Aesopic Proverbs 81-90: Birds, Camels, and Misadventures in Urination

81.
“The highest peaks are equal.”
Interpretation:
“Great wealth and great poverty have the same repose from cares.”
᾿Ακρότητες ἰσότητες.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πλοῦτος ὁ πολὺς καὶ πεν̣ί̣α̣ με<γάλη>
᾿Ανάπαυσιν ἴσην φροντί<δων ἔχουσι.>

82.
“The old woman will oppose you <…>”
Interpretation:
“Even a wise man will be led to his downfall if he does not restrain his ears from idle talk.”
᾿Απαντήσει σοι γρα<ῦς ……….>α
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εἰς πτῶμα πεσεῖται κ<αὶ ὁ σοφὸς ἀνὴ>ρ
Οὐ κωλύων τὰ ὦτα φληνάφων λόγων.

83.
“A man’s character may be seen from his speech.”
᾿Ανδρὸς χαρακτὴρ ἐκ λόγου γνωρίζεται.

[No Interpretation]

84.
“The sparrow’s soul is with its millet.”
Interpretation:
“A person will fix attention where the indulgence of pleasure may be found.”
῾Η ψυχὴ τοῦ στρουθοῦ παρὰ τὴν κέγχρον.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Εκεῖ τὴν διάνοιαν ἄνθρωπος στρέφει,
῎Ενθα καὶ <ἡ> τῆς ἡδονῆς τρυφὴ κεῖται.

85.
“Either say what you think or think what you say.”
<Interpretation>
“The crow who plumes himself with peacock’s feathers is a poor speaker, but richly dressed.
῍Η λάλει ὡς φρονεῖς ἢ φρόνει ὡς λαλεῖς.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Πένης τὴν γλῶτταν καὶ πλούσιος τὴν στολὴν
Κόραξ ταῶνός ἐστι τοῖς πτεροῖς κομῶν.

86.
“The camel said to his mother, ‘I will be a dancer,’ and she responded, ‘My son, even your walking is beautiful.’”
Interpretation:
“Let those, whose wicked ways hinder life, be barred from passing life in enjoyment.”
῾Η κάμηλος ἔλεγε τῇ μητρί “ὀρχήσομαι,” κἀκείνη “τέκ-
νον,” φησί, “καὶ ὁ περίπατός σου καλός ἐστιν.”
῾Ερμηνεία.
Οἷς μοχθηρίᾳ τρόπων κωλύζεται τὸ ζῆν,
Τούτοις ἀπηγορεύσθω τὸ τέρψει συζῆν.

87.
“You in my eye, and I upon your back.”
<Interpretation>
“In those whom you wish to strike, though not performing well… < … >”
Σὺ κατὰ τοῦ ὀφθαλμοῦ μου κἀγὼ κατὰ τοῦ νώτου σου.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
᾿Εν οἷς πλήττειν ἐθέλεις οὐ πράττων καλῶς
< >

88.
“And from a camel, a letter from Charon.”
Interpretation:
“A man without sense will send others falling to their graves with a fierce blow.”
Κἀξ καμήλου ἐπιστολὴ Χά<ρ>ωνος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Ανὴρ νοῦν οὐκ ἔχων θυμώδει <τῇ> πληγῇ
Τάφοις παραδίδωσι τοὺς ἐμπίπτοντας.

89.
“Orestes, who killed you?” – “My own knowledge of myself.”
Interpretation:
“Our mode of acting badly will render us all known and accountable.”
᾿Ορέστα, τίς σε ἀπώλεσεν; “ἡ ἰδία μου συνείδησις.”
῾Ερμηνεία.
῞Εκαστον ὑπεύθυνον ὧν πράττει κακῶς
῾Ο τρόπος ἀπελέγχει καὶ δῆλον ποιεῖ.

