Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

THE FABLES OF AVIANUSuiiuliiiii; valleys. lie felt safe because, whateveradversity Fortune might bring, both would be ableto unite their strength and face it. While withvaried conversation they were pursuing the journeythey had started, a she-bear came headlong tomeet them in the middle of the way. One of thetravellers with an easy run grasped an oak branchand suspended his panic-stricken weight amongthe green foliage. The other, without advancinghis course a single step, feigned death, and laydo^\Tl, throwing himself intentionally on the ground.At once, eager for the spoil, the savage beastran up and, to start with, lifted the poor man inher crooked claws. But when icy fear stiffened hislimbs (for the usual vital warmth had left his bones),then the bear, thinking him a rank corpse, abandonedhim in spite of her hunger and vanished into her ownhaunts. But after they recovered their nerve andgradually resumed their talk, the man who beforehad run away grew now over-merry and said, " Tellme, please, what was it the bear told you when youwere trembling there ? She spoke much with youin a long private talk." " Yes, she gave me importantadvice, but laid also this command especially on me,'and I. poor wretch, must always carry it out. Bechary of returning to partnership with another,'she said, ' lest a rabid beast get hold of you a secondtime.' "XThe Bald HorsemanA bald horseman, accustomed to fasten hair tohis head and wear strange locks on his bare crown,697