The Pig and the Horse

The Pig and the Horse. The pig noticed a war-horse, clad in armor, who was marching out to battle. "You fool," said the pig, "what's your hurry? After all, you might die in battle." The horse replied, "And what about you, growing fat in the mud and the mire — even though you won't ever do anything admirable, the butcher's knife will take your life; my death at least will be accompanied by glory."

Porcus et Equus. Porcus, conspiciens Equum bellatorem qui cataphractus ad pugnam prodibat, "Stulte" inquit "quo properas? In pugna enim fortasse morieris." Cui Equus, "Tibi inter lutum sordesque impinguato, quamvis nihil dignum laude gesseris, cultellus adimet vitam; mortem vero meam comitabitur gloria."

Notes. This is Abstemius 48. This is an interesting little fable because it juxtaposes two contrasting points of view very vividly. The horse gets the last word here, but of course there are count-fables which show that there is nothing great or glorious about the fate of the war-horse in war, as in the story of The Donkey and the Horse, Perry 357.