90.
“Go ahead and piss – you’re pissing on your skin.”
Interpretation:
“The one who wishes to throw bold reproaches to a lofty height will have his punishment poured upon his head.”
Οὔρει· κατὰ τοῦ δέρματος οὐρεῖς.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῾Ο βάλλειν τολμῶν εἰς ὕψος θρασεῖς ψόγους
᾿Επὶ κεφαλῆς ἕξει τὴν τιμωρίαν.

Aesopic Proverbs 71-80: Malice, Roosters, and Missing Proverbs

71.
“Malice attends difficulties.”
<Interpretation>
“Those who rage with insatiable malice fashion envy even for the poor.”
Εἰς ἀπορίαν φθόνος.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
᾿Απλήστῳ βασκανίᾳ λυσσῶντές τινες
Καὶ τοῖς πένησι τὸν φθόνον ὁπ<λί>ζουσι.

72.
“Never do good, and try not to receive any evil.”
<Interpretation>
“By treating the wicked well, you do not seem to me to be wise. For the most wicked always work the worst evils upon themselves.”
Καλὸν μὴ ποιήσῃς καὶ κακὸν οὐ μὴ ἀπολάβῃς.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Κακοὺς εὖ ποιῶν οὔ μοι δόξεις σωφρονεῖν·
Οἱ γὰρ κάκιστοι δρῶ<σιν ἀεί σε κακῶς.>

73.
“The times may lead one up, but they may also lead one down.”
<Interpretation>
“Time will give mortals both the possession of wealth as well as the travails of poverty.”

Καιρὸς ἀνάγει καὶ καιρὸ<ς αὖ κατάγει.>
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
<Χρό>νος ἀμφότερα τοῖς βρο<τοῖς κομίζει>,
Καὶ πλούτου κτῆσιν καὶ πε<νί>ας τὴν ν<όσ>ον.

74.
“The dog who goes to the manger does not eat, and stands in the way of the ass.”
Interpretation
“The display of a shameless man’s wickedness will hinder another from the nourishment which he himself cannot get hold of.”
Κύων ἀναπεσὼν εἰς φάτνην αὐτός τε οὐκ ἐσθίει τῷ τε ὄνῳ
ἐμπ<οδ>ίζει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πονηρίας ἔνδειξις ἀνδρὸς ἀναιδοῦς
Τροφῆς κωλύειν ἄλλον, ἧς οὐχ ἅπτεται.

75.
“The words of an orator, the deeds of a rooster.”
Interpretation:
“False people argue their case with empty words, vainly reproaching the words of giants.”
Λόγοι μὲν ῥήτορος, ἔργα δ’ ἀλέκτορος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τοῖς <κενοῖς> λόγοις ἐλέγχονται οἱ ψευδεῖς,
Γιγάντων ῥήματα <μάτην προφέροντες>.

76.
< > of your heart.
<Interpretation>
“Willingly escape notice, and do not be too eager to display the particulars of your mind to every man.”

< > τῆς καρδίας σου.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
῾Εκὼν λάνθανε καὶ μὴ παντὶ ἀνθρώπων
Τὸ προσεχὲ<ς> τῆς φρενὸς ἐπάγειν ἔθελε.

77.
“It is possible to fail, it is not possible to be indifferent.”
Interpretation
“It is proper for a man bearing the outcome of fortune to flee from carelessness of mind.”
᾿Ατυχεῖν ἔξεσ<τιν>, ἀμελεῖν οὐκ ἔξεστιν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῎Ανδρα φέροντα τῆς τύχης τὸ σύμπτωμα
Τῆς γνώμης τὸ ῥάθυμον ἐκφυγεῖν πρέπει.

78.
< >
Interpretation
“One who wishes to be careless in practical affairs will live a dark and painful life.”
< >
῾Ερμηνείς.
῾Ο ῥαθυμεῖν ἐθέλων ἐν τοῖς πρακτέοις
Σκοτεινὸν ἕξει καὶ λυπηρὸν τὸν βίον.

