Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

THE FABLES OF AVIANUSXXIThe Bird and the Reaping of the CornA tiny little bird had entrusted her young '^to theground where with its root-stem green stood theyellow corn-crop. It so happened that a farmerwanting to cut the corn from its fragile stalk beggedand prayed for a neighbour's help. Now these words,which the unfledged nestlings believed, struck panicinto them and counselled instant flight from theirhome. Their mother was more wary ; on her returnshe told them not to go away, saying, " What good willcome from outsiders? " The farmer once more entrustedthe task to his dear friends ; but the motheragain stayed where she was, all the safer for thatreason. But when she perceived that the owner wasgripping the curved sickle and that his true hand wasnear the crops, she said, " Now% my poor dears,abandon the fields you love so well, now that he seeksthe fulfilment of his hopes from his own powers."XXIIThe Greedy Man and the Jealous ManJupiter sent Phoebus to the earth from the citadelof the sky to discover in advance the doubtful heartsof mankind. Just then two men were beseechingthe gods to satisfy different desires, for one had acovetous and the other a jealous nature. The Sundescribesit as cassita, " helmeted " or " crested." Ellis'acredula strictl}^ means a nightingale. While the Ennianmoral is explicitly " Do not expect friends to do what youcan do yourself," it is noticeable that Avianus gives noepimythion.