Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

THE FABLES OF AVIANUScruel talons. Then it was that, raised on high,'^ inthe hour of death, she filled the breezes with hermoaning plaint that such had been the answer toher prayers. For she gave surly sloth a warning forthe future that great achievement is only reached bythe utmost toil.So anyone elated and puffed up with new-foundglory pays a just penalty in hankering after what istoo high for him.IllThe Crab and itsMotherWhile a crab was walking backwards and tracingits crooked way, it banged its scaly back in the rockypools. Its mother, eager to go forward with stepunhindered, is said to have delivered a warning toit in such words as these: " Don't go zigzag andchoose these crooked ways, my child, and don't seekto move backwards and slantwise on your feet.Step out vigorously with straightforward effort andplant your footsteps safely in the onward path."" I will do so," the young crab replied, " if you goahead of me ; and, if you show me the correct road,I will follow the more surely. For it is exceedinglyfoolish of you, when you are attempting the mostcrooked of courses yourself, to set up as censor andcriticise the faults of another."" suUimis is emphatic :cf. the appHcation iii 15-16.sublimes, the variant in several MSiS., goes with auras," breezes of heaven."687