79.
“The incense does not make its way up to a good god.”
Interpretation
“It is a custom of the wicked not to wish to repay good people with divine honors.”
᾿Αγαθῷ <θε>ῷ λίβανος οὐκ ἀναβαίνει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Σύνηθές ἐστι τοῖς κακοῖς οὐκ ἐθέλειν
Τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς ἀμείβεσθαι ταῖς θείαις τιμαῖς.

80.
“Repulse them when they begin, and they will not rebel.”
Interpretation
“If you know how to hinder wickedness in its infancy, you will be far from disturbance and wicked wandering.”
᾿Αρχομένους ἀνάστελλε καὶ οὐ μὴ στασιάσουσιν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Αρχὴν κακὴν μέλλουσαν εἰδὼς κωλύειν
Ταράχου μακρὰν ἔσῃ καὶ κακῆς πλάνης.

Aesopic Proverbs 61-70: Ladders, Guts, and Puppies

Some of these proverbs were a bit rough – I found some of the ‘interpretations’ rather puzzling. Corrections are welcome/encouraged!

61.
“Desire does not ascend to the top rung of the ladder.”
Interpretation:
“Desire is a sweet thing, if the possession of the objects desired can occur without toil.”
῎Ε<ρω>ς εἰς κλιμάκιον οὐκ ἀναβαίνει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῾Ηδὺς ὁ πόθος ἐστίν, εἰ δίχα μόχθου
<Τ>ῶν ποθουμένων ἡ κτῆσις προσγενήσεται.

62.
“If you are not wicked to one, you will not become wicked to another.”
Interpretation:
“Time, flitting about from some to others, takes wealth from one and gives to the other.”
<Ε>ἰ μὴ ἄλλῳ κακός, ἄλλῳ καλὸς οὐ γίνῃ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
<῎Α>λλ<οις> ἀπ’ ἄλλων ἐπιφοιτῶν ὁ χρόνος
Τῷ μὲν ἦρε τὸν πλοῦτον, τῷ δ’ ἐνέθηκεν.

63.
“The cow fell and everyone grabbed their swords.”
Interpretation:
“The poor who rejoice in evil will set upon every wealthy person who experiences misfortune.”
῎Επεσε βοῦς καὶ πάντες τὰ ξίφη αὐτῶν ἦραν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πλουσίῳ παντὶ δυστυχίαν λαχόντι
᾿Επιτίθενται πένητες χαιρέκακοι.

64.
“Your guts may battle, but they are not ripped apart.”
Interpretation:
“When children stir up quarrels with their parents, they do not alter the friendliness of their relations.”
῎Εντερα μάχονται, ἀλλ’ οὐ διασπῶνται.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Δίκας κινοῦντες παῖδες πρὸς <τοὺς> τοκέας,
Εὔνοιαν οὐκ ἀλλοιοῦσιν τὴν τῆς φύσεως.

65.
“The well-dressed are honored, the undressed dishonored.”
<Interpretation>
“Those who are well put-together will have their glory on that account, but those who are ill-composed will earn their share of reproach.”
Εὐείμαντος ἔντιμος, ἀνείμαντος ἄτιμος.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Εὐσχήμονες ἕξουσιν ἐντεῦθεν γέρας,
Οἱ δ’ ἀσχήμονες εἰσκομίζονται ψόγον.

66.
“One’s hands are never too short for the table.”
<Interpretation>
“A man who considers how he might attain pleasure hates to fail when he plies his hands to the task.”
Εἰς τράπεζαν χεῖρες κολοβαὶ οὐκ εἰσίν.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
᾿Ανὴρ φροντίζων ὅπως ἕξει τὸ τρυφᾶν,
Στ<υγεῖ ἁμαρτ>εῖν τοῖς ἔργοις τείνων χεῖρας.

67.
“The dog that hurries gives birth to blind pups.”
<Interpretation>
“The nature which exceeds its birth and due proportion will, when it has acted in haste, reap the fruit of misfortune.”

Κύων σπεύδουσα τυφλὰ γεννᾷ.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Φύσις ἤπερ πέφυκεν καὶ καιρῷ νέμει,
Ταχυτῆτι δὲ πραττομένη συμφορὰς νέμει.

