Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

THE FABLES OF AVIANUSXVIIThe Hunter and the TigressA huntsman who dealt effective wounds with thejavelins he discharged used to drive the wild animalsin terrified confusion through their coverts. Thena bold tigress, eager to succour the panic-strickenbeasts, lashing with her tail in threatening wise,bade him come up against her. But he hurled asusual his missile from his shoulder, saying, " That isthe messenger which in this hour tells you myprowess as 1 go my way " ; and at that moment theweapon which he discharged pierced and woundedher, and the blood-stained shaft grazed her swift feet.When the wounded tigress was gently drawing forththe tight-fixed weapon, she is said to have been keptin converse a long time by a fox asking in dismay,who was the man that could deal such wounds orwhere had he hid himself to shoot his javelin. Thetigress with moans and broken growls found speechwith difficulty ; for rage and pain robbed her of herusual utterance; " No shape that my sight couldafterwards recall confronted me in the middle of theroad,'' but the blood and the weapon aimed at me by apowerful arm show that it was some man of might."xvniThe Four Oxen and the LionOnce among four huge oxen in the meadows thereexisted, as the story goes, so trusty a bond of affection," .Servius on Virg. Aen. V. 273, viae deprensits in aggere,explains agger est media viae eminentia coaggeratis lapidibusstrata :cf. Rut. Namat. I. 39 Aurelius agger = Via Aurelia.709