Minor Latin poets; with introductions and English translations

you off.THE FABLES OF AVIANUSFor, thougli you cannot yourself attack atall or venture on anythinir, you are a more cruel foein that you make others dangerous."XLThe Leopard axd the FoxA fine-breasted leopard in his dappled glory wentto parade himself among the beasts which were hiscompeers. But because the surly lions had no variedhues upon their back, he straightway formed thebelief that theirs was a sorry tribe. Condemning allthe other animals as mean-looking, he took himselffor the one pattern of noble breed. As he wasrejoicing in the garb of youth, a wily vixen chid himand showed the uselessness of his markings. " Go,"said she, "keep your excessive confidence in yourgorgeous youthfulness, so long as I can surpass you infine counsel, and so long as we can admire thoseadorned by gifts of intellect more than those whoshine in bodily charms."XLIThe Shower axd the JarImpelled by the winds, a heavy rain-storm hadgathered with the pressure of cloud upon cloud andburst in wintry torrents. And as its whirling delugemade a lake over the widespread lands, it struck somepotter's work set outside in the fields ; for warm airshapes the plastic clay beforehand, to train it forbeing baked more perfectly when fire is applied.745