68.
“Thus I do nothing and am sought after all the way to my house.”
<Interpretation>
“A man will become invisible even to himself when he undertakes impossible tasks.”
Καὶ ὧδε οὐδὲν ποιῶ καὶ εἰς τὴν οἰκίαν ζητοῦμαι.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
᾿Ανὴρ ἀφανὴς αὐτὸς ἑαυτῷ γίνεται
᾿Επιχειρῶν πράγμασι τοῖς ἀμηχάνοις.

69.
“It is a finer thing to be idle than to work poorly.”
Interpretation:
“It is a work of certain assurance to prefer doing nothing at all than doing something badly.”
Καλὸν ἀργεῖν ἢ κακῶς ἐργάζεσθαι.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πληροφορίας ἔργον αἱρεῖσθαι μᾶλλον
Τοῦ κακῶς / τι δρᾶν τὸ μη<δὲν> ὅλως ποιεῖν.

70.
“Beauty does not keep up the household.”
Interpretation:
“Beauty causes pain when for the sake of proportion [temporal advantage?] the passing away of affairs produces hunger.”
Κ<άλλο>ς οἶκον οὐ τρέφει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Λυπεῖ τὸ κάλλος ὅταν χάριν τοῦ καιροῦ
῾Η τῶν πραγμάτων ἐκφορὰ λιμὸν ποιῇ.

Aesopic Proverbs 51-60: Crows, Pigs, and Raw Recruits

51.
“This egg came from that crow.”
Interpretation:
“The fruit of every tree will become a clear reproach when the tree puts forth its nature [shoots?].”
Τοῦτο τὸ ὠὸν ἀπ’ ἐκείνου τοῦ κόρακος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Δῆλος ἔλεγχος ὁ καρπὸς γενήσεται
Παντὸς δένδρου <φυέντος> ἣν ἔχει φύσιν.

52.
“The sow sees barley in its dreams.”
Interpretation:
“Everyone dreams looking upon those things toward which his mind is inclined.”
῾Η ὗς εἰς τοὺς ὀνείρους κριθὰς βλέπει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Ονειροπολεῖται ἅπας ἐκεῖνα βλέπων,
Εἰς ἅπερ ἔχει τὴν γνῶσιν κεκλιμένην.

53.
“When the rustic man eats, he rages at the fish.”
Interpretation:
“The inexperienced hedonist, if he ever gets hold of pleasure, loses his mind and grows excessively insolent.”
Χωρικὸς φαγὼν ἰχθὺν ἐμάν<η>.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τρυφῶν ἄπειρος, ἣν λάχῃ τρυφήν ποτε,
<Τὸν νοῦν ἀπολλὺς> εἰς ἄγαν φρυάττεται.

54.
“The horse runs to its birth.”
Interpretation:
“Subsequent progeny guard the character of their family for those from whom they sprang.”
῞Ιππος εἰς γένος τρέχει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πρὸς τοὺς ἐξ ὧν ἐγεννήθησαν οἱ μετέπειτα
Τὸν τρόπον φυλάττουσιν τῆς συγγενείας.

55.
“The raw recruit is a poison to the ship.”
Interpretation:
“Inexperience is a hard thing, and even more so when the wave of the sea tyrannizes over the ship.”
᾿Ιδιώτης εἰς πλοῖον φάρμακον.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Χαλεπὸν ἀπειρία κἀκεῖσε μᾶλλον,
῎Ενθα κῦμα θαλάσσης τυραννεῖ σκάφος.
56.
“A well-born horse does not kick.”
Interpretation:
“The one who receives the good-breeding of nature will maintain it by the gentleness of manners.”
῞Ιππος εὐγενὴς οὐ λακτίζει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εὐγένειαν ὁ λαχὼν τὴν τῆς φύσεως
Ταύτην φυλάττει πραότητι τῶν τρόπων.

