The Sparrow and the Beetles. The birds were struck by a great fear that the beetles would kill them with their catapult, as they had heard that the beetles had been working hard to create a great stockpile of dung-balls in their dung heap. Then the sparrow told them, "Don't be afraid. How could they throw the balls at us flying in the air, when they are barely able using all their might to drag them across the ground?"
Passer et Scarabaei. Magnus timor aves incesserat, ne scarabaei arcu pilari eas occiderent, a quibus magnam pilarum vim in sterquilinio summo labore fabricatam audierant. Tunc Passer "Nolite," inquit, "expavescere. Quomodo enim pilas in nos per aera volantes iacere potuerunt, cum eas per terram magno molimine vix trahant?"
Notes. This is Abstemius 37 . As usual with Abstemius, it is not found in Perry's inventory. The dung-beetle makes a famous appearance in Aesop's fables where it manages to get revenge on an eagle - but even so, it does not possess a catapult for hurling dung balls into heaven, the rumor that has gotten the birds so worked up in this story.
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