōnsum improbōs,
nōn rem expedīre, sed mala vidēre expetit.
When a cheat calls on dishonest men to stand surety, he is not trying to settle the business but to make trouble.
Note. Fraudātor: 'a cheat'. spōnsum: supine of purpose, 'to stand surety'. nōn rem expedīre: 'not to settle the matter'.
Phaedr. 1.16.3Ovem rogābat cervus modium trīticī
lupō spōnsōre.
A stag was asking a sheep for a measure of wheat, with a wolf as guarantor.
Note. modium trīticī: 'a peck of wheat'. lupō spōnsōre: ablative absolute, 'with the wolf as guarantor'.
Phaedr. 1.16.4At illa praemetuēns dolum:
5rapere atque abīre semper assuēvit lupus,
tū dē cōnspectū fugere vēlōcī impetū;
But she, suspecting a trick, said: 'The wolf always makes a habit of grabbing and running off, and you of escaping from sight at a swift pace;
Note. praemetuēns dolum: 'fearing a trick in advance'. rapere atque abīre: the wolf's habit; fugere: the stag's. assuēvit: 'is accustomed'.
Phaedr. 1.16.7ubi vōs requīram cum diēs advēnerit?
where shall I look for you when the day comes?'
Note. vōs: both of you. diēs: the day the debt falls due. advēnerit: future perfect, 'comes'.
Vocabulary
| fraudātor, -ōris m. | cheat, swindler |
| homō, hominis, m. | man |
| cum, conj. | when, while, after; since; although |
| advocō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus | call, summon (contiōnem advocāre: call an assembly) |
| spondeō, -ēre, spopondī, spōnsus | promise solemnly; stand surety, guarantee (a debt) |
| improbus, -a, -um | wicked. in, prep, with acc., into, in, to, upon; with abl., in, on |
| nōn, adv. | not |
| rēs, reī, f. | thing, matter, affair, circumstance, situation; rē vērā, in truth, in fact, really |
| expediō, -īre, -īvī, -ītus | free, set clear; get ready; arrange, settle |
| sed, conj. | but |
| malum, -ī, n. | evil, mischief |
| videō, vidēre, vīdī, vīsus | see; pass., seem |
| expetō, -ere, -petīvī, -petītus | seek eagerly, desire |
| ovis, -is, f. | sheep |
| rogō, -āre, -āvī, -ātus | ask |
| cervus, -ī, m. | stag |
| modius, -ī m. | peck-measure, a grain measure (about 9 litres); a bushel-basket |
| trīticum, -ī n. | wheat |
| lupus, -ī m. | wolf |
| spōnsor, -ōris m. | guarantor, surety |
| at, conj. | but |
| ille, illa, illud, dem. pron. | that; he, she, it, they; ille ... hīc, see hīc |
| praemetuō, -ere | fear beforehand; be anxious (for: dat.) |
| dolus, -ī, m. | trick, craft |
| rapiō, -ere, -uī, -tus | seize, snatch |
| atque, ac (conj.) | and; after comparisons: as, than (ac only before consonants) |
| abeō, -īre, -iī, -itūrus | go away, depart |
| semper, adv. | always |
| assuēscō, -ere, -suēvī, -suētus | become accustomed, get used to |
| tū, tuī, pers. pron. | thou, you |
| dē, prep, with abl. | down from, from, out of; about, concerning, of |
| cōnspectus, -ūs, m. | sight |
| fugiō, fugere, fūgī, fugitūrus | flee, run away |
| vēlōx, vēlōcis | swift, fast |
| impetus, -ūs, m. | attack; impetum facere, to charge |
| ubi, adv. | where; conj., when |
| vōs | plur. of tū |
| requīrō, -ere, -quīsīvī, -quīsītus | look for, ask after; need |
| diēs, -ēī, m. and f. | day |
| adveniō, -venīre, -vēnī, -ventus | come to or toward, approach, arrive |