57.
“Tell the truth to your doctor and your lawyer.”
Interpretation:
“It is not wise to hide either an affliction of the body or the presence of an illness in one’s vitals.”

᾿Ιατρῷ καὶ νομικῷ τὴν ἀλήθειαν λέγε.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Κρύπτειν οὐ πρέπει οὔτε πάθος σώματος
Οὔτε κτῆσιν <τὴν οὖσ>αν ἐν καιρῷ νόσου.

58.
“Of moderate… < >”
Interpretation:
“Those who honor wealth and have many possessions say farewell to poverty forever.”
Μετρίου φί< >
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πλοῦτον τιμῶντες οἱ χρημάτων ἔμπλεοι
Τῇ πενίᾳ λέγουσιν χαίρειν <εἰς> ἀεί.
59.
“The one not looking through a sieve is blind.”
Interpretation
“The man who has gotten the beginnings of understanding, if he does not think prudently, will be reproached with blindness.”
῾Ο μὴ βλέπων διὰ κοσκίνου τυφλός ἐστιν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Αφορμὰς εἰς σύνεσιν εἰληφὼς ἀνήρ,
Εἰ μὴ φρονοίη, τυφλώττειν ἐλέγχεται.

60.
“The lyre string laughs just once.”
Interpretation:
“Sallies of wit can only delight stupidity for a while. When they linger, they cause pain.”
Χορδὴ ἅπαξ γελᾶται.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Χαριεντισμοῦ λόγος ἀπαιδευσίαν
Πρὸς ὀλίγον τέρπει· εἰ δ’ ἐπιμένει λυπεῖ.

Aesopic Proverbs 41-50: Love, Squinting, and the Sufferings of the Soul

41.
“Love without purpose, and do not hate without reason.”
Interpretation:
“Treat those whom you meet, if it is necessary, as friends. Do not indulge your enemies in their hate against you.”
Εἰκῇ φιλοῦ, μάτην μὴ μισοῦ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Καὶ τοὺς τυχόντας, εἰ δέοι, φίλους ἔχε·
᾿Εχθροῖς δὲ μὴ χαρίζου τὸ πρὸς σὲ μῖσος.

42.
“Sought, and not hated.”
Interpretation:
“By not wanting to visit with your friends frequently, you will become loved but not hated.”
Ζητούμενος καὶ μὴ μισούμενος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Θαμινὰ φοιτᾶν τοῖς φίλοις οὐκ ἐθέλων
᾿Αγαπητός, ἀλλ’ οὐ μισητὸς γενήσῃ.

43.
“The one who conceals an itch simply doubles it.”
Interpretation:
“Often, an imprudent mind has worsened its symptoms by wishing to escape them.”
῾Ο κρύβων τὴν ψώραν αὐτοῦ διπλῆν αὐτὴν ποιεῖ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Πολλοῖς ἐμεγάλυνε τὰ συμπτώματα
Νοῦς ἄφρων <μάτην> τὸ λαθεῖν ἐθελήσας.

44.
“The birthday of one’s eyes begins the suffering of one’s soul.”
<Interpretation>
“The enjoyment of the various amusements afforded to the idea give the soul pain and many laments.”
᾿Οφθαλμῶν γενέσια ψυχῆς ὀδύνη.
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Τέρψις ὀφθαλμῶν ἀλλοτρίας ἑορτῆς
Λύπας φέρει τῇ ψυχῇ καὶ θρήνους πολλούς.

45.
“Hey Squinty, where is your little ear?”
Interpretation:
“A malicious man, imagining that nothing is well-wrought, fights even with the noble at every turn.”
Στρεβλέ, ποῦ ἐστι τὸ ὠτίον σου;
῾Ερμηνεία.
Οὐδὲν εὐθὲς ἐννοῶν δυσμενὴς ἀνὴρ
Καὶ τοῖς φανεροῖς μάχεται παντὶ τρόπῳ.

