Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

THE FABLES OF AVIANUSdeserts ? This is not an ornament of merit displayedin a brass setting : no, by wearing it you carry asound as witness of your bad character."vniJupiter and the Camel[Our fable counsels a man if he be wise to livecontented with his own property and not to covetwhat belongs to another, lest Fortune be angry andrun quickly back to a standstill, and the same wheelthat once bestowed favours end in lessening them.]The story goes that an animal of vast bulk wentthrough the air and besought high Jove withentreaties, saying that everyone thought it a monstrousscandal and theme for ridicule that oxenshould strut about in the glory of a pair of horns,while the camel alone should be undefended in everyquarter, at the mercy of all the animal world and opento their attacks. Jupiter, mocking the camel, afterrefusing the expected boon, went further and relievedit of the weight of its large ears, saying, " Livebeneath your deserts, as you are not satisfied withyour lot; bewail your loss for ever, you jealouscreature."IXThe two Companions and the BearA man was once journeying along a narrow roadwith a companion among unknown hills and in'^ adridens vel arridens plerique codd. : irridens B Rawl.Pet.^ : at ridens Cannegieter.695