Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

THE FABLESOF AVIANUSDEDICATORY LETTER TO THEODOSIUS «I WAS in doubt, most excellent Theodosius, towhat class of literature I should entrust the memoryof my name, when the narration of fables occurred tomy mind; because in these, fiction, if gracefullyconceived, is not out of place, and one is notoppressed by the necessity of adhering to the truth.Who could speak in your company on oratory oron poetry ? In both these divisions of literatureyou outstrip the Athenians in Greek learning aswell as the Romans in mastery of Latin. Mypioneer in this subject, you must know, is Aesop,*who on the advice of the Delphic Apollo starteddroll stories in order to establish moral maxims.Such fables by way of example have been introducedby Socrates ^ into his inspired works and fittedby Horace ^ into his poetry, because under the guiseof j ests ofgeneral application they contain illustrationsDemetrius of Phaleron. The authority for Avianus' statementthat Aesop was advised by the Delphic oracle is unknown.' The reference is to Plato's dialogues {Socraticis sermanibus,Hor. Od. III. xxi. 9-10) which represent much of Socrates'teaching. In Plato's Phaedo, 60-61, Socrates says a dreamled him to turn Aesopic fables into verse. Avianus hererefers to apologues in fable style : e.g. of Grasshoppers,Phaedr. 259; of Plenty and Poverty, Symp. 203; of Prometheusand Epimetheus, Protng. 320-321.^ e.g. the Town Mouse and the Country ^Mouse in Sat. II. vi.68