46.
“May you fall asleep and walk about your ship.”
Interpretation:
“Fortune decrees wealth to sleeping mortals with a wakeful providence.”
Σὺ ὑπνοῖς καὶ τὸ πλοῖόν σου περιπατεῖ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Καθεύδουσιν ἡ Τύχη ἀνθρώποις πλοῦτον
Διαπεραίνει ἀγρύπνῳ τῇ προνοίᾳ.

47.
“Watch over your son, so that he does not fall into a well while you say that God willed it so.”
Interpretation:
“God has granted your reason as a guard, so that you can guard yourself against those things which must be watched out for.”
Τήρει τὸν υἱόν σου, ἵνα μὴ πέσῃ εἰς τὸ φρέαρ καὶ εἴπῃς
ὅτι ὁ θεὸς ἤθελεν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τὸν νοῦν σου φύλακα δέδωκεν ὁ θεός,
῞Ινα σαυτῷ φυλάσσῃς ἃ φρουρεῖν πρέπει.

48.
“Swiftness has its charm.”
Interpretation:
“Those gift-givers become most pleasing, who crown every gift with the blessing of swiftness.”
Τὸ ταχὺ χάριν ἔχει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εὐχάριστοι γίνονται οἱ φιλόδωροι
Ταχυτῆτι στέφοντες ἅπασαν δόσιν.

49.
“Grapes ripen when looking on other grapes.”
Interpretation:
“Those engaged in some labor will accomplish what must be done when they look upon each other with a zealous mind.”
Σταφυλὴ σταφυλὴν βλέπουσα πεπαίνεται.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εἰς ἀλλήλους βλέποντες οἱ μοχθοῦντές τι
Προθύμῳ γνώμῃ τὰ πρακτέα τελοῦσιν.

50.
“A lion inside, a fox without.”
Interpretation:
“By mixing boldness with villainy, you appear to demonstrate who you are not, and to hide what you are.”
῎Εσω λέων καὶ ἔξω ἀλώπηξ.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Κακουργίαν θρασύτητι μίξας φαίνῃ
Δεικνὺς ὃ μὴ εἷς, καὶ κρύπτων ὃ τυγχάνεις.

Aesopic Proverbs 31-40: Old Wolves, Missing Proverbs

: 31.
“An aged wolf lays down the laws.”
Interpretation:
“An aged evildoer, when he arrives at old age, will ordain laws to flee the young who do the same things which he himself did.”
Λύκος γηράσας νόμους ὁρίζει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Νουθετήσει κακοῦργος εἰς γῆρας μολὼν
Φεύγειν τοὺς νέους ἅπερ αὐτὸς ἔπραξεν.

32.
“A wolf is not scared to take from the multitude.”
Interpretation:
“Neither votes, nor decrees, nor even the barring of doors will check the thieving mind.”

Λύκος ἀπὸ ἀριθμοῦ οὐ φοβεῖται λαβεῖν.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τὸ κλεπτικὸν φρόνημα παύσει οὐδέπω
Οὐ ψῆφος, οὐ σφραγῖδες, οὐ κλείθρων θέσις.

33.
“When the ape sees its own children, it says ‘These are not beautiful.’”
Interpretation:
“Even when a mindless being is brought to perception, it recognizes that it has committed injustice in the things which it has done.”
Πίθηκος ἰδὼν τὰ ἑαυτοῦ τέκνα ἔφη “ταῦτα οὐ καλά.”
῾Ερμηνεία.
Εἰς αἴσθησιν καὶ ἄφρων ἐλάσας ποτὲ
῎Εγνωσεν ἀδικήσας ἐν οἷς ἔπραξεν.

34.
<Proverb Missing in Text>
Interpretation:
“The labors of lament [lead] to the ruin of tears, but the wailing of hunger does not seize the whip.”
< >
<῾Ερμηνεία.>
Θρήνων μὲν πόνοι εἰς δακρύων <τὴν> φοράν,
Λιμοῦ δὲ κλαυθμὸς οὐκ αἴρει τὴν μάστιγα.

