Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

THE FABLES OF AVIANUSof life. They were taken up by Babrius" in Greekcholianibies and abridged into two volumes. Aconsiderable portion also was expanded by Phaedrus ''to a length of five books. I have compressed fortytwoof these into one book for publication—writingin unembellished Latin and attempting to set themforth in elegiacs. You have, therefore, a work todelight the mind, to exercise the brain, to relieveanxiety—one that will give you a wary knowledgeof the whole course of life. I have made trees talk,*^beasts growl in conversation ^\ith men, birds engagein wordy disputes, and animals laugh, so that to meetthe needs of each individual a maxim may be profferedeven by inanimate things. Farewell.The Nurse and her ChildOnce upon a time when her little boy was crying, apeasant-woman had sworn that if he were not quiethe would be given as a tit-bit '^ for a ravenous wolf.A credulous wolf overheard these words and waitedon guard close in front of the cottage doors, cherishinghopes in vain. For the child let a deep sleep comeover his weary limbs, and besides deprived thehungry robber thereby of his expectation. The wolfpraef. 9 i\d\€i Se ttctptj /col to v\\a ttjs irevKris. In Avianus,pine and bramble argue xLx, and a reed speaks xvi. Hisother remarks in this sentence are illustrated by the following: tigress challenges hunter xvii ; lion and hunter disputexxiv; crane and peacock quarrel xv; fox laughs vi; antlaughs xxxiv; and among '" inanimate things" a jar speaksxi ; a statue xxiii and a trumpet xxxix."^quod foret esca replaces the classical accus. and infin.CJ. XXV. 16.683