Boothby: The Vulture, the Dog and the Treasure

For you this fable I relate;
Base born, who seek a vast estate.
A Dog, in consecrated ground,
Opening a grave, a treasure found.
The Gods, his sacrilege to pay,
Curs'd him with avarice: day by day,
Fixt on the treasure, he neglects
His due repose, and food rejects.
Consum'd he dies. When from above
A Vulture shriek'd, "O damn'd of Jove!
Who dunghill-bred, didst life employ
On wealth thou knewst not to enjoy!"

Source: Boothby - Phaedrus 1.26.

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