35.
“A silent river runs deep below the earth.”
Interpretation:
“A wicked man, though he seems gentle to those near him, holds them as slaves to his hidden evil.”

Σιγηρὸς ποταμὸς κατὰ γῆν βαθύς.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Ανὴρ κακοῦργος πρᾶος τοῖς πέλας φανεὶς
Κεκρυμμένῃ κακίᾳ τοὺς δόλους ἔχει.

36.
“Move even your hands with god.”
Interpretation:
“Don’t sleep while you look upon chance; good fortune consists of being active in deeds.”
Σὺν θεῷ καὶ τὰς χεῖρας κίνει.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Τὴν τύχην βλέπων μὴ καθεύδειν ἔθελε·
Εὐτυχία γὰρ ἀνδρὶ τὸ ἐν ἔργοις εἶναι.

37.
“God is the avenger of a silent mouth.”
Interpretation:
“He who honors fairness with his mind will have help against his enemies from the gods.”
Στόματος σιγῶντος θεὸς ἔκδικος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
᾿Επιείκειαν ὁ τῇ φρονήσει τιμῶν
Θεόθεν ἔξει τὴν κατ’ ἐχθρῶν βοήθειαν.

38.
“I honor you and you do not perceive it; I dishonor you, so that you may perceive.”
Interpretation:
“If senseless men do not rejoice in noble things, change their ungrateful minds with bad ones.”
Τιμῶ σε καὶ οὐκ αἰσθάνῃ· ἀτιμάζω σε, ἵνα αἴσθησιν λάβῃς.
῾Ερμηνεία.
Καλοῖς εἰ μὴ χαίρουσιν ἄνδρες ἄφρονες,
Κακοῖς ἀμείβου τὴν ἀχάριστον γνώμην.

39.
“A needy spirit has come near in the assembly.”
Interpretation:
“Whoever wanders in the market without money will grieve at heart as he looks upon all in vain.”
῎Ακερμος ἐν πανηγύρει δαίμων πελαζόμενος.
῾Ερμηνεία.
῞Οστις ἐν ἀγορᾷ χρημάτων δίχα φοιτᾷ,
Νοσεῖ τὴν φρένα μάτην τοὺς πάντας ὁρῶν.

40.
“From a bad money-lender a chickpea.”
Interpretation:
“When there is clear loss among all, consider it a windfall if you receive even the smallest portion.”
᾿Απὸ κακοῦ δανειστοῦ κἂν ὀρόβια
῾Ερμηνεία.
Ζημίας δήλης ἐν ἅπασι κειμένης,
Τοὐλάχιστον εἰ λάβοις ἕρμαιον κάλει.

Aesopic Proverbs 21-30: Dry Fountains, Gouty Feet, and Dubious Wisdom

21.

“Let the fountain from which I do not drink run dry.”

Interpretation

“Let common things which Fortune metes out remain. But if wealth is not held in common, let no one enjoy luxury.”

Πηγῆς ἐξ ἦς οὐ πίνω ξηρανθείη.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Μενέτω κοινά, ἅπερ ἡ Τύχη νέμει·

Εἰ δ’ οὐ κοινὸς ὁ πλοῦτος, μηδεὶς τρυφάτω.

 

22.

“You have feet, so expect gout.”

Interpretation:

“Suffering always succeeds pleasure if Fortune is not your ally.”

Πόδας ἔχων <σὺ> καὶ ποδάγρας ἔλπιζε.

῾Ερμηνεία.

῞Επεται πάντως τοῖς τερπνοῖς τὰ λυπηρά,

Εἰ μή που Τύχη σύμμαχος παραστατεῖ.

 

23.

“Habit is a second nature.”

Interpretation

“Habit is formed by time, and imitates nature in an incredible way.”

Δευτέρα φύσις συνήθεια.

<῾Ερμηνεία.>

Εἰργάσατό τι τῷ χρόνῳ συνήθεια

Μιμησαμένη παραδόξως τὴν φύσιν.

 

24. 

“Get yourself a doctor as a friend, so that you do not wholly feel the need of one.”

