Faustus Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 They Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
M. Porcius Cato Posted May 2, 2008 Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Lovely post, Faustus. I hadn't noticed that the Romans failed to distinguish between the rat and mouse, but of course you're right. Another page with more of Horace's satire (and a wonderful reading), see HERE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustus Posted May 2, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 2, 2008 Lovely post, Faustus. I hadn't noticed that the Romans failed to distinguish between the rat and mouse, but of course you're right. Another page with more of Horace's satire (and a wonderful reading), see HERE. Thank you MPC. I's always great to get the text in Latin and English displayed side by side! Faustus Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Faustus Posted May 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 3, 2008 Lovely post, Faustus. I hadn't noticed that the Romans failed to distinguish between the rat and mouse, but of course you're right. Another page with more of Horace's satire (and a wonderful reading), see HERE. "Once on a time -- such is the tale -- a country mouse welcomed a city mouse in his poor hole, host and guest old friends both. Roughly he fared, frugal of his store, yet could open his thrifty soul in acts of hospitality. In short, he grudged not his hoard of vetch or long oats, but bringing in his mouth a dried raisin and nibbled bits of bacon he served them, being eager by varying the fare to overcome the daintiness of a guest, who, with squeamish tooth, would barely touch each morsel. Meanwhile, outstretched on fresh straw, the master of the house himself ate spelt and darner, leaving the titbits to his friend. At last the city mouse cries to him: "What pleasure can you have, my friend, in living so hard a life on the ridge of a steep wood? Wouldn't you put people and the city above these wild woods? Take my advice: set out with me. Inasmuch as all creatures that live on earth have mortal souls, and for neither great nor small is there escape from death, therefore, good sir, while you may, live happy amid joys; live mindful ever of how brief your time is!" These words struck home with the rustic, who lightly leaped forth from his house. Then both pursue the journey as planned, eager to creep under the city walls by night. And now night was holding the mid space of heaven, when the two set foot in a wealthy palace, where covers dyed in scarlet glittered on ivory couches, and many courses remained over from a great dinner of the evening before, in baskets piled up hard by. So when the town mouse has the rustic stretched out on purple covers, he himself bustles about in waiter-style, serving course after course, and doing all the duties of the home-bred slave, first tasting everything he serves. The other, lying at ease, enjoys his changed lot, and amid the good cheer is playing the happy guest, when of a sudden a terrible banging of the doors tumbled them both from their couches. In panic they run the length of the hall, and still more terror-stricken were they, as the lofty palace rang with the barking of Molossian hounds. Then says the rustic: "No use have I for such a life, and so farewell: my wood and hole, secure from alarms, will solace me with homely vetch." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.