Saturday, January 22, 2011

Boothby: The Man and the Ass

One offer'd Hercules a boar,
Vow'd, should the god his health restore.
Some barley left he gave his Ass,
Who turn'd away, crying, "Alas,
On this I willingly should feed,
Had I not seen its owner bleed!"
Taught by this Ass, I've ever fled
Unhallow'd gain; for though 'tis said
Possession gives the right, we see
But few rapacious men go free:
Temerity sometimes succeeds,
But oftener to destruction leads.


Source: Boothby - Phaedrus 5.4.


(image source: vase painting of a pig sacrifice)

M0227 Perry526

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