Interpretation:

“When you place wise doctors above every friend, pray that you never have need of their art.”

᾿Ιατρὸν κτῶ φίλον, χρείαν δὲ αὐτοῦ μηδ’ ὅλως ἔχῃς.

<῾Ερμηνεία.>

Παντὸς φίλου προτάττων ἰατροὺς σοφοὺς

Εὔχου τῆς τέχνης <—> χρῄζειν μηδέποτε.

 

25.

“A snail [doesn’t] murmur when it’s roasted.”

Interpretation:

“The ways of evildoers will rouse to anger both seemly men and those who are excessively soft.”

Κοχλίας, ἐὰν ὀπτηθῇ, [οὐ] τρύζει.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Τοὺς ἐπιεικεῖς ἄνδρας καὶ λίαν πράους

᾿Εγείρουσιν εἰς ὀργὴν κακούργων τρόποι.

 

26.

“A comic opens his mouth but doesn’t bite.”

Interpretation:

“The poor only rail at the rich, but they have neither power nor reason on their side.”

Κωμῳδὸς χαίνων καὶ μὴ δάκνων.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Λοιδοροῦσι πένητες πλουτοῦντας μόνον,

Δύναμιν οὐκ ἔχοντες ἀλλ’ ἢ τοὺς λόγους.

 

27.

“If you are ever doing well, remember the lentils.”

Interpretation:

“Even if you become rich and famous, remember the poverty of your fellow human.”

Κἂν εὐτυχήσας τῆς φακῆς μνημόνευε.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Κἂν πλούσιος γέγονας καὶ περίβλεπτος,

Πενίας μνημόνευε τῆς σῆς συντρόφου.

 

28.

“Let’s close the door and speak the truth.”

Interpretation:

“Hold within the scorn of your enemies, whenever the time summons you to speak the truth.”

Κλείσωμεν τὴν θύραν, τὴν δὲ ἀλήθειαν εἴπωμεν.

῾Ερμηνεία.

῎Ενδον ἔχε τὰς μέμψεις τῶν σῶν ἐχθίστων,

῞Οταν καλῇ καιρός σε τἀληθῆ λέγειν.

 

29.

“Even the treasure goes to the flock.”

Interpretation:

“They say that it bites deep into the heart of the wise man that the foolish live in ungrudging luxury.”

 

Καὶ τὰ κειμήλια εἰς πρόβατον.

῾Ερμηνεία.

Δάκνει πάντως τοῦ σοφοῦ τὴν φρένα, φασί,

Τὸ τοὺς ἐναντίους ἀφθόνως <ἐν>τρυφᾶν.

 

30.

“Evil does not seize upon evil.”

Interpretation:

“The friend to bad men who loves wandering ways does not ward off someone of similar ways.”

Κακὸν κακοῦ οὐχ ἅπτεται.

῾Ερμηνεία.

᾿Αγαπῶν τὴν πλάνην φιλοπόνηρος ἀνὴρ

Τὸν ὅμοιον τοῖς τρόποις οὐκ ἀμύνεται.

Trees Talking? Chill, It’s Just Make-Believe

Prologue to Phaedrus’ Collection of Aesopic fables

“Aesop is the author who brought to life the material,
And I have polished it with senarian verse.
The book’s gift is double: for it makes you laugh
And it advises your life with wise advice.
If anyone should desire to criticize it,
Because the trees talk in addition to the beasts,
Don’t forget: we are playing with the make-believe.”

Aesopus auctor quam materiam repperit,
hanc ego polivi versibus senariis.
Duplex libelli dos est: quod risum movet
et quod prudenti vitam consilio monet.
Calumniari si quis autem voluerit,
quod arbores loquantur, non tantum ferae,
fictis iocari nos meminerit fabulis.

 

Yes, this is from Phaedrus the Fabulist.

You can find the full text of Phaedrus here.

There is also a pretty great site with resources about Aesopic fables.

talking trees
Ok, Animate Trees can be scary….