Phaedrus 1.2

Phaedr. 1.2.1Athēnae cum flōrērent aequīs lēgibus,
procāx lībertās cīvitātem miscuit
frēnumque solvit prīstinum licentia.

When Athens was flourishing under fair laws, unruly freedom threw the city into turmoil, and licence slipped the old bridle.

Note. This fable begins with a historical setting: Athens before the tyranny of Pisistratus (6th century BC). cum + subjunctive flōrērent: 'when Athens was flourishing'. Athēnae is plural in form. frēnum solvit: 'loosened the bridle', a horse image for discipline.

Phaedr. 1.2.4Hīc cōnspīrātīs factiōnum partibus
5arcem tyrannus occupat Pīsistratus.

At this point, the parties of the factions having conspired together, the tyrant Pisistratus seized the citadel.

Note. Hīc: here an adverb of time, 'at this point'. cōnspīrātīs factiōnum partibus: ablative absolute, 'the parties of the factions having conspired'. Notice the historic presents (occupat).

Phaedr. 1.2.6Cum trīstem servitūtem flērent Atticī,
(nōn quia crūdēlis ille, sed quoniam gravis
omnīnō īnsuētīs), onus et coepissent querī,
Aesopus tālem tum fābellam rettulit.

When the Athenians were lamenting their grim slavery (not because he was cruel, but because any burden is heavy to those unused to it) and had begun to complain, Aesop then told this little story.

Note. The parenthesis explains: not because Pisistratus was cruel, but because any burden is heavy for those unused to it (īnsuētīs, dative). onus is the object of querī. The sentence keeps its main verb, rettulit, for the end, with Aesop as subject.

Phaedr. 1.2.10Rānae vagantēs līberīs palūdibus
clāmōre magnō rēgem petiēre ā Iove,
quī dissolūtōs mōrēs vī compesceret.

The frogs, roaming free in their marshes, asked Jupiter with a great outcry for a king, to curb their loose ways by force.

Note. rānae vagantēs: 'the frogs, wandering'. līberīs palūdibus: ablative of place, 'in their free marshes'. petiēre = petīvērunt. quī … compēsceret: a relative clause of purpose, 'to curb'.

Phaedr. 1.2.13Pater deōrum rīsit atque illīs dedit
parvum tigillum, missum quod subitō vadī
15mōtū sonōque terruit pavidum genus.

The father of the gods laughed, and gave them a little log; when it was thrown in, it suddenly terrified the timid race with the movement and the noise of the water.

Note. Pater deōrum: Jupiter. missum: 'when thrown in'. quod is the relative pronoun (antecedent tigillum, 'little log'). pavidum genus: 'the timid race', i.e. the frogs.

Phaedr. 1.2.16Hoc mersum līmō cum iacēret diūtius,
forte ūna tacitē prōfert ē stagnō caput
et explōrātō rēge cūnctās ēvocat.

When it had lain sunk in the mud for some time, one frog happened to put her head quietly out of the pool, and, having inspected the king, called them all out.

Note. Hoc mersum: 'this (log), sunk'. ūna: 'one (frog)'. explōrātō rēge: ablative absolute, 'having inspected the king'. cūnctās: all the other frogs.

Phaedr. 1.2.19Illae timōre positō certātim adnatant
20lignumque superā turba petulāns īnsilit.

They put away their fear and swam up to it, racing each other, and the cheeky crowd jumped up onto the wood.

Note. certātim: 'in rivalry, vying with each other'. lignum … īnsilit: 'jumps onto the wood'. supera is an old form of suprā, 'above, on top'.

Phaedr. 1.2.21Quod cum inquināssent omnī contumēliā,
alium rogantēs rēgem mīsēre ad Iovem,
inūtilis quoniam esset quī fuerat datus.

When they had befouled it with every kind of insult, they sent to Jupiter asking for another king, since the one who had been given them was useless.

Note. inquināssent = inquināvissent, a shortened pluperfect subjunctive. mīsēre = mīsērunt. quī fuerat datus: 'the one who had been given'.

Phaedr. 1.2.24Tum mīsit illīs hydrum, quī dente asperō
25corripere coepit singulās.

Then he sent them a water-snake, which began to snatch them one by one with its savage tooth.

Note. hydrum: a water-snake. singulās: 'one by one', feminine because the frogs (rānae) are meant.

Phaedr. 1.2.25Frūstrā necem
fugitant inertēs, vōcem praeclūdit metus.

In vain the helpless creatures try to escape death; fear stops their voices.

Note. fugitant: frequentative verb, 'keep trying to escape'. inertēs: 'helpless'. vōcem praeclūdit metus: fear shuts off their voices, so they cannot even complain.

Phaedr. 1.2.27Fūrtim igitur dant Mercuriō mandāta ad Iovem,
afflīctīs ut succurrat.

So they secretly give Mercury a message for Jupiter, asking him to help them in their distress.

Note. dant Mercuriō mandāta: Mercury is the messenger of the gods. afflīctīs ut succurrat: purpose clause, 'that he should help (them) in their distress'.

Phaedr. 1.2.28Tunc contrā deus:
quia nōluistis vestrum ferre inquit bonum,
30malum perferte.

Then the god replied: 'Because you would not put up with your good fortune,' he said, 'endure your bad.'

Note. contrā: adverb, 'in reply'. vestrum … bonum and malum: 'your good (fortune)' and 'the bad'. perferte: imperative plural, 'endure to the end'.

Phaedr. 1.2.30—Vōs quoque, ō cīvēs, ait,
hoc sustinēte, maius nē veniat malum.

'You too, citizens,' said Aesop, 'bear this evil, in case a greater one comes.'

Note. Aesop now turns to the Athenians: hoc (malum), Pisistratus. nē … veniat: 'in case a greater evil comes', a clause of fearing/purpose. maius is the comparative of magnum.